Medion Mini Digital Jukebox

It is difficult to look at the Medion Mini Digital Jukebox without comparing it to the iPod Mini. It has a circular control panel, complete with a central button, reminiscent of the iPod's click-wheel. It also includes an almost identical set of white headphones.

The Mini Digital Jukebox has a 2.5Gb hard disk that, according to Medion, is enough to store around 1,200 songs. This is possible but only if you encode songs at a very low-quality setting. Realistically you should be able to store around 600 songs of near CD-quality MP3 and WMA music.

Unfortunately, there are no touch-sensitive buttons on the Mini Digital Jukebox, so it isn't as easy to use as we would have liked. However, its menu system is quite intuitive, and it won't take you long to figure out how to select tracks, adjust the volume and access other features such as the voice recorder. You can also store normal files on the player, using it as a portable hard disk.

We weren't impressed with the Mini Digital Jukebox's build-quality, though, which is reflected in its £99 price tag. It feels cheap and the buttons emit a loud clicking noise, which makes the device feel distinctly lacking in refinement. As a result, you may be reluctant to use it in public, particularly around iPod owners. Another snag is that it's only available in KwikSave stores.

Contact: Medion 01793 715715
www.medion.co.uk