Choose an MP3 Player
Although the Apple iPod is the ubiquitous MP3 player, there are many alternatives that should be considered while you are looking to buy one. Do you really know what you need to look for when buying an MP3 player?
Contents
Steps
- Pay attention to the amount of space the MP3 player has. Consider the amount of storage available. At the lower end of the market a 512mb to 1Gb player will generally hold up to 200 songs. If you have a large music collection then you should look for devices that offer at least 20 GB's of storage. In general every 10 GB's will hold around 2,900 MP3 files
- Think about portability. If you have an active lifestyle then you will need a player that is small and compact. If you intend to use your player whilst jogging or whilst training in the gym, then a flash-based system will be a better choice as they contain no moving parts and therefore won't skip.
- Look at the interface. Will it be easy to access and use on the move or will it require 100% of your attention to choose your songs? This is one area that is often overlooked and is often a source of dissatisfaction among users.
- Examine how the device is powered. Many MP3 players come with built in rechargeable batteries. These are very convenient and can last for a long time, but if you are not able to recharge them or don't have access to a computer with a USB port then you will need to wait Till the player gets all charged up again!!.
- Consider accessories that you may want. Most MP3 players come with headphones but usually they are not very good quality. Investing in a new pair may improve sound quality. If you use your MP3 player in the car then consider an in car charger.
Tips
- Just because everyone has a iPod, doesn't make them the best. MP3 players for example, are cheaper than iPods and some have more storage space. Think about things like that.
- Take care of your MP3 player. It contains fragile and often expensive components.This is very nice and comfortable.
- The best deals for MP3 players are available online but before you buy make sure you know what you need. The right MP3 player is an excellent buy and will remain in use for many years; the wrong one will soon be consigned to the bottom drawer.
Warnings
- Remember to purchase decent headphones with your MP3 player. The sound quality is usually determined not by the MP3 player, but by the recording studio, the sound file and the headphones. Some MP3 players with small storage offer compression methods which reduce sound quality to 128 kb/s (FM standard) but this can often be disabled.
- Beware of Phishing when buying an MP3 Player online.
- iPods are well known for being easy to use, while others may require you to be a bit more tech savvy, or have a slight learning curve. The iTunes Store is also a convenient way to download music, but with the rise of the Amazon MP3 music download service and Google Music via the Google Play Store, this is no longer a very big problem. One could even argue these services may be better, offering inexpensive DRM-free music. Google Music in particular sells songs for less than half of the price for the same song on iTunes.
