Hot MP3 players: Jasmine's personal favorites

Updated May 2, 2006

There are a few things I look at when considering an MP3 player for personal use--OK, who am I kidding? I look at everything. But some key points top my list. The first is style; I'm not going to carry around something that doesn't look good. Shortly behind that are solid sound quality, ease of use, and handy features. The Creative Zen Vision:M scores high in almost every category: It has a fun, colorful design with neat electric-blue accent lighting, it sounds absolutely fantastic, and it's a breeze to operate. It also packs in features that I really use, such as an onboard calendar and a contact list (that can by synced from Outlook), FM radio, and Janus compatibility. All this and an ample 30GB hard drive make this my current player of choice. Then there's the Creative Zen Micro Photo, which makes my list for all of the same reasons as its bigger sibling but with the bonus of a compact form factor. Next, we have the iRiver U10, which garners my attention with its unique TV-like design, its lovely color screen, and the inclusion of nifty features such as recording and video playback. The optional dock makes it an even more attractive option; I just wish it were included with the player, considering the U10's lofty price tag. Finally, there's the Samsung YEPP YP-U2, with which I haven't had much personal time but still find myself smitten. I dig the convenient plug-in design and the tiny form factor--it's perfect for workouts and quick jaunts around town. Other digital audio after which I lust: Altec Lansing's iM7, Napster To Go, and Shure's E4c earbuds.

More resources

iPod accesories that tempt me to use an iPod  Make Some Noise: Are iPods overrated?

Editors' top MP3 players  Quick Quizzes: Test your MP3 IQ