Sony's newest entry-level player is one of the simplest and most straightforward portable players around. Free of bells and whistles (and video screens) this little player is a real workhorse, perfect for road warriors of all stripes.

Part of Sony's B100 Series of players, the flash based unit is available in 1GB and 2GB. We've focused on the B105, with its 2GB capacity. This little guy comes in both black and white, with matching headphones available in each color. The 2GB holds up to 959 MP3 or WMA music files. It plays music from a variety of sources and is compatible with Windows Media PlaysForSure subscription services, ensuring music from Windows-based media sources will work with the B105.

Gone are the days when Sony portable players only worked with the company's own ATRAC music format and Connect Music software. Sony now supports MP3 and WMA as well, and beginning with these new models, the Connect Music Store and software is being phased out. Bad news for existing customers who will have to burn music in the ATRAC format to CD if they want to continue to have access to it, but good news for the rest of us who prefer our music formats a little more open than ATRAC allowed.

Because the B105 is basically a tricked-out flash drive, it offers some truly differentiated benefits to users. Just plug it into your computer's USB for music transfer and super fast charging that completely eliminates extra cords and chargers. We tested the B105 on a business trip and really appreciated this feature and our cord free bag.

A built in FM tuner lets you preset stations and an on board microphone and voice recorder makes digital audio files. There are 12 hours of battery life, and once it's plugged into a computer through the USB port the player is fully charged in approximately two hours.

Audio quality is better than might be expected from such a basic player, but the ear buds included with purchase are the most basic you can get. The three-line color display shows track artist and album information but the small print might be hard for some users to read. Same with the buttons, which are also on the small side and take some getting used to.

In all, the NWZ-B105F is a great all in one companion for the business traveler--lightweight, multifunctional and cord or charger free.

Pros: The FM tuner, quick charging capability and lack of cords really sets the B105 apart
Cons: Small buttons and controls slightly difficult to use

Warranty
90 days, 1-year parts