We would also like to draw your attention to the Cradle stand coming with the device, which helps to connect it to the computer. We see cradles like that in PDAs and notebooks, and we are really glad Sony borrowed this idea for its drive.

The last, but one of the most important things about this device is its true mobility. It is achieved not only due to small size, but also due to universal power supply circuit. MPD-AP20U can get power from AC power source (like most external drives do), but also from its own accumulator battery, or use power elements installed in the cradle. The two latter options help to increase the time of autonomous work considerably.

The USB 2.0 (Hi-Speed) interface has become the mainstream thing in today’s devices. The 60MB/s bandwidth is quite enough for the Sony drive. Of course, you can use USB 1.1, too, but the lower bandwidth may negatively impact the performance of the device. For example, you can get unstable picture when watching DVD-movies via USB 1.1.

MPD-AP20U features an 8MB buffer (some internal models have less!) to maintain stable data transfer at a high speed.

No doubt that those of you who met Sony CD Walkman will find MPD-AP20U very similar. They do really look similar. They both have nearly the same dimensions as they work with full-size (12 cm) compact disks. The device has a metal gray case with bluish glimmer and black plastic parts. There is some info about the model on the round cover; a small window shows the rotating disk inside. To the left of the window, there is a spot you should press on to close the cover. The controls are placed on the black panel at the front. The Lock slider blocks the neighboring keys: Sound (selects one of seven different sound modes) and Eject (take a guess what this is for?). There is also a LED indicating the work mode of the device and the PC connector. The Memory Stick slot and its own LED are on the right side of the case. The left side carries USB and power connectors and a composite input for the remote control and headphones.