Track your fitness progress

Sony doesn't include any workout software with the NW-S200 Sports Walkman, but if you decide to buy it anyway, all is not lost. The fitness-friendly features of the player will still come in handy should you choose to track your progress via another method. One option is Open Fitness by WorkoutWare, a software program that can help you keep track of your overall health with various journals and other tools.

Another option is to create a simple Excel spreadsheet to keep track of your cardio. The NW-S200 will keep track of your time, steps, distance, and calories (you must enter height, weight, and age into the player for this last feature to work) for each workout, and it even includes several slots to store data from various workouts. But you'll eventually have to free these up, so it's a good idea to keep a spreadsheet for long-term goals. For tips on measuring your stride, check About.com.