Jakob Culver asked:




If you are thinking of buying a mp3 player there are many things that you should look into. There are many different brands and types of mp3 players available to you. You will want to get one within your price range, make sure that it holds a reasonable amount of songs for the price you are paying and you will also want to look into what features the player has.

There are three categories when it comes to mp3 players. Flash based players, hard drive based players and mp3 CDs.

Flash based players are the most compact players on the market. There is a memory chip built right in and there are no moving parts. These are perfect for joggers, and other people that move around a lot. These tend to be more costly than most other mp3 players because of it is based off of megabyte and storage.

Hard drive based players use a 1.8 hard disk to store your music. The hard drive players can store a huge amount of music since most come with a 20 GB storage capacity. If you can’t seem to get enough music then the hard drive player is really good for you.

Mp3 CD’s is where you burn your music onto a disc. Instead of like a normal burn where you get and average of 15 songs you can get somewhere between 150-200 mp3′s on one disc. You have to be careful with these discs because if you should scratch or bump it then it will skip a lot and then it wasn’t really worth the burn.

This is just basic knowledge of the three categories. Take a look around online and goto electronic stores to get more information if you are seriously considering buying an mp3 player.

Kathleen

Michael Paul Jr asked:




If you’re having a difficult time deciding on the right MP3 player for you or a family member, don’t fret. I know how you feel. And I’m here to help. I’ve put together this buying guide for MP3 players to help you decide which player best suits your needs. Over the coming days, you and I will cover everything you need to know and make the right decision for you and contrary to what my regular readers may already be thinking, that choice might not automatically be an iPod.

Before we start talking about specific models, let’s begin our discussion by covering all of the different types of players. Each type will have different benefits for you, and have its own drawbacks as well. But with the many different types of MP3 players available, you’re sure to find one to suit your needs.

One more note of interest, most MP3 players will play other formats. These formats include but are not limited to WMA, OGG, AAC, and others.

Hard Drive based players

If you’re the type of person that has to have a manor house in the British countryside to house your collection of records and CDs (yes, former Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman is that person), you’ll probably need a hard drive based MP3 player. Hard drives at this point in time run anywhere from 20GB up to 80GB in the current top of the line iPod model. That 80GB will let you pack around about 25,000 songs in your pocket on average, which is much better than packing around that many CDs worth of songs.

Pros: All of your music is with you everywhere you go. Many of these bigger players also offer video capability and are far cheaper per gigabyte than the smaller models. Hard drive players give you the best bang for your buck in the overall scheme of things.

Cons: Since these players have basically a laptop hard drive in them, they are bigger and heavier than the rest. Hard drives have to spin to read the information, which means moving parts, which means less battery life. The batteries for these players generally require you to send them back to the manufacturer if they need to be replaced as well.

Micro Hard Drive based players

These players are the in-betweeners. These models offer the best of both worlds by using a smaller hard drive than their big brothers with a larger capacity than many of the Flash based players. Players such as many of the Creative products can’t store as much as the big iPod, but they are a lot lighter.

Pros: Smaller and lighter than full hard drive based players. Song capacity is higher than many flash based players for the same price.

Cons: Many of the same drawbacks as their larger cousins. Moving parts make for shorter battery life than smaller, flash based players. Also, any player with a hard drive inside is not the best choice if you plan on taking your tunes along with you to the gym. You don’t want to jar that hard drive around while you’re doing that last mile on the treadmill.

Flash memory based players

Flash memory based players originated the craze. Long before the iPod, small flash based players were available from Creative, SanDisk and other manufacturers. Ranging in size from the 512MB player from SanDisk and the 1GB iPod Shuffle, to the 8GB iPod Nano. Flash players provide the most versatility in design and choice.

Pros: Tiny. Miniscule. Ridiculously small. Take a look at the newest iPod Shuffle. It’s as small as a matchbook. And forget about moving parts. There are none. These players are solid-state, so you can move and jump and hop around all you like, these guys don’t care.

Cons: Flash based players are the most expensive per-gigabyte of any player. And some of us with fat fingers and bear paws for hands have a hard time using the controls.

MP3 CD

The CD player still lives, but now you can burn a disc with MP3s and carry about 10 times the amount of songs on a disc as a traditional player. And you can still play standard CDs as well.

Pros: Cheapest way to go for most folks.

