Home Theater To Take With You

By Wilson Rothman

If you're so addicted to TV that you feel withdrawal pangs when you're outdoors, Microsoft wants to help. Its new Portable Media Centers, which come in three versions--built by Creative, Samsung and iRiver, respectively--are due out in a few weeks. Each device has a color screen and a hard drive that can store music, pictures and video. It may prove difficult to enjoy a full-length movie on a 3.5-in. screen, but you will have other media from which to choose: Microsoft has partnered with content providers like CinemaNow and Major League Baseball (just in time for the World Series). You can preorder either the Creative 20-GB Zen PMC or the Samsung Yepp YH-999 on Amazon.com ($500 apiece; scheduled to ship in early September). The iRiver PMC, available in both 20-GB and 40-GB models, rolls out this October. --By Wilson Rothman