[ferrija1]

But remember, you can do that on many other devices that cost much, much less.

[Ianc5444]

Because Flash based MP3 Players are guarenteed to die within 2 years. also, the software, the design, support, and accessories.

[ferrija1]

Originally Posted by Ianc5444

Because Flash based MP3 Players are guarenteed to die within 2 years. also, the software, the design, support, and accessories.

Says who?

[DotHQ]

Originally Posted by Jones

iPods are popular because of a few reasons:

Simplicity - easy to navigate and operate
Integration - Works equally well with Windows and Mac
Compatibillity - iTunes works on both Mac and Windows, and is compatible with EVERY iPod ever made
Form - Elegant design and quality construction
Marketing - Apple has done an incredibly good job marketing the iPod line, ever since it's inception

I have had two iPods so far, a 1st gen Nano, and a new 3rd gen Nano. Both have been problem-free and work beautifully. I have also had experience with other brands of MP3 players, including Sandisk and Samsung.

I can honestly say that Apple's iPod and iTunes combo is the best player/software available on any platform. Microsoft and other MP3 players just can't touch the simplicity and functionality that Apple has developed.

Me too. I agree wholeheartedly. I fought Apple's IPOD for years not wanting to buy into their monopoly. So I've used numerous MP3 players. They work fine, but in a weak moment last December I bought an iPhone. As you know the iPhone has an IPOD built into it. iTunes makes loading up the IPOD so simple, I love it. Put a CD in your laptop and it will automatically add it to your iTunes, or you can select only the tunes off the CD you want to load. Then just plug in your IPOD or iPhone to the laptop and it automatically synchronizes (if you have that option set).
Then you can also select playlists, how about the top 25 songs you've played on your IPOD? Or a generic playlist that you've created. All very user friendly. As an IT person I can handle loading MP3' players. Non IT folks have headaches doing MP3's. But even though I can do MP3 players I am now a convert to the IPOD / iPhone. I can carry the favorite part of my CD collection with me all the time and play it over the stereo in my boat or in my car. Simply AWESOME.

[Dr.Mario]

Originally Posted by DarqueMist

Then you need to open your eyes and start listening to more informed people. I can understand people dissin the iPod it does its job OK but is way over priced, over hyped and there are equally good alternatives out there for cheaper. THE ZUNE ISN'T ONE, it is also over priced and M$ has it so tightly bound to their version of DRM that the device can be a major pain to use

i wouldent buy any of the two, as i said mine cost me 20 bucks and its so easy to use a chimp could use it, I think ill stick with mine. Ipod = applegay zune = M$gay


I know two guys that have both an Ipod and a zune, both told me the Zune is better, all i was saying. Btw My Gf just got a new Mp3 Player by Sandisk to replace her I pod that she hates. She used mine and got one like it but more advanced. Her Ipod = 200 bucks her new one to replace the crappy ipod (that i told her not to get) , 60 after shipping and all, the Choice is as simple as the price, but you people can bandwagon all you want. mines a COBY and its, plug in , drag & drop and out the door, never one problem.

I allmost forgot, i have a portable CD player that plays Mp3s as well, thats cheeper and easier than both Ipod and Zune. Burn a disk toss it in and hit play. i recommend a cheep Mp3 player or a cd player with Mp3 not an Ipuke or a Pune.

[DarqueMist]

Originally Posted by Ianc5444

Because Flash based MP3 Players are guarenteed to die within 2 years. also, the software, the design, support, and accessories.

So then my almost 4 year old 1st gen nano doesn't work any more! Guess I should stop listening to it and rush out and buy a new one.

[DarqueMist]

Originally Posted by Dr.Mario

...Btw My Gf just got a new Mp3 Player by Sandisk to replace her I pod that she hates.

Sandisc products would be the first I'd look into buying if I needed a new player today

Originally Posted by Dr.Mario

I allmost forgot, i have a portable CD player that plays Mp3s as well, thats cheeper and easier than both Ipod and Zune. Burn a disk toss it in and hit play. i recommend a cheep Mp3 player or a cd player with Mp3 not an Ipuke or a Pune.

unfortunately a CD player doesn't fit in my shirt or pants pocket, i've yet to see one small enough that I can carry it basically un noticed so that's just not gonna ever be an option for me (or most people)

As for your cheap Coby, I have a niece and nephew that owned them and while they worked I found the interface awkward to use and the frequent lock ups unaceptable.... eventually they did to and got rid of them (one using a sansa the other a creative now)

[jonasdatum]

Originally Posted by Jones

iPods are popular because of a few reasons:

Simplicity - easy to navigate and operate
Integration - Works equally well with Windows and Mac
Compatibillity - iTunes works on both Mac and Windows, and is compatible with EVERY iPod ever made
Form - Elegant design and quality construction
Marketing - Apple has done an incredibly good job marketing the iPod line, ever since it's inception

I have had two iPods so far, a 1st gen Nano, and a new 3rd gen Nano. Both have been problem-free and work beautifully. I have also had experience with other brands of MP3 players, including Sandisk and Samsung.

I can honestly say that Apple's iPod and iTunes combo is the best player/software available on any platform. Microsoft and other MP3 players just can't touch the simplicity and functionality that Apple has developed.

