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Casio MP3 Wrist Audio Player

WHAT'S HOT: Talk about being Dick Tracy cool. If you want to impress your techie friends, show up to a launch party wearing this futuristic device. Casio's bundled audio software is very easy to understand. Its USB connection makes for very speedy transfers.

WHAT'S NOT: At $249, you're paying top dollar for being ahead of the curve, but it's the first watch we've seen that also incorporates MP3 into its design. The model we reviewed ships with 16MB of on-board memory, with no upgrade options. In MP3 format, this means roughly three or four songs. Casio claims you can fit 33 minutes' worth of high-quality music on the unit, but the only way to fit that much music into so little storage would be to encode your MP3s in 64-bit sound--half the quality of a typical MP3 file, which produces thin, tinny sound. Also, the buttons on the watch for play, fast forward, rewind functions are nearly impossible to push using your fingers. We had to use a pen and forcibly press down before the device could recognize our selections.

WHAT ELSE: The large LCD allows for extensive track information. Well-built headphones can handle strong bass tones and have a rare built-in mute button. This player is the only one here that's waterproof. The battery allows for nearly 4 hours of music play, and given the small amount of memory, that means being able to hear each song four times before having to recharge. Gimmick: An LED figure, which you select from several options, "dances" on the face of the watch.

BEST USE: Despite its gimmicky transfers, this watch would be ideal for "ahead of the curve" type folks only, though other players offer better values.

SUMMARY

Casio MP3 Wrist Audio Player $249; 16MB memory, USB, rechargeable on-board battery, Casio music management software, 1-year warranty, 9-hour weekday tech support. Casio 800/836-8580 www.casio.com