MP3 Players

[Fifthfiend]

My iPod just died, and I was gonna go get a new one when I figured well, I should at least take a look at other mp3 players before I just go be boring and buy another iPod. So throw me some suggestions if you've got 'em. My main requirements I guess'd be sound quality followed by disk space, size isn't so much an issue, and I'm willing to put up with a semi-shitty interface as long as it's not utterly impenetrable.

[42PETUNIAS]

I've got an urge not to tell you to buy another iPod, but seriously, those iPod touches look pretty damn sexy.

[Fifthfiend]

They do but I'm not spending no three hundred dollars for no eight fucking gigabytes. If I do go Apple I'm getting me one of them nice boring-ass 80-gigabyte Classics with no fancy bullshit that I don't need nohow.

I mean I might even spring for a Touch so I can have my widescreen porn favorite Hollywood cinematic productions and television programmes on the go but come on, eight gigs? That's no amount of titties Hollywood cinematics (oh who am I kidding) titties at all!

[42PETUNIAS]

I know there's a way to double the storage space on a nano. You could check to see if there's any of those for a touch.

[Demetrius]

Why bother with the touch, just get the darn iPhone. As for other players out there that compare... I've got nothing, I looked for quite some time before caving and getting my iPod. Perhaps you'll go nuts and get the Macgyver watch from Skullcandy, that or the headset that has the player the snaps right into it. Those were the only other even slightly tempting products out there.

[NMR]

The good ones are out there, but they are so damn hard to find, and trust me, I tried, that it really is not worth it. Just get the latest iPod Video and be done with it.

Screw the iPhone, as Hong Kong is soon to release an exact duplicate of the damn thing for around 200 dollars and every company will support it. Take that Apple!

[42PETUNIAS]

Well, the iPhone is hacked, so if you're willing to do the work, you can use that with any carrier.

[Seil]

I just use my PSP as a music player.

[Fifthfiend]

So yeah, I said fuck it and got an iPod.

I successfully restrained myself from breaking down and getting an iPhone, which was surprisingly difficult once I entered their gravitational field. Portable Google Maps + touchscreen was nearly enough to hook me, but I remained resolute.

So yeah I've got me a brand-new silver CiPod. I named it Sexy Little Bitch, cause that's what it is.

[Seil]

Heh - I tend to get a little prejudiced against objects if they don't work like they're supposed to. When iPod's first came out, I was really hoping to snag one, but just never had the opportunity. However, a while ago, my aunt and uncle got a Shuffle for free with their new phone service, and asked for help in using it. To this day I still don't know how to work an iPod shuffle.

But whatever works for you, man. All the power to you, and your SLB.

[Bells]

Did you guys knew that there are other MP3 Players besides an "whatevahpod" ? (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_portable_media_players)

[42PETUNIAS]

But are they as sexy?

[Bells]

Wel... i THINK so... dont know if they are expensive or any good... but they are out there

http://gizmologia.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/06/archos605wifi.jpg

[Krylo]

But are they as sexy?
Maybe, maybe not... but they're generally made with highly impact resistant data-chip storage as opposed to highly impact-will-fuck-up-your-ipod hard drives. They also try to do less than just play music, meaning that they're, yanno, music players. Which means there's less conflicting software and less storage space used on crap I don't want on my MP3 player... which means I can store MORE music AND the damn thing won't crash as iPods seem to enjoy doing.

Have I mentioned I hate iPods?

Also: Apple.

Also Again: Steve Jobs.

[DFM]

I think one of my friends has one of those MP3 player things.

They play music, right?

Like CD's but smaller or something?

Because I'm not buying the White album again.

[Odjn]

Beatles forever.

[Seil]

When I find myself in times of trouble
Mother Mary comes to me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be.
And in my hour of darkness
She is standing right in front of me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be.
Let it be, let it be.
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be.

[Fifthfiend]

Did you guys knew that there are other MP3 Players besides an "whatevahpod" ? (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_portable_media_players)

Wel... i THINK so... dont know if they are expensive or any good... but they are out there

I can't begin to imagine why you decided to go into a thread I started specifically to ask for recommendations on non-iPod MP3 players to tell people that there are fucking non-iPod MP3 players, only to say that you don't actually know anything whatsoever about said non-iPod MP3 players.

