MP-3 player or I-POD? What's the difference???

[earthfaries]

Help please!!!

I know nothing of the two, just that the MP-3 player is cheaper. My son wants something to download music on from youtube (can you even do that?)
Please tell me what the two are, what the differences are, how you download music, does it cost to get music, etc.
I have to buy one tonight and know nothing about either of them Which one should I buy???
TIA

 

[earthfaries]

Anyone...Please...

I could really use the help

 

[ladysoleil]

Help please!!!

I know nothing of the two, just that the MP-3 player is cheaper. My son wants something to download music on from youtube (can you even do that?)
Please tell me what the two are, what the differences are, how you download music, does it cost to get music, etc.
I have to buy one tonight and know nothing about either of them Which one should I buy???
TIA

How old is your son? Does he have a lot of CD's? Is he concerned about brand names? Will he want to carry a lot of music with him?

An MP3 player is a generic term for a music player that plays MP3 files- these come in all brands and prices, like Creative, Zune, Sansa, Samsung, etc.

An IPOD is an mp3 player made by Apple. iPod is just the brand name, it does play mp3 files too.

You download music on an iPod using iTunes, which should come with it. You can buy music online through iTunes, add music from your own CD's using iTunes, or buy from some music stores online that are compatible with the iPod like eMusic. Not all other online music stores work with the iPod. Many don't, actually.

Mp3 players vary- I have the Creative Zen Vision M and like it- I get my music from my own CD's and eMusic, usually. Many of them work similarly to an iPod, you take the software that comes with the player, put it on your computer, hook up the player and use it to transfer music back and forth. But, another brand mp3 player WILL NOT work with iTunes, so you can't buy music from iTunes and play it on another player, at least not easily.

There is a way to download music from YouTube but I am pretty sure it's not always legal to do that, or it's a pretty gray area if it is. Google can help you figure out how to do it if you really want to know.

Good luck!

 

[ICF]

How much are you looking to spend? $50 - $100 - $300???

IMO, if you get an "IPod" you are partially paying for the name-brand.

You can get nice MP3 players (IMO again) from a company called Sansa, which is what I have. Most have an FM tuner that allows you to listen to FM radio on them as well. You probably want a least a 512MB - 1 GB storage capacity for songs. A Sansa version of something like this would probably cost $40 - $50.

There are video IPODs which allow you to download video type things on them as well, in which case you would need a bigger storage capacity.

For IPods, I think you pretty much have to get them from the ITunes website and they cost about $1. I get my songs for my Sansa from walmart.com and they cost $0.88 + tax.

I think you can "burn" CDs from your own collection to either of them via your home PC (using something like Windows Media Player).

I don't think you can download songs from You Tube as that is pretty much just a video type of site.

IPod's may be "cooler" depending on the age of your child, but I would think a non-Ipod brand would get you better value for your $.

I know you said you need to buy it tonight, but I don't know if this is a decision you can make (or should rather) in a day as there are a lot of factors to consider....such as price & what your child is looking for from it.

 

[Onceler]

My son wants something to download music on from youtube (can you even do that?)

Depending on your budget, Apple's iPod Touch could be an option. It's pricey, starting at $300, but it is more than just an mp3 player. It can play videos and it also lets you surf the web using a fully functional web browser. The interface is also incredibly easy to use. The feature that might interest you the most is the fact that it includes a direct connection to youtube. So your son could access anything on youtube directly from the player.

 

[sbakersub]

My suggestion: ask him what his friends have, and what his friends think of what they have, and whether he wants it for just music or for video as well. Some kids (like DD) only want the iPODs 'cause the friends only have iPODs, and then they all know just what to do with them. Some kids (like DS) hate the idea of the iPOD craze and want to be different, and have more functionality for the $$.

DD has an iPOD Nano (old style, about $150)and an iPOD video (old style, $299) -- the Nano is just music and the video has, well, video capabilities. She doesn't really use that, though. DS has had a Creative Labs Zen mp3 player ($200??) for 2 years now. They have newer models with more bells and whistles, but he's happy with what he's got because it does just what he wants for his music.

As PP said, different players can link to different sites or sources for downloading their music -- again, it's helpful to know about the friends' experiences with that.

