Portable Players (2000)

Portable Players

RCA Lyra by RCA Homepage | Purchase

RCA's Lyra plays both the MP3 and RealAudio format of music media, and may be upgraded for future alternative formats. It comes with a CompactFlash memory card, CompactFlash reader/writer, cable, headphones, the full version of RealJukebox, which can record songs at full 128kbps quality. You may choose between the 32MB CompactFlash Memory card ($199) or the 64MB version ($249), which includes a car kit. The back-lit LCD display features a table of contents showing the song title, artist's name, and elapsed playing time of the song.

MPMan by Eiger Labs Homepage | Purchase

The MPMan, one of two units from Eiger Labs (with three more available RSN), is small and light enough to fit in your pocket. The silver F10 model may have been the first portable MP3 player to hit the market, but Eiger Labs' second version of the product, the black F20, is much improved and back in the race.

Samsung Yepp by Samsung Homepage | Purchase

Samsung Electronics' "yepp" is available in two models: a basic unit (YP-E16) and a deluxe unit (YP-D40). It is one of the smaller players on the market (about the size of a business card) and is extremely light (64 grams excluding battery). The "yepp" models come with a basic 40 megabytes of memory (enough to store about ten songs), and a liquid crystal display that indicates the title of the song being played, the song length and the lyrics. The deluxe model includes an FM radio, voice recording capability, and telephone directory. Optional "yepp card" (Smart Card) is available if more memory is needed.

JazPiper by Creative Homepage | Purchase

The JazPiper MP3 player has excellent sound quality, voice recording capabilities, a digital phone book, and a built-in 32MB flash memory card (expandable up to 64MB). It has an LCD that indicates the song number, playback time, song title, song artist, memory info, and battery status and also features extended playback time using removable SmartMedia Cards. It also comes bundled with a set of CD Programs that include the JazPiper Desk File Management software and the Jet Audio integrated multimedia player. .

Varoman by VARO Products Homepage | Purchase

Formerly called Clickman, the Varoman has a built-in 32MB flash memory (standard model) available and an external slot for extended memory. It includes a parallel interface for your PC/Notebook, an external headphone jack, a built-in microphone, and a digital voice recorder with 130 minutes of recording capacity. It also features a PIM system with scheduling/alarm functionality, a calendar, as well as compatibility for Microsoft Outlook Express. The VaroMan Plus version has a built-in Iomega Clik Drive, and holds 40MB of data, music or voice on a single Clik disk. .

RaveMP by Sensory Science Homepage | Purchase

The raveMP MP2100 is a portable player that expands up to 96MB, setting a new record for storage capacity. It can record up to four hours of voice messages using the built-in microphone, store thousands of telephone numbers, and display operational information such as playback time, available memory, battery status, and date/time info. .

Ijam by Creative Price: $180 Homepage | Purchase

IJam, a brand new MP3 player that differs considerably from the rest, features an FM stereo radio receiver as well as 32Mb of removable microsize memory. Weighing only 2.5 oz., it has high audio output -- 60mW power rather than 5mW, like others, and individual bass and treble controls. Additionally, the new IJam includes a USB interface and connects up to iMacs and iBooks with ease. .

Pontis by Pontis Price: $159 - $195 Homepage | Purchase

This standalone MP3 music player is the first on the market to support Macs, and offers a serial cable adapter so that users of older Macs can join in the fun, too. Small dimensions, simple design and operation, and high quality sound make the player itself a winner. Bundled with the player is a MultiMediaCard for MP3 storage, a pair of earphones, cables for connecting the player to your Mac, and software for loading MP3 files from your Mac's hard drive onto the player's MultiMediaCards. Pontis also offers software for Windows and Linux, as well as PC-compatible cables. It runs on two AA batteries, lasting for up to 14 hours. .

Diamond Rio500 by Diamond Multimedia Price: $ Homepage | Purchase

Small, simple and well designed, the new Rio is a very high quality portable player. Although the Rio has few beeps and whistles (no mic, no line in, no EQ), it does have superior sound quality, a large, easy to read display, headphones, a parallel port adapter, removable flash cards, and a cool blue back-light. The audio manager software works seamlessly when converting files from CD and downloading them to the player through an ultra-speedy USB connection. You will need Windows 98 and a spare USB port if you're working on a PC. .

Zappee ZMP 3000 by ZipLabs Homepage | Purchase

A Singapore company comes out with the first sub $100 player that fits in the palm of your hand (74 grams). It features a built-in digital tuning FM Stereo radio and playback up to 64 MB (64 minutes) of song data with two 32MB MMC. ZMP-3000 also acts as a portable Solid State Floppy disc drive that can store data into the Multimedia memory. Additionally, its parallel port/ USB interface, make it compatible with both the PC and Mac platforms. The ZipMan comes bundled with MP3 Creator Software, a CD ripper, an MP3 player, an MP3 encoder and encoder, an ID3 tag editor, a playlist builder, and a parallel port interface program.