MSI Mega Stick 128Mb

Thankfully, MP3 players have spelled the end for brick-sized cassette players, but many of the cheaper units suffer from their own size problem.

With 128Mb of memory, the Mega Stick will store only about 40 good-quality tracks, so you won't have much to choose from. However, if you like to listen to a mix of tracks rather than complete albums, this player will accommodate you.

About the same size as a highlighter pen, the Mega Stick comes with a set of earphones that you will want to replace at the earliest opportunity. We were also a little disappointed by the volume control, which has set levels to choose from rather than a dial that lets you control the exact level. This results in rather startling hikes in volume.

Building your own playlists is one of the joys of digital music. The Mega Stick, however, plays back songs in alphabetical order, so you won't be able to search for particular tracks. To offset this, unlike some players of its size, the unit has a small backlit screen so you can see the song names as you scroll through. The inclusion of an FM radio is welcome but at £93 there are similar, cheaper models available.

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