Poll
Question:
Which of the following would you purchase?
Option 1: iPod Nano
Option 2: Zume
Option 3: Samsung Q2
Option 4: Sandisk
Option 5: Other - explain
My mom, per the norm, has given me $50 for Christmas. I'm going to use that and a bit more toward an 8 gig MP3 player. However, I've no idea which one to get since I'm completely NOT a tech geek on these things. (Budget is an issue, so that's a factor.)
I'm looking to get something that I can put books on tape on so that I can listen to them while I work. I'll be checking the books out at the library, putting them on my computer, and then transferring them onto the MP3 player. (Ignore the moral transgressions this may cause.)
I own a PC (not a Mac), am NOT technologically savvy, and would rather not have to run to Max or the kids whenever I need something uploaded/downloaded.
Given what I'm planning to use it primarily for, which do you think is the best bet for me?
Seriously - get the iPod. It's not the overwhelming market leader for nothing.
It is not something you need to be technologically savvy to use. You just plug the iPod into the computer and it will set up iTunes. Place CDs in your computer and it will immediately rip them into iTunes, then sync them onto your iPod. In using the iPod itself the clickwheel is quite easy to figure out.
I've seen 8 year old kids use iPods, as well as my now 60 year old father.
Some people on this forum don't like the iPod because it forces you to use iTunes. I guess I can understand why that'd be a pain if you are technologically savvy, but it really is designed to be easy to use for 'average people'.
If you don't mind iTunes taking over EVERY aspect of media playback on the computer, go with the iPod. It's the easiest to use, with Zune running a close second (setup and import work almost identically to the iPod). Sandisks I have no experience with, but I got my sister a Samsung 2GB for Christmas 3 years ago that she still uses daily without problem, so I'll vouch that Samsung MP3 players are tanks.
I have a Sony Ericsson W760, which nicely doubles as my cell phone.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2F3.bp.blogspot.com%2F_c3cC72zYnyA%2FSgd-L6C6VHI%2FAAAAAAAAAUk%2FbyEKtlFzzYA%2Fs400%2Fsony%2Bericsson%2Bw760.jpg&hash=3ff4120db6a9b79cd7f66351edfebf0954b9deaf)
i bought an ipod nano two years ago and have had no problems with it. it's painfully easy adding songs to it via itunes, and its battery lasts for quite some time. i've dropped it a few times, yet it saw no damaged. all around, i've found that it's a great mp3 player
Quote from: DontSayBanana on December 09, 2009, 08:21:45 PM
If you don't mind iTunes taking over EVERY aspect of media playback on the computer, go with the iPod.
iTunes didn't take over media playback on my computer... :shifty:
Quote from: Barrister on December 09, 2009, 10:05:51 PM
Quote from: DontSayBanana on December 09, 2009, 08:21:45 PM
If you don't mind iTunes taking over EVERY aspect of media playback on the computer, go with the iPod.
iTunes didn't take over media playback on my computer... :shifty:
Yeah Shame is full o Shit, iTunes isn't worse than WMP when it comes to trying to associate media files with it.
Quote from: DontSayBanana on December 09, 2009, 08:21:45 PM
If you don't mind iTunes taking over EVERY aspect of media playback on the computer, go with the iPod.
When did this start? I don't remember having any problems with my old 3rd gen ipod, you could whatever you wanted with it. Wouldn't mind getting another one of those.
The, uh, Zu(m)e.
Quote from: katmai on December 09, 2009, 10:07:52 PM
Quote from: Barrister on December 09, 2009, 10:05:51 PM
Quote from: DontSayBanana on December 09, 2009, 08:21:45 PM
If you don't mind iTunes taking over EVERY aspect of media playback on the computer, go with the iPod.
iTunes didn't take over media playback on my computer... :shifty:
Yeah Shame is full o Shit, iTunes isn't worse than WMP when it comes to trying to associate media files with it.
Ah. I was actually trying for a joke (since iTunes ALREADY controlled every aspect of media playbook - on my Mac), but once again he Shame shows himself to be a poor analyst of Apple issues.
