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MP3 players are popular gifts. Music lovers enjoy them of course for their ability to provide a very personal listening environment; one that features their favorite tunes, allows them to take them anywhere, and let's them enjoy their music in private. Certainly any form of iPod is popular but there are many other options that are both affordable, and in some cases, a better choice. Choosing that MP3 player shouldn't be too dificult. Clearly you want it to be compatible with your OS, you want it to have sufficient memory to hold all the music wanted, and it should support the types of files you wish to use.  Then there are the features.  Do you want an FM radio included, video playback, and so forth?

Having enough memory is critical, especially if video will be used since it consumes more space. Certainly, there are MP3 players with 80GB or more of storage but if you're on a budget, a simple 8GB MP3 player would probably be sufficient. These devices can hold around 2,000 songs or 10-12 two hour movies.

Touch screen MP3 players are certainly among the most popular this year. While the iPod Touch is one option, there are many other devices as well. Samsung's YP-P3, the iRiver P7, Zune HD, and Sony Walkman X Series are well reviewed.

If you're shopping for a younger child, then there are other considerations. There are devices for infants and toddlers. Obviously, easy controls are important for pre-schoolers. For instance, shake control is critical but you also want to be sure there are no parts that could be swallowed as well. SanDisk Sansa has a nice shaker control device that's perfect and Disney makes some nice ones as well.  For school age kids, simple devices like the Sansa Clip and the iPod Shuffle might be sufficient once a child demonstrates the ability to handle the controls.  Another consideration that parents need to remember when choosing an MP3 player for kids however, is related to protecting young kids from hearing loss. Parents can choose to limit listening volume, continuous listening time, and perhap avoid the in-the-ear type earphones.

If you're buying for someone who likes to listen during outdoor activities or swimming, then a waterproof MP3 player might be a great idea. There are a handful of these devices on the market from makers like Finis and Aquabeat but you can also find waterproof cases for standard players as well. Great sound quality isn't the hallmark of these devices however. 

For those who want digital camera functions along with their MP3 player, there are a few options as well.  Certainly the iPod Nano recently added a video camera (it won't capture still images) but there are a few lesser known MP3 players with a camera as well. The Olympus m:Robe is one of the better options.

Some MP3 players obviously have better sound quality than others, but in reality very few of them really have good earphones. So, if you want to spring for a better set, it can be well worth the money. Popular brands are Shure  and Etymotic.