Check the latest prices		1. Creative Nomad MuVo (64MB) Last year's 64MB MuVo has no display and only nominal playback functions. But it sounds great, couldn't possibly be simpler to use, and is about the size of a Zippo lighter. Plus, the player plugs directly into any USB port, so it can double as a portable storage device.
Check the latest prices		2. iRiver ChromeX iMP-150 Before iRiver started making its award-winning flash MP3 players, the company launched an MP3 CD player, the iMP-50. This second-generation incarnation is more stable, recognizes a wide range of files and discs, has good antiskip protection, and includes an in-line remote so that you can control playback while the device is tucked away in a bag.
Check the latest prices		3. Rio S10 (64MB) The Rio S10 isn't terribly new, but its low price and its smooth interface make it an excellent choice for digital-music fans on a budget. You can expand the included 64MB of memory to 192MB using an SD/MMC card, and a single AA battery provides about 20 hours of playback.
Check the latest prices		4. Creative Nomad MuVo (128MB) The less expensive 64MB MuVo ranks higher on the list than this 128MB version, but since the MuVo's memory is nonexpandable, some users will prefer the higher-capacity model, which gives you twice the storage space for $20 more. This player is perfect for people who are frustrated with complicated controls and unnecessary features, and it plugs directly into USB ports sans drivers for easy data and music transfer.
Check the latest prices		5. Rio Fuse (128MB) The newest MP3 player in this lineup by a long shot, the Rio Fuse is a plug-in model with a display and consummate playback features. We're a bit shocked that our price-comparison engine is already unearthing prices less than $90 for this unit, because it recently debuted with a retail price of $129. But our editors tested the Fuse and found it clearly worthy of your bargain-hunting consideration.
Check the latest prices		6. Rio S30S (64MB) The Rio S30S is ideal for bargain hunters who want to exercise while listening to MP3 files or FM radio. The device ships with 64MB of onboard memory, which you can expand to 192MB with an SD/MMC card. The S30S sports the same "bubble" interface as the rest of the 2002 Rio players, provides strong EQ options, and includes a carrying case with an armband.
Check the latest prices		7. Panasonic SV-SD50 (64MB) The shiny SV-SD50 is a cleverly designed little player. It supports MP3, WMA, and AAC files; comes with an SD-card reader for file transfer; and has an excellent 31-hour battery life that makes up for its minor copyright-protection issues.
Check the latest prices		8. iRiver iFP-180T (128MB) We had a few minor quibbles, but a lengthy feature list and an elegant design make this device well worth its asking price. In addition to supporting MP3, ASF, and WMA files, the iFP-180T can record both voice memos and music from its built-in FM radio--quite impressive for such a small, lightweight, and inexpensive player.
Check the latest prices		9. Philips MP3 Key Ring Key003 (64MB) The Key003 has more beauty than brains, but users looking for a chic music player to carry in public will appreciate this ultracompact's design, which has a svelte shape and a white, gold, and silver color scheme. Like some early plug-in models, the Key003 has no display, but you don't really need one to deal with only 64MB of onboard memory and nominal playback functions. You drag and drop songs onto the player, and they play in alphabetical order.
Check the latest prices		10. Samsung Yepp YP-30S (64MB) This MP3 player from Samsung is lightweight and ultracompact. Though it has only 64MB of nonexpandable onboard memory, the YP-30S is well designed, can record voice memos, and comes with a sturdy armband/belt clip that's great for jogging or gym use.
Check the latest prices		Bonus track: Creative Nomad Jukebox 2 (10GB) While we know that you'll need more than Ben Franklin's $100 mug to bring home the Nomad Jukebox 2 (10GB), it's such a fine deal that we feel obliged to mention it. The device is equipped with USB 2.0/1.1, pristine sound quality, great DSP and EQ settings, and enough space for more than a week of continuous music (assuming a 128Kbps bit rate).