The iPod's thoughtful design and features make it an excellent MP3 player, but for picky buyers who are holding out for the ideal portable music device, the wait continues.

Taken purely as a player or picture viewer it's a good product at a good price but it's fatally hamstrung by poor software and complicated operation.

Supporting FM radio, voice recording, image viewing and open file transfer capabilities, the Samsung is packed with features. It's not as light nor as stylish as the Sony Walkman or Apple iPod, however.

A stylish alternative to the iPod, the Sony Walkman doesn't break new ground, but it's very light and works well.

The Apple iPod Photo is an elegant but pricey way to tote around your favorite photos as well as your music.

An MP3 player with advanced recording features,a small footprint and photo viewing, although this does come at a price.

The Thump 2 is a slight improvement over the original model, but it still has some issues. While the price has dropped, we still think it’s a small fortune to pay for such a low storage MP3 player.

Its fantastic audio quality doesn't make up for its flaws in menu and video support.

If this player had been released a year ago perhaps we’d have had more interest.

The Thump has surprisingly good sound and a real 'wow' factor. But the price is ridiculously high and we just can't justify spending so much on such a low storage MP3 player.