MP3 players are the hot product right now. There are lots of great players out there, but how do you know which one is right for you? Here are some tips that will help you figure it out.

The first thing you should think about is how much music you want to carry on your MP3 player. The more memory the player has, the more songs you'll be able to store.* There are three basic types of MP3 players that all offer various storage capacities:

Flash memory players

If you're looking for value and want to have a few hours of music on hand, an MP3 player with 128, 256, or 512 megabytes of memory may be right for you. iRiver, SanDisk and Creative® MuVo® are three popular brands of flash memory players.

Expandable memory players

Some players, like the Memorex® Biomorph™ and Rio® Forge, feature expandable memory so you can start with a smaller capacity and get additional SD™/MMC™ cards as your music library grows. You can use multiple cards to store different types of music, so your classic rock collection won't get mixed in with your hip-hop jams.

Hard drive players

If you want to store a library's worth of music, you need a player with memory measured in gigabytes. The Apple® iPod® rules this category, and you can also find high-capacity players from Sony, Samsung and RCA. You have quite a range to choose from, starting with 4GB and going all the way up to 60GB. A 60GB player can store up to 15,000 songs! At 4 minutes per song, you could listen for 6 weeks straight without hearing a repeat. With all that space, these players let you organize your music into playlists, so you can create mixes for parties, road trips, vacations and more. Many of these players can also store data files, so you can carry your important documents electronically.

Different digital audio players offer a variety of extra features that may be right for your lifestyle. Once you’ve decided how much storage you need, think about these features to help you further narrow down the choices.

Color screens with image display

View photos stored in your MP3 player.

Video capability

Rip movies and TV shows on your computer and watch them on your MP3 player.

Sports features

Monitor your mileage while you run.

No cables or wires

Oakley Thump™ sunglasses with integrated digital audio offer you freedom from cords.

Entertainment

Many MP3 players come loaded with video games.

Wake-up call

Stay punctual with built-in alarm clock capability.

Voice recording

Some digital audio players come with built-in or optional voice recorders, so you can record class lectures or meetings and then email the files.

Digital tuner

If you listen to the radio, you'll want a player with a digital tuner. Some models can even record on-air programs for you to listen to later.

Once you've chosen an MP3 player, be sure to grab all the gear you need to get the most out of your new toy.

Music service

A great way to add tunes to your MP3 player is by purchasing music online with services like Napster. You can buy a single song or a whole album and transfer the tracks you want from your computer to your digital audio player. It's easy, and these downloads are 100% legal!

Cables

One fast method to move songs onto your player is with a USB 2.0 cable, which can transfer a 100MB file in as fast as 1.6 seconds. Some players also feature a line-out that lets you record directly from any audio source, so you can load music straight from a CD without using a computer. If your digital audio player holds photos, connect it to your TV with A/V cables and share your slideshow with a crowd.

Headphones

Since digital audio players are so small and portable, most come with earbud-style headphones. Clip-on and folding styles are popular as well. If you want to listen with a friend, pick up a headphone splitter.

Radio transmitter

With a wireless FM transmitter, you can play your music through any radio. Just tune both devices to a station with no signal and broadcast your mix. This is an easy way to use your player in the car.

Cassette adapter

Just like CD players, digital audio players can use a cassette adapter to play through your side- or front-loading tape deck.

Stereo connector

Players with a mini-jack connection can connect with a cable to your stereo.

Dock

Some docking stations include speakers, so you can park your player and release your music in one easy step.

Travel speakers

A set of travel speakers lets you play your favorite mix of party tunes wherever you go.

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