Yes, I realize that this is totally off topic, but since my old Sony MP3 player only holds 80 songs and my birthday's coming up pretty soon, I just wanted to know what yall thought was the best 'cause, despite all the research I'm doing, personal experience is usually more informative.

Ok, In my experience i love my little Creative, Its only a one Gig but its all i need seeing as i change the songs like every week. (Its white and cool and small and i love it)
I get people bringing in MP3 players that need to be fixed and a lot of the time its an iPod.
The reason that iPods are so popular is because they were the first hard drive based MP3 capable of having a loooot of music. It has a good Operating System and the touch panel *was* one of its selling points.
The iPod doesn't take WMA files which means that you need to upload all the software which is easy enough to do and it puts it into its own file, AWI...maybe...I forget. But this means you cant upload the music to a computer without the software and it takes a little longer than usual.
Battery life. Now i know you were expecting this one. The battery is enclosed so there is no way to change the battery yourself, you have to either buy an official iPod opening kit (...yeah, they made them) and the Official battery or send it away to be changed. it kinda works out cheaper to just buy a new one you know.
The battery also is *rumoured* to last between 12/18 months before it completely dies, also you don't get that long from it, I think its something like 12 hours of play time(that cuts to like 8 after a little while) from 2/4 hours charging. (4 hours is the iPod Shuffle)
Personally I wouldn't have even put it in the list.

For the Samsung I only know of the ‘Samsung YH920’ personally, it hasn’t caused that much of an impression to be honest, it was the official re-launch of Napster but because everyone found out you had to pay for the service it was kinda mocked. There for the Samsung loses point because it has Napster all over it.
Its got USB 2.0 for faster connectivity and it can also be attached to Hi-Fi’s (If it has the encoder), which isn’t that common so it gets extra points.
Its downfall is that it’s just kinda big and not all that astatically pleasing, plus its OS isn’t anything to rave about. (In my opinion) its got a pretty good battery as far as I’m aware.

For the Sony (NWHD3S) it will depend if you get the first modal or the second. The first came with a pointless base unit and well, it was pointless because this is one of the main reasons the MP3 player would get damaged.
The second version had this small attachment that I guess works if you leave it on the cable, just never knew why they never built it on. The Sony uses a different compression software called A-Track though it does take WMA and MP3 too.
Its battery is also enclosed though it has more longevity than the iPod.

Ok, Creative Zen time (Yay!) And if you don’t need like 20 Gigs then I really suggest you get the Zen Mini because they are so much cuter! And 5 Gigs too!!
Basically they have the same touch control as the iPod and the operating system is so easy to use. I’m totally biased because I wanted a creative so much I waited till they brought out the flash drive version of the one Gig because it was so small. (Can get it in my front USB you see.)
The Zen is a USB 2.0 baby, it has a bitchin’ 24 hour long battery that’s not had issues as far as I’m aware. Takes MP3, WMA and the third unimportant one I cant remember right now. Like the iPod it comes in 20 and 40 Gig versions.

There is also the Olympus M:ROBE which looked pretty cool, all red and glowy and stuff. All touch sensitive too. And the iRiver which I hear it pretty awesome too.

That’s all I can think if right now, Hope that helps Jelloboy!!

...just not the shuffle!

Because its like the original Flash drive ones, no screen. Though i will say its very light, Almost too light and breakable.
All it is is Apple trying to catch the lower end of the market, While their 60 Gig Photo is aiming for the top of the market.

Either which way all thie products still have the same flaws.

Wow, Lani is like a Mp3 player Einstein.

Lani... That was... Amazing! lol
I guess I should've expected it, but... Wow. lol
THANKYOU!!!!
Zen still sounds like the best choice, which is what i've seen from my research too. The Olympus one looks ok, but a little bit pricey for what it is. The iRiver... What was it... I don't remember why, but I read something that really turned me off of it and I've never cared for iPods either.
Boo to enclosed batteries. BOO TO THEM.

THANKYOU. lol

:lol: I know what I know.