Sony Network Walkman NW-E507 1 GB

Advantages Screen, radio, excellent controls, superior sound quality, sleek look, highest battery life of its kind
Disadvantages Just...none, really

...! They look better than the iPod ones. They're GOOD, but I prefer Sony's MDR-NX1 headphones, which have a neck strap perfect for attaching to this player. The sound quality on the player is just AWESOME. You have a "sound" setting like on many sony CD players. You can customize a "bass" and "treble" equalizer, and turned up to 2, the bass is just OHHHH!! The screen is the coolest part of the player. When turned off, the sleek mirror style of the player hides the screen's inactive pixels. On hold, the player shows a little wave every few seconds, or bubbles floating up towards where your neck is if you're using neck strap headphones. And finally, yes, its got a FIFTY HOUR BATTERY LIFE! SO much better than iPod shuffle. SO SO much.... Read review

Advantages Functional, beautiful and great sound
Disadvantages Naff software, limited compatibility

...I bought one of these for gym use - but it is so useful and beautiful and small I now takeit everywhere with me. The sound quality is fantastic (even better once you replace the stock earphones) and you have options to set treble, bass etc. Radio is really good and battery lasts forever! Quick charge function is also very handy. Atrac 3 coding allows you to cram on lots and lots of music and still retain quality sound The software it comes with though is rubbish. It locks up and takes ages to do everything. As the player won't play WMA files it converts these which agains takes ages. Even to upload an mp3 already on your computer you have to load it to software in one step, then upload it to the player....yawn! Good job its not more than 1 gig or I would have given up. Also there isn't much in the box, a very basic bag (case would... Read review

Advantages excellent build quality and sounds
Disadvantages expensive, requires dedicated software

...Sony coined the term 'Walkman' in the early 1980s, and has since then, defined the 'gold standard' of personal audio players. The NW-507S is one of the most recent additions to a long range of high specification devices designed to deliver the ultimate in 'good sounds' to you ears. At a typical street price of £150, it's quite a bit more expensive that your average run of the mill MP3 player, even with a built in FM radio, but that's more than made up for by the quality of design and components. The NW-507 is the current 'top end' of the range - it comes in a long thin package, about the size of a lipstick, or refillable lighter. The 'S' denotes silver body - and happens to be the only version of the 507 on sale at Argos. Beneath the sleek metallic finish lies a big Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) array, which serves... Read review