It has been a while for the "Buy This Not That" series, but I am glad it is back. This time, we are putting the Samsung P3 up against the iPod Nano. I have to say, if you are looking for a mid-range personal media player, you should buy the Samsung P3, not the iPod Nano. It offers more bang for the buck, it is more universal, and darn it if Samsung just doesn't make good sounding media players.

The problem here is that iPod has become synonymous with the concept of media players. Unfortunately, iPods are often not the best on the block. This is the case with the Samsung P3 vs. the iPod Nano. The cost of the 8GB and the 16GB versions are identical; they run $149 and $199 respectively, but the P3 does offer a 32GB version for $299. With the iPod Nano, you are buying a 2 inch screen and a jog wheel. With the Samsung, you are buying a sleek 3 inch touchscreen - granted, it is not an iPod Touch, but you are not paying the touch price either. While the screen real estate might not seem like a big deal - try watching a video.

Both players have proprietary USB connectors, and both work with Apple or Windows computers. With the Samsung P3 however, you also get Bluetooth connectivity, and it works great. The Bluetooth stack supports A2DP, cell phone connections, and file transfer from computers. With the P3, you also get the great dynamic sound effects. I have used these on my Samsung K3 and K5, and they make music sound fantastic. There really is no way for the iPod to compete with the P3 when it comes to sound. You also get access to games, data casts, and widgets that add and "application" feel to the player. Again, it would seem that Samsung is supplying iPod Touch usability for iPod Nano prices.

No that iTunes has variable pricing and all MP3 tracks, the iPod draw is shrinking. You can use any player with the files you get from iTunes, and it seems that Apple likes it that way, so why not spend your money on a sleek and sexy touchscreen media player rather than on the chromatic metal clone everyone else has. Buy the Samsung P3 not the iPod Nano and you won't be disappointed.