When it comes to buying a digital audio player, the sheer choice that is available and a general lack of distinctiveness between competing brands, makes it easy to understand why readily-recognisable brand names such as Apple's iPod remain popular.
In the end, the decision-making formula for most people is: How much bang do I get for my buck?
Korean-manufactured brand Yes has a slight edge over its peers with its two new MP3 players in that they are among the cheapest models available in Hong Kong.
The 128MB version of the model, YMP089, a standalone MP3 player in the shape of a small disc, carries a recommended retail price of $938. However, promotions being run by some local electronics stores means they are sometimes going for as little as $850.
It is a simple unit with the standard play, tracking, and volume buttons on the edge. A built-in battery takes 60 minutes to charge and lasts 3.5 hours.
The full-featured YMP100 is slightly more expensive but it comes with a radio and voice recorder, and can be used as an external hard disc. The 128MB capacity can record between five and 17 hours of dictation, and hold three or four CDs' worth of music. The manual claims the average single 'AAA' can deliver around seven hours of MP3 music playback.
Both MP3 players are also available in 256MB models, and use USB 1.1 to connect to PCs instead of the faster USB 2.0 standard.
