Digital Music Players

[Ming]

Ok, I need everyone's help. I've finally broken down and decided that it's time for me to get a digital music player. They only problem is, it's a tough call. I was hoping that you guys may have some insight into the whole situation. It looks to me that the competition is between Apple, Creative, and Dell. I'm sort of leaning toward Creative, and I don't really want an iPod, and I don't know what to think about Dell. Then, I don't know what size would be right. Part of me wants a mini-player, but then part of me wants something with a higher capacity.

Any ideas?

[Shino]

Well lets talk about when you are mainly going to use this.

if it's going to sit on your desk at work with your headphones in while you work, then get a higher capasity HD one.

However if you want to use it to work out or something physical, get a flash player as they are more durable if you drop it ad well as lighter.

I don't really know which one is best. I have heard that the sound quality is actaully better on the PSP than an iPod. However I haven't tried listening to mp3 on my psp yet so I can't say for sure, this is just from internet reviews. So this leads me to say take a look at the Sony MP3 players.

Personally I think the sound quality between any of them is going to be negligable (sp?) so go with the best value. The iPod flash players are only like $100 right now.

Personally I would go with a flash player due to physical size and durability. But that's just me.

[unastrike]

I've chalked the sound quality sounding better on the PSP over the iPod down to the headphones actually. Once I started using the PSP headphones in my iPod, things got a little bit sweeter.

No gripes with the iPod, man. And I second Shino's notion in regard to the flash players. Durable little suckers and compact as hell. That's key for someone like me who's dragging his wherever he goes. Makes the transition well from pocket to car and back.

I've got a little 6 banger iPod Mini and wouldn't be able to live without it. The mini is small, but not small enough for what I'm used to... and that's having it on me all the time. As such, it spends a lot of time in my car, desk, or in my bedroom. It's ok, though... it's got lots of storage which makes it perfect for in the car. Also really nice for bringing to parties. PRG brings hers to various gatherings... sets up the playlist beforehand and just lets 'em play through the whatever stereo speakers they have there.

I think it's going to have to boil down to portability vs storage. It did with me anyway. Like you, I couldn't decide whice avenue to go so I went for the middle ground.. the mini. But stay name brand. For real. They're little iddy biddy electronics and expensive ones at that... DO NOT go for the knock offs. Check some CNET reviews and have fun shoppin.

Yeah, I know... no real help from me. Sorry yo. Maybe I provided a bit of insight though. *shrugs*

[Shino]

I definatly agree with Una on the name brand issue. Avoid knockoffs!

[Venus]

Well I bought a creative muvo fm I guess its a flash player...Im not sure as im not very good with electronics..lol but I have listened to it through headphones and actually found a way to plug it up in my car. See, I dont have a CD player, so I got an adapter that is like a cassette tape and its like headphones for the car but it plays through the car speakers..and I wouldnt give anything for it..I love the little thing..I think it only holds about 40 songs but it was only 99$ or so..I dont know anything else about the others but my creative works relatively well.

[Ming]

Actually, you guys have helped a lot. My biggest concern was capacity, but not "which one has the most" but rather whether or not a smaller capacity one would be good for me, because I personally like the smaller players better.

Shino, what do you mean by "flash player"? Is that something like the iPod Mini, or is something with an even smaller capacity than that?

The whole reason that I ask all this is because I really do like the Creative Zen Micro (I would never get a knock-off of a product like this). On top of being a fairly highly rated audio player (as rated by cnet), it has a built in FM receiver, an FM recorder, a voice recorder, it syncs up with Microsoft Outlook and has a calendar, address book, and to do list, has a removable battery, and has a metal alloy casing, and I personally think it looks cool as freakin hell. I think it's also cheaper than the iPod mini (it's biggest rival) and I believe was rated higher.

The only thing that I come back to is the capacity. I can get it in 4, 5, o6 6 gigs (I'd probably spring for 6), which means that I'd be able to fit at least 1500 songs on it. I mean, that SHOULD theoretically be PLENTY for ANY situation, it's just that everybody makes such a big deal about being able to fit EVERY SINGLE FREAKIN song they have on their iPod.

I still don't know...any other ideas?

[underpants]

Well you know I'm all about the Dell DJ, but I guess I'm partial to it. It's a good deal and you get a ton for your money, and now actually the 30GB is cheaper than the 20GB!!haha. Not that you really need all that space, but I personally will need at least 15GB, just out of convience. But what you said here and last night really made sense. I think you should go get your little creative one! It's cute!!

[Shino]

[quote=Ming]Shino, what do you mean by "flash player"? Is that something like the iPod Mini, or is something with an even smaller capacity than that? [/quote]

No the mini is a HD

The iPod Shuffle is a Flash Player. They come in 512M and 1G.

it works off of a flash memory card. Like what goes in a camera, or a psp, or even your ps2 memory card is a flash memory card.

Much more durable than the larger ones that actually have a HD in it. Moving Parts + exercise = Bad for player.

Plus, there are 1G iPod shuffles out right now. What is the average size of an mp3. Like 5M or so. That's well over 200 songs that you can put on there.

[Blackmage]

I'd go for the flash player for durability.

[Shino]