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General discussion

Clueless about MP3 players, need help!

Dec 5, 2008 7:12AM PST
Question:

Hello there. I hope your community of members can help this novice out. For the holidays, I'm planning to surprise both my grandkids (ages 11 and 14) with an MP3 player each, but the sad thing is I don't know a thing about them. I went to the local store and I was quite shocked to find how many of these players there are. For instance, I thought the iPod was just one type of player, but to my surprise there are a few different models just from the iPod name, which makes it even more confusing. I know it would be difficult for you to determine what is best for my grandkids, but I would like to get them something that they will enjoy for years to come. I don't want to buy them a cheap one, nor do I want to overspend (budget is $100 to $200), but I do want them to be happy with what I get them and be the coolest grandma who is hip with what's in. It's a big surprise for them and bigger challenge for me because right now I'm clueless. If you can help me out and explain with simple terms the overall differences between the varieties of MP3 players there are, what makes a good and bad MP3 player, what features are favorable or unfavorable, I would be forever grateful.

Submitted by: A lost grandma, Louise T.

Here are some featured member answers to get you started, but
please read up on all the advice and suggestions that our
members have contributed to this member's question.

The MP3 player rundown --Submitted by MehStrongBadMeh -
http://forums.cnet.com/5208-7595_102-0.html?forumID=71&threadID=319109&messageID=2921723#2921723

MP3 players... --Submitted by Watzman
http://forums.cnet.com/5208-7595_102-0.html?forumID=71&threadID=319109&messageID=2921728#2921728

MP3 purchase... --Submitted by forkboy
http://forums.cnet.com/5208-7595_102-0.html?forumID=71&threadID=319109&messageID=2923013#2923013

If you have some additional suggestion, advice, or tips for Louise, please click the reply link and share it with us. Please be keep it in simple terms and when necessary in details when appropriate. Thanks!

Discussion is locked

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excellent comment James
Dec 12, 2008 2:09PM PST

Great comment James! I feel the exact same way about my Creative Zen. I'm so tired of hearing everyone rave about the Ipods when there are much better players out there at a much better cost.
Thanks again for your comments and helping to inform the masses out there that their not limited to the Ipod.
C'mon people, don't be duped into wasting your hard earned money on a player that is really limited for the price you're paying.

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Follow The Leader
Dec 12, 2008 2:46PM PST

All The kid-bots want ipods
so go with that.
since in today's society it really is more important to fit into the pop culture zone, than to go for what is best.
They will undoubtedly love you for it.
Then they will bother others if & when they run into the software & proprietary & sharing issues they may inevitably encounter.
But they'll be cool & fit in.
They will actually have a good player too, although i would never buy one.
But i'm an adult so my non-hip sony is fine with me.
Happy

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Jeez! If your neighbor jumped off a bridge would you??
Dec 12, 2008 3:02PM PST

You're telling this woman to buy an Ipod just because "everyone else has one". What kind of reasoning is that? It's people like you that give our children the wrong idea about what's best for them. And we wonder why we have a whole generation of people in debt!
The fact is, you SHOULD be teaching them NOT to conform. You SHOULD be teaching them the value of the dollar by purchasing a much better product such as the Creative Zen and half the cost of an IPOD. You SHOULD be teaching them that it's "OK" to not blindly follow the pack like a herd of sheep, just because it's what Billy has.
Louise, your best bet is to compare players and then make a decision. Just because you have 200 dollars to spend, doesn't necessarily mean you have to spend the whole 200 dollars on one Ipod. When you can purchase 2 Zen's for the same price.
Plus the Zen has a bigger screen than the Ipod, longer battery life, and it has an FM tuner so the kids can listen to the radio. None of the Ipods have any of these features. (except for the 400 dollare Ipod Touch which only has a larger screen) And best of all, the Zen is half the price of the Ipod. Wake up and smell the dollars your needlessly burning.

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no compatibility issues with the Zen
Dec 12, 2008 3:06PM PST

One more thing....there is NO compatibility issues with the Zen. It will play Apple's main format "ACC" without having to convert it to an MP3. So they can download by simply dragging and dropping any file downloaded from Itunes, Napster, Rhapsody and more. As well as ripping their own CD's to their player.
Don't be fooled and don't be a follower. Teach your kids to be different and smarter than the crowd!

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Need help with loading MP3's on Blackberry Storm
Dec 12, 2008 3:15PM PST

I know I don't have a Zen, but you folks are all tekkies and might be able to help me out.

