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Rio PMP300

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description Rio PMP300 Overview

The Rio PMP300 is a portable digital audio player introduced by Diamond Multimedia in 1998. It stored MP3 files in flash memory and transferred music from a computer through a parallel-port connection, making it one of the first commercially prominent portable MP3 players. A recording-industry lawsuit seeking to halt its sale was unsuccessful, helping establish that such players could be marketed legally in the United States.

help Rio PMP300 FAQ

How much music could the Rio PMP300 hold?

The Rio PMP300 shipped with 32MB of internal flash memory, which held roughly 8 to 10 songs encoded at the standard MP3 bitrates of the late 1990s. This was a dramatic limitation compared to portable CD players, though it had no moving parts and could skip-free playback.

Could you expand the storage on the Rio PMP300?

Yes, the Rio PMP300 included a SmartMedia card slot for additional storage. By adding a SmartMedia card you could roughly double or triple the number of songs the device could hold, depending on card capacity.

How did you transfer music files to the Rio PMP300 from a computer?

The Rio PMP300 connected to a computer via a parallel port cable, not USB, which was still uncommon in consumer electronics in 1998. Transfers were slow by modern standards, and the bundled software managed the file copying from your PC's hard drive to the player.

Was the Rio PMP300 involved in a lawsuit?

Yes, the RIAA sued Diamond Multimedia in 1998 attempting to block the Rio's release under the Audio Home Recording Act. A federal court ultimately ruled in Diamond's favor in 1999, finding the Rio was not subject to the Act's restrictions, a landmark decision that helped clear the way for the MP3 player market.

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