Donald Bell,
Senior Editor
March 6, 2008
It can't be easy to be an MP3 player manufacturer these days--especially when your competition has sold over 100 million iPods. To many people, the terms iPod and MP3 player are practically interchangeable. There are many good reasons that the iPod brand is the king of the hill when it comes to MP3 players, but the iPod is not a perfect product. If you're the kind of person who bucks the trends (or maybe you have a grudge against Steve Jobs), then I present to you our list of high-capacity hard-drive MP3 players that offer a competitive alternative to the iPod Classic. While none of these players have much chance of dethroning the iPod (many have their own set of flaws), each offers something unique that the iPod Classic doesn't. Whether you're looking for better sound quality, a bigger or more colorful screen, subscription music service compatibility, or just a different look, this list will give you an idea of what the competition has to offer.
| Product name | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $294.99 to $399.99 | $162.96 to $399.99 | $229.99 to $282.99 | Check Prices | $264.99 to $308.16 | $683.99 |
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| Review date | August 30, 2007 | November 12, 2007 | November 29, 2007 | September 13, 2006 | January 25, 2008 | January 26, 2006 |
| The Bottom Line | The Archos 605 WiFi portable video player is one of the best mobile distractions money can buy. | The Zune has blossomed from an ugly duckling into a worthy iPod alternative. | The Haier America Ibiza Rhapsody is a cutting-edge media player that puts its wireless capabilities to good use while still retaining an easy-to-use design and interface. If you're willing to shell out the dough for a massive feature list, give it consideration. | The bulky but easy-to-use Creative Zen Vision W and its nice screen will dazzle video lovers who don't require video recording. | The Cowon A3 portable video player is a fantastic value when judged on the merits of its file support and integrated video-recording capabilities. If you've got nimble fingers and an eclectic assortment of audio and video formats, the Cowon A3 should be at the top of your list. | The dazzling, DRM-friendly Creative Zen Vision:M gives the iPod a run for the money as the current high-capacity WMA champ. |
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| Features | ||||||
| Battery technology |
Lithium polymer |
Lithium ion |
Lithium polymer |
Lithium ion |
Lithium polymer |
Lithium ion |
| Display type |
TFT 4.3 in - Color |
Info unavailable | Info unavailable |
TFT 4.3 in - Color |
TFT 4 in - Color |
Info unavailable |
| Hard drive |
160 GB |
Info unavailable | Info unavailable |
60 GB |
60 GB |
Info unavailable |
| Digital player (recorder) | Info unavailable |
WMA WMAPro Audible MP3 AAC |
WMA WAV Protected WMA (DRM) MP3 AAC |
Info unavailable | Info unavailable | Info unavailable |
| Compatibility | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | Info unavailable |
Intel VIIV Technology |
Info unavailable | Info unavailable |
| Device type |
Digital AV player |
Info unavailable | Info unavailable |
Digital AV player |
Digital AV recorder |
Info unavailable |
| Dimensions (WxDxH) | Info unavailable |
2.4 in x 0.5 in x 4.3 in |
2.4 in x 0.5 in x 4.1 in |
Info unavailable | Info unavailable | Info unavailable |
| Color | Info unavailable |
Black |
Volcanic black |
Black |
Info unavailable |
Black |
| Video capture formats | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | Info unavailable |
ASF |
Info unavailable |
| Mfr estimated battery life | Info unavailable | |||||
