Another great MP3 player is the Rio Carbon. This wedge-shaped device features a voice recorder which is missing from the iPod, 5G of memory, a 1.25" backlit display and 20 hours of battery life.

It supports playlists and plays MP3, WMA, and Audible files. It can also serve as a portable hard drive for your laptop computer.

Rated 8 out of 10 by the CNET editors, it also has a rubberized edge that serves as a shock absorber for sports types who are tough on electronics devices.

Navigation is through a 4-way pad with a raised select button in the middle. It ships with small earbuds, but these are easily swapped out if you prefer larger ones.

It runs for roughly $250.

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