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Top 5 straight-to-USB MP3 players

By CNET Asia and CNET.com, CNET Asia

Unless you carry the necessary cables everywhere, most MP3 players cannot be charged anytime, anywhere. It's the same if you use your player as a portable storage--you just got to have that mini-USB cable handy.

That's not a problem for these MP3 players as they have a USB plug built into them. So wherever there is a computer with a free USB port, you can charge the internal battery (if it uses one) or copy files without hassle.


Click here for a feature comparison table.
1.  Samsung YP-U2 (2GB)
 
CNET Asia rating: 7.7 out of 10
The good:  Supercompact with a convenient plug-in USB design; legible LCD; an intuitive interface; extensive set of equalizer and DSP sound settings; impressive sound quality.
The bad:  So-so battery life; subpar voice-recording quality; audible clicks when starting or stopping a song; does not ship with a lanyard or an armband.
The bottom line: Despite some minor issues, the simple but feature-friendly YP-U2 from Samsung will be a hot seller, thanks to a sweet price and great overall sound quality. It's a good choice for budget-minded users looking for their first MP3 player.

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2.  Sony NW-E016 (4GB)
 
Product TypePortable Audio Player
Weight29 g
Dimensions82.9 x 22.4 x 13.6 mm
Interface TypeUSB 2.0
Storage typeFlash
Capacity4 GB
Supported audio formatsAAC, ATRAC, MP3, WMA
Rated battery life (audio)30 hours

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3.  SanDisk Sansa Express (1GB)
 
CNET Asia rating: 6.7 out of 10
The good:  Features a handy plug-and-play design; inexpensive; offers several desirable extras such as an FM tuner, support for protected WMAs; microSD expansion slot.
The bad:  Screen is tiny and capable of displaying only two colors; no album art or photo support.
The bottom line: The SanDisk Sansa Express is a solid choice for those who need an ultraconvenient MP3 player with a decent smattering of features.

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4.  Creative MuVo V100 (2GB)
 
Product TypePortable Audio Player
Weight33 g
Dimensions74.5 x 36.5 x 15 mm
Interface TypeUSB 2.0
Storage typeFlash
Capacity2 GB
Supported audio formatsMP3, WMA
Rated battery life (audio)18 hours

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5.  MSI P100 (2GB)
 
Product TypePortable Audio Player
Weight30 g
Dimensions85 x 32 x 21 mm
Interface TypeUSB 1.1, USB 2.0
Storage typeFlash
Capacity2 GB
Supported audio formatsMP3, WMA

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