Apple iPod Classic alternatives

Donald Bell, Senior Editor

Updated March 06, 2008

It can't be easy to be an MP3 player manufacturer these days--especially when your competition has sold over 100 million iPods. To many people, the terms iPod and MP3 player are practically interchangeable. There are many good reasons that the iPod brand is the king of the hill when it comes to MP3 players, but the iPod is not a perfect product. If you're the kind of person who bucks the trends (or maybe you have a grudge against Steve Jobs), then I present to you our list of high-capacity hard-drive MP3 players that offer a competitive alternative to the iPod Classic. While none of these players have much chance of dethroning the iPod (many have their own set of flaws), each offers something unique that the iPod Classic doesn't. Whether you're looking for better sound quality, a bigger or more colorful screen, subscription music service compatibility, or just a different look, this list will give you an idea of what the competition has to offer.

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Product name	Archos 605 WiFi (160GB)	Microsoft Zune (second generation, 80GB, black)	Ibiza Rhapsody (30GB, black)	Creative Zen Vision W (60GB)	Cowon A3 (60GB)	Creative Zen Vision:M (60GB, black)

Review date	August 30, 2007	November 12, 2007	November 29, 2007	September 13, 2006	January 25, 2008	January 26, 2006

CNET editors' rating	8.7 Excellent	8.3 Excellent	6.7 Good	8.0 Excellent	7.7 Very good	8.0 Excellent

Users' rating	6.5 Good ( from 66 users)	7.6 Very good ( from 288 users)	7.0 Very good ( from 8 users)	7.2 Very good ( from 24 users)	6.5 Good ( from 4 users)	7.7 Very good ( from 37 users)

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Review summary	The Archos 605 WiFi portable video player is one of the best mobile distractions money can buy.	The Zune has blossomed from an ugly duckling into a worthy iPod alternative.	The Haier America Ibiza Rhapsody is a cutting-edge media player that puts its wireless capabilities to good use while still retaining an easy-to-use design and interface. If you're willing to shell out the dough for a massive feature list, give it consideration.	The bulky but easy-to-use Creative Zen Vision W and its nice screen will dazzle video lovers who don't require video recording.	The Cowon A3 portable video player is a fantastic value when judged on the merits of its file support and integrated video-recording capabilities. If you've got nimble fingers and an eclectic assortment of audio and video formats, the Cowon A3 should be at the top of your list.	The dazzling, DRM-friendly Creative Zen Vision:M gives the iPod a run for the money as the current high-capacity WMA champ.

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Basic Specs
Device type	Digital AV player	Info unavailable	Info unavailable	Digital AV player	Digital AV recorder	Info unavailable

Key multimedia features	Digital audio player , Digital photo viewer , Digital video player , External HDD function	Info unavailable	Info unavailable	FM tuner , Voice recorder , Memory card reader , Digital audio player , Digital photo viewer , Digital video player , External HDD function	FM tuner , Voice recorder , Digital audio player , Digital photo viewer , Digital video player , External HDD function , Digital audio recorder , Video capture from external source	Info unavailable

Hard drive	160 GB	Info unavailable	Info unavailable	60 GB	60 GB	Info unavailable

Display type	TFT 4.3 in - Color	Info unavailable	Info unavailable	TFT 4.3 in - Color	TFT 4 in - Color	Info unavailable

Supported still images formats	BMP , PNG , JPEG	Info unavailable	Info unavailable	BMP , GIF , JPEG	BMP , GIF , PNG , RAW , JPEG , TIFF	Info unavailable

Supported audio formats	MP3 , PCM , WAV , WMA , ADPCM , Protected WMA (DRM)	Info unavailable	Info unavailable	MP3 , WAV , WMA , Audible , Protected WMA (DRM)	AAC , ASF , MP3 , PCM , WAV , WMA , AC-3 , FLAC , G.726 , Ogg Vorbis , MPEG 1 Audio , MPEG 2 Audio , Apple Lossless , APE (Monkey's Audio)	Info unavailable

