A Good Buy?

Quick tips to help you make the big purchase

What do you want?
Think about what's important to you in an MP3 player. Is it an affordable price? Is it weight, memory or extra features? Are you willing to pay more for photo and video capability?

Stick to brand names
The market has been flooded with cheap knock-offs — cheap as in low price, but also low quality. Read reviews, talk to salespeople and get friends' recommendations. Try out their players and see if you like them. Compare sound quality, durability and ease of use. (Are the buttons too sensitive? Is the display easy to read in low light? Is it awkward to hold?)

Check the specs
Find out what software you must use to support your MP3 player — it's as easy as visiting the companies' websites. For example, the Creative Zen V Plus will only work with Windows XP or its own software (included in the package), and the Samsung YP-K5 needs Windows Media Player 10. Also check what file formats the player will support.

Dollars and sense
When picking your player, check how much it would cost to move up to the next level and decide if it's worth it to you. For example, at $249.99, the 8 MB player in Sandisk's Sansa e200 series costs just $50 less than the 30 MB iPod, which packs in almost four times as much (but is also heavier and bulkier).

Factor in the extras
There are countless accessories you can buy from new earbuds and docks to armbands and speakers. Check if you can save some money by choosing a different model that already has those "add-ons" built into the player. For example, you can buy an attachment for the iPod to record lectures, but a lot of other players have this feature built in.