For watching video on the go, the Archos 605 WiFi media player offers a near-perfect combination of usability and portability. The 4.6-inch, 800-by-400-pixel wide-screen LCD is just the right size for close-up viewing on a train or plane, yet it slips ...

Big, high-quality touch-screen ; Wireless Internet access

Only 30GB of storage ; TV hookup requires $100 extra

At twice the screen size and five times the resolution of the video iPod, I loved watching video on the Archos 605 WiFi. With wireless connectivity and the optional DVR Station, you'll never be short on video content--and it plays music, shows photos, ...

The Cowon iAudio 7 is a compact, Flash-based player that measures just 3 inches long by 1.4 inches wide (but a chunky 0.7 inches thick), and it weighs only 2.1 ounces. Its tiny 1.3-inch TFT LCD screen responds more quickly than the OLED display of its ...

Small, lightweight design, Records voice and FM radio

Screen is too small for watching video, Average audio quality

Erratic controls and a miniature screen limit the appeal of the iAudio 7.

Despite its new design, the fourth-generation iPod Nano is more of an evolutionary step than a major overhaul.

Slim, elegant design, Attractive video playback

Lacks radio and voice recording

Completely redesigned, the third-generation Nano adds video playback and redefines the portable media player.

The small, sleek Clix 2nd Generation from iRiver has pretty much everything you'd want in a flash-based media player, starting with a beautiful, easy-to-read display and good controls.

Beautiful AMOLED display Simple, intuitive controls

Easy to accidentally click controls

The Clix 2nd Generation is a fine player, with a great display and intuitive controls. Its storage space can't match that of a hard-disk-based player; but if you're looking for a light, portable, flash-based device, it makes an excellent choice

Announced at CES earlier this year, SanDisk's Wi-Fi-equipped MP3 player has arrived, and I've been playing around with it for a while now. The first thing that struck me about this 4GB player is that its Wi-Fi capabilities are actually useful. The ...

Downloads songs over Wi-Fi ; Nice color screen

Slightly sluggish interface ; Expensive

Is the wireless worth it? At $249 for a 4GB player, the Sansa Connect isn't cheap. But with a MicroSD slot included for expansion, and the ability to pull down songs from any location that has an open access point, the device's lack of storage isn't a ...

Downloads songs over Wi-Fi, Nice color screen

Slightly sluggish interface, Expensive

SanDisk's networked wonder does a fine job of wedding Wi-Fi capabilities to a solid MP3 player.

Cowon describes the $140 (as of 1/9/07) iAudio T2 as a necklace inspired by a black diamond. However, the player looks like what it is: a little plastic box that hangs around your neck from headphone cords connected in a loop.

Very small size, lightweight Can schedule recordings from FM tuner

Fiddly controls Mixed audio quality

If you want an especially small player, or you're sure you'll like wearing a player around your neck, the Cowon iAudio T2 is worth considering. But you can find better audio quality and more features in slightly larger units that cost about the same

The SanDisk Sansa e260R is similar to the Sansa e260, but this model features slick integration with Best Buy's Digital Music Store, which is powered by RealNetworks' Rhapsody 4.0 service. The player costs $180 at Best Buy (as of 1/9/07), but you can ...

Rhapsody integration Card slot for extra memory

Controls are uncomfortable to use Disappointing audio quality

The Sansa e260R would be a great player for sampling a constantly changing blend of music from Rhapsody's $15 monthly service. However, the player's low audio quality and uncomfortable thumbwheel make it hard to recommend

Like the first iteration of the iPod Nano, the 4GB second-generation Nano ($199 as of 1/9/07) is small. It weighs 1.4 ounces and measures roughly a quarter-inch thick--thin and light enough to be barely noticeable sitting in your shirt pocket. Its ...

High audio quality ; Elegant design

Limits you to iTunes Music Store

Of course, with the Nano you're locked into using Apple's iTunes software. Though iTunes is well integrated with the iTunes Music Store, this arrangement means you can't use a music subscription service such as Napster or Rhapsody. Nonetheless, if you ...

At $125 (as of 1/9/07), the Samsung YP-T9JQB is an affordable alternative to the iPod Nano. It's small and light, fits easily into your hand, and has a smooth, attractive surface. The model we tested comes with 2GB of internal flash memory, but a 4GB ...

Well-designed and inexpensive ; Built-in mic for voice recordings

Below-average sound quality ; Video must be transcoded to MPEG-4

For such a neat little player, the Samsung T9 comes at a very competitive price. It's a shame that the audio quality falls short in a couple of areas