With solid-state media still expensive and offering limited capacity, MP3 players with hard disks seem like the perfect solution. The NOMAD Jukebox 3 is one such product, and at two-thirds the size of its predecessor its more portable too.

The new FireWire connection speeds up transfer to one 3MB song file per second, but this drops to five seconds if you use the existing USB 1.1 connection. The only downside is the choice of a four-pin FireWire socket, so you cant charge the battery through the interface as you can with Apples iPod.

The move from NiMH batteries to two lithium ion battery packs extends battery life from three hours to 22 hours. That said, out of the box, you only receive one battery pack, so youll need to invest in another to realistically achieve this duration.

The headphone output now features an additional four-pin connector for in-line LCD remotes. Input for optical and line-in is tied into a single space-saving socket for direct recording from a MiniDisc, CD player or similar device. As in previous models, two line-outs allow four speakers to be used. Control buttons are enhanced slightly with the addition of a Sony-style Jog Dial for menu scrolling and selection. Otherwise, the main buttons beneath the LCD are the same. Its worth noting that the supplied Audio Stream Recording software will only work if you have an Extigy, Audigy or SoundBlaster Live! soundcard.

File Manager is similar to Windows Explorer, with a few tweaks for transferring files to your Jukebox library. PlayCenter 3 will manage your Jukebox 3.

Theres a lot to recommend the Jukebox 3, including its capacity, quality and functionality, all for a tempting price. But nothing can detract from the fact its too big and heavy to be a truly portable music player.

Ian Robson