Cons: Big, bulky, ugly, totally not cool. CDs are so dull and boring at this point. Resort to this choice only if you wish to have no social life whatsoever. Just walk into a room with one of these guys strapped to your side and listen for the snickers to begin.

Clinton

Sarah Nabila asked:




There are different types of Mp3 Players, which include hard-drive based players, flash based players, micro hard-drive based players, Mp3 CD players and many others. Their separation is solely based on different features each player contain. In few players, there are built-in flash memories and few do not have. There are many players, which have options of CD playable disc and there are many, which do not have any such option. Here we will present detailed specifications of three players for you so that it becomes easy for you to choose according to your need.

In hard-drive based Mp3 player, you will find 1.8-inch disk drive in order to store music. In this player, you have many advantages like you can store huge amount of space in it. So it is best choice for those, who want to store large amount of collection of their personal choice with them. You should remember one thing in your mind while buying this player that it has moving parts so it will be difficult for you to listen music during sports. In these players, there comes another type, which is known as micro-hard drive based player. In micro drive, you will have less space as compare to hard drive player but higher than flash player.

Flash Based Mp3 Players are the minutest and compact in size players among other players. In them, there is built-in flash memory chip. It has advantage that it has no moving part and you can listen music while playing any sports. But they are expensive as compare to other players. In them, popular brands are iRiver, iPod Shuffle series, Creative Muvo and iFP series.

There is another type of player, which is Mp3 CD disk in it you can store the large music collection of your personal choice. It has the capacity to contain 150-200 mp3s, which will be placed in a CD player, which will play it. So now it is up to your choice which one player is suitable for you to buy.

Lynn

Angela Mays asked:




In a world filled with MP3 Players, Portable Media Players and music downloads, there are a few of us who are still somewhat confused about how to buy a MP 3 player. With so much information out there it’s hard to get past all of the fancy, high tech jargon to make a decision on which one is best for your needs and by the end of your search, you’re even more confused than before you started. Well here’s a “straight to the point, quick and dirty” lesson on how to buy an MP3 player.

MP3 PLAYER VS PORTABLE MEDIA PLAYER

A MP3 Player is a portable digital device that plays and stores music and audio books. A Portable Media Player (PMP) plays and stores audio and video. The name MP3 Player is used as a generic term to describe all portable devices. Although PMPs can play audio not all MP3 Players can play video. For example, the iPod Shuffle, Creative Labs Zen Stone and SanDisk Sansa Clip are MP3 Players and do not have the capability to play video.

BRANDS

For those of you who were not aware, Apple iPod is not the only brand of MP3 Players on the market. There are several other brands of MP3 Players for you to choose depending on your needs and most importantly, your budget. They are the Archos, Coby, Cowon, Creative Labs, iRiver, Philips, Samsung, SanDisk, Sony, Toshiba and Zune (Microsoft).

TYPE

MP3 Players are classified according to how they store digital data. The most common are HARD DRIVE BASED PLAYERS and FLASH MEMORY BASED PLAYERS. The Hard Drive Based MP3 Players have the highest capacity and are larger and heavier than the Flash Memory Based MP3 Players. An example of a HARD DRIVE BASED PLAYER would be the iPod Classic 80 GB, iPod Classic 120 GB, iPod Classic 160 GB, Zune 120 GB, the Archos 80 GB 605 Wi-Fi PMP, Archos 160 GB 605 Wi-Fi PMP and the Creative Labs Zen Vision:M 30 GB MP3 and Video Player. A drawback to the HARD DRIVE BASED PLAYERS is that it has moving parts that can easily malfunction if it is exposed to high temperatures or dropped. The Flash Memory Based Players are light weight and smaller than the Hard Drive Based Players. This type has no moving parts and will have longer audio playback with a storage capacity ranging from 120 to 8000 songs. An example of Flash Memory Based is the Apple iPod Touch, Apple iPod Nano or Creative Labs Zen PMP. A drawback of the Flash Memory Based is that it is more expensive than the Hard Drive Based Players even if the storage capacity is less.

CHOOSING A MP3 PLAYER OR PMP

Now that you’re armed with the basic information you have to determine which type is best for you. Your personal needs and budget will help you to narrow down your choice.

Decide the type. – Hard Drive vs Flash Memory. When deciding the type keep in mind what you’re using it for. For example, if you’re going to use it while jogging, then the hard drive based player will not be a good choice because of the size, weight and high chance it will malfunction if it’s dropped.

