Community Newsletter: Q&A: Buying my first MP3 player, advice needed!
- 12/7/07 8:11 AM
If you dont have a Mac, Ipods may not be for you.
by yesse76 - 12/1/07 5:24 AM In reply to: Buying my first MP3 player, advice needed! by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
-Ipods are the rage, and I have countless friends who swear by them.
-I personally hated mine.
-I won my Nano in a poker trny, and was thrilled to get the 'latest craze' for free. But ultimately, I almost never used my Ipod (as compared to my other MP3 player) because I could only utilize the Ipod in conjunction w/Itunes. That meant I had to convert all of my MP3 files to Mac files. I use a PC jukebox for my music, and the Ipod made things more difficult than I wanted.
-I just bought the IRiver Clix 4G (CNets highest rated MP3 player ever!) and I am thrilled with it. But that's for you to decide.
-I also recommend a flash player, as they dont have moving components that can be easily jossled or subject to movements (ie exercising).
-Good luck.
MP3 Player via I-pod
by Freemate - 12/1/07 6:22 AM In reply to: Buying my first MP3 player, advice needed! by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Hello Nancy,
I am not experience in _ipod i do sell them!! here is my suggestion. If you are looking for somethings easy to Use..Long Lasting and portable. It Better called Ultra Hydra MP3 player. Many people have lost their way to Ipod.
Ulra MP3 player:
-Water Resistant, USB 2.0, USB Flash Drive take your music anywhere
-No download required copy from cD to you mp3 collection
-Support IDE TAG
-Voice Recorder, FM RAdio
-Contiuos player..8 hours..19 hours on AAA batteries
-Support WMA, MP3
-Splash Resistant
Quality at it best..i used this it much better .
Model number: ULT0014 1 GB, 2 gb different color available.
I hope this is help..
Dial up & itunes can't be done & I wouldn't choose Creative
by missjynx - 12/1/07 8:27 AM In reply to: Buying my first MP3 player, advice needed! by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Hi
I'm in the UK and my experiences are a little different so I'll just add a comment: Don't choose Creative. I did and after 4 years, 9 replacement players and truly useless customer support I've said never again. I didn't want to let them get away with it, but even I have my limits! I couldn't get the players working on many different computers on 3 continents, but apparently Creative were convinced it was those computers not their players!
The Firmware updgrades you have to download wouldn't work with Xp Sp2 (which Creative kindly inform you after download). Don't recognise Vista at all and won't work with any WMP above version 9, which is needed to run the Creative mediaplayer and which Creative freely admit when you ask. (Google Creative Firmware for a litany of complaints from all over the world, USA included, on their own knowlege base and elsewhere about freezing players, Computers not recognising the player, disappearing downloads etc. all of which I experienced)
Sadly, when they worked, the players were great, giving long battery life, removable batteries and no linkage to any one source of downloads. On paper it sounded a great option and initially were all they promised to be. I was sent in replacment for my Micro; Micros, Zens, Stones and a variety of others including photo and video players as they tried to find a player that would work. Telling Creative support the issues seemed to be software rather than hardware related got no response other than it was the computers I used and then a replacement player offer.
I haven't had contact with them since late September 2007 so it is possibe all these issues have now been resolved. Possible , but not probable!
I'd finally add if you want an iPod & iTunes just be aware itunes cannot be downloaded if, like many of us, you live in a part of the world where Broadband/DSL hasn't reached yet and you're on a dial up connection.
I'm mp3-less right now and planning a new one, but with burnt fingers and no iPod option (dial up connection) I'm not sure what I'll opt for. Good luck!
Many software options available for most MP3 players
by Ivystung - 12/1/07 10:56 AM In reply to: Dial up & itunes can't be done & I wouldn't choose Creative by missjynxHonestly saying "the software is easy to use" is a really bad reason to choose an IPod or any other brand of MP3 player. I have no problem transferring my Zen with Windows Media Player or J River Media Center. It's very easy and I suspect it's the same for most if not all players. They are designed to be easy to transfer files to and from. I doubt one brand is a lot easier to use than others. That sounds like marketing hype.
