that DAB radio sales MIGHT do a little better (without accounting for compression and technical issues) if the available radios were anything other than overpriced, single-speaker excercises in how to make the largest, most retro/garish and most difficult to use pieces of hardware possible.

It isn't even stereo! How quaint.

The battery setup at least. If its a built in re-chargeable, then when its exhausted, and the mains power is off, thats it for a while, Cluedo by candlelight (um...). At least you can keep a number of appropriate "disposable" batteries in the cupboard and keep entertained (on FM at least, to make it last longer). I like the fact that it can charge rechargeables in situ, as thats one less task to deal with every so often.

At last: an article on the register that isn't trying to stick it to DAB. I've got 3 dab radios; I think they're great.

Agree with Martin.

The manufacturers need to produce something that looks a bit more 'modern' and at least have stereo. Failing that I would only buy something pocket sized so that at least it would be more portable for everyday use. Local radio stations would help to sell it too. Energy efficiency/power consumption also needs to be improved to get longer battery life. There seems to be a great temptation on the part of the manufacturers to go for cheap mass production at the expense of quality (sound/features/durability).

Having said the above I have a hope for an improved system and sets.

Excuse me, but personally I don't think stereo from a portable is really worth bothering with unless you're wearing headphones or are prepared to sit right in front of the thing without moving which is I think unlikely to be very comfortable or practical.

My coat's the one made of Teflon® like the ones worn by politicians or perhaps by Paris when she's enjoying a shower of some sort.

I agree with the comments about DAB radios being rather ugly. I bought a Roberts radio a few years ago and my father tut-tutted, wondering what the hell had happened to radios these days. Say what you like about the Evoke radios, but they're simple and effective. As for stereo, as long as it had a stereo headphone and/or outputs to a stereo amplifier, that would be just fine.

There isn't a lot of point having a stereo amp and speakers on a DAB radio, unless it also has an analogue FM tuner. Most of the DAB streams are mono.

And while charging rechargeables in situ looks like a nice idea, it's still just a teeny weeny bit pointless. Either there's a power point nearby where you're going to be listening (in which case you can just use the mains) or there isn't (in which case you have to move the whole radio rather than just swapping out the batteries).

But worst of all, it's styled after a machine for making absolutely lousy toast! Even if you do manage successfully to find the few fractions of a degree between "raw" and "burnt" on the dial, an electric toaster still makes electric-tasting toast.

I'm currently on my 4th Foreman Grill. This time with the removable plates. They are great for bacon and sausages. You can do an egg on it as well if you put the front feet into the grease tray so the cooking surface is level. Fried tomatoes and mushrooms.

I'm hungry....

Does it come with a map of the regions where there is a DAB signal too? Handy that is has a receiver for real radio built in, there won't be any problems finding FM stations.

If it were satellite based you could even listen to your favourite UK station. But it isn't and you can't, and never will be able to. Looks like the content creeps got their way, no pan European transmission system because they can't/won't license content for pan-European distribution.