MP3 Player Advice

[Tom Collins]

Ok, so my MP3 player, a Creative Nomad Jukebox 3, is about 5-6 years old, and in technology years (akin to dog years) that's about 50-60 years old.

I'll not bore you with all the gruesome details. Suffice it to say that I find myself, quite suddenly, in the market for a new MP3 player, and don't know jack shit about these new ones. Not to mention that there must be about 100 different ones out there to pick from.

So, here's the specs that I'd be looking for, and maybe one of you techies here in the AH will be able to steer me down the correct path.

1) Well made and reliable. Remeber how long my current one has lasted. I'd be looking for that kind of life span in my new one.
2) Large hard drive (at least 20GB)
3) Plays MP3s (I don't need it to do movies and pics and all that other fancy bullshit, just MP3s)
4) Will up and download
5) Connects via firewire, but I could live with USB2
6) Is compatable with a PC


That's pretty much all I need. It would be schweeeeeet if there was something that came in under $100USD with those specs, but I don't expect to find anything like that that isn't at least refurbished.

Suggestions?

 

[Liar]

Why Firewire?

PC and Firewire ain't the most common combination. (nor is mp3 player and firewire) And I'm not sure if a Firewire connecfted device can act as a portable hard drive (like most USB and USB2 devices do - by far the most comfortabe way to load music onto them)

Aside from that, I'd recommend the iAudio X5-V or Iriver H10. Especially if you care about how the music sounds. Or if you're comfortable with Creative, the Zen Vision ain't too shabby. And an Ipod is not bad per se. Just a little pricey. (And I haven't checked one out for years, so I don't know whether it fills all your requirements.)

 

[Carnevil9]

If you want reliability, I recommend you avoid anything with a hard drive, and stick with flash memory. Hard drives were not intended to be toted around like a walkman! I have the Zen V Plus, 4 gig (1000 songs), and love it. (there is also an 8 gig version) No firewire, though......Carney

 

[darkerdreamer]

And an Ipod is not bad per se. Just a little pricey. (And I haven't checked one out for years, so I don't know whether it fills all your requirements.)

One concern with ipods: the battery.

Don't believe the crap some people will tell you about "Oh the battery only lasts a year and then dies, you have to buy a whole new ipod!" That is a scare tactic. The truth is here, better to be informed should you try to go that route.

 

[impressive]

I have THIS ONE, and I'm quite happy with it.

 

[jomar]

I bought a used iPod 30gig from eBay and have been happy with it. The new Nano has 8GB of flash memory.

 

[Tom Collins]

Why Firewire?

PC and Firewire ain't the most common combination. (nor is mp3 player and firewire) And I'm not sure if a Firewire connecfted device can act as a portable hard drive (like most USB and USB2 devices do - by far the most comfortabe way to load music onto them)

Aside from that, I'd recommend the iAudio X5-V or Iriver H10. Especially if you care about how the music sounds. Or if you're comfortable with Creative, the Zen Vision ain't too shabby. And an Ipod is not bad per se. Just a little pricey. (And I haven't checked one out for years, so I don't know whether it fills all your requirements.)

I assumed that firewire would be at least marginally commen since this old player that I have has a firewire connection as well as a USB connection. I specified firewire because I'm given to understand that it's faster than USB. *shrug* That's the onloy reasons.

If you want reliability, I recommend you avoid anything with a hard drive, and stick with flash memory. Hard drives were not intended to be toted around like a walkman! I have the Zen V Plus, 4 gig (1000 songs), and love it. (there is also an 8 gig version) No firewire, though......Carney

I wouldn't be able to get much on any of those. I tend to put all of my music onto my MP3 player, and that's one hell of a lot. With those others you've got to pick and choose what you'll have on it.


Thanks to everyone who's posted possibilities. I'll check them out tomorrow when I get home from work. I haven't the time right now because I'm about to be late for work.

 

[cloudy]

My phone is also a MP3 player, and I can up the memory, or swap out chips anytime I want (the chips even come with a case). It connects to my PC with a mini-USB.

Two birds killed with one stone.

 

[Liar]

I assumed that firewire would be at least marginally commen since this old player that I have has a firewire connection as well as a USB connection. I specified firewire because I'm given to understand that it's faster than USB. *shrug* That's the onloy reasons.

Hi and welcome to Ask-A-Geek.

USB 1.1 - 12 Mb/s
FireWire 400 - 400 Mb/s
USB 2.0 - 480 Mb/s
FireWire 800 - 800 Mb/s

So USB 1 sucks balls, but USB 2 (which is the USB in most puters) matches regular Firewire (which is the Firewire in most puters).

 

[Tom Collins]

My phone is also a MP3 player, and I can up the memory, or swap out chips anytime I want (the chips even come with a case). It connects to my PC with a mini-USB.

Two birds killed with one stone.

Those are cool, but to be honest, I hate cell phones. I don't like being accessable to whomever 24/7 and when you have a cell that's what people expect of you.

Hi and welcome to Ask-A-Geek.

USB 1.1 - 12 Mb/s
FireWire 400 - 400 Mb/s
USB 2.0 - 480 Mb/s
FireWire 800 - 800 Mb/s

So USB 1 sucks balls, but USB 2 (which is the USB in most puters) matches regular Firewire (which is the Firewire in most puters).

Ahhh...alrighty then. Thanks for the current info on firewire and USB, Liar. I've never been able to keep up with technical stuff.


Thanks, once again, to everyone who offered an opinon on which one would best meet my needs. I'm going to study the options offered and find the one that comes clsest to what I want.

 

[S-Des]

I have THIS ONE, and I'm quite happy with it.

I've heard nice things about that. I went with the 30GB Ipod and have been really happy. No problems in 6 months and when I accidently cracked the screen, they sent me a brand new one. The computer interface is a little crappy and you can tell they are desperately hoping to force you into song purchases, but I like it overall.

 

[jomar]

No problems in 6 months and when I accidently cracked the screen, they sent me a brand new one. The computer interface is a little crappy and you can tell they are desperately hoping to force you into song purchases, but I like it overall.

That's very cool. Apple doesn't do that.
eta: Wait a sec, I just noticed you got an iPod. I didn't think they replaced them for cracked screens? How did that work? My daughter's screen is cracked, but she's had it for over a year.

Thanks, once again, to everyone who offered an opinon on which one would best meet my needs. I'm going to study the options offered and find the one that comes clsest to what I want.

Make sure you tell us what you get!