One thing though, after having my first MP3 player drop and the screen crack and break I got a silicon case and LCD screen protector for my latest one. I think this is a very good idea since Mp3 players aren't as rugged as you might like them to be. These too accessories are sold on eBay and cost me under $20 for the pair including shipping.
MP3's
by DickyDum - 12/1/07 11:09 AM In reply to: Buying my first MP3 player, advice needed! by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I have a music player (Panasonic) that I have used all over the world with great results. I do not have a Large capacity drive as it only uses Memory Cards storing music in AAC format. This means I can have different types of music on different cards and play whatever I want, instead of flicking through hundred of tracks. The largest size of memory card I use is 1GB, which suits my needs.
The primary concerns would be feature and time.
by BrendanK - 12/1/07 11:39 AM In reply to: Buying my first MP3 player, advice needed! by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Ok, I actually searched out and bought my own first MP3 player a year ago, so I do have a clear idea on the factors involved. Now the first and most important thing to consider is: what do you want your player to do? Will just playing MP3's loaded off your computer do, or would you like to also play back videos, or listen to FM radio, or double as a voice recorder (This was actually a requirement for me when I was shopping). With a bit of shopping around you can find players to do all these things and more.
The second thing you need to consider, what sort of music collection will you be wanting to use with your player? Do you have a large collection of CD's that you've recently spent a few hours ripping to MP3's? Will you be wanting to buy a lot of your music online? And will you want a mostly static collection of the songs you've identified as your favorites, or do you have an ear for new music? If you're mostly bringing your own music, it makes the question of program and online store less important. If you're looking to download a lot of your players content though, you'll need to pay a lot more heed to the options of the various players. In the case of the Ipod, you can buy songs from Itunes for $.99, and load them on the Ipod, or load songs ripped from CD's. That's pretty much it. With other players, you can't play songs bought from Itunes (Unless you paid extra for songs without DRM). These players tend to offer access to different online stores, who's pricing tends to be similar to Itunes for the most part. In addition, most of them offer a subscription based online service, where for one monthly fee, you can download all the songs you want from the service. Plus if you're someone who likes discovering new music, Rhapsody and other services offer programs that will automaticly download and sync songs into 'channels' in your player. A very nice feature if you like discovering new music, but can't really spare the time to browse for it.
And time is the final decisive factor involved. When people talk about ease of use, their actually talking about time. Itunes and the Ipod were created with a major eye toward simplicity, so while they have few features than other players, all the setup/prep, etc takes a bit less time to work through. Of course, with the various improvements to most modern player software, the time gap is not very large in general, often manifesting as "You have to go through one extra menu" at most. Still, the amount of time you'll have available to set up and maintain your MP3 player is perhaps one of the biggest considerations. If you've got plenty of time, any player would do. If you'd really like to put as little time into getting your player set up, Apple has an advantage there, but if you're expecting some intense scheduling to make it hard to update your player, then a player set up with Rhapsody (Or similar) would actually be a more effective way for you to keep getting new content into your player without having to pick it out yourself.
In general though, my best initial advice is to start off by taking advantage of CNet by looking over as many of the MP3 player reviews as you can to get a feel for what to look at.
As with most electronics
by sdrc92128 - 12/1/07 12:00 PM In reply to: Buying my first MP3 player, advice needed! by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I buy the very minimum until I need more. Because prices fall so rapidly, I rarely go wrong here.
I bought an mp3 player for $5 (yes, they are that inexpensive) and another $20 for the 2Gig SD memory. With the $100+ I saved, I was able to buy a lot of music. It has the one feature that I want - plays mp3 files. It may have more features, but I don't know since this is the only one that I used.
I then bought a N770 and because it also plays mp3, I no longer use my cheap-o player.
You can't go wrong trying out one of these cheap players and then upgrading later if you need to. Good luck!
