The word on the street is that MP3 players are phasing out due to the immense popularity of all-in-one devices such as tablets and cell phones. People are starting to believe that a small MP3 player is becoming obsolete due to the heavy use of cell phones. Why carry multiple devices around when you can get away with just one? Why carry around a phone, camera, MP3 player, and laptop all day? That's a lot of gear! Many smart techies are consolidating their devices and simplifying their lives.

But not so fast. Is it really smart to start playing Taps for the MP3 player? While it is true that many people favor a cell phone or internet tablet for all their technology and multimedia needs, touch screen MP3 players still have their place. A small MP3 player solely dedicated to storing and playing music is ideal because you know it will always do its job. You won't have to worry about other features draining the battery, making your 8gb MP3 player deemed useless.

Furthermore, the outstanding price, compact size, and super large storage capacity allow touch screen MP3 players to remain the music devices of choice. Even though cell phones and tablets play music, it is simply not the same experience one would get with a dedicated small MP3 player. People are definitely still buying MP3 players! A straight up MP3 player is a favorite staple item for getting through intense workouts at the gym or mundane jogs through the neighborhood.

Back in the day, the storage capacity of touch screen MP3 players was small indeed (256 mb or so!) but nowadays, an 8gb MP3 player is the norm. This large storage capacity makes touch screen MP3 players the best option for listening to and keeping your music files safe.

There are several 8 gb MP3 player models on the market. The iPod Nano is an obviously popular choice, but there are other worthy MP3 players available as well. For example, Archos has some awesome MP3 players with 8gb capacity. The Archos line of Vision MP3/MP4 players consists of a wide variety of choices containing a minimum of 8 gb storage capability, some with even more. Also, don't forget the Sony Walkman E-Series, Latte, SanDisk Sansa, and Zune. These new favorites are becoming quite popular. The Apple iPod may still rule the MP3 world, but there are other notable competitors such as the aforementioned players that are worth a look.