The empeg, of course, doesn't have most of these problems because it is essentially a computer that happens to fit in the space of a car stereo. Of course, it doesn't hurt that the empeg was designed out of necessity by a group of guys that could not live without MP3's in the car, while the Aiwa was likely designed by a team of engineers given a specific task. That's the difference between an MP3 fan designing an MP3 player without much focus on cost and a group of engineers that really don't know a lot about MP3's with a very limited budget.

It basically comes down to a few key questions whose answers will essentially make your decision for you - how badly do you want MP3's in your car, how much are you willing to pay for it, and how do you listen to your music. The empeg is obviously the most flexible solution, but the cost is prohibitive for most. Kenwood's Z919, which we'll be looking at in the coming weeks, is very similar to the CDC-MP3, but costs almost double. Is it worth it for similar functionality and a bigger brand name? That's up to you, but in most cases the answer will be no.