| Apple iPod Best large-capacity MP3 player. (30GB, est. | | | | music subscription services, which allows you to 'rent' |
| $300) | | | | music on a monthly basis. The Zen has an FM tuner |
| The iPod leads the market among hard-drive players, | | | | and a voice recorder, both missing on the iPod and |
| and it's still a strong favorite in reviews. The latest iPod | | | | iPod nano. The Zen, however, is heavier (4 ounces) |
| plays both photos and video on its color screen, but | | | | and bulkier than the much-sleeker iPod nano, and it's |
| according to reviews the 2.5-inch screen is too small | | | | not as easy to use as any of the iPod models. Sound |
| for extended viewing. If you don't need space for | | | | quality, according to reviews, is excellent. The Zen is |
| 7,500 songs, the iPod nano and Zen Micro Photo are | | | | only compatible with Windows XP. |
| smaller and lighter than the 4.8-ounce iPod. The | | | | MobiBLU DAH-1500i Smallest MP3 player. (1GB, est. |
| Creative Zen Micro Photo doesn't have the iPod's | | | | $130) |
| easy interface, but the Zen Micro does have an FM | | | | The MobiBLU is about the size of a caramel candy -- |
| tuner and voice recorder, and it's compatible with the | | | | about a one-inch cube. But remarkably, according to |
| latest music-subscription services. The iPod has none | | | | reviews it's also a pretty good player, with a lot of |
| of these features. A 60GB iPod sells for $400. The | | | | features crammed into its tiny body. It has a tiny OLED |
| iPod is both Mac and Windows compatible. | | | | display, an FM tuner and a voice recorder in a |
| Apple iPod nano Best MP3 player overall. (2GB, est. | | | | .63-ounce case. The MobiBLU is easy to use, and |
| $200) | | | | though sound quality is good, reviews claim it's not up |
| The iPod nano is only about ?-inch thick and weighs 1.5 | | | | to the level of iPod and Creative. At about 8.5 hours, |
| ounces. According to reviews, the iPod nano tops all | | | | battery life is a bit short. The MobiBLU works with both |
| other MP3 players in reference to style, sound quality | | | | Windows and Mac computers. The MobiBLU comes in |
| and ease-of-use. By using flash memory instead of a | | | | six colors and is also available with 512MB (est. $100). |
| hard drive, it has no moving parts, making it a better | | | | Budget MP3 player. (512MB, est. $85) |
| choice for the gym than the full-size iPod; The Best | | | | The Zen Nano beats the iPod Shuffle in price and |
| MP3 Players According To Reviewsit also includes a | | | | sounds great, according to experts. It comes in eight |
| lap counter. The 2GB nano, which stores nearly 500 | | | | different colors (including pink and orange) and doesn't |
| songs, is PC and Mac compatible. Despite the | | | | skimp on features, with an FM tuner, LCD display, |
| widespread raves for the iPod nano, reviews and | | | | voice recorder and line-in recording -- all features |
| owners say it scratches very easily, and that using a | | | | missing on the competing iPod shuffle. It runs 19 hours |
| protective case is a necessity instead of an option. | | | | on a single AAA battery. Experts say the Zen Nano |
| Creative Zen Micro Photo Most features. (8GB, est. | | | | Plus is the best inexpensive lightweight flash player -- it |
| $250) | | | | weighs just 1.3 ounces. Its 512MB memory holds about |
| The Zen Micro Photo, which comes in one of ten | | | | 60 songs. |
| colors, is the best iPod alternative for those with | | | | Gloria Ramirez is writer and administrator for |
| Windows-centric music collections. It plays | | | | Bargain-Savings.com, which is an online variety store |
| copy-protected WMA songs purchased from online | | | | carrying useful products that you will love. |
| stores like Napster, and it's compatible with the latest | | | | |