Decide the storage capacity. – When deciding the storage capacity also keep in mind whether you also want to play video and audio (PMP) or just audio. They also come in various storage capacities which can vary by brand. The iRiver brands features a 20 GB capacity. The Archos has a PMP that has 60 GB capacity. Whether you’re looking for 1 GB to 160 GB there is a brand and model to suit your needs.

Decide the features. – Determining features is based on personal preference. Some MP3 Players/PMP have several features that may include voice recorders, calendar syncing, FM radio, wireless capability, photo storage or recording TV like a DVR player. For these particular features you may want to consider the Archos brand of PMPs. Another popular feature is color. If you’re into pink then you can get a pink mp3 player. Your options are endless it just depends on your personal needs and how much you’re willing to spend.

Decide how much you’re willing to spend. – The more features you desire the more you’ll spend on a MP3 Player. If you’re just looking to play music and you’re not concerned about the fancy features then you can find one for under $50. For example, the SanDisk Sansa m250 2GB can be purchased for less that $35. If you’re looking for at least 4GB then iPod Nano or Creative Labs Zen Mosaic would be a good choice. Or, if price isn’t a concern and you want the “Cadillac” MP3 Player with all the bells and whistles then consider the Archos 705 Wi-Fi PMP 160 GB. After considering the type, capacity, features and your budget check out each of the above mentioned brands to compare features and price. Also, if you’re on a tight budget and still want fun features consider one that has been refurbished. Now you’re informed and ready to buy and enjoy your new MP3 Player! Good Luck!

Alma

John Gibb asked:




MP3 is a term that is related to a standard of digital audio processing that allows digital audio files to be compressed in size and therefore made more portable. While choosing Mp3 players certain points should be noted.

You can choose a player that has a hard disc for program storage, one that uses flash memory (memory sticks, flash cards, etc.) or one that uses standard CD format with music stored in mp3 or other compressed formats. The online music and video programming is now widely available from all manner of sources, from artist direct through to iTunes and Hard-Drive players, such as Apple’s iPod.

They are available with up to 100GB of storage which are physically small. If you need to store large video programs then a Hard-Drive option might be good option. Flash memory offers some outstanding benefits. At the time of writing, flash memory goes up to 4GB, which allows about one thousand mp3 songs. Flash memory has no moving parts and so can withstand slightly rougher treatment. Portable CD players can play mp3 and other compressed audio formats as well as standard CDs.

Using this technology, you can download your music to your computer and burn it onto a CD in mp3 format, and can play it in your portable player. . A single CD will hold 700 MB of music, or around 175 songs. There are two aspects to being able to control your audio through your mp3 player.

One is its connectivity. In the first instance, you need to be able to download the music you want to hear in the format that’s going to suit your player, and vice versa. So first you need to make sure you choose a player that is compatible with the source. (There are many other options, including Virgin, Napster, Sony, all of which offer different media options.)

Second, you need to have a simple connection between the computer you download your program onto and your portable mp3 player. Most players these days use USB serial interfaces. You connect your mp3 player to your physical self through earphones, or you can plug it into your computer, your hi-fi system, and even use a wireless connection in your car.

The importance of weight, physical dimensions and battery life cannot be understated. Most manufacturers promote a battery life. Devices with Hard-Drive storage weigh more. They are bulkier than devices with flash memory. Most players on the market have acceptable sound fidelity and the biggest weakness can often be found in the headsets and loudspeaker systems that they are connected to.

Kristen

Sarah Nabila asked:




The first mp3 player was invented by a South Korean company in 1997 and it had a data storage capacity of just 32 megabytes. Several improvements have been made in it since then; especially its storage space has been increased to 160 gigabytes in the latest ones. Several companies are in market and are competing with each other to attract attention of the customers by adding new features in their latest players.

There are several kinds of mp3 players in the market but they can be classified in three major groups. First type is hard drive based and it is heavy as compared to others because a large sized hard drive is incorporated in it to provide a large data storage capacity of about 10 gigabytes in which a person can store about 3000 mp3 files. Their only drawback is their heavy size.

Second type is micro hard drive based and in this type a small hard drive is incorporated to reduce weight as well as the physical size. It has a storage capacity of about 6 gigabytes and can store about 1750 mp3 files. Most of the customers prefer this type because of its light weight and moderate storage capacity. In addition it has rechargeable batteries to supply power to the device.

