Hunted

In the early days of Player Bouts, we had our first Heavyweight match: iPod vs. Zen Touch. The iPod swiftly won that one (and every other to follow, for that matter); however, since then, the Zen Touch has greatly decreased its price (by $100), whereas the iPod's price has not. Granted the iPod has evolved to a color screen, however it's basically the same player as it was 10 months ago.

OK--enough with the iPod comparisons. The Zen Touch is a solid player on its own, and it has the specs to prove it. As you can see (on the right there), it's not the hottest looking device out there, but remember, your player is only as cool as the music on it (and by saving money you'll have some extra loot for downloading cool music). This 20GB player includes all the essentials, plus dedicated volume and an on-the-go "random" button for all you playlist shufflers out there.

What it costs: $196 (as of August 16, 2005)

What it does: Plays MP3, WAV, and WMA (and secure WMA). Has a 24-hour rechargeable battery. Fits 20GB (300-500 albums, depending on what bit rate you use).

Who it's for: Penny-pinching music fans who are looking for a no-frills iPod alternative with plenty of memory, and one which works with music purchased from services like Napster, Rhapsody, and MSN. You should be aware, however, that this player is not subscription-ready (yet). Sources at Creative said the firmware upgrade will be available soon. In the meantime, if you must have a subscription-compatible player (right now), we recommend you check this page.

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