A survey conducted by X-bit labs has revealed that the most popular makers of MP3 players are Apple Computer, Creative Technology and iRiver. Other manufacturers are accepted very moderately on the market, the poll results indicated.

Among X-bit labs readers, Apple’s iPod players seem to be slightly more popular than Creative’s devices: 15% of respondents owned an iPod, whereas 14% preferred MP3 players from Creative Labs. iRiver was used by 5% of the surveyed, while 4% chose players from Sony. Other manufacturers did not surpass 2% barrier.

It is quite interesting to note that 42% of respondents, which are generally technically educated, do not yet own an MP3 player, which indicates that the market of digital music players still has capabilities to grow and expand.

Both Apple and Creative Technology were among the very first companies to release highly-advertised MP3 players with easy to use interfaces. As a result of this strategy, the companies have managed to leave behind such well-known brands in the past as iRiver, Sony and some others. While a lot of makers now enter MP3 player market, they need to invest significant amount of resources to acquire significant market share.

The X-bit labs poll surveyed about 3 thousand of respondents among technology enthusiasts in mid-August, 2005.