Slick looks coupled with improved battery life and the iPod's signature ease of use make this player an excellent bet; but beware of add-on costs for such basics as the FireWire cable.

Support for all common video and audio formats, coupled with a sleek, lightweight design and improved user interface help make Creative's Zen Vision, a top-notch media player - provided you have a Windows PC.

A fantastic portable multimedia player.

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.

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.

The Cowon iAudio A2 is the ultimate tech-gadget for people who can afford its price tag. There is very little it cant do and even does a few things that aren’t expected from a unit of its size.

The Topfield TFP20 is an exceptional portable media player and considering this is their first foray into this field they are to be highly commended.

The Portable Sound Laboratories iMainGo is a cheap portable speaker system that will suit people on a budget that also crave superior audio quality.

The Pure Move has lots going for it: it is very compact and not much larger than a hand span, weighs about twice as much as a mobile phone and can double as a speaker for your MP3 player.

We need hardly add that the Sony Walkman NWZ-A818 is a player of rare beauty with quality Walkman-branded earphones adding to the appeal. Its black brushed metal is less shiny than its predecessors and we wish Sony had sorted out somewhere other than round the back for the Hold button; other than that, it's hard to fault.