Does anyone know how I can transfer personal mp3's from my hard drive to my new Blackberry Storm? It came equipped with Rhapsody, which I can't afford to use. I just want to play my own music and I've never had any type of mp3 player before. Well, aside from a CD player in my car that was mp3 compatible.

I don't care about specific songs or albums or genre or artists....I just want to get my songs on there.

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Nah, doesn't work like that
Dec 12, 2008 7:30PM PST

For most people it's better to follow the crowd. I'm like you, and I agree with you, but we are the minority. I got my brother in law to buy a Creative instead of an Ipod for his son, and it was a disaster. He eventually got his son a 16gb Itouch and all is well. LOL!

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I agree, get the Ipod Nano
Dec 12, 2008 7:27PM PST

I have about 7 or 8 mp3 players currently, and have had many others in the past, and I would recommend the Ipod nano, as many people have. I have a 4th generation Nano and I hardly ever use it. It's so hard for me to use Itunes to get music on to it that I never use it, I usually use my Creative Zen or my Sansa View. I can't tell you how disgusted I am with Itunes, it's the worst, IMO, and a deal breaker. The Ipods, however, have very good sound, and are made well with the best interface and ease of use on the market. Another thing about Apple products is they are not discounted by retailers as many other mp3 players are. Apple lowered the price $50 on the Ipods recently, which they really hadn't done much in the past, but the retailers always have to charge what Apple says they can (or so I assume that is the case). They will always be the same price, within a few dollars, from one retailer to the next. Ipods also have great resale value on eBay because of this. Another thing, refurbished Ipods are available at the Apple Store online for a 30 to 40% discount. I have bought almost all my mp3 players refurbished, and have actually had less problems than from the ones I bought new.

If you dont want to go with Ipod, or want more storage for your money, I would recommend Creative and Sandsisk products. These are probably the second and third biggest mp3 player manufacturers. I recently bought a 16gb Sansa View on eCost for $69. It plays videos, has a nice FM radio, and is easy to use especially it's drag and drop song transferring!

Take care!

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Bingo!
Dec 12, 2008 7:37PM PST

For gifts, an Ipod is valued much more than any other player. And that's the whole point of giving gifts. I mean, it may be a better value to go on Spring Break to Yellowstone National Park but most college kids want to go where the other kids are, at the Florida beaches. Same thing with the Ipod.

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The best choice is...
Dec 12, 2008 3:37PM PST

If I were to choose I would go for an IPOD and the best I could afford. Most grandchildren (I have 6) would never be disappointed with an IPOD but may be disappointed with any of the others. IPOD is the market leader so it is the safest choice.

Happy Xmas Henry Barnett

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take it from a pro, don't waste your money on the Ipod
Dec 12, 2008 4:52PM PST

I've worked for Circuit City for the past 7 years and I have watched as MP3 players have evolved. While the Ipod is a nice MP3 player, they are extremely over priced and lack many of the features that players half their price have.
Working at Circuit City, it's my job to know how to use and demonstrate all the products in our store. When it comes to MP3 players, I would have to agree with CRod67 regarding the Creative Zen. Creative Labs makes top of the line products and have been around since 1981. They started out making top of the line sound cards (Sound Blaster) for the personal computer and have grown from there. Creative Labs products have won international awards and accolades over the years including numerous awards at the CES (Consumer Electronics Show)events, where the who's who of everything electronics meet each year to showcase their products.

To anyone looking for a great MP3 player I would suggest the Creative Zen. The top of the line Zen is the Zen X-fi. For about 130 dollars will outpeform any Ipod on the market. However the standard 4GB ZEN is an incredible product for under 80 dollars and has an SD slot which enables you to easily expand it's capacity to 32GB or more.

