Sony B-Series Walkman is compact, compatible
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Features come and go in the rapidly evolving MP3 player space. One that has enjoyed fluctuating popularity is the built-in USB interface, which lets you connect a device directly to a computer without a cable. This "plug and play" capability is currently out of fashion, but Sony is trying to keep the dream alive with the B-Series Walkman.
The entry-level offering is aimed at active users and is priced competitively at $44.99 for the 1GB model and $59.99 for the 2GB. Battery life isn't as impressive as other Sony Walkmans and the screen is tiny, but the B-Series hits the mark with an array of features suitable for on-the-go use. Plus, like any true plug-and-play player should be, it's compatible with both Windows and Mac.
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. 
