Gadgets and gizmos: dictation machines

The battle between analogue and digital was never going to be a fair one. Record sales inevitably plummeted against the better sound quality offered by compact discs, and DVDs are increasingly taking a chunk out of VHS video sales.

Another area where digital is making great strides is in dictation, thanks to the cost, size and flexibility offered by the new generation of devices. As they use flash memory, there are no tapes to get chewed up or lost, no noisy motors and longer battery life.

Organisation is easier, as folders can be created to hold dozens of files that can be named as well as date-stamped. The display can also provide more detailed information, such as recording time elapsed or remaining.

There is no question that digital voice recorders make everyone's life easier and cram a healthy serving of hi-tech hi-jinx into a compact case.

Put it on the card

The capacity of the Sanyo ICR-B100 (£210) is completely flexible as it uses removable SmartMedia cards as storage, rather than an embedded chip. It comes complete with a 4Mb card, but 8Mb and 16Mb cards are also available, with the latter offering a capacity of 128 minutes.

The recorder can hold up to 396 voice files, can be activated hands-free using your voice and includes full onboard editing facilities. Sanyo: 0800 328 3680 www.sanyo.co.uk.

Long distance runner

If digital voice recorders were planes, then the Olympus DS-3000 (£410) would be a high-class Learjet. Most recorders allow you to vary the quality of the recording in order to expand capacity.

In the case of the DS-3000, the removable 64Mb SmartMedia can record a massive 22 hours at the lowest quality. Up to 16 index marks can be placed in a single sound file to highlight interesting passages, or the selected sections can be cut and pasted.

Files can be transferred to a PC for storage or to email to friends. It is even compatible with IBM ViaVoice Transcription software that will recognise the user's voice and convert speech files to text. Olympus: 0800 072 0070 www.olympus.co.uk.

Voice of reason

Not having a motor gives digital voice recorders a few distinct advantages over tape-based recorders - there is no noise to affect the quality of the recording, no moving parts to go wrong and a there's a consequent increase in battery life.

Moreover, digital recorders can be far more accurate and start recording instantaneously. This talent is utilised by the Panasonic RR-QR240's (£100) Voice Activated System that starts recording when a noise is detected and stops when there has been a period of silence.

The RR-QR240 stamps every file with a time and date, has room for 99 files, and up to four folders can be created to organise them all. Panasonic: 0870 535 7357 www.panasonic.co.uk.

Speed of sound

The ICR-B50 (£150) from Sanyo is one of many high-end digital voice recorders that are compatible with PCs. This allows sound files to be downloaded and sent as email attachments.

The ICR-B50 includes an embedded 8Mb chip with room for four folders that can each hold up to 99 files. It can also jog your memory by playing a pre-recorded alarm. Sanyo: 0800 328 3680 www.sanyo.co.uk.

Message centre

The Sony ICD-37 (£70) proves that digital voice recorders can be affordable and still offer a great deal of functionality. It can hold 45 minutes of recordings as 297 messages in three files.

It also has a large LCD, a speed control to skip through the dull bits of an interview and a large built-in speaker. All this from a gadget the size of a squashed chocolate bar that's less than 15mm thick. Sony: 0990 111999 www.sony.co.uk.

Stick together

The Sony Memory Stick family has been turning heads for some time with the network Walkman, DV camcorder and camera versions parading ultra compact physiques and stylish designs.

The ICD-MS1 (£200) digital recorder upholds the family name with its slender dimensions and dazzling aqua backlit display. It comes with Memory Stick Voice Editor software that supports PC connectivity and allows users to reorganise data on a PC before transferring it back to the recorder.

It comes with a 16Mb memory card that can store 131 minutes of data at the lowest quality or 63 minutes at the highest. Sony: 0990 111999 www.sony.co.uk.

It's a handful

To the untrained eye, the Olympus V90 (£70) could look a bit like a shoe horn but digital voice recorder aficionados label it a "marvel of ergonomic engineering".

Well that is what Olympus reckons and, in practical terms, the design allows the V90 to slip neatly in to one hand. The slick image is only part of the story and inside there is plenty of useful gadgetry.

The 8Mb of flash memory means the V90 is capable of storing 90 minutes of recording as 299 messages and it weighs only 45 grams. Olympus: 0800 072 0070 www.olympus.co.uk.

Thought for the day

We all like to tell ourselves that we are struck by genius on occasion but never get the chance to write it down before our moment of inspiration is forgotten forever.

The old 'no pen or paper' excuse is history thanks to this pair of key ring-sized digital recorders. There is the Micro Keychain Memo Recorder (£7) in fancy translucent blue or the Microphone Digital Recorder (£5). Other suggested uses are remembering the location of your car, shopping or phone numbers.

Both players have a capacity of eight seconds, which may just be enough for the most profound contemplation of a goldfish. Gadgetshop.com: 0800 783 8343 www.gadgetshop.com.