The Creative Zen Mozaic offers terrific sound quality and a decent feature set, and at a penny under £120 with a 16GB capacity, it's superb value. Considering its main competitor is the £150 iPod nano, that's a steal -- but there are a few flaws ...

Sound quality ; decent feature set ; FM radio ; battery life

Poor screen and video support ; video conversion requires bundled software

While neither revolutionary nor exciting in terms of functionality, the Mozaic offers terrific sound quality and a decent feature set, and is going for a penny under £120 with a 16GB capacity -- which is superb value

Apple's done it again -- its new 120GB iPod classic is a cut above the rest. This edition has more features, such as the Genius playlist tool, and allows you to watch very high-quality video on its 640x480-pixel resolution screen. As with all iPods, ...

Huge capacity ; great sound quality ; support for high-quality audio and video formats ; decent screen ; integration with iTunes for music, movie and TV show downloads ; heaps of accessories available ; sturdy design

Only one capacity option ; lacklustre EQ options ; weaker battery life compared with previously available classic

120GB of storage and the addition of the Genius feature, makes up for the slightly reduced battery life over the previous model, reaffirming the iPod classic as our favourite portable audio player on record

Apple has given its second-generation iPod touch everything it's got. It's hard to imagine, but the design is even better and its features are responsive as ever -- all this despite a price cut. It's got podcast support, video playback, a Web browser, ...

All the new features, such as the Genius tool ; the impeccable design

Overwhelming for users looking for a simple music player ; average audio quality ; iTunes software is required

This is one of the best iPods ever made -- seriously -- and it's definitely worth upgrading if you're using an old or basic MP3 player. But keep in mind that with all the new features, it could be too much for people just looking for a portable music ...

Apple seems to release new iPod models every other day, but this newest iPod nano really does impress. At just 6mm thick, it's the thinnest one they've ever made -- but there's more to it than that. New features include the Genius playlist tool, tilt ...

Design ; Apple's new Genius playlist tool ; accessibility features for the visually impaired

The fact that you have to upgrade to Apple's iTunes 8 software ; the rounded screen invites glare ; average sound quality

The fourth-generation iPod nano is easy on the eyes and the wallet, and you can't beat its hardware and user interface design. Look out for innovative accessibility features and the Genius playlist tool, but just be sure to give iTunes 8 a spin before ...

Like Coronation Street, books have remained remarkably untouched by modern technology. There's been a spate of ebook readers recently, however, so perhaps the humble book is ready for a 21st century upgrade. French company Bookeen certainly thinks so ...

Great screen ; cheaper than its rivals ; small and light

Non-standard headphone socket ; flat menu structure

The Cybook impresses with its relatively low price and great quality screen. There's room for improvement, however, as the eBook navigation and library functionality are not as good as those of its rivals

iRiver departed from convention with the Clix's D-Click screen and has innovated again with the Spinn's unusual mechanical twisting navigation system. With a stunningly crisp touchscreen, flash memory and a wealth of audio formats supported, there's ...

Sound quality ; amazing screen ; great audio file format support ; stereo Bluetooth ; intuitive controls

Not easily usable one-handed ; memory not expandable ; average battery life ; mechanical wheel only takes on some navigational control

There's no doubt the Spinn is a decent player, with great audio format support, a superb screen for watching video and excellent sound quality. But it's not without its share of issues

The most notable feature of the iRiver Lplayer music and video player is its ease of use. Helped by its simple menus, this is a great player for technophobes and the usually gadget-fearing population. It's a great MP3 player: cute, small, simple and ...

Design ; screen quality ; easy to use ; good file format support ; decent sound quality

Poor battery life ; buttons aren't very sensitive

The iRiver Lplayer is a very likeable player with a decent feature set and an ideal choice for anyone seeking a small and simple MP3 player for music. The best reason to choose it is its small size and intuitive navigation system

Low-cost, no-nonsense MP3 players enjoy a lot of attention, especially from gym goers needing something light and low cost. In 1GB, 2GB and 4GB capacities, the iRiver Volcano T7 is the latest in this category, providing a cable-free listening ...

Lightweight ; integrated USB ; acceptable sound quality

Buttons and interface ; music lacks warmth and deep bass

The iRiver Volcano T7 is a distinctly average performer in numerous respects, with competing players offering notable advantages in each. But if you like its design and don't require anything more than MP3 playback, it'll probably please

The Philips SA2820 is a strong competitor against the Apple iPod shuffle. With a crisp monochrome screen, voice recorder and 2GB capacity available for a low price, it's certainly attractive. The sound quality emphasises the bass line, making it great ...

Price ; ease of use ; no software required for transferring music ; battery life

Poor file format support ; sound quality is very bass-heavy

Not the best sounding or the best featured player, but it's a very affordable alternative to Apple's iPod shuffle, with a distinct style many will fall for

If you're not fussed about Apple's iPod range, the iRiver E100 offers great sound quality, simple operation and a pleasant design for not a lot of dosh. Providing both music and video capabilities, this player will reward you with some great features ...

Sound quality ; price ; simple operation ; easy line-in recording ; excellent internal microphone

Screen quality ; video performance ; navigation pad is unresponsive at times ; microSD contents not imported into main library

The iRiver E100 is a nice player with excellent sound quality and a good price. We feel it's still inferior to Creative's Zen or Apple's iPod nano in terms of screen quality, but its painfully simple operation makes it a good choice for MP3 newbies or ...