Since the introduction of Apple's iPod Mini nearly a year ago, we have seen many micro drive contenders emerge. One, the Creative Zen Micro, sold to the tune of 2 million units over the holiday season--practically iPod numbers--and has proven to be the number one candidate to run against the ubiquitous Mini.

Last night, at a full-capacity CNET Networks Arena, the iPod Mini and the Zen Micro battled it out in pursuit of the Middleweight Champion of MP3.com title. This division is composed of micro drive players with one-inch hard drives that hold anywhere from 1GB to 6GB of music. These two iconic players are the finest micro drive players around, known for their seamless design and functionality.

The underdog, Micro, entered the ring sporting flashy lime green, while the crowd-pleasing Mini wore its fashionable apple-green layer (no pun intended). The Micro is slightly thicker and shorter than the Mini, but they're approximately the same size overall.

This was a tight match; however, only one player remained standing in the end. For the blow-by-blow breakdown, check the ratings and subjective commentary of our panel of expert judges. If you want to skip the mumbo jumbo and just find out who won, scroll to the bottom.

Let's get ready to rumble! Ding ding.

Here's where we examine the menu navigation, scroll, ID-tag management, and access to frequently used functions. Our individual judge's ratings are based on a zero- to five-point scale, which results in a final score of 0 to 15 per round.

In round 2, we ask ourselves "How cool do I feel with this player?" This is where we focus on the players' size and design.

This is a subjective take on its compatibility with software and music services we personally like to use.

3

I'm starting to like iTunes better, but that doesn't change the fact that most of my music library is in WMA.

In the fourth round we measure the sound quality, build quality, transfer speed, bonus features, battery life, and any other wonders of science.

Last, but definitely not least, we consider its cost. This is for its individual value, all things considered.

Wow, it looks like we have an upset! Although the Mini came out strong in the navigation round, mainly on the strength of its "ingenious scrollwheel" (as Eliot wrote), the Zen surprised us by taking every round to follow. The judges were concerned that the Zen's sensitive touch pad would be a problem. However, its selling points--compatibility, bonus features, and a wider array of colors--gave it the edge it needed to overthrow the Mini. After the fight, Apple's corner was stunned and quickly demanded a rematch. The judges, who score these events from three purely subjective points of view, are always capable of changing their minds, so the rematch may very well happen in our next Middleweight Player Bout--coming soon to a computer screen near you.

Total points:
Apple iPod Mini: 53
Creative Zen Micro: 56

Winner: Creative Zen Micro

For more information on these players, check out our full reviews here - iPod Mini and Zen Micro. Stay tuned for our next Hard Drive Player Bout... Coming soon to a computer near you.

Let's meet the judges...

Jasmine France is an Assistant Editor for digital audio at CNET. Of the seemingly endless array of products that pass through her hands, only the strong survive. Her last article was for the Creative Zen Micro Photo.

Peter Gavin is an Associate Editor at MP3.com. When he's not reviewing digital music and MP3 players, he produces his own tunes under the alias of Moped. His last article was The Best MP3 Gear of...2005?.

Eliot Van Buskirk has reviewed MP3 players for CNET since the first one came out back in 1998. His book of digital music tutorials is called Burning Down the House: Ripping, Recording, Remixing, and More!. His last story was Introducing the World's First MP3 Player.

What's the leading Flash MP3 player on the market? The judges decide in our Lightweight Class showdown.