MP3 Player for Christmas

[DemonSX]

So I was thinking of asking for a MP3 player this Christmas. Problem is, I'm not sure what I should get: Zune, iPod, or this Creative Zen thingamajig I stumbled across? The Zune looks a bit fugly and I'm not so sure about the Zen.

And another thing...I was looking on NewEgg and apparently there's an "Apple new iPod" thing on there.

New: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16855101008
Not new: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16855101443

What's the difference?

[TimPoet]

Don't really have the money for it but I too have kicking around the idea of getting a player....
The Apples seems so popular one would think you can't go wrong there.... Might want to google the new iPod to find the distinction.

I like the size of the Zune screen- the better to view videos....

I like the Zen's prices....

[Alaron]

The "new" iPod is the updated version of the 5G iPod from the "not new" link. The changes are not major, but I would certainly go with the new version for the improved battery life and brighter screen.

You may want to think about how you'll be adding music to the player. If you buy from iTunes, you'll need an iPod. If you use another service, you'll probably need the Zune or Zen.

[pam123]

If you already have a downloaded digital music collection then your choice is limited.
If you downloaded from itunes then you need an iPod.
If you downloaded from one of the plays for sure sites then you need an iRiver, Creative Zen or a Sandisk and Urge is the plays for sure site put up in conjunction with MTV.
There's also the Rhapsody or Napster if you're so inclined.
Zune only works with downloads from the Zune store.
Welcome to the DRM hassle.
If you don't have already have a digital music collection then buy whatever player seems best to you.

[dogdude16]

if u are getting ur music from CDs than any one will do. i think those 3 are the BEST out so no matter which one you pick u will be happy.:)

[cuog]

I'm getting one of these for Christmas seems pretty nice, can't wait, it arrives tomorrow and I'm going to be drooling over the package till Monday.

and avoid DRM at all costs.

[dogdude16]

which one?

[cuog]

Lol I forgot the link here it is: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16855124008

It's 1 gig which is a good amount of music or a smallish movie or two, then you can upgrade memory with SD cards which is what i really liked about it.

I wouldn't personally go with the Ipod, I don't like the way apple is not up with compatibility with Linux, and well I'm not the kind of person that likes whats popular.

[Hi Ho]

I got a Zen MicroPhoto (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16855102228) for Christmas last year and I love it. It has an OLED screen that looks better than any LCD I've seen in a portable device. The battery life is excellent, about 20 hours. It plays all of my music, which is stored in WMA format, and it works with Napster where I have a supscription.

A major plus, for me anyway, is that the battery is easily replacable. A major drawback with the Ipod is that when the battery wears out the only "official" way to get it replaced is to send it to Apple for $100. A new battery for the Zen is $30 and you replace it just like a cell phone battery. The Zen Vision:M (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16855102226) is a newer, larger capacity, and video capable model.

[cuog]

One of the Zen line would definately be my second choice, I just don't need as much space as they hold so I save that extra money for my computer stuff.

Creative is really good with this digital sound thing, They have been making good sound cards for quite a long time.

[DemonSX]

If you buy from iTunes, you'll need an iPod. If you use another service, you'll probably need the Zune or Zen.What if I don't get my music from Napster, Rhapsody, Zune Marketplace, PlaysForSure or any of those places where you have to pay.......???

......?

[cuog]

If you download the MP3's without paying then its illegal and not to be talked about here, but I will give you the benefit of the doubt and assume that you rip it off CDs, then you can use whatever mp3 player you want.

[pam123]

What if I don't get my music from Napster, Rhapsody, Zune Marketplace, PlaysForSure or any of those places where you have to pay.......???

......?

Read the rules please.

[feeder82]

well i can give a big thumbs down to the Zune my son and I have just spent three days with tech support( now we are waiting for a level 3 tech to solve our problem) trying to get the piece---- to work, the software wont connect to the Zune we have messed with the reg. .dll library, reinstalled the software to many times to count, unreal! this is the second one, the first wouldnt connect at all. by the way the Zune software converted ALL the music files ( cds we had, mpp3s Itunes)to the Zune library, my son sold his IPOD to buy this thing because he could share with friends

[clroberts]

If I remember right, Zune is incompatible with Vista isn't that correct?

[Alaron]

If I remember right, Zune is incompatible with Vista isn't that correct?

As of now, yes. But Microsoft is working to patch it in.

[bd1886]

I've asked the same question and came up with this...all of them have pros and cons. Pick the features you find most important and see who has em. I have both Apple and Creative products and am happy with both. Chose Creative for large capacity storage and use because people tended to feel that it was built pretty tough and Apple because of it's nice interface. Don't know about Zune?