Don't get me wrong, the Ipod is a really nice MP3 player. But as others have mentioned, you really are paying for the Apple name. When I get customers that come into the store and ask me to recommend an MP3 player to them, I first ask them what they're willing to spend and then I ask them if they have a specific brand in mind. Almost everyone that comes in wants an Ipod. But that's only because of Apples vigorous ad campaigns. People know nothing of the actual player, other than the fact that "it looks pretty". But when you're spending this kind of money you really need to consider functionality. After I put a list of the features in front of the customer, I would estimate that over 80% of them end up choosing either the Zen, the Zen Mosaic or the top of the line Zen X-fi. The other 20% are like the majority of other Apple users who merely want an Apple product for name recognition or because friends or family have them.
Pound for pound (or rather ounce for ounce) Happy the Zen is a far superior product over the Ipod. And that includes the Ipod shuffle (which has no screen), their Ipod classic and their Ipod Nano (which is a customer favorite) People like the Nano because it comes in a bunch of colors and it's advertised constantly so people automatically assume it's the best. For the cost, it really does lack quite a few features compared to other MP3 players. And let me assure you, the Zen is just as simple to use and configure as the Ipod. I've purchased one for both my niece and nephew and their 7 and 9 y/o. My brother has an Ipod Classic and he try's talking me into trading with him all the time, just because he likes the FM tuner.
Another great feature with the Zen that others failed to mention is that the Zen is upgradeable via firmware downloads and you can also back up all your music, videos and pictures onto your pc in case of any unforseen problems. Which means if for any reason you loose all the data on your MP3 player, you won't have to spend days re-downloading each song one by one, including all of your playlists. It'll be right there on your PC all backed up for you in the exact order you have everything loaded onto your player.

I'm sorry to dissapoint all the Apple fans out there, but Apple really is just a brand that people purchase because of the name and not because of the functionality. If you care what other people think and you want to spend more money than you should for an MP3 player, then I would suggest the Apple Ipod Classic or Nano. (don't waste your money on the Ipod Shuffle)
If you truly want a great product for a great price, go with the Zen. It's a truly amazing MP3 player that not only looks great, but outperforms the Ipod hands down.
But please don't just take my word or anyone elses word on this site. We're merely giving you our opinions. What I would suggest is to visit both the Apple site http://www.apple.com/itunes/ and the Creative site http://us.creative.com/local/1/promo/findyourzen/welcome.asp?WT.cg_n=Campaigns&WT.mc_id=9885
Don't be fooled into thinking you need 16 or 32GB storage capacity either. A 2 or 4 GB at 500 or 1000 songs is plenty, but if you do happen to need more space, the SD card slot is there and will give you all the storage capacity you will ever need.

At the end of the day it all boils down to personal preference and the different functions that will make you happy. I highly suggest doing your own homework though and check out both websites to compare features and pricing. In this day and age when we're all trying to save a little money and get the best deal we can, when it comes to MP3 players, the Creative Zen wins hands down over the Apple Ipod.

Just my 2cents from an electronics professional.
I'm sure whichever unit you decide to go with, your grandchildren will be so excited when they open up their presents Christmas morning and find out Grandma bought them an MP3 player!
In the end, they are both really great products.

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How to be a really cool Grandma
Dec 12, 2008 5:16PM PST

If you want to become legendary with your kids, how about getting them both an 8Gb iPhone?

This has the advantage of being a proper iPod whilst at the same time giving them the best phone around.

I had to start using words like 'cool' and 'awesome' which for a British guy over 50 isn't something I'd usually do.

You may have to do a deal with the parents about the monthly rental,if they already have mobiles that may be an esay upgrade. If the deal is like the UK the phone will come free and you could pay the line rental up front for a number of months.

Worth a thought!

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A tad bit too much for chidren in my humble opinion...
Dec 12, 2008 5:39PM PST

While that's a good option for older folks that want an all-in-one, mp3 player, camera, next gen cell web browser and cell phone, I don't think it's a wise choice for children. These phones are very expensive and we all know how kids both drop and loose things. And at 200 dollars a pop, not including the 2 year contract, I think that's a little out of Grandma's budget. But, of the folks I know that waited for the 2nd generation 3G I-phone, their very happy with their purchase.

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Grandma wants to be COOL!!! IPOD IS COOL
Dec 12, 2008 7:13PM PST

For heavens sake I have 2 grandsons who want Ipods for Christmas. They are a bit older then your grand kids. I was ranting and raving about how they could get so much more out of a creative zen player for the same price as an 8gig Ipod nano. They want the nano. I went so far as to insist that their uncle didnt have an ipod (uncle is 29 and cool) called him up and said what kind of mp3 player do you have? he replied IPOD! of course! This is not my sons first mp 3 player but it is the one that has lasted the longest. Zune is made by MS -no thank you. My youngest grandson has the creative zen. only 2 gigs, with an fm radio that records. I bought that 2 years ago and it still works great. its tiny and at the time cost 50.00. Creative zen is a great brand. perhaps for the 11 year old. but to be cool buy the ipods = perhaps for the younger one you can get a 4 gig. its the coolest thing around. and if you really want to be cool find out if one of them has red as thier favorite color then order if from apple. they only sell red on line at the apple store so they will have an almost unique ipod. these things were on sale over the thanksgiving weekend. i paid 129.00 for the 8 gig nano 4th generation (oh yeah thats the latest one). but they are back up to 145 again. i would assume you made your choice by now anyway. look people our adult brains look at things that make sense, like more bang for your bucks. but when you are 14 its brand name all the time. just like when my daughter was 14 and wanted jordache jeans. hey thats life in America.

