It’s a tough call between these five models. Each has a big screen, innovative design, and intuitive navigation controls. Honestly, putting your money down on one of these will come down to personal preference.
Apple iPod Touch (16 GB)
The iPod Touch adds handy new features to the company’s line of personal music players, edging the device away from its audio-only roots and towards the role of being a PDA.
This time around, Apple’s slapped on WiFi connectivity and they’ve done it right. You can hop on the ‘net from any location and the Safari browser handles practically all public access point login pages. If you plan to watch lots of video – and you should, given its large screen – only grab the 16 GB model. The main beef with the Touch is the lack of a customizable equalizer. A calendar and address book helps you stay organized.
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ipod touch 16gb
Microsoft Zune (80 GB)
In its second incarnation, this MP3 player returns with vengeance. The large-capacity model is available with either 30 or 80 GB of storage space, which means there’ll be enough room for all your favorite videos which you can enjoy on the large 3.2-inch screen. Cleverly, you can share content with other Zune users through the player’s ad-hoc WiFi capabilities.
You can also sync your Zune with your PC over a WiFi connection, but it would be faster to do it hard-wired. Also, this player doesn’t feature an equalizer. Putting those annoyances aside, above-average headphones and a straight-forward interface give me good reason to recommend this model.
zune player 80 gb
Creative Zen Vision W (60 GB)
The Zen Vision W is one of the biggest kids in the MP3 player playground. But that extra girth means it comes with one of the biggest screens for watching video. You also shouldn’t have a major problem squeezing video onto this device with its hefty 60 GB capacity and the Vision W’s ability to play everything from WMV to DivX and XviD files. What’s more is that it’s compatible with TiVo To Go.
This device’s CF card slot makes for a handy traveling companion. Photo enthusiasts can dump their pictures onto the device. A removable rechargeable battery alleviates the player’s lousy battery life, but there’s no way to solve another problem. No WiFi.
zen vision w player 60 gb
Archos 605 WiFi (80 GB)
If you’ll primarily be watching video on-the-go, look no further than this gem. The high-resolution 800x480 pixel 4.2-inch screen is practically the size of the device and is designed to appear vivid in a variety of lighting conditions. You can also browse and download movies directly to the player using a WiFi connection.
To get the most out of the 605, you’ll need to visit the Archos website and buy software plug-ins for the web browser and for H.264, DVD-quality MPEG-2 video, AAC and AC3 audio support, which is like having to buy spark plugs for your new car.
archos 605 player 80 gb
iRiver Clix (8GB)
The storage space pales in comparison to the other models on this list and it won’t have the same brand name recognition as a player from Creative, Apple, or even SanDisk. But the iRiver brings a lot to the plate in a tight package. For starters, its D-Click touch-sensitive interface was designed from the start to make using a digital music player easier than ever. Pair that up with above-average battery life and the Clix is kicking serious butt.
It will also sound great too, thanks to on-board SRS sound enhancement and the ability to select from seven equalizer presets (you can also set your own). Did we mention it has support for OGG files?
clix player 8 gb
Apple iPod Nano (8 GB)
The first-generation of the Nano was good, but this one is even better. It’s simple and straight forward system remains the same, although some might find the tiny navigation wheel a little hard to use. Video playback is a new feature on this version, but it’s not the biggest screen to watch your favorite TV show or podcast on.
ipod nano 8 gb
Microsoft Zune (8 GB) (2nd Gen)
Basically like its larger-capacity brother, the 8 GB Zune is ideal for those who either don’t want to bring their large music collection with them on the road and/or they want to take it to the gym. The touch pad has been designed for intuitive navigation and the video player can handle a variety of formats through the Zune software. You can share music wirelessly with nearby users through a WiFi connection.
zune player 8 gb
Samsung T10 (8 GB)
This is a good pick if you want to watch the occasional video but still want a relatively small device. Bluetooth connectivity means you can use wireless headphones. Another cool feature is that you can make and answer your cell phone’s calls from the T10. Ten equalizer presets plus a customizable equalizer should let you tune the T10 for perfect sound.
samsung t10 8 gb
Creative Zen V Plus (4 GB)
Just because it’s small doesn’t mean it has to look – or work – like crap. The Zen V Plus lands on the list thanks to intuitive controls and a good group of features, including an FM tuner, line-in input, equalizer presents, an address book, and scheduler.
The Zen V Plus is ideal for the gym. Veer away from this if you’ve got large or clumsy fingers - the controls are small.
zen v plus 4 gb
SanDisk Sansa Clip (2 GB)
One of the smallest MP3 players on the market, the Sansa Clip is a good pick if you have a very active lifestyle, or if you want something that’s really small and easy to carry around (or loose – depends how you look at it). The navigation wheel is designed to be simple to work and as its name suggests, you can clip it onto your gym attire straight out of the box. It doesn’t feel that secure though, so you might want to grab an optional armband for extra peace of mind. The screen is on the small and basic side, but you’re not getting this to watch videos.
sansa clip 2 gb
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What I like about the iPod Touch, along with the entire Apple line is the support and accessories available
I still like iPod classic
I still like iPod classic
