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August 27, 2008 2:00 PM PDT

Top 10 MP3 players for less than $100

by Jasmine France

Can you get built-in Bluetooth for less than $100?

MP3 players don't have to be expensive to be good, and I can prove it. I scoured CNET Reviews to find the best MP3 players that can be purchased online for less than $100. The results are fairly impressive, and certainly much more exciting than the ones we were able to compile for this same feature more than two years ago--you gotta love cheap flash memory.

All the devices that made this top-10 list pack at least 2GB of storage, scored at least a 7.0 out of 10, and were (for the most part) reviewed within the past two years (so they're not totally outdated). Each player also offers two or more of the following characteristics: good sound quality; a stylish, compact design; advanced features, such as an FM radio or recording capabilities; and an impressive battery life. Of course, the best part is that none of them will break the bank. The pricing for each player is current as of press time and applies to new products--no refurbs here!

Check out the slide show of our top 10 players for less than $100.

For more than five years, Jasmine France has covered a variety of tech products for CNET--from scanners to keyboards to GPS devices--but she's happiest where she is now: sitting atop a pile of MP3 players, "testing" every music service known to man, and jamming a variety of earbuds in every shape and color into her absurdly small ears. E-mail Jasmine.
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by alchemistmuffin August 27, 2008 3:47 PM PDT
What about the iPod shuffle?

Sure it has no screen, but the randomness is what makes it cool....
Reply to this comment
by Jasmineflower August 27, 2008 5:02 PM PDT
The iPod Shuffle only received a 6.3 out of 10, so it didn't meet the criteria of this particular top list.
by MSKGNW September 4, 2008 8:08 PM PDT
I haven't seen a MP3 player without shuffle capability.
by nikhil.j August 29, 2008 1:01 PM PDT
no ipod shuffle has nothing, almost nothing for its price...
sound quality is just about adequate at best and the earphones which come wit it, absolute crap...
Reply to this comment
by iruka* September 15, 2008 11:09 AM PDT
I agree...I just think people have been tricked to think anything from Apple is utter genius

There are many things that are in te same price range or same size as the shuffle with a whole lot more features, quality, and are worth buying more than the shuffle.
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