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iPhone ...
Dec 12, 2008 7:25PM PST

Here in the UK the phone is free on a

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To iPod or not to iPod, that is the question....
Dec 12, 2008 7:33PM PST

These days MP3 players can be split into two categories; an iPod or not an iPod. Apple made an amazing thing with the first iPod, and they have kept it going too! However you don't need to talk to many people to realise that the iPod is not the best, hardiest or cheapest MP3 player out there. People still buy them in their thousands though, and there has to be a reason for this. They're cool!

So at then end of the day there is only one choice to be made. Do you get the kids an iPod or not.

In my personal experience I would say not, because I would happily give up to cool factor for increased functionality and easier to use. If you want to be the "Cool Grandma" though then you may well choose the iPod.

Either way, I don't imaging that your 11 and 14yr old grand kids will need more than 8gb storage on the MP3 player. So I would say either:

The iPod Nano (4th Generation)
http://www.amazon.com/Apple-iPod-nano-Silver-Generation/dp/B001FA1NIC/ref=pd_bbs_sr_4?ie=UTF8&s=toys-and-games&qid=1229167111&sr=8-4

Or

The Creative Zen
http://www.amazon.com/Creative-Portable-Media-Player-Black/dp/B000UV4EU6/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1228534843&sr=1-2

If you budget of $200 max was for both, then the iPod is a bit too expensive. However the iPod comes in a wide variety of colours, so you can get the same thing for each of your Grandchildren but each is different. If you buy from the Apple website they will engrave the iPods free as well, the iPods are $12 more expensive though.

The Zen on the other hand (this is my favourite) is easier to transfer music to, more durable and you can expand the memory.

Although I imagine that you will get the iPods, do think about the alternatives and when your grandchildren are 17 and 20 don't get them their 6th iPods.

Happy shopping and Merry Christmas!

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Different mp3 players
Dec 12, 2008 7:40PM PST

Hello there.
mp3 players is somthing i have been looking in to a great deal, and i am starting to ge tthe hang of this.

Personally i'v owned about 8 different types of mp3 players. and another 3 -4 have belonged to my brother and father so i have been looking in to them to.. i'v also been butting all my friends mp3 players to the test.. so i`v proberbly had a good look into about 25 different types.


When you are going to buy an mp3 player you have to ask your self a couple of qutstions.

1) what am i going to use it for? Pictures, movies, internett ? or only music..
remmember... if your thinking that you dont wanna watch a movie on such a smal screan, though i promis you it's nice for traveling and stuff, you must know that you can easily hook your mp3 player to a TV or a pc and watch movies from it

2, you need to figure..How much space do i need? how much music have i got, how much will i get ?... personally i got about 30gb musc, about 5000 songs, around 4 min per song...

I also use my mp3 player (an 80gb ipod) as an portable hardisc, and when ever i want to put a filoe from one pc to another i use it..

I can understand how 80 gb can seam a bit much (you can olso get 160gb).. but trust me it's very irritating running out of space, and having to choose what music you want on your mp3 player.. why not jsut add the whole liberary?. IF you dont really listen to al the music you got having a ipod with space for everything, will make you listen to it some day, and you will proberbly find that loads of songs and band you dont really listen to are great...

you must also consider the sice, you can get really small mp3 players and bigger, if you wanna use it while e.g. running, you mightwant a smaller but you can olso get arm straps and sutch so carrying a rather "big" one wont be any trouble.. ( i got one myself)

I would STRONGLY recomend a mp3 player with a good menu, and a ok screan. If you will be using your mp3 more than onse a month - Do not buy your self one of thouse that dont even have a screan.


I would strongly recomend the iPods, the newes ipod nanos with less space or the newest 80, 160 gb versions wich is a litle bit bigger. If you are looking for really fancy one try the ipod touch screan 8gb or 16gb, think 30gb is coming soon), But if your gonna get such an advanced little thing i would prefor an iphone...

