After some diligent research, I bought the Nomad II to connect with my Macintosh computer. I was also looking at the Mac compatible Rio 800 from Sonic Blue and the Nomad II MG. The Rio has the looks and is very easy to use, but I ended up ruling it out because it doesn't come with a radio tuner, useful for when you tire of your MP3's or if your gym broadcasts TV audio on specific radio frequencies. The Nomad II MG is sort of the big brother to the II. It comes with 64 MB of built in memory as opposed to the II's 32 MB. Although the MG is smaller and looks better than the II, I found it more difficult to use. The MG's tiny buttons are awkwardly placed on the sides of the player. The II really blows away the MG in the intuitive design category. After a quick read through of the manual I was able to navigate the controls with ease.

When I factored in price, there was no question that I had to go with the II. The $129 price tag now includes headphones and the wired remote. I plan to add a 64 MB (about $50) or a 128 MB (about $90) Smart Media card which makes it competitive with the equally expandable MG and the Rio 800. I might have gone with with MG ($259)if it came with a wired remote. I wasn't willing to spend an extra $50 for something that should be standard with all portable audio players. By not going with the MG, I gave up the ability to record directly from the FM tuner, which I doubt I would have ever used.

If you are a Mac user, the Nomad II works flawlessly with iTunes (free from Apple.com) or SoundJam (a stripped down version is provided). Just plug the Nomad into your Mac with the included USB cable and it appears in your iTunes or SoundJam menu. Then all you have to do is drag and drop songs until your memory capacity is filled and you are ready to go in a couple of minutes. You can also program the radio tuner settings from your computer. Speaking of which, don't expect too much from the FM tuner. I was able to get all of my favorite stations in the Los Angeles area, but the reception tended to be weak in certain locations. Performance will most likely vary in this department. I don't regret buying the player for the tuner, but I will make sure I am loaded up with MP3's just in case reception causes the radio to be unusable.

If price wasn't a factor, I probably would have gone with the MG and bought the optional wired remote which would make the poor control layout more manageable. The 64 MB built in memory adds about 30 more minutes of MP3's, compared to the II's 32 MB. Not as big a deal if you plan on adding a Smart Media card.

If you decide that the Nomad II is the player for you, make sure you get the right configuration. Check the packaging or the online information to see if you are getting 1) 32 MB of INTERNAL memory and 2) headphones and the wired remote. Other versions of the Nomad II are offered with 32 MB or 64 MB of EXTERNAL memory only (by way of a Smart Memory card). You may also purchase the II without the headphones or the wired remote for about $99. Creative Labs has recently added a Nomad IIC which has 32MB of internal memory but does not have the FM tuner.

In closing, I definitely recommend the Nomad II with 32 MB of internal memory. You will most likely want to add a 64 MB or 128 MB Smart Media card (try newegg.com, ramseeker.com, and dealmac.com for competitive prices).

Recommended: Yes

Amount Paid (US$): 129