Warned for spam and oh yeah, that other rule we have:

Think before you post

Maybe, maybe not... but they're generally made with highly impact resistant data-chip storage as opposed to highly impact-will-fuck-up-your-ipod hard drives. They also try to do less than just play music, meaning that they're, yanno, music players. Which means there's less conflicting software and less storage space used on crap I don't want on my MP3 player... which means I can store MORE music AND the damn thing won't crash as iPods seem to enjoy doing.

Have I mentioned I hate iPods?

So since you hate iPods so much, how about suggestiong some particular non-iPod mp3 player that's particularly good and worthwhile, so I can return this iPod, and go buy whichever mp3 player that isn't an iPod?

[Krylo]

Well I know back in the day that Rios were pretty good, but that was forever ago when like, 1 gig was a lot, and I'm not sure how well they do anymore.

They still seem pretty good, though. Even won a PC Awards thing.

And they make them as small as the nano: http://www.digitalnetworksna.com/shop/_templates/item_main_Rio.asp?model=306

Though their online store is 'out of stock'. Which is pretty lame.

The Archos players get consistently higher ratings than their iPod counterparts, though you're still paying for way more crap than you need to play music. It's also go wifi (who cares?) and it's kinda big.

The Zune from Microsoft is pretty awesome, too. It'd be way more awesome if more people had them, as well--due to the wireless music trading with any zune's within range.

Toshiba has a few nice ones too.

Though, honestly, MP3 players are going the way of the PDA. Sticking a bunch of crap you don't really need in there to listen to music.

If you WANT that crap, I suggest the Archos or the Toshiba. If you don't, Rio still seems to be a pretty solid bet, as they've basically just got a way to browse music on your MP3 player, and that's it. However, the Creative Zen Sleek, also seems like a VERY nice music only player.


Well shit... now I want to buy one too.

Fuck you, Fifth. Fuck you.

[Fifthfiend]

Yeah, most of what I've looked at seems to have even more stuff I don't need. Like they all seem to have FM radio? Dude I have MP3s so I don't ever have to subject myself to FM radio. And those Archos things... I dunno in all seriousnes, I'm not sure I want the temptation of 40 gigs of widescreen video sitting there in my back pocket.

[Krylo]

Then I'd suggest the creative zen sleek. No video, just music, and you get 20 gigs. It's about a hundred bucks. Least at the only place I could find it (E-Bay's buy it now section)

OR, get one of their smaller models or the rio one. They all run you well under the 100 dollar tag.

[Loki, The Fallen]

I've always had good luck with Sony products, and have used thier 'Walkman' devices for years. My current music player is thier Walkman NW-E005F. No problems as of yet. Things pretty durable (Only way my old one died was I had some weird urge to bathe it in fruit juice. Electronics and sugary juices don't mix.) A major difference between the iPods, it can only hold 2 Gb of data.

The other big plus for me is this unit's lack of required cables. No extra batteries, it charges/transfers through a built-in USB plug on it. Something I like because I have more then enough wires floating around my room as it is. And it's small! Like, about the size of a set of keys. If it didn't have a wire attached to my ears, I'd likely lose the darn thing in my pockets. I think that's a plus, but some may not. (Friend of mine hates tiny music players, wants something he wont lose.)

Some downsides, Sonic Stage (it's transfer software, required, because sony loves it's copy protection and hates drag and drop) can be picky about your music files, but I have only had one file ever refuse to transfer. That, and it doesn't like you installing the software on multiple PCs for multiple music sources. (More copy protection stuff.) Thankfully, after reading Wiki (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SonicStage), I discovered they have other software options. (Odds are it voids warrenties and some such, but what doesn't these days?) That, and the price is right at around $80. (Odds are it's cheeper now. That was like 3 months ago.)

Well, it's worked for me, and I've had no real issues with any of my Sony products I have purchased (Game systems excluded.). Thought I'd throw it out there.

