Product Reviews

The SmartDisk Rover is a tiny USB flash memory device and MP3 player that comes in a single, neat package. It comes in two configurations: 64Mb and 128Mb, of which we tested the former. Mini USB-based solid-state drives are handy little devices which, because they save you the need to copy data to CD, Zip or other types of removable disk, have distinct advantages over other bulkier storage solutions.

As the Rover works like all other USB flash memory devices, once you have inserted the drive into the USB port it shows up as a volume on the desktop, and from there you can simply drag and drop MP3 files on to its icon. No proprietary software is needed, except the program that you use to create your MP3 files in the first place.

Easy as pie

The unit is extremely easy to operate - we had it up and running straight out of the box with no complications. A word of warning though: don't format the Rover, as it will only work as a PC-formatted FAT32 drive.

The MP3 player is controlled by a rocker switch on the side of the Rover. Push and hold the rocker switch up towards the top of the unit and the volume increases, push up or down and release the rocker switch and the previous or next track is played. Push in and release the rocker switch and the music is paused, press and hold and it is switched off. To guide you through its operation the Rover has a green LED which flashes when you change the volume and is on constantly when it is in use. When

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the Rover is connected to your Mac its LED glows red when at rest and flashes when it is in use.

The supplied headphones are the in-ear type, and the unit also comes with a neck strap where a belt clip might have been more suitable. The Rover is powered through USB when attached to your Mac and with a single AAA battery on the move. The advantage here is that battery life is only used for playing MP3s, so the Rover boasts a genuine 12-hour play back life.

The only real issue we had was the lack of a hold switch. When the unit is in a pocket the rocker switch can easily be knocked, and unexpected changes in volume and track are frequent.

This proved to be very annoying; however, once we found a suitable place for the Rover it became much less of a problem.

Though the Rover is not as capacious or immediately desirable as an iPod, it is a useful gadget and, after all, it's not designed to compete with the Apple player. The Rover is lightweight, and 64Mb provides an hour's worth of MP3s at 128-bit compression - enough for most trips to the gym or the daily journey to work.

Even with a few other files on it, the Rover will still carry enough music to keep you going.

The SmartDisk Rover offers an excellent fusion of two products. The flexibility of an ultra-portable storage device and an MP3 player make the Rover an attractive package - not just because of the combination of technologies, but also the simplicity with which they have been implemented. By keeping the Rover simple, SmartDisk has produced a very attractive gadget.

Get a grip

We found the Rover easy to use and were pleased with the sound quality and construction. It's bigger than other USB flash memory devices, but not by much, and not many other models can play MP3s.

If you're after an MP3 player and portable storage that is both cheap and reliable, the Rover is recommended. The build quality could be a little more reassuring, and a lack of a hold switch is an oversight, but at this price the SmartDisk Rover is excellent value.