How To Buy an mp3 Player

How To Buy An Mp3 Player

So you’ve finally decided to take the plunge, get out of the dark ages, and get yourself one of those new-fangled mp3 players. You’re sick of the 3000 cds gathering dust on the cd tower your grandma bought you for Christmas oh so long ago, and you want the easy organization and no-skip guarantee that comes with an mp3 player. Well, where to start? The first player that comes to mind is most likely the iPod, due to the overwhelmingly popular tv commercials that you’ve seen millions of times, and you’re probably tempted to just skip the research and go buy it. But is the iPod your best option, or even your only option? Of course not! There are tons of different mp3 players out there, many of which will suit your needs nicely. So, what exactly are your needs then? Well here are some questions to ask yourself before running to Best Buy. Do you use your music during athletic activity, such as listening to it when you jog? Do you need small size in order to carry it when you travel? Do you have a TON of music that needs a home? Are aesthetics important to you? Many mp3 players offer not only music storage, but video and picture storage as well. Do you really NEED these? In general, there are three main types of mp3 players – hard drive, micro hard drive, and flash based mp3 players. Don’t get discouraged! This fancy tech jargon is not as cryptic as it seems. The hard drive based mp3 players translate to MEMORY. You can get a lot of storage space with these, and they tend to be more user-friendly. They are the ideal buddy for someone working in an office all day that needs a lot of music for the 9 to 5. These players have moving parts inside, and can get damaged very easily, which may not be ideal for you joggers out there. The flash based mp3 players do not have moving parts inside, which is ideal for gym rats, but tend to have less memory. However, many support memory cards, so if you have memory cards for other devices you use, this may be a good buy. Finally, the micro hard-drive mp3 players are a mix between the hard-drive and flash-based players. They are much smaller and lighter and offer a good amount of storage space, but do have moving parts. That wasn’t so bad, was it? You’ve decided which type of mp3 player suits you best, and you feel confident about your mp3 know-how. Now you may go shopping. Keep in mind what price you feel comfortable paying, and the features you feel are a must. Don’t let the fancy two-tone iPod commercials sway you – you now have the power to see past the funny dancers, and get that mp3 player that really suits you. Popular hard-drive based mp3’s include the Creative Zen, Dell DJ, Rio Carbon, RCA Lyra Jukebox RD2840, and Rio Nitrus, to name a few, and popular flash-based players include the iRiver iFP series, NOMAD MuVo, and Rio Forge Sport. Don't forget the iPod and the Shuffle (how could you?), hard-drive based and flash-based, respectively. Good luck!