Sure, the Apple iPod Nano is ultraslim, easy to use, and nice to look at, but it lacks desirable extras such an FM radio and a user-definable EQ, and the sound quality isn't spectacular. Luckily, if you're not convinced you want to hop on the Nano bandwagon, there's a handful of worthy alternatives, and most of those listed below beat out the Nano in audio fidelity. Of course, the important thing is selecting the best MP3 player for your needs, and one of these should certainly do the trick.

Among the larger, double-DIN systems, the Pioneer AVIC-D3 and the Clarion MAX675VD both provide user-friendly touch screen interfaces that display a virtual version of the iPod wheel. The Alpine IWA-200 presents drivers with an equally intuitive means of navigating their iPod song collections. Check out our full reviews of these iPod-friendly systems below.

I may choose not to use an iPod in my personal life, but I'm constantly toying with the reigning king of MP3 players at work in order to keep our ultimate iPod accessories story up and running. It's exactly this task that simultaneously tempts me into switching to an iPod and makes me loathe the player for bogarting all the third-party accessories. And then there's the fact that I own an iBook, with which the Creative Zen V Plus refuses to communicate. Thus, I longingly eye iPod accessories.

One of the biggest complaints about the iPod is its battery, which is not the removable kind available on many micro hard drive-based MP3 players, such as the iRiver H10 or the Creative Zen Micro.

On January 15, 2008, Apple added several new software features to the iPod Touch, including e-mail, location-smart maps, stocks, weather, notes, Web clips, a customizable main menu, and the ability to view rented iTunes movies. In light of the product's improved value, we've increased the overall rating of the iPod Touch from 8.3 to 8.7. We've also revised the content of this review to mention these additional features.

The iPod Classic is the latest revamping of Apple's iconic hard drive MP3 player, formerly known as the Video iPod or fifth-generation iPod. As Apple's only remaining high-capacity MP3 player, the iPod Classic comes in both 80GB ($249) and 160GB versions ($349), available in black or silver.

If you find yourself dazzled by the Web, video, and music capabilities of Apple's iPhone but can't stomach the contract commitment, the iPod Touch might be just what you're looking for. Offered in 8GB ($299) and 16GB ($399) capacities, the iPod Touch is a premium-priced device with an attractive set of features for a midsize portable video player (PVP). Still, the Touch's limited storage capacity makes it a difficult choice when held up to higher capacity products like the iPod Classic or Archos 605 WiFi.

Now in its third generation, Apple's iPod Nano gets a substantial redesign to accommodate games and video playback. Despite its changes--and Apple made many--the iPod Nano is still one of the smallest, thinnest, and most exquisitely designed MP3 players on the market. It's also one of the most affordable, with a 4GB (silver) model offered for $149, and an 8GB (silver, black, red, green, or blue) model for $199. While the updated iPod Classic and the new iPod Touch are equally intriguing, the revamped Nano delivers the most bang for the buck.

At Apple's September 12 media event, Steve Jobs jumped right into introducing an updated fifth-generation iPod. Not a tremendous surprise here, as we believed the sixth-generation "true video iPod" would not be announced until later in the year or even early in 2007. Underneath the familiar and still-scratch-prone polycarbonate and metal skin of the updated iPod (a.k.a. the 5.5 generation, or 5.5G) lies a more mature iPod, many steps wiser and more able than its one-year-old predecessor. The iPod gains many incremental improvements, including a brighter screen and better video battery life, but probably the most appealing aspect is the tantalizing price points of $249 for the 30GB version and $349 for the huge 80GB version (available in both white and black). While it may still not fully address the needs of a new population of iTunes movie watchers, the updated iPod is the best one to date.

It's true: The second-generation iPod Shuffle (1GB) is the lowest-profile MP3 player we've laid eyes on. Apple may have been slow out of the gate, but the company has succeeded in launching perhaps the tiniest and simplest player on the market--and it sports a price tag to match: $79. The new Shuffle is appealing in its elementariness, too, but the itty-bitty device is far from perfect. Its screenless design means you get few navigational options and no extra features. And how small is too small?