The most important thing to watch out for... if you buy & download DRM (Digital Rights Management) tracks, make sure your player is compatible. Microsoft's guide is here

Players come in three varieties:

• CD - you need to burn tracks onto a CD
• Flash - no moving parts, lightweight, small capacity. Transfer files from a PC. 32MB = roughly 1 hour of music
• Mini hard-drive - larger devices, larger capacity. Transfer files from a PC

The most famous portable music player since the original Sony Walkman - and the best looking. But it's not necessarily your best option if you live outside of Europe & North America (where you can purchase iTunes) - because it won't play WMA tracks.

• Keep up to 10,000 songs in your pocket (40GB version)
• Use it with Mac OS X or Windows 2000/XP
• 5.6 ounces
• Up to 12 hours* battery life
• 25 minutes of skip protection
• Use as a portable hard drive — take your files/photos with you
• Alarm clock/Sleep Timer/Contacts/Calendars/To-do lists
  

Formats: AAC, MP3, WAV, AIFF

40GB Version

UK £399.99 with Free Delivery & Free Returns from Littlewoods
UK £359.99 at Argos
USA $398 with Free Shipping at ABT Electronics
USA $394 with Free Shipping at eCOST.com

iPOD mini

USA $258.95 with Free Speakers at eCOST.com
USA $249.00 at Mobile Planet
UK £179.00 at Argos

iPod Photo 40GB

USA $494.00 with Free Shipping at Mobile Planet

iTrip Transmitter

It transmits your iPod songs to your car stereo
USA $35.00 at Griffin Technology

Play MP3 music or listen to FM radio on this ultra-light MuVo TX FM. Stores up to 8 hours of WMA or 4 hours of MP3 music. Super-fast USB 2.0 transfers music files in blazing speed to and from your computer. It gives up to 15 hours of continuous playback from a single AAA battery.

USA $169.99 $89.72 at Walmart
UK £149.00 at MP3Players (UK) - non-FM version

A 256MB flash memory-based player, measuring just 5 x 2 x 2cm. Includes FM radio and a voice recorder. You'll be wanting to buy rechargeable batteries and a charger as well.

Formats: WMA, MP3, WAV
USA $148.00 at ABT Electronics

Compared to other hard-disk based players 4G is small. But on the plus side is a smaller, lighter player Because of this, it rates highly as a comprise between tiny flash memory players and bulkier hard-drive players.

Formats: WMA, MP3, WAV
USA $199 at Creative.com

It is impossible for us to cover the vast variety of rapidly changing players. To see the latest models, with their specs and prices, try the following stores:

USA:

• ABT Electronics
• Creative
• irock!
• Apple Store
• Buy.com
• The Sharper Image
• Wal-Mart

UK:

• MP3 Players UK
• Littlewoods