Best Reviewed
Portable Media Players
- Best portable media player Apple iPod Touch *Est. $300
- Budget portable media player Archos 405 *Est. $150
- High-capacity media player Archos 5 *Est. $420
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Best portable media player
- Excellent video, audio playback
- Wi-Fi
- Intuitive interface
- Can output video to TV
- Email application
- Bluetooth available with iPhone 3.0 software
- No camera
- No FM tuner or voice recorder
- No memory card slot
- iPhone 3.0 software costs $10 for Touch users
Reviewers agree that the Apple iPod Touch is a revolutionary and generally satisfying gadget -- some call it an iPhone without the phone because it plays music and video and offers Wi-Fi Internet access but doesn't make calls. The second-generation Touch has some minor improvements over its acclaimed predecessor, including an external speaker, a greater selection of useful applications and compatibility with the Nike + iPod fitness software for runners. Battery life and processing power have also been tweaked, and reviewers indicate that the Touch still outclasses every other touch-screen portable media player on the market. Memory is still small compared with competitors like the Archos 5 (*Est. $420 for 250 GB), but critics are relieved to see that the price of the Touch has come down somewhat. The iPhone 3.0 software update (*Est. $10 for Touch users) offers a number of improvements, including stereo Bluetooth for listening to music wirelessly; cut, copy and paste; and the ability to shuffle your Touch simply by shaking it.
The iPod Touch has the most buzz of any portable media player, and reviews abound. The most prolific and comprehensive reviews of portable media players are found at CNET and PCMag.com, who practically gush over the iPod Touch. Laptop Magazine and GoodGearGuide.com are also very positive overall, and user reviews at Amazon.com are legion. Coverage of the Touch is so rich across the web that ConsumerReports.org, a highly respected source of product reviews, is probably optional reading if you don't already own a subscription.
| Apple iPod touch 16 GB (2nd Generation) [Previous Model] | |
(1,486 reviews) |
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| Featured Stores | Store Rating | Notes | Total Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |  546 store reviews | In Stock. | $149.00 | See It |
 | 4,238 store reviews | In Stock. FREE SHIPPING | $149.00 | See It |
 | 59 store reviews | In Stock. Free Shipping | $141.69 | See It |
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Our Sources
1. CNET
CNET's review gives the latest iPod Touch an Editors' Choice designation, saying it surpasses the original Touch in price and functionality. Although media must be purchased from the iTunes store, selection there is unmatched. However, Donald Bell believes that audio quality compared with other MP3 players is a minor disappointment.
Review: Apple iPod Touch (Second Generation, 8GB), Donald Bell, Sept. 11, 2008
PCMag's review gives the Apple iPod Touch 2G an Editors' Choice and a perfect score, as it did with the original Touch. Experienced reviewer Tim Gideon is especially impressed with the new Touch's gaming potential, and writes that it "remains the best portable media player on the market, period."
Review: Apple iPod Touch (2nd Generation), Tim Gideon, Sept. 9, 2008
3. Laptop MagazineDetails/Subscribe
Laptop Magazine gives the Touch 2G an Editors' Choice award, citing numerous minor improvements over the 1G that keep the Touch at the cutting edge. Mike Kobrin has a few quibbles with some of the added software but feels that the Touch still has the "best touchscreen around."
Review: iPod Touch 2G, Mike Kobrin, Sept. 25, 2008
4. ConsumerReports.orgDetails/Subscribe
ConsumerReports.org is the name brand in product reviews, providing unbiased evaluations based on laboratory testing and hands-on use. You'll need either a magazine or online subscription to see how the Apple iPod Touch rates among the MP3 players that ConsumerReports.org covers.
Review: iPods and MP3 Players, Editors of ConsumerReports.org, February 2008
This Australian site features its own reviews along with those from PC World Australia and other sister publications. Melissa Perenson says that the Touch is one of the "most polished" portable media players on the market, but that the improvements on the latest version of the Touch aren't enough to justify an upgrade for those who own an original Touch.
Review: Apple iPod Touch (2nd Generation), Melissa J. Perenson, Sept. 12, 2008
6. Amazon.com
More than 950 Amazon users weigh in on the iPod Touch, with more than two-thirds giving this model a perfect score. Most users are thrilled with the device, but the lower ratings offer complaints about sound quality, accessory compatibility and susceptibility to moisture damage.
Review: Apple iPod touch 32GB (2nd Generation), Contributors to Amazon.com
Portable Media Players Runners Up:
4 picks by top review sites.
Archos 605 Wi-Fi Portable Media Player (80 GB)
Average Customer Review: |
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