at first people critisized me for buying this MP3, when the new ipods had just came out. And now, after a few months of ownership, i'm thinking they where right.

First off, the screen size is just silly, other small-size mp3 players get away with it due to the bar shape of their screens, but the circle shape of this screen means that inorder to fit a whole word on the screen, it has to write it so small that you need glasses just to see it. the menu is easy enoug to navigate, but by no means the most intuitive menu i have ever seen.

The buttons on the Stone do, however, make the player extremely easy to use, as they are big and sturdy, and i found no difficulty in being able to recognise and push the next button without looking, or even through my jeans when it was in my pocket. you will, however, sometimes find yourself nudging the microphone slider, interupting your song in mid flow. not the most helpful feature, the microphone provides grainy low-quality recordings, which is only to be expected from a budget mp3 player.

the weight of this player is another defining feature, as it weighs about the same as a pen, and its compact size also helps in keeping unsightly bulges protruding from your pockets, and unlike my old mp3, it wont pull your trousers down if you decide to run for a while.

the sound quality is tolerable, but it severely deminishes as the volume increases, especially when heard through the flimsy creative headphones that you get with them. the earphones are also not the most comfortable, and i frequently find myself with sore ears after about half an hour of listening. if you like your music and your comfort, i strongly suggest getting a separate pair of headphones.

the battery life is commendable, although i was a bit dissappointed that there was no way to charge it but with the tiny computer lead supplied, unless you want to buy a usb charger plug separate, which i would reccomend for long journeys in a car.

the memory of 2GB is perfect for the size of this MP3, as it was obviously only intended for use as a lightweight easy listening MP3. therefore, about 1000 songs should keep you happy for a long time on this little thing, a good lightweight alternative to the bigger brands, if you can stick its display