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Back in 1987, the Remedy Removable Winchester hard drive cost a whopping $1495 for 47MB of storage--about $32 per megabyte (according to our December 1987 issue). These days, portable hard drives exceed 20GB in capacity and cost mere pennies per megabyte. I looked at three new ones: the 6GB Jukebox 6000 ($249) and the 6GB MiniHD ($199) from Archos, and the 20GB Pockey ($330) from Pockey Drives.

I tested shipping versions of the drives on a Dell Dimension XPS 300 with 128MB of RAM, a 300-MHz PII processor, and Windows 98 SE. All three require a system that runs Win 98 SE or higher or Macintosh OS 8.6 or higher.

MP3s And Data, Too

Archos's silver Jukebox 6000, an MP3 player with 6GB of storage space, measures 3 inches wide, 4 inches tall, and 1 inch thick. Along the edges, blue foam padding provides protection against drops and bumps. Of the three, the 12-ounce Jukebox 6000 was the heaviest.

Installation was simple: I connected the Jukebox to my PC's USB port, waited for Windows to recognize it, and installed the software from its CD-ROM. Windows then displayed the device and assigned it a drive letter. From there, I could simply drag and drop files onto the drive.

In my informal tests, copying a 390MB file from my local hard drive to the Jukebox took 8 minutes, 27 seconds, and copying it back took 8 minutes, 15 seconds. My only gripe: The user interface was clumsy. For instance, adjusting the volume took three steps; a dedicated volume button would be much easier.

The Jukebox 6000 comes with two sets of rechargeable NiMH AA batteries, an AC adapter, a USB cable, a driver CD-ROM, Music Match CD software, a carrying case, and an installation guide. In my tests, the batteries lasted for about 8 hours.

Itty-Bitty Backup

Archos's 6GB MiniHD hard drive weighs about 7 ounces and is approximately 4 inches long, 2 inches wide, and 0.5 inch thick. It includes USB and PC Card attachments, a PS2 power adapter, a manual, and V Communications' AutoSave backup software. For $30 more, you can buy an IEEE 1394 adapter from Archos.

Installation with the USB attachment was a snap. If your USB port does not supply enough power, though, you'll have to hook up the PS2 adapter. When you install the drivers, you can opt to install the included backup software as well, and then set the software to back up your files to the MiniHD.

However, it isn't the fastest. I copied my 390MB file to the MiniHD in 11 minutes, 22 seconds, and then copied the file back to the desktop in 8 minutes, 17 seconds.

Pocketable Pockey

The 20GB Pockey, by far the least expensive per megabyte of the three, weighs about 5 ounces. It's about 5 inches long, 0.5 inch thick, and 3 inches wide, and it doesn't require additional power: It gets all it needs from your PC's USB port. (Note: USB ports on Toshiba and NEC laptops may be incompatible.)

I simply plugged in the USB cable and installed the drivers from the CD. To transfer files, I just dragged and dropped. The Pockey was slightly slower than the Jukebox, taking 9 minutes, 12 seconds to copy a 390MB file from my PC to itself, and 8 minutes, 5 seconds to copy the file back.

The Jukebox 6000 was the most versatile of the three, especially if you have a large MP3 collection. For travelers who need a quick way to back up files without carrying a power cord or batteries, the Pockey is an excellent choice. I liked the many input options of the MiniHD, but the unit's transfer speeds were slower, and you may need to use its power cord, especially with laptops.

SUMMARY

Jukebox 6000 PRO: MP3 player and data storage. CON: Clumsy controls, rather heavy. VALUE: A solid choice for audiophiles who work on multiple systems and want to take their music along. Price: $249 Archos 949/453-1121 www.archos.com

SUMMARY

MiniHD PRO: Small and light; includes IEEE 1394 adapter, a PS2 power adapter, and a PC Card. CON: May require additional power. VALUE: A versatile backup system with multiple connection options. Price: $199 Archos 949/453-1121 www.archos.com

SUMMARY

Pockey PRO: This small hard drive doesn't need any external power supply. CON: Transfer speeds a bit sluggish. VALUE: Great for travelers. Price: $330 Pockey Drives 818/717-9556 www.pockeydrives.com

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