For a great price, Pogo packs an incredible number of features into this tiny portable audio player, such as easy expansion and the ability to record music without a PC. At $129 the RipFlash has just 32MB of internal memory, but you can add more by purchasing a SmartMedia card for its expansion slot (about $70 for a 128MB card). The player can record through its internal microphone but also includes a line-in port for connecting a CD player or similar device, so you can encode MP3s without a computer. It even lets you choose the bit rate. But there's a catch: At 128 kilobits per second, the sound quality is only about as good as AM radio, significantly worse than music encoded at the same bit rate on your PC. Nevertheless, the line-in can be very helpful if you need to record a phone conversation, and the internal mic is just what you need for capturing a lecture.

Unfortunately, the RipFlash lacks a basic feature that most portable MP3 players include: It can't display the ID3 tag information that stores the track and artist name in a digital audio file. As a result, it can't display artist, album, or song names. This limitation can become an issue if you have several expansion cards and you can't remember what items you stored on them. The RipFlash also lacks rechargeable batteries; if you're a frequent listener, expect to burn through a set of AAAs in a week. The player comes with proprietary software for transferring files via its USB 1.1 port; it handles the job with minimal fuss.

UPSHOT: With poor line-in recording and an inability to display track info, this feature-packed player is less desirable than it might have been. It still makes a fine beginner model, thanks to its low cost.

SUMMARY

Pogo RipFlash 32MB internal flash memory, plays MP3 and WMA files, USB 1.1 port, 2.3 ounces, two AAA batteries, earpiece headphones; MP3 Manager software. $129 866/367-7646 www.pogoproducts.com