Top Mp3 Player Products Under $100

Faced with a dilemma where you have hundreds of reasons why you need an mp3 player, but lack the hundreds of dollars to back them up? Fear not-there are several mp3 players currently on the market that are selling for under one hundred dollars.

Apple iPod Shuffle

512mb - $69; 1gb - $99

About the size of a pack of gum, the smallest member of the iPod family weighs in at .78 ounces for the 512mb and 1.5 ounces for the one gig version. It comes with a USB connector for charging and music file transfer, and charges by plugging into your computer. Full charge is complete is 4 hours, but iPod can be recharged to 80% in only two hours. Full charge will last for 12 hours of play, and iPod will stay in standby for a full month if left charged and unused.

Pros:

-Included lanyard ideal for transport, working out.

-Apple offers a student discount on all Apple products, including the iPod.

-The iPod is the Mercedes-Benz of the mp3 community; audiophiles everywhere will view you with respect.

-Comes with copy of iTunes and will work with any operating system.

-Accessories easy to locate/purchase, including armbands, docks, and speakers.

-Apple offers free laser engravings on their mp3 players, adding a personal touch or a safety feature.

Cons:

-iPod shuffle does not have a display and is very bare-bones.

-Only available in white

-The iPod shuffle is designed to get you hooked; consider it the gateway device to a love of Apple computers.

-Because it is considered the best in its class, the iPod's classic white earbuds can make you a target for theft in areas very high in crime; newspapers have warned consumers to switch them out for black ones to deter theft.

Customers Say:

iPod is vulnerable to scratching, lack of screen is inconvenient, good storage, excellent sound quality.

Overall:

If you have a computer that isn't a Windows-operated machine, this is the only option for you. The Apple iPod has clout, and with good reason - the product is reliable, user-friendly, and has great sound quality. Apple care also offers a warantee in both one and two year increments, ensuring that you'll get the maximum use out of your new device.

Sony's Walkman® MP3 Digital Music Player with FM Tuner

512mb - $69.99, 1GB - $99.95

This small mp3 player can fit easily in the palm of your hand and is so light you'll barely know that it's there. A full charge of the built-in lithium ion battery is projected to last up to 28 hours, and this player comes with headphones and a guide to get you started.

Pros:

-Built in FM tuner

-Also works as a jump drive

-'3 minute charge' feature provides 3 hours of playback

Cons:

-Works only with Windows

-Sound quality less than spectacular

-Available in limited colors (depending on size)

Customers Say:

Because this is such a new product, there are no customer reviews currently written about it.

Overall:

Sony has essentially built a jump drive that plays mp3s and can tune into the radio, should you get tired of listening to your mp3s. One has to wonder exactly the effect of multitasking this much, or why someone would buy an mp3 player and then want a radio as well. This product feels a good deal like Sony was at a loss to compete and crammed as many things into an item as they could. Think of this as the Swiss Army Knife of mp3 players-sure, it's likely to come in handy some point… but do you really want to be stuck with the small blade of a Swiss Army Knife when it's time to chop the vegetables for dinner? No; you'd want the reliability of a product specialized for chopping. Perhaps not the best choice for an mp3 player, but if you're in the market for a jump drive with some flair, this is the product for you.

Sansa(TM) e140 Digital Audio Player 1GB

1GB - $89.99

Larger than most other 1GB mp3 players, the Sansa is roughly 2.5"x3" and weighs in at 1.8 ounces. It comes with armband, earphones, installation disc, USB travel cable, and battery. Device takes one AAA battery, expected to last about 17 hours.

Pros:

-Built in FM tuner

-Can also be used as a jump drive

-Comes with armband, making it ideal for transport and exercise.

-Armband currently comes with product for ease of transport, makes product ideal for exercising.

Cons:

-No playlist support

-Non-rechargeable battery

-Navigation wheel is tricky to operate

-Only works with Windows

Customers Say:

The build quality is less than ideal, giving the impression that the player is rather fragile. Sound quality is not great, but can be improved somewhat by replacing the standard earphones with new ones not made by SanDisk. Overall, this item is a solid buy for the money, and users have reported few problems with its functionality.

Overall:

Another all-around competitor, the Sansa e140 has the ability to do a wide range of things. Customers state that the product does all of these things well, though because of its multi-functionality, one cannot expect exemplar performance in any one area. The added tuner and jump drive capabilities seem to impact the sound quality, but not enough so that anyone but the biggest audiophile will mind. It offers all the strong points of the Sony Walkman mp3 player for slightly less money, but use it long enough, and the cost of replacing the batteries will make up for the cost differential. All-in-all, it comes down to how you're going to use your mp3 player-for bi-weekly trips to the gym or going running, the added armband might be enough to push the Sansa above the competition.

Creative Zen Nano Plus IGB

512mb - $59.99; 1GB- $69.99

Weighing in at .8 ounces, the Zen Nano is the lightest of its 1GB competitors, and its tiny size means that it can be taken anywhere. It comes with earbuds, USB connector, neck strap, line-in cable, battery, and installation CD. Batteries are expected to last somewhere around 18 hours each, and device takes one AAA battery for operation.

Pros:

-Available in 10 different colors

-Line-in recording features

-Built in FM tuner.

-Accessories easy to locate/purchase, including armbands, docks, and speakers.

-Neck strap currently comes with product for ease of transport, makes product ideal for exercising.

Cons:

-Non-rechargeable batteries

-Less than ideal menus are not terribly user-friendly

-Works only with Windows

Customers Say:

Impressive, but not great sound quality, good for the price, navigation confusing and no true playlist support, battery replacement a problem, battery cover flimsy, color options great, a decent option for the price, consistent complaints about low storage capacity.

Overall:

Perhaps the neatest quirk of this particular device is the option to record audio, though with more color options than anyone else, it's certainly not the only perk. This is a solid product with a reasonable price, and if you don't mind swapping out the batteries every once in a while, then it becomes difficult to find a downside to the Zen Nano Plus.