Third type is known as flash based and it has no moving parts in it which makes it less energy consuming causing the batteries to last for a longer time. It has less storage space as compared to the two previous types, ranging from 32 megabytes to about 2 megabytes. Non-rechargeable batteries are usually used in it and can be replaced by the new ones even in middle of the use. Most of the people with huge music collection don’t like this type because of low storage capacity.

Alice

Peter Lenkefi asked:




MP3 players are pocket-sized electronic devices that have the ability to not only store, but play music and other sound files.

Although MP3 players are sophisticated devices and there are of many types, they can be placed into one of three broad categories. These categories include hard drive based players, micro hard drive based players, and flash based players.

Hard drive based MP3 players are typically larger and heavier than their competitors due to the fact that they contain a large capacity hard drive inside.

This however, may be one of it’s only weaknesses. These MP3 players provide the largest capacity, ten gigabytes or more, out of the different types of MP3 players.

Due to the fact that ten gigabytes equates to roughly 2,900 MP3 files, most consumers buy these players because they accommodate their entire MP3 collection.

Micro hard drive based MP3 players are similar to their big brothers, the hard drive based players, except that they are a bit smaller, both in physical size and internal storage capacity.

These MP3 players hold up to six gigabytes of MP3 files, which equals roughly 1,700 songs. Still boasting a respectable capacity, these players have won over many consumers due to their light-weight, compact size.
Additionally, both hard drive and micro hard drive based players commonly contain rechargeable batteries that can not be replaced for a new battery, but only recharged.

If it’s small size and moderate capacity that you are in search of this type of player may be just right.

Flash based MP3 players are ultra compact, low capacity players contain no moving parts and consequently, never skip.

Another advantage of these players is that their size and lack of moving parts allow them to use minimal power, causing your batteries to last longer.

Also, these players almost always use replaceable, disposable batteries, allowing you to put in a new battery if your player should die in the middle of use.

However, flash based MP3 players commonly range in capacity from 32 megabytes (roughly 10 songs) to two gigabytes (roughly 570 songs) at most.

Therefore, most consumers with a large music collection tend to shy away from this type of MP3 player while athletes can appreciate the sturdy nature of these devices.

Some of the different types of MP3 players include additional features as well. A few of the hard drive players include a small screen that can display pictures and video that are stored on the internal drive. Other players allow for digital voice recording for future playback.

Jennifer

John Gibb asked:




A MP3 player is becoming one of the inevitable accessory to a music Lover’s life and many of the youngsters of today cannot live without one. We have many varieties of MP3 Players in various ranges and prices to suit everyone’s specific requirements. The types of MP3 Players basically depends upon the capacity of your Player, the amount of music you can store on it and how much you’re ready to pay for it, and the type of storage used in it etc. Some of the types of mp3 players are Flash Memory Players, Hard Drive Players, MP3 CD Players, Minidisk MP3 players, Hybrid Players.

When compared to other types of MP3 players, the flash memory MP3 player is the smallest and lightest of all. It has a flash type memory card as its storage media and has no moving parts. The capacity of the flash memory is limited compared to today’s standards and hence it can only store fewer songs. It is lightest and it is ideal for casual digital music fans who would like to have small amount of music. Because of its size, and the type memory element being a flash memory card it consumes very less power and so its battery can last much longer.

When compared to flash memory players, hard drive players are big in size. But the storage capacity is more. These types of Players have a mini hard disk in them as the main storage media and have relatively more capacity when compared to Flash Memory MP3 players. This is ideal for one who looks out for a player for their entire music collection. It does include some moving parts and as such there is some skipping when the player moves around and it has to be handled very carefully. Hard drive players often have more in-built features because of the size. These usually consume more power and hence frequent battery changes are required.

MP3 CD Players is a new variety of CD players available that could play MP3 and other digital sound files. These players burn the CD R/RW discs to your old CD collection. MP3 CD player is cheaper than the flash memory and hard drive memory players. But they are much larger in size and may skip when jostled.

If you are the one who would appreciate Minidisk Technology, then there is an improved new line of technology also known as Minidisk Walkman digital music players. The technology companies have started offering MP3 capability in other consumer products such as personal assistants, DVD players and other accessories and we will have MP3 capability in many more Gadgets in the near future.

