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General discussion

Ok I got robbed and I need advice for new mp3 player

Nov 2, 2008 12:20PM PST

Here's a quick history; I got my first mp3 player 5 years ago and it was a refurbished Iriver h320, I loved it and it lasted 3 years before the battery was too used and speaker plug was worn out. A year ago I got a refurbished Creative Zen Xtra updraded to 160gb and it was ok, tough cumbersome with low battery life and every track needed to be tagged perfectly and it wasn't folder-based. That one was stolen from me a week ago in a party; I should have took precautions regarding my stuff but was a bit drunk.

Anyway, here's what I'm looking for:

It needs:
- At least 120gb hard drive
- Folder-based (not tag)
- Appears as a hdd when plugged (can't remember the term...)
- No program or converting needed (like, say, ITunes and m4a??)

If possible, but not important:
- FM radio
- Good battery life

I don't care about:
- Video playback (don't need any big screen)
- Design (I don't care if it's big)
- Refurbished or new

I have a 300$ budget. Right now I'm looking at Classic Ipod (though I really hate m4a's and ITunes) and the Zune 120 (which looks interesting, never heard of it before except that it's made by MS).

Please feel free to give me advices and places to buy online. I'd like comments about the Zune.

Thanks a lot!

Discussion is locked

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take a look at Archos
Nov 2, 2008 2:05PM PST

Either the older 605 or the newer Generation 5, both come in varying capacities. Not sure if they will meet your budget though.

As far as iPods are concerned, they do play mp3s just fine. However, without a little hacking (though not much, I've heard), they need iTunes to transfer music and the navigation isn't folder based. I would say the same thing about Microsoft Zune. It also needs specific software to transfer music and it's not Windows Media Player.

As far as video playback, practically all modern mp3 players have them. If you don't want to use it, just don't. If you do that and keep the brightness settings low you can maximize battery life.

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ktreb
Nov 2, 2008 2:25PM PST

Well I don't really like Ipods, so I'll keep them out of my options. Zune 120 looks great for 250$, but idk about software... I prefer drag and drop players... But there is a special at futureshop it's the Archos 605 they sell the 160gb model for 300$... do you own one? Please tell me about it...

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I don't own one
Nov 3, 2008 9:38AM PST

the Archos 605, that is. I'm more of an iPod user, but I'm not into steering people into iPods if that's not what they want. I actually talked one of my coworkers into buying an Archos Gen 5 rather than the 2nd generation iPod Touch. Hopefully you were able to take a look at Archos' web site. If not, here's the link:

http://www.archos.com/products/gen_5/archos_605wifi/index.html?country=global&lang=en

The Microsoft Zune requires you to use their Zune Marketplace software to sync to the player, but once set up you can do wireless sync. Navigation is not folder based. I have a coworker who has the first generation Zune who was able to hack it in order to allow drag and drop. I don't know anyone who has the 2nd gen Zune that have tried hacking theirs yet. You might want to take a look at some Zune forums for hacking tricks, if you're into that. It is also a video player as well.

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iPod and folders
Nov 3, 2008 5:16PM PST

"As far as iPods are concerned.......the navigation isn't folder based."

Certainly the Nano supports folders -- it's one of the best features of the iPod that you don't necessarily have to tag songs.

The problem is with vile iTunes where in order to keep songs together as albums you have to create folders for them manually using Windows.

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ipods
Nov 4, 2008 5:49AM PST

Well all my songs are already in albums (folders), but like I mentioned I need at least 120gb and except the Ipod classic none does that

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you should try
Nov 7, 2008 3:38AM PST

the toshiba gigabeat is a good choice and it should be on sale now.