Creative ZEN V Plus

Ready to think outside the iPod? Creative Labs has been making great MP3 players for years, and they offer loads of extra features that Apple has stayed away from thus far. The newest player is the cute, fun ZEN V Plus. Instead of touch controls, it has a five-way joystick that some people find easier to use. This scratch-resistant Flash player includes features that can be synced up with bundled software or Microsoft Outlook such as voice recording, FM radio and a built-in organizer for contacts, etc. You can download music from a CD player (no computer needed) thanks to a line-in cable. One drawback: video files converted for this player are quite large, so although it plays videos, you won't be able to store lots of movies.

Deets
Colors: white or black
Sizes: 1, 2, 4, 8 GB
Prices: $199 to $429
Need more info?: www.creative.com