The portable media player arena is dominated by companies such as Archos and Creative, but Philips’ announcement of the 30GB PMC7230 promised an impressive alternative. At $349, the device is competitively priced and features stellar navigation and unique recording capabilities. But a few drawbacks prevent this player from being a top pick.

The PMC7230 is not exactly svelte. At 4.2 x 3.7 x 0.8 inches, the boxy case departs from the increasingly popular widescreen designs of competing players. On the plus side, this orientation allowed Philips to place two five-way switches beneath the screen, keeping all controls on the face of the unit. You won’t have to hunt for the volume keys or anything else.

The large frame allows for a sizable 3.5-inch screen with a 320 x 240-pixel resolution. That doesn’t make for the sharpest picture when compared with other players; models from Archos and Creative sport higher-resolution displays. Viewed up close, the image takes on the “screen door” effect, where you can see vertical and horizontal lines that make up the pixels. We like the very wide viewing angles, making the PMC7230 well suited for watching movies with a friend.