Rich in features

By Simon Tsang
November 27, 2004
The Banksia Digital PMP20.

The Banksia Digital PMP20.

Banksia Digital PMP20

Price: $949

Rating: * * *


Now that NetComm has reinvented its Banksia division as a consumer electronics brand, entertainment devices will be a leading focus. The PMP20 (Portable Media Player) is Banksia Digital's first stab at the market and pits the former modem maker against Creative's Zen Portable Media Centre.

The two competing devices are similar. They both play videos, photos and music. They differ, however, in one important aspect: the operating system. Creative uses a portable version of the Media Center OS from Microsoft, while Banksia runs its own proprietary system.

Because of this, the PMP20 has none of the slick, user-friendly menu design of the Zen. Also, the four-way navigation joystick is way too spongy and unresponsive - why doesn't pushing the stick select a menu item?

The other point of difference is that the PMP20 has a slightly smaller display at 3.5 inches (the Zen is 3.8 inches). Given these issues, you would think the Zen has the PMP20 utterly licked, but that isn't the case. Where the Banksia has an advantage is that it's not tied down by the restrictions imposed by Microsoft's Media Center, such as which video formats to support.

The PMP20 can play back a wider range of video file types, including DivX and Xvid, and is bundled with software for converting movies (even DVDs) into formats playable on the device. There's also a built-in CompactFlash card slot so you can directly transfer digital photos. The process is, however, clumsy.

Instead of recognising that you've just plugged in a memory card and prompting you to transfer all photos, you have to manually select either the file or folder and copy it into the player.

It handles video playback without much difficulty though and that, being its primary role, counts for something. The PMP20 has plenty of features going for it. If only more thought was put into the interface and how people would use it.