| The name iPod has been synonymous with digital | | | | - Has ability to record FM radio and can be linked to |
| music players since the 3rd generation iPod was | | | | the TV using AV cable (not included). |
| launched three years ago but is it really the best | | | | - Comes with added extras including an AC adaptor |
| product on the market today? | | | | and a protective case. |
| Some in-depth research showed that there are in fact | | | | As with Apple's iPods, Creative have developed an |
| a few companies that have developed and | | | | entire range of media players that have a variety of |
| manufactured digital media players that have features | | | | features and cater for all budgets. |
| to rival even the newest iPod. | | | | The AV500 Mobile DVR (digital video recorder) from |
| The iPod video from Apple | | | | Archos |
| - Multimedia player with an internal hard drive, the | | | | - Multimedia entertainment system with an incredible |
| largest of which is 60GB. | | | | 100GB memory. |
| - 2.5" full colour screen. | | | | - Video, music, photos and it has the ability to record |
| - Dimensions - 103.5 x 61.8 x 11mm. | | | | straight from the TV or computer. |
| - Weight - 136g | | | | - 4" high resolution full colour screen. |
| - Uses iTunes software which is available for both | | | | - Dimensions - 76 x 124 x 18mm. |
| Windows and Mac computers. | | | | - Weight - 255g |
| - Music, photos, video playback. | | | | - Works with Windows 2000/XP and Mac OS 10.2.4 |
| - 14 hour battery life for music playback and 2 hours | | | | or higher. |
| for video. | | | | - 15 hours battery life for music playback and 4.5 hours |
| - Uses iPod click wheel to navigate menus. | | | | for video. |
| This is just one of the iPod models but there are a | | | | - Music downloaded from Microsoft PlayForSure |
| number of other models available, all of which have | | | | websites. |
| different features. | | | | - Also incorporates FM radio and Dictaphone. |
| The Zen vision:M from Creative | | | | - Built in microphone and speaker. |
| - Mp3 player, photo, video and FM radio receiver with | | | | The Archos AV500 Mobile DVR is admittedly a bit |
| an internal hard drive, the biggest of which is 30GB. | | | | more expensive than the other two examples (which |
| This holds 15,000 songs or 120 hours of video. | | | | are very similar in price) but its extra features make it |
| - Has a full colour screen the same size as the iPod | | | | an exceptional buy. |
| video. | | | | So if there are other media players to rival iPod why is |
| - Dimensions - 104 x 62 x 18.9mm | | | | Apple still commanding the market? Apple and iPod |
| - Weight - 163g | | | | are such big names that people tend to go for what |
| - Works with Windows XP but not Mac software. | | | | they know to be popular and successful so even |
| - Similar battery life to iPod video. | | | | though some of Apples adversaries are now making |
| - Scroll mouse used to navigate very easy to use | | | | quality products with even more features than the iPod |
| menu system. | | | | nobody really knows about them…yet. |