Question about MP3 players

[kilroy13]

I was looking to purchase an MP3 player (have not yet settled on the choice) for my wife for Christmas but had one question maybe some people in the board call illustrate for me. I have MP3 files from 1997+, many different formats, downloaded or ripped by myself. Do many/any mp3 players allow a drag and drop type situation where I can just copy these various files to the player or do players generally require some kind of re-encoding to a specific file rate?

I would have to have to re-rip all the albums I have already converted to mp3.

Any help appreciated.

Btw, the player highest on my list right now is the Creative Zen Touch.

Thanks!

 

[tomcas1]

Some require drivers, some don't. You are not going to have to rerip, but if it requires a driver you have to use that software to add or remove songs. For very small portable flash drive type players I suggest
1. No drivers. They are a real pain and should not be necessary. You can be anywhere and just drag and drop from any PC (2k or XP). Plus you can use part or all of it as a flash drive to transfer files.
2. No cable. Must have USB plug on end. Extension cable is ok but conversion cable should not be necessary.
3. Display, lit is even better.
4. WMA support is nice to have, especially if it is small storage capacity.
5. More than a couple of buttons, some older designs require you to scroll through an extended menu.
6. Voice recording can be very handy.
7. Built in FM tuner, not for me but some people like it.
My kids have a couple that have all or most of these features. One is a PNY Vibe and the other is a MyMusix Radioshack (cheap but works great).

 

[kilroy13]

I saw that the creative touch said you can use media player to copy music to the player.. Was kinda confused on how it does that..

 

[robertk2012]

an ipod would be your best bet

 

[Taejin]

Originally posted by: robertk2012
an ipod would be your best bet

An iPod would be the bet of an uninformed consumer who gets all his advice from mass marketing.


As for looking for an mp3 player that allows drag/drop, iPod does not. If you want one that does, there is a host of mp3 players out there. However, I can safely recommend the iRiver H3xx series (H320, H340). I've owned both the iPod, iRiver iHP-120 (recently discontinued) and iRiver H320 (currently owned). I enjoy the sound from the iRiver H320 moreso than from my older iPod, and I love the features it comes with (video playback, usb-on the go, color, photos).

In all honesty, the scroll wheel from the iPod is the winner, hands down. It is not because everyone makes crappy navigation components and the iPod's is merely acceptable, but because the iPod's scroll wheel is utter genius, while everyone else comes up with simply workable solution.

I don't know about you, but I don't pay 300+ dollars for hardware just because it is cool and easy to use. That isn't the say the iRiver is hard to use, but anyone even remotely experienced with gadgets should be able to read the simple instructions and use it.

I have also heard good things about the Creative Zen Micro and the Rio Karma, however, I do not have any personal experience with these devices.

 

[Gurck]

Originally posted by: robertk2012
an ipod would be your best bet

You have a parent working for Apple? You join five days ago, and so far I've seen you spout barely-legible pro-ipod BS in three posts.

There are plenty of reasons not to buy an ipod, which I've gone over in many posts. A quick and far from complete rundown on their downsides - They're the most expensive players, won't play music you drag & drop to them, have below-average sound quality, have no features to speak of (radio, recording, etc), have terrible battery life, and restrict your right to manipulate music you own in the name of copy protection.

You, in contrast, seem unable to come up with anything but variations of "ipod is good". You must really like the commercials :laugh:

 

[Wuzup101]

I'd go for the iPod, especially if it's for your wife. It's easy to use, will support all the mp3s you have ripped, and has enough battery life for the average user. It doesn't let you drag and drop files right to it. Instead it uses iTunes to manage what's on it. This means that you don't have to bother dragging and dropping files as the iPod is automatically updated whenever you connect it to your computer. It's a bit simpler than drag and drop... which of course actually requires that you do something...

The other players aren't bad by any means. If you think you need an FM radio then go for it... heck 2 poorly tuned channels of FM radio sounds really appealing when you have thousands of mp3s at your fingertips... They do have more features (okay well they have a radio) than the iPod, and they do have better battery life. The iPod is built better and easier to use... there's also more aftermarket accessories and such... not to mention they are better looking...

 

[fisheye]

Originally posted by: Wuzup101
I'd go for the iPod, especially if it's for your wife. It's easy to use, will support all the mp3s you have ripped, and has enough battery life for the average user. It doesn't let you drag and drop files right to it. Instead it uses iTunes to manage what's on it. This means that you don't have to bother dragging and dropping files as the iPod is automatically updated whenever you connect it to your computer. It's a bit simpler than drag and drop... which of course actually requires that you do something...

The other players aren't bad by any means. If you think you need an FM radio then go for it... heck 2 poorly tuned channels of FM radio sounds really appealing when you have thousands of mp3s at your fingertips... They do have more features (okay well they have a radio) than the iPod, and they do have better battery life. The iPod is built better and easier to use... there's also more aftermarket accessories and such... not to mention they are better looking...

