Touch-screen MP3 players are all the rage
In reviews, touch-screen MP3 players are attracting the most buzz, and nearly every major MP3 manufacturer has released a slim MP3 player with a large touch screen. The iPod touch was the first to bring this feature to the table, and experts overwhelmingly recommend the touch as the best MP3 player overall. However, non-Apple fans also have some great choices, especially the Microsoft Zune HD (*Est. $180 for 16 GB).
In addition to touch-screen devices, the other trend is towards tiny MP3 players that are perfect for running or going to the gym. These small players don't have many extra features, but they are inexpensive and often weigh just a few ounces -- or less. We're even seeing more in-ear MP3 players designed for gym-goers who want to get rid of extra wires and cords.
There are few good options if you want something in between an expensive touch-screen MP3 player and a small budget player like the SanDisk Sansa Clip+ (*Est. $35 for 2 GB) or iPod shuffle (*Est. $50 for 2 GB). The Apple iPod nano used to fill this void, but the latest generation, which includes a small touch screen, has debuted to rather lackluster reviews. The lack of middle ground may indicate that consumers want their MP3 players to do more than just play music. In fact, the top-rated MP3 players, like the Apple iPod touch (*Est. $230 for 8 GB), perform multiple functions: taking pictures, streaming video and playing games, to name a few. As a result, the trend is towards expensive touch-screen MP3 players rather than devices that can only play music.
One consideration with all iPod MP3 players is that you are limited to purchasing music from Apple's iTunes music store or from sites that sell music in AAC or MP3 format. You won't be able to play most of the music from popular online stores such as Napster or Rhapsody because iPods are incompatible with the WMA format used by most non-Apple music download services. Reviews do say that Apple's iTunes store is excellent, with a wide selection of music. You can also buy music that's in nonprotected MP3 format from sites like Amazon.com. For reviews of online music stores, see our companion report on music downloads.
There are many great places to read reviews of MP3 players. Technology sites like CNET, PCMag.com and Laptop Magazine have the most coverage and employ a simple rating system that makes it easy to compare MP3 players. Sites like iLounge.com and AnandTech.com have the most detailed analysis, but they review fewer players. ConsumerReports.org is good for ratings, but there's no accompanying analysis, and the site has yet to test the new iPods. For those who don't want an iPod, sites like AnythingButiPod.com cover a good number of alternative MP3 players. Amazon.com is a great source for user reviews, although most of the MP3 players that attract thousands of ratings have already been replaced by newer models.
