MP3 Player Buyer's Guide

There are lots of great players out there, but how do you know which one is right for you? Different types of MP3 players (hard drive-based, flash-based, and MP3/CD) work best for different types of people. Before you buy, use this guide to figure out how much music you want to carry on your MP3 player, as well as how you plan to use your player most. The more memory the player has, the more songs you'll be able to store.*

Hard Drive MP3 Players

MP3 players with hard drive storage have the most capacity of any type of MP3 player. A high-capacity player can likely store every song in your library. These will be the preferred player type for use at home, office or in the car. A hard drive-based player with 4GB of storage holds about 1,000 songs, a player with 20GB of storage holds about 5,000 songs, and a player with a 60GB hard drive can hold a whopping 15,000 songs. Keep in mind that you can use your MP3 player as a portable hard drive, storing data files on the space you don't use for music.

Pros: These offer the most storage capacity. They tend to have more features, larger screens, and larger controls for easier use. These will also provide the best price/storage ratio.

Cons: Hard drive based MP3 players have moving parts internally, so they are not recommended for use during strenuous activity such as running. They also tend to be larger and heavier than flash-based MP3 players.

Flash Memory MP3 Players

Flash memory MP3 players do not offer as much capacity as hard drive based players, but they are much more compact. They also have no moving parts, so they can tolerate shock from running or working out with minimal risk of damage. This also usually means longer battery charge life. Many include additional features such as FM tuners, voice recording, or the addition of more storage in the form of removable media such as Secure Digital cards.

Pros: These players are most compact and lightweight. They are more suitable for strenuous activity because they have no moving parts, and also typically offer the longest battery life.

Cons: Flash memory MP3 players have the highest price/storage ratio, and do not have as much storage capacity as a hard-drive based player.