Which MP3 & Docking Station

blue70

My daughter wants an MP3 player for Christmas along with speakers or a docking station. I don't want to get an Ipod as over the years I have discovered that other makes of MP3 player are either of similar or superior quality for a fraction of the price of an Ipod. It's almost as if Apple hype up the cost of Ipods based on their image more than their actual functions

The problem I have is that there doesn't seem to be many docking stations specilically designed for non Ipod players. I don't want to get a docking station and then find you connect it via an Aux in cable and then lay the player in front or behind of the dock rather than having the ability to stand it in a purpose built slot. For that reason I am not opposed to speakers but obviously a dock is more convenient.

Anyway after all my rambling I guess I am asking if anyone knows of either a universal MP3 dock that will accomodate most Mp3 players with an element of style or do other MP3 manufacturers also make their own docking stations and are they any good.

I'm not looking for anything massively expensive as it's only for my daughters bedroom, up to £50 would be good.

Thanks in advance