While these guys are certainly not harder than steel, their bang-for-the-buck storage medium can save you a lot of hard cash, especially when you have too many music files to count.

And what's cool about these hard-nosed players is that they look good enough to ride shotgun, too. Add on a bit of technical flair and you have a player that's packed with enough features to ventilate the rest of the MP3 player pack.

Here's our pick.

Click here for a feature comparison table.

	1.	iriver E10 (6GB)       CNET Asia rating: 8.4 out of 10 The good:  Shockwave Flash support; above-average battery life; intuitive UI; blazing fast transfer speeds; built-in TV remote. The bad:  Limited video format support; lack of bundled video conversion software; proprietary data cable. The bottom line: At S$449, the 6GB E10 offers astonishing value with a good balance of features and performance. Review | See full specs | Rate this
	2.	Apple iPod (80GB; fifth generation update)       CNET Asia rating: 8.3 out of 10 The good:  Improved video battery life and brighter screen; gapless playback; new features such as instant search and enhanced games; movies now available in iTunes 7; excellent overall value. The bad:  Still no FM radio; small screen not conducive to movie viewing; proprietary USB cable; narrow native video-format compatibility; body is still scratch prone. The bottom line: The amazingly low priced updated Apple iPod gets many under-the-hood improvements, but it's still not a true video player. Review | See full specs | Rate this
	3.	Creative Zen Vision W (30GB)          CNET Asia rating: 8 out of 10 The good:  Great battery life for video playback; good audio fidelity; widescreen display; vibrant colors; organic UI. The bad:  Thicker than the original; no TV recording; only a mono speaker. The bottom line: The Zen Vision W is an excellent improvement over the Zen Vision. Though it missed improving certain features, its beguiling screen, GUI and battery life won us over. Review | See full specs | Rate this
	4.	Archos 404 (30GB)   CNET Asia rating: 8 out of 10 The good:  3.5-inch screen with a supercompact body; ability to record line-in audio and video with optional adapters; good voice recorder; improved GUI; excellent video controls and photo playback features. The bad:  Lacks the kickstand and removable battery of its bigger brother, the 604; proprietary USB cable; no recording line-in video or audio out of the box; few bundled accessories; no FM tuner; weak equalizer. The bottom line: The attractively priced Archos 404 is a PVP in an MP3 player's body. If you want a better screen and a removable battery, spend a bit more for the wider 604. Review | See full specs | Rate this
	5.	Creative Zen Vision:M (30GB)          CNET Asia rating: 8.2 out of 10 The good:  Fast transfer speed; wide video codec support; brilliant screen; improved vertical scroll. The bad:  Stiff keys; bothersome sync adapter; thicker than the iPod. The bottom line: There is a lot going for the Zen Vision: M, and true to form, Creative has just created yet another iPod killer to take on the incumbent. Review | See full specs | Rate this