Portable media center Portable Video Players (PVPs)

The Bottom Line: The Archos 5 is a great video player, but it disappoints as a premium Android Internet tablet and GPS unit.

Specs: Portable media center, 5.6 in x 0.8 in x 3.1 in, LCD 4.8 in, MP3, WMA, Protected WMA, PCM, AAC, AAC+, Ogg Vorbis, FLAC, MPEG-4, MPEG-48, H.264, WMV, MKV, Motion JPEG, 10.1 oz

The Bottom Line: The Archos 5 is a great video player, but it disappoints as a premium Android Internet tablet and GPS unit.

Specs: Portable media center, 5.6 in x 0.4 in x 3.1 in, LCD 4.8 in, MP3, WMA, Protected WMA, PCM, AAC, AAC+, Ogg Vorbis, FLAC, MPEG-4, MPEG-48, H.264, WMV, MKV, Motion JPEG, 6.4 oz

The Bottom Line: The Archos 5 is a great video player, but it disappoints as a premium Android Internet tablet and GPS unit.

Specs: Portable media center, 5.6 in x 0.4 in x 3.1 in, LCD 4.8 in, MP3, WMA, Protected WMA, PCM, AAC, AAC+, Ogg Vorbis, FLAC, MPEG-4, MPEG-48, H.264, WMV, MKV, Motion JPEG, 6.4 oz

The Bottom Line: The Archos 5 is a great video player, but it disappoints as a premium Android Internet tablet and GPS unit.

Specs: Portable media center, 5.6 in x 0.4 in x 3.1 in, LCD 4.8 in, MP3, WMA, Protected WMA, PCM, AAC, AAC+, Ogg Vorbis, FLAC, MPEG-4, MPEG-48, H.264, WMV, MKV, Motion JPEG, 6.4 oz

The Bottom Line: The Archos 5 is a great video player, but it disappoints as a premium Android Internet tablet and GPS unit.

Specs: Portable media center, 5.6 in x 0.8 in x 3.1 in, LCD 4.8 in, MP3, WMA, Protected WMA, PCM, AAC, AAC+, Ogg Vorbis, FLAC, MPEG-4, MPEG-48, H.264, WMV, MKV, Motion JPEG, 10.1 oz

The Bottom Line: The Cowon Q5W aims to do everything a gadget-aholic may want in a portable video player. Unfortunately, its confusing dual interface and high price hold it back from greatness.

Specs: Portable media center, 5.5 in x 0.8 in x 3.5 in, TFT 5 in - Color, ASF, MP3, MPC, WAV, WMA, FLAC, Ogg Vorbis, MPEG 1 Audio, MPEG 2 Audio, MPEG 2.5 Audio, APE (Monkey's Audio), ASF, AVI, WMV, DivX, XviD, MPEG-4, OGM (Ogg Media), 13.4 oz

The Bottom Line: The Cowon Q5W aims to do everything a gadget-aholic may want in a portable video player. Unfortunately, its confusing dual interface and high price hold it back from greatness.

Specs: Portable media center, 5.5 in x 0.8 in x 3.5 in, TFT 5 in - Color, ASF, MP3, MPC, WAV, WMA, AC-3, FLAC, Ogg Vorbis, MPEG 1 Audio, MPEG 2 Audio, MPEG 2.5 Audio, APE (Monkey's Audio), ASF, AVI, WMV, DivX, XviD, MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, OGM (Ogg Media), 13.4 oz

The Bottom Line: The Philips Portable Media Center PMC7230 is a stylish device with lots of potential, but it's not as impressive as we expected.

Specs: Portable media center, 3.7 in x 0.9 in x 4.2 in, LCD 3.5 in - Color, MP3, WMA, WMV, MPEG-4, MPEG-4 SP, 8.3 oz

The Bottom Line: Despite the Toshiba Gigabeat V30's excellent sound quality and rated battery life, there are better PVP choices.

Specs: Portable media center, 4.9 in x 0.8 in x 3 in, LCD 3.5 in - Color, MP3, WAV, WMA, Protected WMA (DRM), WMV, 7.9 oz

The Bottom Line: Many prospective MP3/PVP buyers have been waiting patiently for this compact, easy-to-use, one-stop shop for media files--looks like the Toshiba Gigabeat S was worth the wait.

Specs: Portable media center, 2.4 in x 0.6 in x 3.9 in, LCD 2.4 in - Color, MP3, WAV, WMA, 5.3 oz