Mothers love music, too

Did you flunk out of your piano lessons when you were six? Gave up the violin against your mother's wishes at 11? Well, you can still give your mom the gift of music, thanks to the many MP3 players out there. Which one is best for your mom? There's no one perfect device, so we give you a selection of players that will suit a range of different mothers.

Click here for a feature comparison table.

	1.	Creative Zen Stone (1GB)   Product Type Portable Audio Player Weight 18.3 g Dimensions 53.7 x 35.3 x 12.8 mm Interface Type USB 2.0 Storage type Flash Capacity 1 GB Expansion options None Supported audio formats MP3, WMA Rated battery life (audio) 10 hours Other features Works as a removable disk for data storage; supports DRM 9; Volume Restriction Maternal MP3 factor: "Mommy dearest" is what you say to express your love, not to describe the price of the gift you got for mothers' day. For the mother who'll smack you on the head for buying something too expensive, get her the Creative Zen Stone. This MP3 players costs just S$69 and comes in five different colors, a perfect gift for the thrifty mom who needs her tunes in small doses. See full specs | Rate this
	2.	Sony NW-A805 (2GB)   CNET Asia rating: 8.3 out of 10 The good:  Great sound from bundled headphones; superb, lightweight design; high-quality video; useful equalizer functions; long battery life. The bad:  Lack of FM radio; high price; unfriendly SonicStage software. The bottom line: The most beautiful MP3 player we've seen since the nano, with incredible video playback and superb battery life. Sadly, though, the SonicStage software still drags down usability. Maternal MP3 factor: If style is what you are looking for, you won't go far wrong with the new Sony Walkman. This small MP3 player also does video so mom can catch short clips or TV episodes when not chasing after your baby sister. It comes in different colors, including white and pink ones if your mom is so inclined. Review | See full specs | Rate this
	3.	Archos 404 camcorder (30GB)   CNET Asia rating: 7.7 out of 10 The good:  Built-in digital camera and camcorder; support for subscription music (PlaysForSure); top-notch photo, video, and audio quality; good value. The bad:  No FM radio; utilitarian interface can be confusing at time; need to pay extra for an accessory that activates the player's recording capabilities. The bottom line: The uberversatile Archos 404 camcorder is a good option for anyone looking to buy a compact portable video player with a nice screen. It's an OK convergence device, but it makes a far better video player than camcorder. Maternal MP3 factor: Don't think of this PVP as a gadget for the tech geek. One of its most compelling features is the ability to record television programs with an optional accessory. This will give mom good reason to finally throw out that VCR and those moldy tapes, and still be able to catch every episode of Days of our Lives no matter what time the TV station decides to air it. Review | See full specs | Rate this
	4.	Samsung YP-K5 (2GB)   Product Type Portable Audio Player Weight 106 g Dimensions 98 x 47.5 x 18.1 mm Interface Type USB 1.1, USB 2.0 Storage type Flash Capacity 2 GB Supported audio formats ASF, MP3, WMA Rated battery life (audio) 30 hours Picture formats JPEG Maternal MP3 factor: For the mom that stays home, you can't get a much better player than the Samsung YP-K5. The speakers on this MP3 player mean she doesn't have to have earphones on just to listen to music when looking after a child or cooking. Why not just use the Hi-Fi you ask? Well, you can't bring the Hi-Fi to any room or into the garden, can you? See full specs | Rate this
	5.	Apple iPod nano (4GB; second generation)          CNET Asia rating: 8.3 out of 10 The good:  Scratch-resistant aluminum body;supports photos (with thumbnail grid); great sound quality. The bad:  Still doesn't play video; no built-in FM tuner or recording capability; not all color options are available for all memory sizes. The bottom line: The second-generation Apple iPod nano is like the successful offspring of an iPod mini and a first-generation iPod nano. It's small, stylish, user-friendly, and competitively priced--a great player all around and suitable for a variety of users. Maternal MP3 factor: The iPod nano needs no introduction. Why mom will love it is because of how easy it is to use. MP3 players come and go, but the iPod remains top of the charts--and no doubt the intuitive interface and scroll wheel have something to do with that. You can't go wrong with this device if your mom hates user manuals. Review | See full specs | Rate this