I Would Not Recommend Buying an Ipod
by _Shadow - 12/1/07 2:18 PM In reply to: Buying my first MP3 player, advice needed! by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
As my heading says, I would not recommend that you buy an Ipod as your first MP3 player.
I have several personal experiences with Ipods, though the sum of them is all bad. On one hand, my sister has an Ipod that has been functioning normally and well for five months. She hasn't had any outward problems with it, other than the fact that she said her shuffle option does not work as randomly as it should. She dislikes the fact that it only reads and plays M4As or MP4s, and you must use Itunes to get any music onto it. There is also no possible way to copy music from your Ipod to your computer, another downfall that my sister does not like.
On the other, more pessimistic, hand, I have a close friend who recently got an 80GB new generation Ipod. He had not even got over thirty songs onto it before it just bugged out. It simply stopped working.
The Ipod is a very user-friendly MP3 player, and it is easily to use with one hand, but some things I have noticed when I use it are that the volume doesn't go up very high, and even at its highest point it is quite low. The buttons can also be a bit difficult to get used to at first, but once you get the hang of it, you can easily use them with a single hand. It has lots of features like mini-games and contacts, which, although are useful, do not erase the many malfunctions that I have known to occur in the Ipods.
Also, one of my friends is a research addict; he knows everything. I never say that, but he honestly does. He's only been wrong two or three times. He concentrated his focus on rap for a while, and could predict the new trends that it would take... and, of course, they became the new 'hot' thing in rap. So, after my friend bought the Ipod, he did some research into Apple, and discovered many flaws. He told my friend who bought the Ipod to return it instantly.
A week later, the Ipod bugged out.
For the purposes you mentioned, the Ipod does seem like the MP3 player to buy, but keep in mind that other MP3s (like the Iriver H10) have similar features and good experiences. Though, the Iriver, while I love it, is somewhat difficult to get used to, but it has many of the features you mentioned. (Picture viewing, FM radio, storage, and a bonus is you can read .txt files on the Iriver.) These are relatively simple features that even a person new to MP3 players can use easily, and the more elite you become at it, the more you can tweak the Iriver to your preferences (such as custom EQ, alarm settings, and creatable playlist.)
One thing I would recommend you do before buying an MP3 player is to read the user reviews on it. This will give you an idea of the problems everyday, ordinary people have with the player, not the reviewers who use it once and are done with it. If many people say that there are bugs, problems, and malfunctions with the player, then you likely have a high chance of getting a faulty player that malfunctions. Check out some CNET user opinions on the Ipod before you decide anything.
So, in the end, I would not recommend you buy an Ipod. It will be... sufficient for your purposes, and the since you are new to MP3 players, the Ipod would be easy to get used to and would introduce you to MP3 players. There are other, better MP3s out there. I would personally recommend you look into the Iriver and Creative brand names, particularly the Iriver H10 and the Creative Zen V. These, I have found after using each of them, to be good, high quality products that, in some ways, outdo the Ipod.
DOWNSIDE OF APPLE devices
by wwwgjsnet - 12/1/07 2:43 PM In reply to: I Would Not Recommend Buying an Ipod by _ShadowYes, I agree that being held hostage to iTunes with iPod is bad.
I like to move files in and out of ANY computer without hassles.
My favorite MP3 players act as external hard drives. No fuss.
This is from one having massive spoken word files.
Touted "number of songs" specifications irritates.
GB player capacity is what is paramount for files.
Do you want to archive your music? Is quality important?
by fliv - 12/1/07 5:55 PM In reply to: Buying my first MP3 player, advice needed! by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Nancy,
Every several years Apple and Microsoft phase out an operating system or word processing program (Office for example). If you want to keep up you have pay money (usually at least $150). This is where we get Windows 98, 2000, XP and Vista from. Eventually there will be almost no one using Windows 98. Everyone will have paid money to upgrade their system.
