iPod or MP3 player

[nezy]

DS has been showing a great interest in iPODs and MP3 Players. I have a few questions before I make this purchase. So where could I go but to those in the know of everything--my fellow Disers!

DS is 11 and would strictly use it to download and listen to music he likes-Werid Al right now.
Is one better and/or easier than the other ?
Can songs be downloaded from any music sight or do they need to be a particular sight for those players?

Anything else I need to know?
Thanks for the input.
Noreen

 

[MsLeFever]

Just keeping this bumped up because I want to know too!

 

[msdznyduck]

me too..........I am technology challenged

 

[nezy]

Seems there are more of us challenged ones out there?
Anyone with a clue about technology care to check in?

 

[Big V]

I found many answers on this thread:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=954569

 

[foolishmortal]

Well Ipods are of course the "in" thing, but I found that IRIVER is better for the money if you ask me. You can download music from ANY SITE, ipod can't do that, and you can also record straight from a cd player or boombox if you would like.

Cheaper and easier, long battery life.

I would recommend the IRIVER beofre any other MP3 player

http://www.iriveramerica.com/

 

[dcentity2000]

An iPod is an MP3 player.

MP3 is a computer language that music is typically written in (well, no, but it's a very good lie )

iPods and other "MP3 players" can interpret that language and reproduce it as music. These devices often can hold huge amounts of data too, meaning that you never truly run out of music.

Advantages of an iPod: Largest music library store online, better sound production, a trusted name and fashion points

Advantages of other MP3 players: can tout other features on top, such as FM radios.

Personally? I say go for the more trendy, tried and trusted iPod. They rock.



Rich::

 

[Lil_Tink]

Well...I have the iPods and personally like them better.
You do have to download from CD's or iTunes and its 99Cents per downloaded song. But the upside is it has games, you dont risk getting viruses and its totally legal. Were Napster and ext you have monthly payments and once you cancel you lose your songs.

 

[dcentity2000]

Were Napster and ext you have monthly payments and once you cancel you lose your songs.

Well that sucks



Rich::

 

[Tinijocaro]

You really lose your songs after you cancel? That's ridiculous. So you are "renting" the music, not buying it.

Apple has an incredible reputation and great customer service. I say go with the iPod.

Jackie

 

[foolishmortal]

Well...I have the iPods and personally like them better.
You do have to download from CD's or iTunes and its 99Cents per downloaded song. But the upside is it has games, you dont risk getting viruses and its totally legal. Were Napster and ext you have monthly payments and once you cancel you lose your songs.

I don't have an IPOD and I HAVE NEVER lost any songs after cancelling service through a provider. Save it onto your computer and your fine.

I can get music for free and at the most .10 a dl so go ahead and pay your .99 a song while I get the whole cd for that prcie. I can also get music onto my iriver through live365, yahoo launchcast, etc...all for free.

 

[Chattyaholic]

I have an RCA Lyra, have had it for 2 years and like it fine. It was less than $100 and holds about 4 hours worth of music. Last week I bought a chip for it and now have more memory. I put songs I like from various CD's onto my computer than copy them to the chip. Works great. And when I get tired of listening to those songs, I can delete them and put new ones on. It's easy. But like I said, it's 2 years old so maybe they don't even make them anymore.

 

[Jeff in BigD]

I've taken a look at the other mp3 players available. iPod is still the best choice IMO.

 

[mickman1962]

An iPod is an MP3 player.
Advantages of an iPod: Largest music library store online, better sound production, a trusted name and fashion points

largest music store yes, however you can only download protected .AAC not .MP3 files so it is a couple of extra steps to put them on anything other than your Ipod. I hate DRM and propritary anything.

Better sound. That is hugely debatable and more a function of the ear buds than the player. Ipod buds are horrible

Trusted name. One of the greatest marketing departments ever created. Products nothing special.

Fashion Points. Your buying it for the music, well at least I am. However you are right many other kid's will try and steal yours because it's the in thing right now. 3 of my son's friends have had theirs stolen since last xmas.

Another vote for IRIVER

 

[ashjohnson80]

I love my ipod. I love itunes but you can put any mp3s on your ipod too. i have put a couple of cds i have on mine. itunes is really easy to use though and they have everything. they are a little pricey but you can get one that holds 1,000 songs for under $200 so it's not so bad. Oh and I love how the ipod organizes songs automatically.

 

[mickman1962]

1000 songs for under $200
plus 1000 songs at .99 at itunes
= $1200 Ipod

 

[ashjohnson80]

well most people don't buy them all at once.

i just buy mine like i would cds or individually if there is one song i like or something.

 

[Jeff in BigD]

1000 songs for under $200
plus 1000 songs at .99 at itunes
= $1200 Ipod

Or if you're like most people, you already have most of what you'll be listening to beforehand & will just buy a few songs here & there.

I know it may be a little excessive, but I had well over 10 gigs of mp3s before I ever even had an iPod.

And 99¢ or $1.98 sounds a whole lot better than $13.99 for a CD that people only want 1 or 2 songs from anyway.

 

[Ali-Rae]

Here's The Difference:
IPod:
Allows More Songs Than MP3 Player
Can Easily Find Songs To Listen To
MP3:
Allows Windows Media Music Which IPod Does NOT

 

[WatchinCaptKangaroo]

If you have .wma files you can just convert them into MP3 files and load them onto the iPod.

For that matter, if you install iTunes it will convert and/or copy all your songs into .MP3, .MP4 or .AAC files. You can keep your .wma files too.

Personally I prefer to keep all my music in .mp3 format because I can use them on multiple computers.

You can use all existing music with an iPod just as you can with another MP3 player. I have 40 gigs of music, from CDs. I've purchased maybe 5 songs from the iTunes music store.

You can also burn CDs that you buy from iTunes, burn CDs from music you have on your computer (custom play lists, full CDs etc..) iTunes Music Store also cuts down on waste. If you buy a full CD (cheaper than the store usually) you won't end up throwing out the case and if you want it in CD format you can buy CDs to burn it on to for about the cost of a music CD in the store.