If you're like us, you've amassed quite a collection of music, photo, and video content that would make for great entertainment while away from the computer--if only you had one device that could handle it all. Being the downloading junkies that we are, we understand your plight and  recommend getting a portable media player, or PMP.

 

While the typical MP3 player is focused on music playback (you'll sometimes get JPEG photo and MPEG-4 video compatibility), portable media players are designed to play back video first and foremost, usually in a variety of file formats such as AVI, MOV, and QuickTime. Plus, you'll have the luxury of viewing your favorite clips, television shows, and movies on a widescreen or landscape display. (Some PMPs even include movie-download services, like Vongo or Movielink.) True, the video iPod is one type of PMP, but why limit your self to Apple, there are a slew of excellent products available, not from Apple worth consideration, too.

 

A PMP can cost you anywhere from $175 to $300. When looking for a PMP, there are two things that you'll need to consider before making a purchase: screen quality and storage capacity. Screen quality is important, because, well, you'll be viewing lots of video on the device. You'll want a display that's of good size, about 4.3-inches; looks sharp in a variety of lighting conditions; and has strong colors. Storage is equally as important. Quality video requires ample storage, so if you want to transfer tons of movies, you'll require a bigger PMP--think a 60GB capacity.

 

If you're ready to take your multimedia, music and video, on the road, don't miss our portable media players around.