You can get a lot more than just music out of the latest MP3 players

There once was a time when the novelty of just having an MP3 player was enough (it doesn’t seem that long ago that many of us toted around ‘portable CD players’ which seem to be something out of the Ice Age now). Today we look in envy at those passing the hours on trains and planes by catching a movie on their MP3. If you were left with simply a boring dog-eared book on the train to your Bank Holiday destination this weekend then there are some great MP3s to choose from (at a number of price points).

The new Apple 16GB iPod Touch holds up to 3,500 songs, 20 hours of video or 20,000 photos. At 3.5″ the screen is incredibly clear and easy to watch. This means you can watch movies or television shows while travelling on trains, planes or in automobiles! You can burn movies you have at home to your iPod or you can purchase new releases from iTunes. The key is to be organised and diligent about uploading new material every once in a while as there is nothing worse than getting excited about watching a television programme or film and realising you haven’t uploaded anything new!

If you aren’t ready to spend more than £200 on an iPod Touch don’t despair, there are alternatives on the market. The Creative Zen Video and MP3 Player is smaller than a credit card but has a clear 2.5″ screen that is just as easy to watch videos on as the Touch. At 4GB it can hold up to 1,000 songs and you can also add extra memory with an SD memory expansion slot. The great news is that the Creative Zen Player is at a price point of under £70.

Also less than the iPod but a bit more than the Creative Zen is the NWZ-A818BLK Walkman Video MP3 player from Sony. A brand that tends to be tinged with nostalgia (who didn’t have a Sony walkman?) this video MP3 player holds more than 5,000 songs and 30 hours of video (more than the iPod touch) but unfortunately just a couple of hundred photos. The unit is 8GM and has a 2″ screen. So a great value at around £130.

Key to consider when purchasing a MP3 is how often you plan to use the device, what type of files you will play (simply music videos or full feature films) and how important brand and buzz are to you (it’s hard to avoid the excitement and news around Apple products). Once you make a list of what’s important you can purchase something to chase away boredom on your next journey abroad.