Auto power save MP3 players

The Bottom Line: The Transcend T.sonic 600 series is an easy-to-use, compact, and affordable player with decent extras such as voice recording and an FM tuner, but its lack of support for protected WMAs and its lackluster overall performance drag it down.

Specs: Digital player / radio, 1 GB, MP3, WAV, WMA, ADPCM, Lithium ion polymer Rechargeable Player batteryInternal

The Bottom Line: The Transcend T.sonic 600 series is an easy-to-use, compact, and affordable player with decent extras such as voice recording and an FM tuner, but its lack of support for protected WMAs and its lackluster overall performance drag it down.

Specs: Digital player / radio, 2 GB, MP3, WAV, WMA, ADPCM, Lithium ion polymer Rechargeable Player batteryInternal

The Bottom Line: The Transcend T.sonic 600 series is an easy-to-use, compact, and affordable player with decent extras such as voice recording and an FM tuner, but its lack of support for protected WMAs and its lackluster overall performance drag it down.

Specs: Digital player / radio, 512 MB, MP3, WAV, WMA, ADPCM, Lithium ion polymer Rechargeable Player batteryInternal

Editors' Take: Good looks and amazing battery life make this flash player a true contender.

Specs: Flash player, 1 GB, MP3, WAV, WMA, ATRAC3, ATRAC3plus, 1 GB, Lithium ion Rechargeable Player battery

Editors' Take: Good looks and amazing battery life make this flash player a true contender.

Specs: Flash player, 512 MB, MP3, WAV, WMA, ATRAC3, ATRAC3plus, Lithium ion Rechargeable Player battery

Editors' Take: Good looks and amazing battery life make this flash player a true contender.

Specs: Flash player, 512 MB, MP3, WAV, WMA, ATRAC3, ATRAC3plus, Lithium ion Rechargeable Player battery

The Bottom Line: Rio's Forge Sport makes a terrific and stylish workout companion.

Specs: Digital player / radio, 256 MB, MP3, WMA, Audible, 1 x Alkaline AAA type Standard battery

The Bottom Line: The attractive MR-100 does a fine job playing music files, but its poor recording quality, hard-to-use controls, and spotty FM reception and transmission dull its appeal.

Specs: Digital player / radio, 128 MB, MP3, WMA, 1 x Nickel metal hydride "chewing gum" battery Rechargeable Standard battery

Specs: Flash player, 128 MB, MP3, WMA, 1 x Alkaline AAA type Standard battery

The Bottom Line: The Rio Fuse USB plug-in player is affordable, capable, and ultraportable, but it lacks extras found on competing models.

Specs: Digital player, 128 MB, MP3, WMA, 1 x Alkaline AAA type Standard battery