Best portable video players (PVP)

(Aug 29, 2008)

Donald Bell
Senior Editor

Portable video players (aka PVPs or portable media players) are the video equivalent of portable MP3 players. In fact, they are MP3 players at heart, with the additional capability to play back video on a larger (2.5 inches or more) color screen. PVPs come in all sizes and shapes, and some have more features than others. Three of the biggest features to look for in a PVP are screen size, file compatibility, and storage capacity. Don't be fooled into thinking bigger is always better. With its 800x480 resolution, the 4.3-inch screen on the Archos 605 WiFi will look much better than the 480x234 resolution of the Blue Raven MediaMate's 7-inch screen.

Also consider that while some PVPs offer as much as 160GB of storage space, a lighter, cheaper, lower-capacity PVP like the 2GB Archos 405 will let you swap out content using small SD flash memory cards.