Getting an MP3 player for Christmas

[Pumpy Tudors]

I'm almost certainly getting a portable MP3 player for Christmas, and I'm looking for help in deciding what I need.

I probably have about 50 CDs in my collection, which I guess most people would consider rather small. Of course I intend to rip all of that music and put it on the player. In addition to the CDs, I have a Napster subscription so I can listen to music from my home or work computer without having to pay for each song/album.

I know that Napster's "Napster To Go" is not compatible with iPod. I'm not above getting a different MP3 player that is compatible with Napster To Go, but I'm not sure that I want to do that anyway. Does anybody here use anything like Napster To Go or Rhapsody To Go to transfer unlimited music to/from their MP3 players? Are services like that handy at all?

Is there really any advantage to having an iPod over any of the other types of players? iPod is clearly the most popular thing out there, but what does it really offer that others don't? I don't use iTunes, and if I did, it would be only for organization/playback, not for purchases. I just don't buy a lot of music. If I want to hear a particular song, I'll just load up Napster and play it through that.

Any thoughts?

[samifan24]

There is a similar discussion going on over at Lifehacker (http://www.lifehacker.com/software/music/ask-the-readers-best-subscription-download-site-221880.php) and I think the information provided there might be of use to you.

You might also check out this recent Walt Mossberg column (http://ptech.wsj.com/archive/report-200612.html) at the Wall Street Journal website.

[Joe]

ipod and itunes arent technologically more advanced than the other players, but their popularity stems from having a plethora of 3rd party accessories available. so that IMO is the advantage if it is important to you to have use of the things that are readily available

[Franklinnoble]

I have a Toshiba Gigabeat, and I'm very happy with it.

I'm anti-establishment, so I would never own an iPod, anyway.

[Pumpy Tudors]

Thanks for the input, guys. I still haven't decided yet, but I have about 7 hours before I need to make a decision. :eek:

[Ksyrup]

FWIW, I don't use (and doubt I ever will) the subscription services, but I have been very happy with my 5GB Zen Micro, which I believe has been bumped up to 6GB or more now. I've got about 75 CDs ripped to it, and they are at 192 kbs. I've also been happy with my 2GB Cowon iAudio, which I use for working out. Both have been consistently rated better than the iPod for sound quality, which is much more important to me than subscriptions/3rd party utilities.

Hope that helps.

[Passacaglia]

Is anyone else amused by FN calling himself anti-establishment?

[Young Drachma]

I use Rhapsody To Go and have for almost two years now. I bought my MP3 player specifically because it was compatible with Rhapsody to go over a year ago, but I want to replace it for something a little more sleek. But it's worked well (Zen Photo 20GB)

That said, if you have really eclectic musicial tastes, it's the best option because you're not bound to buying everything you want to hear, which is why I keep doing it.

[Young Drachma]

Dola --

I used Napster To Go for a while and I think Rhapsody is better for wide ranges of music, especially off-kilted fare. Napster seemed to be better at keeping up with the mainstream and some fringe stuff.

[CU Tiger]

[thread hi jack]
Related question.

For those who do pay for subscription services, why do you not use the unlimited wealth of free mp3 sources?

Is it a moral/spiritual decision?
Fear of legality issues?
Performance or availability issues I am unaware of?
Or simply ignorance of free services (ok no one should fall here....but)

[/hi jack]

[Pumpy Tudors]

I use Rhapsody To Go and have for almost two years now. I bought my MP3 player specifically because it was compatible with Rhapsody to go over a year ago, but I want to replace it for something a little more sleek. But it's worked well (Zen Photo 20GB)

That said, if you have really eclectic musicial tastes, it's the best option because you're not bound to buying everything you want to hear, which is why I keep doing it.
I am considering giving the Rhapsody To Go trial a shot. My reason for using Napster is that I don't need to install their software in order to play music. I can play it through my web browser. This is perfect for me when I'm at work and don't want to install Napster junk on the work computer. If I have the MP3 player, on the other hand, I can just pop in earphones or something, and I don't need to worry about installing anything at all on the computer. I can just play through the player when I'm at work. This makes Rhapsody an option for me.

[Pumpy Tudors]

[thread hi jack]
Related question.

For those who do pay for subscription services, why do you not use the unlimited wealth of free mp3 sources?

Is it a moral/spiritual decision?
Fear of legality issues?
Performance or availability issues I am unaware of?
Or simply ignorance of free services (ok no one should fall here....but)

[/hi jack]
I'm not sure that I really want to get into this discussion, but I'll bite the bullet here while keeping it as simple as possible:

I don't want to break the law.

[Hammer755]

I have a Toshiba Gigabeat, and I'm very happy with it.

I'm anti-establishment, so I would never own an iPod, anyway.

That's the only way our voices can be heard against these multi-national corporations. Buy from the mom-and-pop companies like Toshiba.

[Franklinnoble]

That's the only way our voices can be heard against these multi-national corporations. Buy from the mom-and-pop companies like Toshiba.

I don't know about all that, but I do know that you can get a 60GB Toshiba Gigabeat for what a 30GB Apple iPod costs.

It's more media storage than I'll probably ever need. The picture quality is fantastic, and I've never had a problem with battery life.

I don't subscribe to a music service or anything like that - I buy old-fashioned CD's and rip them, and occassionally purchase single-tracks online from Wal-Mart (used to use AllofMP3.com, but last I checked, they were outta commission). I also download free mp3's from OnePlace.com (great source for Bible podcasts).

You're not tied to iTunes with the device. I can sync with Windows Media Player or any number of other free media players, or I can simply cut-and-paste media via Windows Explorer.

There are a lot of great reviews for the device online - I'd suggest reading a bit if you don't want to take my word for it.

[Pumpy Tudors]

I got the Creative Zen Vision:M 30GB. I'm not allowed to play with it until Christmas, but I'm happy anyway.

Thanks for the input, guys!

[Ksyrup]

what better ipod or raiders

[Pumpy Tudors]

zune looking great this christmas season

drm and wifi playing good giving microsoft time to do its thing

i predict that zune outsell ipod 10 to 6 this season

i buying my zune right now and i think that ipod will be out of picture when january come

[Raiders Army]

what better ipod or raiders

Not even close at this point. iPod. :mad: