Best portable mp3 player?

[Jabe Adaks]

I am finally taking a step in to the 21st century and starting to convert my entire CD collection in to mp3's and I am even building a dedicated media server in my house.

I am looking for feedback on portable mp3 players. There is a lot of buzz about iPod's but I am just not sure what I can and can't do with these products. I want to be abel to drop just about any mp3 I want in to the player I buy, whether I bought it from iTunes, another store or simply got it from greenteaworldmusic.com.

I really like the iPods by design and interface but I am not sure how proprietary they are and if I can do what I would want with one. I don't want to be stuck with a unit that is so stiff with digital rights management that I can't put in all the music I want.

So I am just asking you guys about what you think is good in general. Please share your experiences. I know nothing right now other than I would probably want something with at least 4 gigs of space.

Jabe

[X'an Shin]

Well, if iTunes is selling songs that only work with iTunes (their proprietary format), then you MUST use an iPod if you want to play them.

If they sell .mp3s, then get anything BUT an iPod.

So basically, don't buy music from iTunes if it's in their proprietary format, and don't buy an iPod. Sure, they're sleek, and elitist, and pretty, but the batteries still croak after 1.5 years (if you're using them the maximum 8hrs/day), and they cost $200 to replace. Untill Apple gets their heads out of their asses on the hardware configuration for the iPod (i.e. no battery access) I'd buy something from someone else.

Now, you can take my advice and chuck it out the window if you want, because I don't own an .mp3 player (even though I DESERPERATELY want one).

[MrDooo]

Ipod is the best right now, hands down (from what I hear). I don't own one yet, but the wife wants one. I've done a little research and it looks like there are a couple that come close to ipod, more that are catching up to the mini ipod, but the full size one is still on top. As far as I know portable mp3 players are basically just portable hard dries that you can plug headphones into and a mic into. My brother has a low cost brand (forget which) that he backs up all HD data, mp3s and records his concerts with. He just plugs it into the board I think.

[MrDooo]

Okaay...from what I hear other that Xan.

[Skarr]

also you might want to think about something compatible with your sound card on your comp, cuz if you use creative audigy/whatever, creative makes mp3 players that work with your soundcard...just an idea

[Dwilah]

Isn't the bad thing about an iPod, though, that they don't have replaceable batteries? Don't you have to like, buy a whole new one when they run out?

[X'an Shin]

Isn't the bad thing about an iPod, though, that they don't have replaceable batteries? Don't you have to like, buy a whole new one when they run out?

That's what I mentioned above.

The iPod's battery only lasts 1.5 years at maximum daily usage (probably even shorter than that to tell the truth), and costs about $220 to send off to be replaced. For that money (which doesn't include shipping), you're better off just buying a new iPod.

One thing people have suggested doing is buying them from large retailers like Circuit City or Best Buy, and then getting that 3 year maintenance warranty on them. That way, when they die, you just bring them in and they get replaced for free. But good luck remembering where you put that warranty receipt 1.5 years ago. ;)

There IS a way to replace the battery yourself, but doing so voids your warranty, and I know from past experiences that if I tried to do it myself, I'd probably just break the iPod in the process.

[Skarr]

Isn't the bad thing about an iPod, though, that they don't have replaceable batteries? Don't you have to like, buy a whole new one when they run out?

EDIT:
xan beat me to the punch, so basically you pay $400 for the ipod, then $220 every other year for it....nice

[Hashum]

yes but it's my understanding that they hold much more music then any other portable MP3 player available since since they're compatible with both PC and Mac I'd have to vote for it. Really you're only going to be using the MP3 player when you're traveling anyway and over the course of the year would probably only average out to maybe 2 or 3 hours a day. Thus extending the life to about 5 years which helps spread the cost out.

I've had several MP3 players that range from 80-120 dollars and they're all very flimsy and very fussy, and then they don't even hold that many songs, I'd say 30-50 songs on the ones I've personally owned. So I'd rather shell out $200 for an IPod that will last 5 years and holds considerably more music.

[Dwilah]

That's what I mentioned above.

Guess I should read better. ^___^;;

[Skarr]

yes but it's my understanding that they hold much more music then any other portable MP3 player available since since they're compatible with both PC and Mac I'd have to vote for it.

mp3 players only hold as much as their hard drive, and ipod as well as every major mp3 player have versions up to 30 gb...

[MrDooo]

I mentioned the ipod battery thing to the wife and she produced this:

http://www.ipodlounge.com/forums/showth ... adid=19556

[X'an Shin]

I mentioned the ipod battery thing to the wife and she produced this:

http://www.ipodlounge.com/forums/showth ... adid=19556

And she says the current generation are replaceable. By the user.

/shrug.

I'll probably wind up buying one eventually myself, only so that I can get the Belkin radio transmitter (so I can listen to the iPod through my car's stereo while I'm driving for 2-3 hours/day).

They just need to come down in price to around $100 bucks. I'd pay 100 bucks for a 10G drive iPod.

[E-bo Obi]

Maybe you can find an alternative here?

CNET's MP3 Guide

[Keer]

What I really need is an portable MP3 player that speaks Bacchi.