My nano is lovely. :wub:
Also, I just tried to get my first iPod to charge (thing hasn't worked in years) and it not only charged but started playing music. Magical little brick it is.
I got a 8GB SanDisk Sansa Fuze a few months ago. Really like it. You can drag and drop music into it without having to use crappy software.
Plus if you want more space you can insert a memory card (micro SDHC) into it to expand it. I got a 16GB memory card, so my Fuze now has 24GB of memory.
an iPod hands down.
The Itunes hater are just lazy nerds that cant unclick media association. I always wonder what those people use to playback media if not Itunes, everything else out there is crap, even Winamp jumped the shark.
Quote from: Lettow77 on December 09, 2009, 11:09:53 PM
The, uh, Zu(m)e.
:facepalm:
Anyway Meri, I would suggest a larger capacity hard drive-based mp3 player; I only have a few audio books on my Zune, and they take up a decent chunk of space. I would go at least 80gb. So I would say: Zu
ne (80gb or 120gb) or iPod (120gb or 160gb)
Quote from: Cerr on December 10, 2009, 06:51:05 AM
I got a 8GB SanDisk Sansa Fuze a few months ago. Really like it. You can drag and drop music into it without having to use crappy software.
Plus if you want more space you can insert a memory card (micro SDHC) into it to expand it. I got a 16GB memory card, so my Fuze now has 24GB of memory.
hmm...and it has a scroll wheel. Micro SD, no itunes, drag and drop, scroll wheel, I think this is exactly what I'm looking for.
Quote from: derspiess on December 10, 2009, 10:17:40 AM
Quote from: Lettow77 on December 09, 2009, 11:09:53 PM
The, uh, Zu(m)e.
:facepalm:
Anyway Meri, I would suggest a larger capacity hard drive-based mp3 player; I only have a few audio books on my Zune, and they take up a decent chunk of space. I would go at least 80gb. So I would say: Zune (80gb or 120gb) or iPod (120gb or 160gb)
Except MS no longer makes a HD based player. They discontinued all other models when they came out with the iPod touch-like model.
Why would you want a hard drive anyway? Shorter battery life and increased chance of killing it if you drop it?
Quote from: Barrister on December 10, 2009, 12:10:07 PM
Except MS no longer makes a HD based player. They discontinued all other models when they came out with the iPod touch-like model.
Ah, so they magically evaporated from the stores, then? :lol: There are still plenty out there. Walmart was selling Zune 80's for $99 a few days ago.
Anything with AA or AAA batteries. Build in batteries is the antichrist.
Quote from: Maximus on December 10, 2009, 12:14:38 PM
Why would you want a hard drive anyway? Shorter battery life and increased chance of killing it if you drop it?
Still unrivaled in capacity, and much cheaper per GB. Both the iPod Classic & Zune 80/120 have decent battery life.
Having said that, if Meri's confident she'll never need more than 8gb, get a cheap flash-based player. I got the Sansa Fuze (mentioned above) for my sister in law a few months ago & she loves it.
One thing to consider since she'd be using this for audio books, is bookmarking. My Zune 120 does an auto-bookmark (I think the iPod Classic does this as well) for my audio books, so whenever I go back to the book, it takes me right to where I left off (imagine having to fast forward through a gigantic audio file to find your place). The Creative Zen series of mp3 players goes a step further & allows you to set manual bookmarks if you choose.
Quote from: Lucidor on December 10, 2009, 12:37:00 PM
Anything with AA or AAA batteries. Build in batteries is the antichrist.
Yeah, 'cuz having to keep spare AA's with you wherever you go & not being able to charge via USB or a wall is so convenient :P
Quote from: derspiess on December 10, 2009, 12:41:03 PM
Quote from: Lucidor on December 10, 2009, 12:37:00 PM
Anything with AA or AAA batteries. Build in batteries is the antichrist.
