7. Conclusion

Any of these players should get the job done and your choice can mainly be made on preference and price. The latter point might be the key to your decision, since if you have been looking at the price ranges in the "Compare Prices for all..." links, you'll find low-to-high variations of more than 2X!

As mentioned earlier, the Creative Zen Nano Plus gets our nod for the best bang for the buck, since it can be found for as low as around $60! Its main downside is its limited file format support. Another choice for bargain-hunters is the Sony Bean, but make sure you ditch the SonicStage software and check out one of the alternative programs.

If you've got more to spend, the iPod Nano isn't necessarily the best choice, given its scratch-prone finish and lack of FM tuner. A lot of the Nano's sex appeal goes away once its safely ensconced in a protective case. The other high-priced alternative is the iRiver U10, which would be the choice if photo and video viewing is important to you.

Finally, while the Samsung YP-T7JZ falls squarely in the middle of the pricing pack, it wins the contest for smallest (although not thinnest) player of the bunch. And its FM Tuner and recording capability make it definitely worth considering over the iPod Nano if you're willing to resist joining the cult of iPod.

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