I have tried using iTunes.com to download my music on more than one occasion and have always had problems with archiving it after purchase. Also, and this is the critical reason I don't use them; I can't re-download the music. So 'if' I could get past the copying issue I'd have to archive all my purchased music. If the storage medium is destroyed then I have pay again.

Note: A month or so has passed since my purchases from the sites.I have recently returned to both amazon.com and buy.com. It appears that at amazon.com I can not re-download my purcases, but at buy.com it appears I can. Hmm I'll buy my music from buy.com for the time being.

So unless iTunes.com has corrected the aforementioned flaws; when it comes to music I'll stick with the others thank you! I have not yet confirmed it, but amazon and perhaps buy.com have the same issues. Further searching for answers is required.

My other statement is because nobody else has yet made a fully competing service infrastructure such as iTunes. Amazon is the only one I am aware of that comes close as far as video and music. IPods are popular for the reasons mentioned hence people always ask me this question, “do you have an iPod or an mp3 (player)?" I try to buy something I like or need because it is popular. If somebody could get the video service iTunes.com has and make it compatible with all portable players then iTunes.com will be one of, instead of the number 1 media provider.

If somebody knows a site besides Amazon or Microsoft please post.

[ferrija1]

Originally Posted by jonasdatum

I have tried using iTunes.com to download my music on more than one occasion and have always had problems with archiving it after purchase.

How so, can't you burn it to a CD or transfer it to another computer? You're allowed to do that under the FairPlay DRM.

[jonasdatum]

Originally Posted by ferrija1

How so, can't you burn it to a CD or transfer it to another computer? You're allowed to do that under the FairPlay DRM.

When I first used itunes I was unable to copy or paste; I might have been able to burn. I think I posted about it asking for asistance. I'll run a search and see if I can find it.


For the time being it appears that of the three music stores (amazon.com, buy.com, and itunes.com) I have purchased from Buy.com has met all three of my requirements. Of course I have my music backedup, but I don't like not having the option. In a few months I will check back with buy.com and will see if I can still download the song I purchased.

I sent an email to amazon.com customer support and I await their resposne. Paying for what in my view a superior service is worth $.00 - $.10 difference for the same song.

[Fyzbo]

Originally Posted by Ianc5444

Because Flash based MP3 Players are guarenteed to die within 2 years. also, the software, the design, support, and accessories.

Odd statement considering most are heading towards flash. Even apple is making more and more flash based ipods, their iphone and touch only come in flash.

[JohnWill]

I don't know where the idea that FLASH players will die comes from, but it's sure on another planet from reality! How in the world did you come to that conclusion?

[new tech guy]

I will say out of all media players i have owned, i think my ipod is most durable. Although you can tell how after a bit the hard disk is taking a beating from every day use. And to the posters statment about flash based players dieing so much, i beg to differ. Hard disk players are more likely to die than flash ones. I beleive the ipod can survive so much abuse because the designer was smart, he put the player's OS in the firmware which is probably a chunk of EEPROM memory and thus as the hd is only media storage can take as much of a beating as it wants. I dont slam my player around but im saying every now and then i have sectors go south just from everyday wear and tear. For instance, it can suffer a headcrash if im driving in my car and say hit a hard bump of some sort (like railroad tracks). This can cause a headcrash. But ipod can survive this unlike other players for my previously stated reason. Therefore solid state players are better as they can take a beating and be unaffected.

[jonasdatum]

Originally Posted by new tech guy

I will say out of all media players i have owned, i think my ipod is most durable. Although you can tell how after a bit the hard disk is taking a beating from every day use. And to the posters statment about flash based players dieing so much, i beg to differ. Hard disk players are more likely to die than flash ones. I beleive the ipod can survive so much abuse because the designer was smart, he put the player's OS in the firmware which is probably a chunk of EEPROM memory and thus as the hd is only media storage can take as much of a beating as it wants. I dont slam my player around but im saying every now and then i have sectors go south just from everyday wear and tear. For instance, it can suffer a headcrash if im driving in my car and say hit a hard bump of some sort (like railroad tracks). This can cause a headcrash. But ipod can survive this unlike other players for my previously stated reason. Therefore solid state players are better as they can take a beating and be unaffected.

That is why as we all read about 10 years ago, large capacity flash drives will be the amongst the next wave of grand innovations for computer technolgoy. I remember when CD-Players were the standard fare and only those who were the coolest even considered an MP3 player. My first two MP3 players were CD-MP3 players. I hated it when I would be walking and every so often my song would either reset, skip, or start from the begining of my 650MB CDR.

My 3rd MP3 player was so no-name hard drive player. I didn't mind it and the songs lasted a while. I sat on it once and ever since then it didn't play right and one day it just stopped working. Which surprized me because I've droped it 5 times long before and it didn't seem to effect it much.

Another in a long line of reasons I will buy a flash player and see how it works. As always I'll either try to get a deal on it retail, used, clearance, or refurbished.

[madd74]

The whole concept of a flash dying out is due to the fact that cells die after time of read/write.

Of course, your actual hard drives will die due to friction. They all are going to die sooner or later, like everyone, expect for me

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flash_drive

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USB_fla...#Disadvantages