The "mandatory upgrade" can also apply your music collection. Your cd music collection is much too large to be stored directly on your computer. Your music player will have a program that converts cds to a smaller format that will fit on your computer.
In most cases what ends up on your computer is is of lesser quality than what you purchased at the store.
There are two categories of formats for music on a computer, lossy and lossless, the first is not cd quality and the second is. You should choose lossless if you want a back up copy of your cd's on your computer, or if you are an audiophile. If you plan on downloading lots of music, then lossless format will not be an issue. As far as I know most downloads are not available in cd quality.
If you want to keep copies of cd quality music on your computer you have 4 options.
1. Rip two copies of your music to your computer. One in FLAC (cd quality - lossless) format and another in mp3, wma (lossy) or aac (ipod format lossy).
2. Go with either an ipod with Apple lossless (possibly more $) or windows media lossless (more $) and be subject to the mandatory upgrade game.
3. Purchase a digital audio player that plays flac format.
I have long desired an mp3 player but have not found one I like yet because of this very issue (I don't have the budget for multiple players). I do not want a hard drive player. I want a player that will hold most if not all of my collection. With kids in the house, I want to keep a lossless cd quality copy of my music on my computer. I give Microsoft enough money and don't like the idea of being forced to upgrade. So, my music is archived in flac format on my computer.
The closest digital audio player to my preferences would be the Cowon iaudio7 16Gb version (it displays pictures and video as well). It meets all but my size preference.
Good Luck.
Behind the Scenes
by George VanWinkle - 12/1/07 6:05 PM In reply to: Buying my first MP3 player, advice needed! by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Nancy,
You can rip your Beatles and Elvis CD's to most any MP3/music player today. An extrememly important consideration is where you will buy your music.
I strongly recommend you browse the music catalog of a variety of online download sites to see who carries the best selection of your favorite music.
iPods can't play music downloaded in .wma format (used by most music sites). With an iPod, you're pretty much limited to ripping your music collection from CD or downloaded from iTunes. Microsoft's Zune is just as limited because it only handles your ripped music or music from Microsoft's music store. Most other brands of MP3 player usually can handle music downloads from any site except iTunes or Microsoft.
Best of luck.
My 2 cents ...
by tumbleweed_biff - 12/1/07 7:34 PM In reply to: Buying my first MP3 player, advice needed! by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Nancy,
Your search will take you down a couple of different paths.
First, you will want to have a player that can "play" or display pictures, meaning it does have to have a color screen, of course.
I am not a fan of the Ipods, I don't buy into the hype, and you pay a primo price for hardware when you can get something that works just as well for a whole lot less. I don't like the devices that use proprietary software and hardware. That eliminates the Sony, Apple and Creative products ...
As far as capacity, you'll have to do a little math. A normal album when turned into mp3's will take about 45 megs - that equates, roughly, to 10, 4.5 min songs. So if you had 20 albums, you would want about a half gig of storage, etc. I'd guess you'd want at least a 1 gig player to start.
Second, figure in space for the pictures you want to carry around: how many pictures, what size ... then at least double that number so you aren't out of space in 6 months.
A player with the ability to accept a media card would be a good idea.
How do you want your music to play? All in a stream? Just press play and then listen to them in order? Most people like to put together playlists, so an mp3 player that supports playlists is a wise idea.
Additionally, you want one that does *not* foist SDMI (Sony Digital Music Initiative) and other such onerous burdens upon the user. Functions like that prevent you from simply copying files from your device to whatever destination you want. Typically, this means that you can only move music back to the machine that it came from. I like to use my player to bring things from home to work and listen to them from my machine there. I also like to be able to use the device as a flash drive or file transfer device. Devices that do the digital copyright stuff tend ot prevent such functions.
I have used the Archos products for years and have been satisfied. I would recommend staying away from the Ultra products, they were singularly disappointing for us, requiring frequent reformatting and such. They had a nasty habit of corrupting the files. Attempts to get help from their tech support were a complete waste of time and led to significant frustration.
