Even though the Apple iPod is a wildly popular product, there are people who dislike its limited features or simply resent its closed iTunes universe. Thousands of iPod alternatives exist for PC users, but for the faction of Mac users looking for a non-iPod MP3 player, the choices are much slimmer. Here we're looking at MP3 players that connect to a Mac over USB and show up as an external hard drive. This feature is called UMS (short for USB Mass Storage) or MSC (short for Mass Storage Class). The benefit of a UMS- or MSC-compatible MP3 player is complete access and control over how your music is organized. The drawback is that DRM-protected content--songs or videos purchased from the iTunes store, or subscription music files from services like Rhapsody or Urge--cannot be played on a player while it's in this UMS/MSC mode. If that sounds like a small price to pay to break free of your iPod, then read on.
First on this list is the SanDisk Sansa Clip, one of the best-sounding MP3 players sold for under $50. Along with its FM radio and removable belt clip, this SanDisk player is a great value that's perfect for the gym. Next up is the Cowon D2, a favorite around here for its touch-screen interface and fantastic battery life. It also gives you an SD memory expansion slot, FM tuner, and support for AVI and WMV videos (though it may take some tweaking since Mac users can't use Cowon's JetShell converting software). The most masculine player in the bunch is the Archos 605. You won't get an FM tuner with the 605, but you get a Wi-Fi compatible Web browser, a 4.3-inch anti-reflective TFT screen, and a sturdy metal casing. Another Cowon that made our list is the iAudio 7. It's small, has fantastic audio quality, an FM tuner, voice recording, line-input recording, tons of file format support, and shows JPEG and video on its small screen. The Sony NWZ-B100F is a surprising new addition to this list. Sony has finally lifted those harsh ATRAC file restrictions from their MP3 players, and we couldn't be more pleased. The NWZ-B100F is one of Sony's most affordable MP3 players yet, and offers great sound quality, an FM tuner, a voice recorder, and a built-in USB connector. Finally, the iRiver S10 is a pebble-size MP3 player that includes an FM tuner, support for a variety of music formats, and a bright-color OLED screen. Its battery life leaves much to be desired, but the S10 is far and away the cutest player on this list.
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 7.5 Very Good |
1. SanDisk Sansa Clip
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.
Read review of the SanDisk Sansa Clip.
Price: $60.00 (check Latestprices)
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 8.3 Excellent |
2. Cowon D2
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.
Read user review of the Sony NWZ-B105F.
Price: $165 - $169.99 (check Latestprices)
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| 8.7 Excellent |
3. Archos 605 WiFi
The Archos 605 WiFi portable video player is one of the best mobile distractions money can buy.
Read user review of the Archos 605 WiFi.
Price: $379 - $404 (check latest prices)
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| 8.3 Excellent |
4. Cowon iAudio 7
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.
Read user review of the Cowon iAudio 7.
Price: $177 (check latest prices)
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| 7.0 Very Good |
5. Sony NWZ-B105F
If you're looking for an affordable, utilitarian MP3 player to take on the road or to the gym, the Sony NWZ-B105F is a solid solution with awesome audio quality.
Read user review of the Sony NWZ-B105F.
Price: $60 - 72(check latest prices)
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 7.3 Very Good |
6. iRiver S10
The undeniably cute iRiver S10 sounds great and is packed with features, but its lofty price tag and paltry battery life might be a deterrent for some users.
Read user review of the iRiver S10.
Price: $130 (check latest prices)
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