Bradley

Linda Woods asked:


An MP3 player is an electronic device that plays compressed audio files. That being said, it’s also the most popular way that today’s teens and adults transport their music (and talk programming) around. A fraction of the size of a typical CD player, it slides into pockets and can dangle from your neck on a chain. Don’t you miss carrying around that huge boom box? An MP3 player is extremely portable, streamlined and lightweight and is available in a variety of sizes, shapers and colors. An MP3 player is also a very affordable way to store and carry your favorite tunes around as you head for school, work or play. You can also listen to that special podcast or talk show each day that gives you the information that lifts your spirits.

Most major electronic brands like Panasonic, Phillips, Sony and others carry different models and styles of MP3 players. Visiting electronic stores will offer delighted consumers a dozen or more different varieties. Many styles and models are available at your local discount stores as well, and in a wide variety of price ranges. When shopping for an MP3 player, try to get beyond the color you want (yes, even the hot pink one) and look at what each model and style offers and it’s compatibility with other devices.

The most important thing to consider when purchasing an MP3 player is its ease of use. It doesn’t do any good to have a cool $200 MP3 player if you have trouble downloading music onto the device. Narrow your choices to a few selections and then go online to visit discussion and forum boards to find out what people are saying about the brand of MP3 player you’re considering. Advertising and glitzy commercials are intriguing, but it’s word of mouth and user experience when it comes to an MP3 player. Cheap doesn’t necessarily mean bad either, so again, look at the specs when you’re shopping around.

A Solid State MP3 player has no moving parts, making it the best thing for active people to cart their music libraries around. This type of MP3 player offers much better ‘readability’ and uninterrupted play, whether you’re jogging, skateboarding or hitting the ski slopes. Designed with lightweight storage in mind, an MP3 player can fit into a pocket or be worn around the neck. Many electronic brand names carry combinations of traditional CD and MP3 playing capabilities. Most types of MP3 player can store hundreds or thousands of songs. Due to their durable, yet lightweight designs, the MP3 player is the most popular electronic gadget up there with the Bluetooth and the cell phone. These days, it’s common to see people of all ages hurrying to and fro with earphones connected to MP3 players as they work hard and play hard.

Remember that when shopping for an MP3 player, check the capabilities of each model and do some comparison-shopping. Price ranges of most MP3 players make them affordable to just about anyone, but the amount of storage in each different model is a deciding factor for many when it comes to the right MP3 player to suit their musical tastes.



ALEXIS

Perry Corman asked:


If you don’t own an mp3 player, and even if you do, you should check out all the new stuff that’s going on. I’m hoping this article will give you some ideas of what kind of mp3 player you want and some guidance on what to look for in an mp3 player.

Maybe you are going to the gym and need something small and skip-proof for running or lifting. Maybe you have an 10 hour (or even longer) plane ride when you go on a business trip and need to pass the time. Maybe you want a new one just for the sake of having a new one. Whatever it is, this article may help you select.

First, for those of you who want something for working out: The two most important things to look for are size/weight and RAM, things CD players don’t have. You want something that you can clip to your shorts or strap to your arm that won’t interfere with your movements, and you want it to be so light that you don’t even notice it. (Tip: Get a lithium ion battery to save even more weight.) To be sure that your player will not skip if you move too much or too fast, get one with internal Flash memory, which has no moving parts so it can’t skip. These are available as 1GB to 16 GB models, with a 1 GB model holding several hours of music. Prices typically range from $20 to $600.

On the other side, you may want to store all 16,000 songs in your collection on your player so you never hear the same song twice. In this case you need a hard drive based mp3 player, commonly known as an mp3 jukebox, for which you could pay up to $800 . It will be a little bigger and heavier than and not quite as durable as a RAM (flash RAM) player, but that is not a concern if you just want to sit and listen to good music. And they are still far more portable than the old CD player.

Torn between a small, light, solid state mp3 player and a hard drive based player that holds thousands of tunes? Well, the iPod Mini may be your choice! The iPod Mini is just one model in a breed of small hard drive mp3 players. They are a little lighter and smaller than normal hard drive players, and hold more songs than the average solid state mp3 players. (Did I mention the iPod Mini comes in blue, green, gold, and pink?) That is the main differences, but here are some more issues you should look for when making a purchase: battery life, with or without a radio, voice recorder, an easy to read screen, and compatibility with your computer.

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