Ultimately, your best course of action here would be to take a look at the features available to media players and decide which ones you really want. Suggested features: support for mp3, wma, avi, mp4, jpg, gif, playlists, slideshows, movies, etc. Next create a list of the players that have the features you like. Finally, search for some reviews that specifically rate the devices you have come up with.
This should allow you to narrow down to 2-4 players that appeal to you the most, then, go to the local store(s) carrying them and play with them a bit. Make sure you like the controls, the screen, etc.
There are simply too many choices out there to tell you "get this one", so you will have to do a little work on your own.
Good luck.
Mike
If you want
by puma - 12/2/07 12:51 AM In reply to: My 2 cents ... by tumbleweed_biffNancy,
If you want sound quality, then get an iPod.
If you want Pod casts, then get an iPod.
If you want great video, then get an iPod.
If you want ease of use, then get an iPod.
If you want iTunes, then get an iPod.
If you want to purchase unlimited music, then get an iPod.
If you want durability, then get an iPod.
If you just want a "vanilla" music player, good luck.
If you want ... less bias ...
by tumbleweed_biff - 12/2/07 2:57 PM In reply to: If you want by pumaIf you want ...
Sound Quality: The sound quality of the IPod does not exceed that of many other players. As has been noted, the ear buds packaged with most devices are mediocre at best. For good sound, you will want to upgrade to some 3rd party head phones/ear buds.
Pod casts ... are certainly not limited to the IPod ...
Great Video ... is certainly not limited to the IPod ...
Ease of Use ... I found my Archos Jukebox quite easy to use ... used it through the life of the original 6 gig HDD and through another 12 gig drive ... Others are just as easy to use as an IPod.
ITunes ... works fine with my daughter's PC ... right along side Media Player ... personally I prefer some other players to both of those.
Purchase unlimited music ... strange, I didn't realize that only IPods allowed for the purchase of music ... but then, for Nancy and I both, we prefer to purchase a hard copy of the music and then transfer it to the media player(s) and pc's as we see fit rather than purchasing a digital version that is subject to loss when a drive/device fails, is lost, stolen, etc. So I certainly see no advantage to an IPod given the way Nancy wants to use her player ... she doesn't intend to purchase online music.
Durability? Give me a break. Many devices have as good as, if not better, durability as an IPod.
Plain "vanilla" player? Uhmmm, vanilla devices are usually easier to use than others ... but then, the IPod isn't the *only* non-vanilla player out there.
Grow up. My preference is not for the IPod hoopla, but *IF* it fits what Nancy wants and is in the group of 2-4 players she narrows down to with a little bit of research, then it would ultimately be up to her in her user tests in going to the stores to try the different ones.
Mike
Things to consider
by rtravis3343 - 12/2/07 2:22 AM In reply to: Buying my first MP3 player, advice needed! by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Some advice on what to look for in selecting an MP3 player.
1. Whichever one you choose you'll probably have to replace the headphones that come with it. My experience has been the headphones included with players are not that good. Most provided headphones are not that comfortable. A good set of headphones will run another 50 to 100 dollars. So include that in your purchase price.
2. Determine whether the battery is replaceable by the user. Some players the battery is not replaceable or has to be sent back to a service center for battery replacement. Almost all players have the same play time. 15-20 hours.
3. Determine what other accessories you may have to purchase. Some players the battery is recharged throught the USB cable that you attach to a computer. A wall outlet type of recharger will cost about 30 to 50 dollars.
4. Try out the operation controls of the player. Some are easier to navigate through the screen displays than others.
5. For the players you are looking at, visit the vendor's website to determine the support they offer. Almost all players eventually will require a software or firmware update.
6. View the screen displays if you can in bright light such as sunlight. Some displays are better at displaying content than others in sunlight. This is important if you think you'll use the player outside.
These are some areas that after using and purchasing three MP3 players that I have found are important consideratioons.
Hope this helps!!!
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