MP3 Player Buying Guide
MP3s are widely recognized as the most popular
format for storing and listening to music on the World Wide Web.
MP3 files have superior sound quality and are quick to download.
MP3 technology offers you the possibility to create
your own play lists quickly, easily and at a very low cost! You
can also easily migrate old music to MP3 format. Yes! All you
need is some simple software and a PC.
There are literally hundreds of different MP3
players on the web right now. However it can be mind boggling
to figure out which MP3 player will be perfect for YOU.
This MP3 player guide breakdowns all the jargon
so you can identify exactly what you need.
1. Does size matter?
The first thing to decide is whether you want
a hard disk player or a flash based player.
Hard disk MP3 players can store 1000s of MP3 files,
which totally obliterates the need to carry CD’s around
at all. The memory of these types of MP3 players ranges from 4GB
to 60GB.
The downside of hard disk MP3 players is that
they tend to be bigger than other models and have movable parts.
So if you’re intending to use you MP3 player down at the
gym or jogging this may not be the best option.
Flash based MP3 Players come as a single unit
with no moveable parts and therefore are also shockproof. These
models are absolutely tiny so ideal for people always on the move.
However the flash based models have much smaller
memory capacities ranging from 32Mb to 1GB. You can purchase memory
cards to increase the memory capacity, but that’s an extra
cost that needs to be considered when buying.
Another option is ‘micro’ hard disk
MP3 players that offer a compromise between hard disk and flash
based models. These MP3 players use mini hard drives. This means
they can store more MP3 files than flash based players but are
smaller than hard disk players. On the flip side they still aren’t
as small as flash based MP3 players or able to store as many MP3
files as hard disk models. An additional problem is that they
also have moveable parts.
It is also very important to note that all hard
disk players use rechargeable but non-removable batteries that
last only a few years. However most manufacturers do have a return
& repair policy, but be sure to check when making your purchase.
Flash based models on the whole only require changeable batteries.
2. Get connected!
The next main consideration is about which technology
you want for transferring the MP3 files from your computer to
the MP3 player itself: USB or Firewire.
The USB (Universal Serial Bus) connection is a
fast and reliable interface, and compatible with all computers.
Or you could opt for a Firewire interface, which has an even faster
transmission of files, however this interface is only compatible
with some brands of computers. You will find that some of the
very latest models are beginning to include wireless transfer.
3. What Else?
That’s all the tough stuff out the way.
The other main considerations are:
- FM Stereo
This is a feature to consider as it adds functionality to your
MP3 player.
- Voice Recording
Some MP3 players have a built-in microphone, which can be used
to record lectures, dictation, etc…
- Display
The LCD screen will display information like album, artist,
volume and remaining battery. Checking you have an easy read
LCD screen is a must as that’s the tool you use to navigate
yourself around the features, like selecting a song, volume
etc.
- Headphones
Watch out for the sound quality! Not all models will provide
the same quality and you really want to get the most out of
your MP3 player!
Your final decision on which MP3 player you are
going to buy will now depend on making trade-offs between the
price you are willing to pay and the features that your MP3 player
needs to include. This, at the same time, will depend on how you
intend to use it. |