"Better Looking" is certainly a matter of personal preference... I find that the standard ipod does pretty much nothing for me aesthetically... bland and uninspiring. Like a bar of soap.

 

[Gurck]

Originally posted by: fisheye

Originally posted by: Wuzup101
I'd go for the iPod, especially if it's for your wife. It's easy to use, will support all the mp3s you have ripped, and has enough battery life for the average user. It doesn't let you drag and drop files right to it. Instead it uses iTunes to manage what's on it. This means that you don't have to bother dragging and dropping files as the iPod is automatically updated whenever you connect it to your computer. It's a bit simpler than drag and drop... which of course actually requires that you do something...

The other players aren't bad by any means. If you think you need an FM radio then go for it... heck 2 poorly tuned channels of FM radio sounds really appealing when you have thousands of mp3s at your fingertips... They do have more features (okay well they have a radio) than the iPod, and they do have better battery life. The iPod is built better and easier to use... there's also more aftermarket accessories and such... not to mention they are better looking...

"Better Looking" is certainly a matter of personal preference... I find that the standard ipod does pretty much nothing for me aesthetically... bland and uninspiring. Like a bar of soap.

I disagree, I think it's flat-out ugly. It looks like something out of the age 6-12 section at Toys-R-Us, plastic and gaudy, and with lights!!1!1oneone :laugh: Not to mention "more aftermarket accesssories" - is he honestly trying to say that the ipod is good because on top of spending more for one than a different player, you get to buy an overpriced case to go with it when most other players include one?

Know what it costs to advertise on TV during major sports playoffs? Apple does... Where do people think that money comes from, the dollar fairy? Sadly, I think most ipod-lovers are young enough to truly believe it does, judging by their pathetically weak arguments in favor of it.

However, I'll grant that he has a point that it may be the better choice since it's for the OP's wife. The tech complexity limit for most women is breached by a lightswitch, I'd imagine even the ipod's ui would be challenging for most. Further, most women value fashion over function, and thanks to Apple's advertising it certainly is fashionable to have one.

 

[fisheye]

Originally posted by: Gurck

Originally posted by: fisheye

Originally posted by: Wuzup101
I'd go for the iPod, especially if it's for your wife. It's easy to use, will support all the mp3s you have ripped, and has enough battery life for the average user. It doesn't let you drag and drop files right to it. Instead it uses iTunes to manage what's on it. This means that you don't have to bother dragging and dropping files as the iPod is automatically updated whenever you connect it to your computer. It's a bit simpler than drag and drop... which of course actually requires that you do something...

The other players aren't bad by any means. If you think you need an FM radio then go for it... heck 2 poorly tuned channels of FM radio sounds really appealing when you have thousands of mp3s at your fingertips... They do have more features (okay well they have a radio) than the iPod, and they do have better battery life. The iPod is built better and easier to use... there's also more aftermarket accessories and such... not to mention they are better looking...

"Better Looking" is certainly a matter of personal preference... I find that the standard ipod does pretty much nothing for me aesthetically... bland and uninspiring. Like a bar of soap.

I disagree, I think it's flat-out ugly. It looks like something out of the age 6-12 section at Toys-R-Us, plastic and gaudy, and with lights!!1!1oneone :laugh: Not to mention "more aftermarket accesssories" - is he honestly trying to say that the ipod is good because on top of spending more for one than a different player, you get to buy an overpriced case to go with it when most other players include one?

Know what it costs to advertise on TV during major sports playoffs? Apple does... Where do people think that money comes from, the dollar fairy? Sadly, I think most ipod-lovers are young enough to truly believe it does, judging by their pathetically weak arguments in favor of it.

However, I'll grant that he has a point that it may be the better choice since it's for the OP's wife. The tech complexity limit for most women is breached by a lightswitch, I'd imagine even the ipod's ui would be challenging for most. Further, most women value fashion over function, and thanks to Apple's advertising it certainly is fashionable to have one.

As a female.... I have to agree that it seems -most- women today know as much about computers and technology as my dog does...

Anyway, I bought an iRiver iHP-140 early in the year... very satisfied with my purchase. The ipod wasn't even really in the running due to some, IMO, serious drawbacks, mostly the neccessity to use a (mostly) proprietary software interface to get the music onto the player, the fact that your music files on the player aren't easily transferable to another PC, and the short battery life.

 

[WuGahCha]

i vote for ipod mini, 4gb is plenty unless u download for living

if u want a really small one, my friend recently got a 1gb MPIO... something flash based mp3 player, so tiny, 1/3 size of mini, build in battery.

 

[Taejin]

Try visiting www.misticriver.net

We know the iPod is extremely popular worldwide, but the iRiver is the one to go with when you're in Korea.

at misticriver.net you'll find a community as rabid about their iRivers as Mac Addicts are rabid about their iPod.