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June 13, 2008 at 03:24:00 PM | more stories by this author
Connecting a non-iPod MP3 player to a Mac computer may sound like heresy to some Apple lovers, but for those Mac users who dare to "Think Different" there's a whole world of alternative MP3 players out there for the taking.
Not all MP3 players play nice with the Mac, however. Several popular MP3 players marketed to PC users (such as the Microsoft Zune or Creative Zen) use a connection standard called MTP that only responds to Windows-based computers. For an MP3 player to be Mac-compatible, it needs to show up on your Mac's desktop as a generic USB hard drive (also called UMS or MSC compatibility). It's not too hard to come across an MP3 player capable of connecting as a generic USB hard drive, but finding one worthy of replacing an iPod is tougher than you'd think.
Each of the following six players offers something special that no iPod has yet to match. Whether it's the audio quality of the Sony NWZ-S718F, the unbeatable price of the Sansa Clip, or the dazzling file format support of both Cowon and Archos, Mac users looking to dip their toes in non-Apple waters have plenty of incentive.
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 7.7 Very Good |
1. SanDisk Sansa Fuze (4GB, black)
The SanDisk Sansa Fuze is a great value--a slim design, simple interface, plentiful features, memory expansion capability, and solid sound quality all come with an easy-to-swallow price tag.
REVIEW: SanDisk Sansa Fuze (4GB, black) .
Price: $90-111 (check latest prices)
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 8.7 Excellent |
1. Archos 605 WiFi (30GB)
The Archos 605 WiFi portable video player is one of the best mobile distractions money can buy.
REVIEW: Archos 605 WiFi (30GB) .
Price: $265-339 (check latest prices)
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| 8.3 Excellent |
1. Sony Walkman NWZ-S718F (8GB, black)
The NWZ-S710F's audio enhancement and noise-canceling features add up to one of the most pleasant and private music experiences you can have for less than $200.
REVIEW: Sony Walkman NWZ-S718F (8GB, black) .
Price: $200 (check latest prices)
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| 8.3 Excellent |
1. Cowon D2 (8GB, black)
If you can get on board with the Cowon D2's PDA-like touch screen interface, the reward is great-sounding audio, a smorgasbord of features, and a fantastic battery life.
REVIEW: Cowon D2 (8GB, black) .
Price: $183-190 (check latest prices)
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| 7.5 Very Good |
1. SanDisk Sansa Clip (2GB, candy apple red)
The SanDisk Sansa Clip is an incredible value that's set to edge out the competition with a user-friendly interface, gym-worthy design, and great sound quality.
REVIEW: SanDisk Sansa Clip (2GB, candy apple red) .
Price: $49-65 (check latest prices)
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| 8.3 Excellent |
1. Cowon iAudio 7 (8GB, red)
The Cowon iAudio 7 beats the industry heavyweight iPod Nano in price, features, battery life, and sound quality. The user interface could use some refinement, but all in all this is a very impressive MP3 player.
