Sony NW-A808 (8GB, White)

Pros: Design, user interface, controls, excellent equaliser and sound settings, included EX monitor headphones

Cons: Price, reliance on poor SonicStage software, location of hold switch

Verdict: The NW-805 comes with a hefty price tag, but if you can overlook the reliance on SonicStage, this is a fine portable media player with an excellent design and good sound quality.

Review summary: Sony's ultra-slim, ultra-metallic NW-A808 takes the fight to the iPod nano with its sharp screen and video playback, but its high price might be its Achilles-heel.

Pros: Sound quality impressive, Looks the goods, All metal body more delectable than it looks, Brilliant screen great for photos and videos ..., ... but let down by dour colour scheme, Interface has some kinks, PC software still pretty rubbish, Price

Cons: ... but let down by dour colour scheme, Interface has some kinks, PC software still pretty rubbish, Price

Review summary: The Sony NW-A805 is an inexpensive, stylish and intuitive portable media player. Sony's NW-A805 Walkman could make Sony MP3 players as big a success as Sony's Walkman phones.

Verdict: Video playback, audio quality and the Sony NW-A805's design are all absolutely superb. The management software and playback options are good but not fantastic. Sony shook up the music player market with its excellent Walkman-branded mobile phones, and ...

Review summary: At last, a sign that Sony is recovering from the insanity that has gripped it over the last few years. This flash-based Walkman has, counter to recent tradition, both a pleasantly usable interface and decent desktop software.

Pros: Good interface and software, Decent picture quality

Cons: Diminutive controls, Too much screen glare

Verdict: Sony has done well here, cramming a lot of features and functionality into a remarkable compact device

Review summary: The 2in display offers a spectacularly sharp and colourful picture

Pros: Good interface and softwareDecent picture quality

Cons: Diminutive controlsToo much screen glare

Verdict: It's on the razor's edge in that respect. Still, watching video of this quality on a player this minute (it's about the width and height of five of those nasty free pens you get in Argos, stacked alongside each other) is truly impressive