Video playback formats	WMV , MPEG-4 , Protected WMV (DRM)	Info unavailable	Info unavailable	AVI , WMV , XviD , MPEG-1 , MPEG-2 , DivX 4.0 , DivX 5.0 , MPEG-4 SP , Motion JPEG	ASF , AVI , VOB , WMV , MPEG , XviD , MPEG-1 , MPEG-4 , DivX 4.0 , DivX 5.0 , DivX 6.0 , DivX 3.11 , MPEG-4 SP , Motion JPEG , OGM (Ogg Media)	Info unavailable

PC interfaces	Hi-Speed USB , IEEE 802.11b , IEEE 802.11g	Info unavailable	Info unavailable	Hi-Speed USB	Hi-Speed USB	Info unavailable

Battery technology	Lithium polymer	Lithium ion	Lithium polymer	Lithium ion	Lithium polymer	Lithium ion

Included accessories	USB cable , Carrying pouch , Stereo headphones	Info unavailable	Info unavailable	AV cable , USB cable , Carrying pouch , Stereo headphones	AV cable , USB cable , AC adapter , Hand strap , USB host cable , Stereo headphones , Component video cable	Info unavailable

Width	4.8 in	2.4 in	2.4 in	5.3 in	5.2 in	2.4 in

Depth	0.8 in	0.5 in	0.5 in	0.9 in	0.9 in	0.9 in

Height	3.2 in	4.3 in	4.1 in	3 in	3.1 in	4.1 in

Weight	9.2 oz	4.5 oz	4.9 oz	9.7 oz	10.5 oz	6.3 oz

PC interface(s) supported	Info unavailable	Wi-Fi , Hi-Speed USB	Info unavailable	Info unavailable	Info unavailable	Info unavailable

Digital storage media capacity	Info unavailable	80 GB	30 GB	Info unavailable	Info unavailable	Info unavailable

Dimensions (WxDxH)	Info unavailable	2.4 in x 0.5 in x 4.3 in	2.4 in x 0.5 in x 4.1 in	Info unavailable	Info unavailable	Info unavailable

Resolution	Info unavailable	320 x 240	320 x 240	Info unavailable	Info unavailable	Info unavailable

Mfr estimated battery life	Info unavailable	24 hour(s)	Info unavailable	Info unavailable	Info unavailable	Info unavailable

Product type	Info unavailable	Digital player / radio	Portable network audio player / digital player / radio	Info unavailable	Info unavailable	Info unavailable

Color	Info unavailable	Black	Volcanic black	Black	Info unavailable	Black

Sound output mode	Info unavailable	Stereo	Stereo	Info unavailable	Info unavailable	Info unavailable

Digital player (recorder)	Info unavailable	AAC , MP3 , WMA , WMAPro , Audible	AAC , MP3 , WAV , WMA , Protected WMA (DRM)	Info unavailable	Info unavailable	Info unavailable

Radio	Info unavailable	Info unavailable	FM: 87.5 - 107.9 MHz	Info unavailable	FM: 76 - 108 MHz	Info unavailable

Compatibility	Info unavailable	Info unavailable	Info unavailable	Intel VIIV Technology	Info unavailable	Info unavailable

Flash memory cards supported	Info unavailable	Info unavailable	Info unavailable	CompactFlash Card type I , CompactFlash Card type II	Info unavailable	Info unavailable

TV standards supported	Info unavailable	Info unavailable	Info unavailable	PAL , NTSC	PAL , NTSC	Info unavailable

Video capture formats	Info unavailable	Info unavailable	Info unavailable	Info unavailable	ASF	Info unavailable

Product name	Archos 605 WiFi (160GB)	Microsoft Zune (second generation, 80GB, black)	Ibiza Rhapsody (30GB, black)	Creative Zen Vision W (60GB)	Cowon A3 (60GB)	Creative Zen Vision:M (60GB, black)

Full specifications	Full Specifications	Full Specifications	Full Specifications	Full Specifications	Full Specifications	Full Specifications

Price range	Check latest prices $295-400 from 8 stores	Check latest prices $163-400 from 4 stores	Check latest prices $230-283 from 4 stores	Check latest prices $n/a from 0 store	Check latest prices $265-308 from 2 stores	Check latest prices $684 from 1 store