[Zilla]

^ That's the one I had. I did have some troubles with a few tracks that were in .wma format (ripping from CD's with Windows Media Player) sometimes skipping in areas, and a few times the thing would copy the files but refuse to play them with a big flashing "CANNOT PLAY" in the window.

The only other thing that bugged me about it was how difficult it was to navigate to certain songs. It's a linear progression of songs that you have to scroll through with a button press for each song, or you can switch to folder mode and skip folders based on how you organize it with the Sonic Stage program. Sometimes I'd put it on shuffle just to get to another section.

Also, Sonic Stage didn't work on 2 of the PC's I tried it on, but worked on the 3rd PC I tried installing it on. (weird, you'd think it'd be the first one that worked and the subsequent ones that don't).

For it's upsides, it has crazy good battary life if you turn off the backlight, it is VERY small and portable, and it's design lets you operate it pretty easily without seeing it. It's pretty cheap comparatively.

When I first got it, I had volume problems with it (it was very very quiet), but it seemed to improve over time (maybe my hearing got better?) Now I can't have it above a quarter volume or it starts getting rediculously loud (though my friends seem to need it to be that loud, go figure.)

[synkr0nized]

I used to be all about iRiver, but they started sucking before I ran out of room on my player. Back before I got my video-capable iPod, I remember comparing the features and whatever with Dell's player, Creative's, and some other brand (the Zune was not out yet). Overall, I decided that Apple's product had more positives than negatives for me.

I guess all I'd say is if you were really concerned with whether or not you made the "right" decision, compare what your player can do with others you might get and see which one comes out on top when aligned with your preferences.

For me, for example, I considered the increased cost for less storage in solid-state players (flash memory, etc.) to be a huge negative vs. hard disk players. Others might prefer to be able to take their player through an earthquake without skips instead of more storage space.

I've seen the Zen - an undergrad in our lab has one. I asked her how she likes it and its features and messed with some of the buttons, and it seems like a pretty solid player. I wouldn't be surprised if it had good reviews.

The Zune looks neat, but I've yet to meet someone who has one. It really hurts a product's reputation if no one seems to have one.

[DFM]

Others might prefer to be able to take their player through an earthquake without skips instead of more storage space.


Wait, is skipping a problem with MP3 Players?

[42PETUNIAS]

With players with a hard disk, like most ipods, it can be. It isn't always the skipping that is the problem, but it can lead to the player breaking down if it's moving around alot. You can also see this in things like laptops if you move them around alot while they're running.

[synkr0nized]

Technically, jostling your hard disk based player can cause skips that wouldn't occur with solid-state memory. I got into an argument about how I felt it was silly to pay about the same price for a player that had something like a tenth of a HDD player in terms of storage, and the biggest thing mentioned was the lack of skips for running, biking, etc. But most players have skip protection of some kind, or so I think, and you can also get those straps to have it around your arm or some such to keep it from moving. *shrug* I suppose it adds to wear-and-tear due to the moving parts inside being more susceptible to damage of any kind than players without those parts.

[Bells]

I can't begin to imagine why you decided to go into a thread I started specifically to ask for recommendations on non-iPod MP3 players to tell people that there are fucking non-iPod MP3 players, only to say that you don't actually know anything whatsoever about said non-iPod MP3 players.

Warned for spam and oh yeah, that other rule we have:



Ahn.... actually... i do know quite a bit, as a thought it was expressed by my previous post which contained this link here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_portable_media_players

Which basicly is every single bit of info on every single bit of MP3 player out there today... i just mentioned that because most of the time i only see people mentioning iPOD's...

What i couldnt Find was a fixed price tag (after a thin 30 minutes of "lookage") or hard info about if they -are- as good as they -sound- on that link... as i dotn own any of those Players

Also, i own one of these Foston thingies:
http://www.vendadigital.com.br/images/mp3-foston-preto.JPG

2gb, MP3 - WMA only, that is worth around 40~60USD , good enough for me, but as far as i know they arent sold on the US (at least not on Stores) so i cant really recomend...

I always though it was somewhat of a weird thing that people keep on coming for iPOD regardless of Love or Hating it (and many hate it), so i express it... but either way, Warning dully noted