Apple iPod (60GB, video)

The good: Incredibly thin and intuitive design; beautiful LCD; supports photo and video playback; seamless integration with iTunes, which boasts the world's biggest music catalog and a new video store; smooth video; lots of extra features, such as a world clock, a stopwatch, and PIM applications; a galaxy of accessories designed for the iPod; great overall value.
The bad: No extras included, such as a dock, AV cables, or a power adapter; poor battery life for video; slight delay when playing video; no guarantee that your non-iTunes Music Store video will play on an iPod, even after using converted third-party software.
The bottom line: Get the affordable, sleek, and sexy 5G Apple iPod for its audio virtues. Although video looks great, poor video battery life and a relatively small screen hamper its appeal to video heads.
  Read full review of the Apple iPod (60GB, video)

Apple iPod mini (6GB; second generation)

The good: Classic simple design and interface; much improved battery life; increased storage capacity.
The bad: Still a dearth of common features like FM radio and recording; absence of AC adapter and FireWire; non-removable battery.
The bottom line: It is still a cult classic and probably will remain top dog for a little while longer.
  Read full review of the Apple iPod mini (6GB; second generation)

Creative Zen Micro Photo (8GB)

The good: Photo viewing; excellent price per MB ratio; 8GB capacity; great audio quality.
The bad: Unable to play music while viewing photos; doesn’t support anything older than Win XP SP1; hard to view display under sunlight.
The bottom line: While the Zen Micro Photo is, indeed, an improvement over the original, photo and music playback just can’t seem to live in sync.
  Read full review of the Creative Zen Micro Photo (8GB)