HARD DRIVE AUDIO PLAYERS

Apple iPod

Imitators come and imitators go, but the coolest portable music player remains Apple's trendsetting iPod. The iPod is that rare gadget that's both stylish and popular with the masses; it's the best-selling portable music player in history, with more than six million units sold to date.

The fourth generation iPod is the best yet, now incorporating the touch-sensitive Click Wheel first introduced on the iPod Mini. You get a 20GB hard disk that can hold up to 5,000 songs; you can also use your iPod to store regular computer data, including digital photos and the like.

Even though the iPod is Apple's baby (and the styling definitely reminds you of the family connection), it's that rare Apple product that's compatible with both Apple and Windows computers. It stores and plays back music in the AAC, MP3, WAV, and AIFF formats.

Cool features (besides the trendy looks) include a high-resolution backlist display, dual USB 2.0 and FireWire compatibility, and the seamless interface to Apple's top-notch iTunes Music Store. And if you use the FireWire connection, you can recharge your iPod directly from your PC or Mac; FireWire doubles as a power connection for the portable device.

Weaknesses include a relatively short battery life (up to 12 hours with the fourth-generation unit double that of earlier units, but still kind of puny compared to the competition), no built-in FM radio or CompactFlash slot, and incompatibility with Microsoft's WMA file format. This last weakness is the biggest because you can't use your iPod to download songs from Napster, Yahoo! Music Unlimited, or any non-Apple online music service.

Still, you can't go wrong with an iPod. It's slick, it's trendy, and it's well designed. If other players offer more capacity or longer battery life well, they're still not iPods. Apple's got a good thing going here.

Model: iPod Manufacturer: Apple (www.apple.com) Capacity: 20GB Dimensions: 4.1'' x 2.4'' x 0.57'' Weight: 5.6 oz. Price: $299

Creative Zen

The Creative Zen gives the iPod a run for its money; if only the controller was more like Apple's Click Wheel! What you do get is a 20GB capacity, big 1.65'' LCD display, and 11 hours of battery life. It's all wrapped up in attractive case in a variety of colors a good alternative for those of you who want WMA (and MP3) compatibility in your portable audio player.

Model: Zen Manufacturer: Creative (www.creative.com) Price: $249.95

Archos Gmini XS200

The Gmini XS200 is a tiny hard-drive player with a big 2'' screen. You get 20GB capacity with 10 hours of battery life, all in a package that looks and feels more like a mini than a maxi player. And here's something unique you can use the XS200 to store data files from your PC, via USB connection. It has a very easy-to-use file management system!

Model: Gmini XS200 Manufacturer: Archos (www.archos.com) Capacity: 20GB Dimensions: 2.9'' x 2.3'' x 0.7'' Weight: 4.3 oz. Price: $249.95

Olympus m:robe 500i

Olympus makes only a couple of portable audio players, but they both hit my list. The m:robe 500i has a 20GB hard disk and a huge 3.7'' high-resolution color screen that helps the player do double duty as a photo vault. The battery lasts anywhere from 8 12 hours, depending on how you're using it. It's a little higher-priced than the competition, but you gotta love that display!

Model: m:robe 500i Manufacturer: Olympus (www.olympusgroove.com) Capacity: 20GB Dimensions: 4 3/8'' x 3'' x 7/8'' Weight: 7.4 oz. Price: $399.99

iRiver H340

iRiver's H340 offers huge storage capacity (40GB) and a really nice 2'' color LCD display. You also get a built-in FM tuner and voice recorder, as well as ability to store and view digital photos; battery life is an astounding 16 hours. Also available is the sibling model H320, with 20GB storage for $299.99.

Model: H340 Manufacturer: iRiver (www.iriveramerica.com) Capacity: 40GB Dimensions: 2.4'' x 4'' x 0.9'' Weight: 6.9 oz. Price: $399.99