Sony NW-E005 (2GB, violet)

Pros: long battery life, compact stylish design, fast charge, high quality sound, inexpensive

Cons: hard to read in direct sunlight, SonicStage may be hard to use

Summary: The NW-E005 is my first mp3 player, and so far I've been very satisfied with it despite a few minor problems.

The NW-E005 has a long battery life and a fast charge. The battery has lasted over twenty hours without needing to be recharged. It takes less than thirty minutes to fully charge (a three minute charge gives a three hour playback).

The sleek mp3 player- available in violet, green, and black- has a very desirable design. The only problem with the design is how hard it is to read in direct sunlight, although this problem can easily be solved by putting your finger over it to block the light.

The main complaint about the NW-E005 is using SonicStage to put songs on the mp3 player. People say that it is counterintuitive and a pain in the butt altogether. While I'm perfectly contempt with using SonicStage, there are many alternatives in case SonicStage isn't for you.

Being competitively priced, the NW-E000 series is a steal for just about eighty dollars.