There are also some other great opertuneties. such as Creative and sandisc, but i dont think thiese can really match the ipod.

But be awaer. if you want to whatch movies on your ipod you will need a convertprogram (or can itunes ( the program that "comes with" the ipod) do the converting now?)

(moviefiles)
anyhow my point is the ipod can only play mpeg, mpeg4, mp4 files (mp4 is the one your gonna be using..) NOT THE STANDARD FILES as AVI and stuff..

This is alot of stress converting the videofiles anyway.. so it's a real minus whn it comes to playing videos.

(many other players do not have this problem such as creative players)

And i think the ipod can only play mp3 files and not thouse files you rip of a cd. But this should easily and quikly be solved with a converter program, it is very posible that iTunes even dose it automaticly when you add a song to your liberary. "I havent had any problems with this myself"...

The prices you must look into yourself, depends on where you live and stuff, and the store.

they should mostly be around 150 - 230 Dolars, but the dollar is week and so on. just check the prices your self. they are pritty much the same..

i'd say buy an ipod 80gb or a ipod nano 16gb or 8 gb.

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iPod is your best bet
Dec 12, 2008 8:22PM PST

I admire your wanting to research this but DO NOT waste another brain cell contemplating which MP3 player to get. Take it from someone who visits thousands of families per year fixing, setting up and installing computers and other technology products. If you want to purchase an MP3 player for a teenager, get them an iPod and in the price range that you are looking to spend, get them the iPod Nano. Unless you want a junk drawer full of old RCA, Creative and no-name brand music players like I have and even though there are other units that may have better features at a lower price, the kids want the iPod.

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Remeber who you're buying for, an 11 year old and a 14 year!
Dec 12, 2008 9:17PM PST

I would find out what their friends (peers) have for MP3 players.What's popular with their friends will probably work for them. You can ask their parents to help you find out what their friends have for MP3 players.This should help you decide.

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In response...
Dec 13, 2008 1:10AM PST

Almost every kid these days are exposed to only the Apple brand of media players due to the heavy marketing/ad campaigns pasted in every teen/gaming/tv commercials/etc. Anyone with a good amount of research will find that there are plenty better designed, more durable, and more compatible players out there. As was said earlier, anything that has to sync is a generally a bad product, not that the player is bad, but the fact that they want to tie you in to their service and their service only is bad for the end user.

It's a matter of personal preference as well. If you are more comfortable in spending more money on a product that is limited on the freedom of choices, get the iPod or zune. If you like freedom and more abilities, get just about anything else. I recommend any one of the 3 Nationite models out now, S-Flo/S-Flo Lite, OS-81, OS-43, or anything from Creative, Cowon, iRiver, Archos, Meizu (awesome audio capability, btw), Onda (most of these models are touchscreen and offer amazing video playback performance using a large, high res touchscreen screen), or even Sandisk, the Sansa Fuze just got a redesign and should be more durable than ever before.

Basically what I and others are saying, you don't want to and shouldn't buy something that everyone else has, you should get something that fits your needs and wants (including your price limitations) and get the best that fits you.

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refurb ipods from apple website can save you a chunk of $
Dec 12, 2008 10:06PM PST

last year i bought my daughter a refurbished ipod classic 30GB from apple website for $160. It was better than any deal on ebay at the time--which was just before christmas.

she loves it, but i'm partial to iriver mp3 players because they can make high quality digital recordings from analog signals (cassette tape, old records, anything you play on your computer, my electric piano XM, live concerts if you buy a stereo mic for $20...) what a great feature!

also, i hate the newer versions of itunes and i hate anything that "syncs." give me drag and drop!!

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Just to help .....
Dec 13, 2008 1:43AM PST

From someone that has seen the whole MP3 player go wrong end, let me save you the heartache. Take the kids, get to the store and see what they gravitate to and use the most. Then you can go back and buy whats in the price range you are willing to spend. No matter what ones they wind up with do yourself a BIG favor and get screen protectors and covers if they don't come with it.

