The second MP3 player I bought (the first was a Kodak MC3 — now let’ s never speak of it again) was the iRiver 390T, and I spent a pretty penny for it when it first came out. So you have to understand that spotting another 256MB MP3 flash player for under $40 sure makes me feel like a shmuck. Thanks for nothing, technology depreciation.

Nonetheless, the unimaginatively titled Sandisk 256MB MP3 Player would make a great backup/gym/throwaway music device for all you high-rollers (or low-renters) out there. This player is pretty no-frills when compared to most flash players sold these days (it doesn’t do anything but play music, but since when is that a bad thing?), but its support for WMA DRM is a big plus when getting it to go to the prom with Yahoo, Napster, or MusicMatch.

And it looks so pretty all dressed in red! Oooh, let me take a picture of you adorable kids!