The possibilities seem endless. A built-in CD tray and an impressively huge 20 GB hard drive let you burn and store around 400 CDs (or 5,000 songs) using MP3 compression (scalable from 96 to 320 Kbps), or around 40 CDs at full resolution. You can mix and match, too, reserving the best quality for your favorite music. In any case, storing your library on the MC-1 frees up your discs or tapes for car or portable use.

Two USB ports simplify the transfer of music files from your PC, and you can choose from RCA analog inputs or either optical or coaxial digital-audio inputs to pull music from cassette, minidisc, portable CD, VHS, DVD, or even LP (if you have an outboard phono preamplifier). Any way you cut it, you'll have an incredible selection at your fingertips.

The genius of the MC-1 is in the tools it offers to help organize your music. Chief among those is preloaded software called OpenGlobe, which handles everything from calling up artist and track info for your CDs to classifying and recommending Internet radio stations based on your preferences. There's a commercial element, as well: OpenGlobe will create "artist of the week" promotions based on your listening habits, and if you press the remote control's shopping-cart button while listening to an Internet-radio song, you'll have the option to buy that artist's music right then and there. (A credit card is required to shop, but not for general use.)

Other conveniences include the ability to classify the music you've stored on the MC-1 in an infinite number of groups and playlists, any way you like: by year, by artist, by genre, by tempo... you name it. The MC-1 will call up artist, track, and genre information for nearly any CD you insert, viewable on either your TV or the unit's two-line, 20-character display. All stored music info is fully editable, whether you want to alter the automatic genre settings or enter disc details for albums not recognized by the Music Center.

Of course, such a system can't work without an online lifeline; simply plugging a standard RJ-11 phone line into the unit's rear panel does the trick. This connection provides not only music data, but music itself--the MC-1 lets you enjoy streaming Internet radio from thousands of sites around the world. Use the preconfigured sites/stations, or add your own.

You can use your existing Internet service provider, though be aware that the iPAQ Music Center does not currently support AOL or CompuServe. There's no additional monthly fee for the online access, and you can use dial-up access, cable, or DSL.

A television is required for set-up and recommended for enhanced usage, but once you're up and running, your Music Center can function like any other component in your stereo or home theater--apart from the fact that none of those others can do what this baby does. (You'll need the TV for Internet radio access, as well.)

As the MC-1 does not contain speakers or an amplifier, you'll need to connect it to an integrated amplifier or surround receiver, just as you would a CD or DVD player.

Other iPAQ Music Center features include the ability to read CD-ROM/CD-RW discs of MP3 files recorded on your PC; a Web Sync button, which takes you to your own Internet homepage, letting you change playlists and system settings remotely; a search feature using an onscreen guide to find specific music tracks; and a full-function remote control, which you can use anywhere in the room to operate not only your iPAQ Music Center, but certain functions on your TV and receiver as well.

The iPAQ Music Center will continually evolve, adding new features and services as they become available, such as S-Link CD changer control, a jack for which is already on the unit's back panel. Due to its upgradeable nature, Compaq warns that all hardware and software specifications are subject to change without notice.