Yeah, 'cuz having to keep spare AA's with you wherever you go & not being able to charge via USB or a wall is so convenient :P
I get 20 hours from storebought batteries, and 5-7 hours at present from my often recharged AAA batteries. I need one for it to run. Compare that to
iSuck iPod Nano after 12 months, when I got perhaps 2 hours from it.
Quote from: derspiess on December 10, 2009, 12:39:55 PM
Quote from: Maximus on December 10, 2009, 12:14:38 PM
Why would you want a hard drive anyway? Shorter battery life and increased chance of killing it if you drop it?
Still unrivaled in capacity, and much cheaper per GB. Both the iPod Classic & Zune 80/120 have decent battery life.
Having said that, if Meri's confident she'll never need more than 8gb, get a cheap flash-based player.
Micro SD gets cheaper everyday, you can use multiple cards giving unlimited capacity, and you can use them for everything. 16gb is only like $40, and you can use it for a hell of a lot more than just your mp3 player. They have 64 gb cards out now too, but those are still pricey.
Quote from: Lucidor on December 10, 2009, 12:51:53 PM
Quote from: derspiess on December 10, 2009, 12:41:03 PM
Quote from: Lucidor on December 10, 2009, 12:37:00 PM
Anything with AA or AAA batteries. Build in batteries is the antichrist.
Yeah, 'cuz having to keep spare AA's with you wherever you go & not being able to charge via USB or a wall is so convenient :P
I get 20 hours from storebought batteries, and 5-7 hours at present from my often recharged AAA batteries. I need one for it to run. Compare that to iSuck iPod Nano after 12 months, when I got perhaps 2 hours from it.
did you abuse your nano like a red headed step child? i recharge mine once every week or two, and that's after two years
Quote from: Lacroix on December 10, 2009, 01:16:04 PM
did you abuse your nano like a red headed step child? i recharge mine once every week or two, and that's after two years
I'll give you a fake internet cookie if you start cropping your quotes.
Agreed - my nano is 2 years old and I get a hell of a lot more than 2 hours battery life.
Quote from: Lacroix on December 10, 2009, 01:16:04 PM
did you abuse your nano like a red headed step child? i recharge mine once every week or two, and that's after two years
First generation nanos weren't that good.
Quote from: Lucidor on December 10, 2009, 01:46:15 PMFirst generation nanos weren't that good.
:console:
@yi: that's about as good a deal as i'll get anywhere!
Quote from: Barrister on December 10, 2009, 01:25:39 PM
Agreed - my nano is 2 years old and I get a hell of a lot more than 2 hours battery life.
I agree that they give longer time than 2 hours, but they don't administer it very well.. I've more often than not had mine show green 40-50% left and then run out completely after less than 10 minutes if its just a tad cold outside.
V
Even though I hate Apple I have to say that ipod is ok :blush:
iPod. Idiot-proof, in my experience the only tiny platform to reliably play MP4s and just a lovely all-round experience. Aural sex.
Everyone seems to have an ipod these days, barring those very small 500mbish ones I know no one (except myself) with something other than a ipod. As a result a lot of other stuff is made with ipod compatability so...its as good a choice as any. Though the interface sucks.
Quote from: derspiess on December 10, 2009, 10:17:40 AM
Quote from: Lettow77 on December 09, 2009, 11:09:53 PM
The, uh, Zu(m)e.
:facepalm:
Anyway Meri, I would suggest a larger capacity hard drive-based mp3 player; I only have a few audio books on my Zune, and they take up a decent chunk of space. I would go at least 80gb. So I would say: Zune (80gb or 120gb) or iPod (120gb or 160gb)
D'oh! I was only half awake when I typed this up. Is it obvious? :unsure:
Anyway, I'm not too worried about space, since my plan is to only carry two or three books on the MP3 player at a time, switching them out from my computer as I finish them. And while I'd love a 120gb iPod, I simply can't afford one right now.
Thanks for the advice, all. I'm no less confused, though I definitely approve of "idiot-proof" from the iPod. I have a real issue with iTunes because it seemed to completely take over my computer when it was on there last (the damn kids downloaded it), so I'll have to think long and hard on whether easy is worth that again.