Buying Sony gear usually means paying more, but the brand generally guarantees a minimum standard of quality. The assumption generally holds true for its consumer electronics range, as well as its monitors and notebook PCs. This is the case for Sony's new NW-MS70D, part of Sony's new "Network Walkman" line.

While it will not take out the iPod, the NW-MS70D is certainly not an expensive paperweight, either, and is well worth the price tag as a compact high-performance MP3 player.

Suffice to say, if Sony's previous forays into the portable audio market are anything to go by, we were naturally excited upon removing the device from its packaging. That said, this excitement was a fairly short-lived sensation, brought about by the realization that it's going to take much more than just reputation to topple Apple's iPod off its throne.

For well over a year now, the iPod has maintained its status as king of the MP3 player market, and Apple's recent product revision has only further enhanced an already near-perfect device. The very fact that it is being used as a benchmark in this review can be seen as a true testament to its success. However, as you'll soon learn, the NW-MS70D comes to the table with a number of advantages not enjoyed by the iPod, making the comparison a very interesting one indeed.