Personally speaking I have multiple players currently, and over the years have had many more. I started on the original iPOD- battery died at 14 months, it then became target practice. Then I picked up a no name player that died in 6 months- once again target practice. I found an Archos that has tons more features than the iPOD, its still alive and well used for watching movies on lunch at work. Tried another iPOD(3rd Gen) and it died at 14 months again, I think you know the end of that story. Then I picked up a Sony Walkman NZW and when it works its ok, but most times it doesn't work. I have a 2g Zen that I love for versatility and sometimes use when I want to watch movies at work. I also have a 16g Zen that is used for e-books and movies as well. As for the age of my 2g Zen I got it when they first came out I think 3 years ago- still great as new. Now I'm in the market for just a video player ... gonna take time to look around for something to fill my needs ... wonder if any will work with Bluetooth earphones.

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Do yourself and your grandkids a favor.
Dec 13, 2008 2:40AM PST

Your grandkids are old enough to own ipods. This will be the one they want, trust me. Have 5 grandkids of my own and I also have my own ipod. Its the easiest to operate and load music on. I have purchased inexpensive MP3 players for the younger kids and its a pain to load the music. With ipod you can also continue to buy them music via a gift card and they can pick their own music. The ipod nano is great and can be bought at Walmart for the least amount of money. Yes it is a bit more expensive than some other players but less confusing or cumbersome when it comes to downloading music. Also for birthdays or other holidays you can continue to buy accessories or music for them and they will always appreciate it. Good luck.

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Trouble?
Dec 13, 2008 8:37AM PST

The only ones I have seen that have any trouble are players using custom or proprietary transfer protocols. Most of the players that many of us are suggesting in comparison to the iPod are as simple to use as plugging the player into your computer and copying your songs to it, no need to wait for the player to sync or issues with constantly having to update your transfer-ware (iTunes).

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Trouble with Sansa. Try the iRiver Spinn-8GB
Dec 13, 2008 6:05AM PST

I bought Sansa (refurbs), e200 series, for both of my grandkids. Inside of 3 months, both failed. Several of their friends also had Sansa's and they all experienced the early death of their players.

Really put me off Sansa.

Apple iPods are very stylish, but lack many of the additional features that other mp3 players have, like FM radio and the ability to record both FM radio and voice.

It's important to me to be able to listen to and record FM radio, as well as voice. For serious students, the ability to record a professor's lectures seems critical to me. Or are they already recorded these days?

I automatically rule out hard drive mp3 players, in favor of flash based players, as well as any players that cannot/do not handle FM radio, recording FM radio, & recording voice. Also, I rule out any players that can't handle audible.com books.

I have owned 2 iRiver mp3 players (1 strictly for exercising) for over 5 years now and they are still going strong.

So, in view of the fact that the life expectancy and functionality of the mp3 player is so important, may I deviate from the crowd and suggest the iRiver Spinn 8GB? Either that or the Creative Zen 16GB.

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Father of 4 teens...
Dec 13, 2008 6:58AM PST

I have been asked for MP3 players for many years now. I bought quite a few. From my experience what i can tell you is: 1) dont go for the most expensive model, 2) keep in mind they are kids..so you never know where this MP3 is going to end-up...found one in the washing machine!...surpringly enought it was still playing after i dry it (but not in the dryer! Happy)So i would go for a middile price model like a sansa 8g or a sony 8G (around 100-125$) ..and give them the balance in cash...!!!

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o true
Dec 13, 2008 11:33AM PST

I gave my son an IPOD video and his girlfriend 'borrowed' it and then they broke up.My son never got the IPOD back.So I agree that we will never know how our expensive gifts will end up.

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iPod iPod iPod
Dec 13, 2008 8:02AM PST

Louise, forget all the complicated answers. Don't think twice. Get the best iPods your budget will allow. Your grandkids will be disappointed if you get anything else. The Nano Chromas are great, but if you go that route, get them in the same color so there is no dispute about who gets which. If you can go a few dollars over your budget, get the iPod Touch. The kids will be ecstatic.

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Flawed response.....
Dec 13, 2008 8:51AM PST

If all you are buying them for is to be a part of the in crowd, then you are one of the main causes of current state of our economy. Everyone "has" to have an iPod. Everyone "needs" to get an SUV for their 3 person family on money they don't have. Everyone is "entitled" to have a house they can't afford on financing they shouldn't have gotten in the first place.

You should stick to a budget you have in mind and never do something because someone says "it's what everyone else is doing".

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exactly right!
Dec 13, 2008 9:20AM PST

Yes!! Somebody understands!! Thank you!

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How true!
Dec 13, 2008 9:48AM PST

Stupidity may be cheaper for a short period of time, but intelligence is always cheaper in the long run.