Good luck

 

[Kitzka]

Here is an answer from wikianswers:

The difference between an iPod and any other mp3 player - well, an iPod is an mp3 player in itself, but can also play videos, and formats not supported by many mp3 players, such as .aif, .aac, .m4a etc. Another difference is that it is easy to keep track of the music on it, by searching through artists\albums to find the song you want. Most small mp3 players only let you move forwards and backwards through the songs one at a time, but because iTunes is used to transfer music onto an iPod, it is very well organised.


Elaboration
The most compelling difference between the iPod and any other MP3 player is that the iPod is part of a complete digital media library solution provided by Apple. It is seamlessly integrated with and managed by iTunes, which is also a comprehensive digital jukebox and media library application; it is also seamlessly integrated into the iTunes store, which offers easy access to millions of songs, thousands of podcasts, and hundreds of TV shows and movies. Since Apple makes the 'whole enchilada,' it all just works better than any of its competitors' offerings.

 

[earthfaries]

I guess I should have given a little more info. He just wants something to download music on. He doesn't care what it is or how fancy, etc. He's homeschooled so he doesn't have a bunch of friends with all the cool new stuff
I'm just looking for basic but good and under $100.00

I saw the Apple iPOD Shuffle 1 GB in a flyer for $79.99.

Anyone know anything about that one?
I was thinking of a RCA Pearl 512 mb MP3 player but after reading the posts think it might be better to go with the Apple.

Anymore thoughts?

 

[momof1princess]

the way my 15 yo cousin explained it to me (and he's had his ipod for 2-3 years), if you have an ipod, you can ONLY download music off itunes for it. i have a creative zen nano and i can download music from anywhere i want, which is what i prefer.

 

[sbakersub]

If peer pressure isn't a factor, go for something other than an iPOD. If you're just looking for one that plays music, you've got tons of options. Try this cnet website for some "expert" opinions...you can get step-by-step advice or search by price: http://reviews.cnet.com/mp3-players/?tag=cnetfd.dir

To summarize their top budget mp3 players (from $35 to $100), in rank order:
Creative Zen V (2 GB)
Creative Zen Nano Plus (1 GB)
Creative Zen Stone (1 GB)
San Disk Sansa Express (1GB)
Apple iPOD shuffle
San Disk Sansa 250 (2 GB)

 

[disney-super-mom]

I also bought a Creative Zen V Plus MP3 video player for my son. You can download music and/or videos from anywhere, which makes it easy and convenient. It's a GREAT MP3 player in my opinion, and it gets great reviews from others as well.

I suppose when my son is a little older (like 13 or 14 years old) he'll want an IPOD for the namesake (you know how that goes with teenagers ), but in my opinion, an IPOD isn't any better than a Creative Zen.

 

[Toby'sFriend]

no that's not true. iPODS can play mp3 songs from other places, you just have to import them into your iTUNES software playlists.

The difference ---

Are you old enough to remember how cool Calvin Klein Jeans were in the 1980's?
iPODS are Calvin Kleins. The Lee jeans from Kmart covered your butt the exact same way, but every teen worth their salt knew the difference between them and the real Calvin Kleins.

When you say download from YouTube, do you mean just music or Video also? The iPOD shuffles do not play video.

Also, 512mb will only hold a couple hundred songs and no video.

 

[Kitzka]

I have an ipod and can (and do) use music that i get from other sources other than itunes. I actually only use ituens for my videos but use windows media player for everything else.

Lara

 

[TnTWalter]

you may want to look into the zune....the brown one is currently on sale $89.99 at amazon [it's been on and off this price this month and a great buy].
Oops...just checked it's up again...keep checking....i'd also suggest gottadeal . com or slickdeals . net

if it's just music....creative zen 2 gb is $55 at walmart. [1 gb is 35] Will hold about 500 songs.

WARNING: they are cracking down hard on illegal downloads so be very CAREFUL. The adult will get in trouble, not the kid, even if you didn't know. People are getting fined THOUSANDS of dollars!

Trish

 

[lisalovesmickey]

I'd consider, too, how technically savvy your son is. I admit I have a bias toward Apple, but I find the iPod and iTunes a LOT more user-friendly than other options (I've used both). I think it takes a little more work and wisdom to figure out how to synch up a non-iPod mp3 player with iTunes. If you go with Apple all the way, it's just easier.

Also another thing to consider would be size. I have an older iPod and it fits in a pocket, but only just barely. I also have a tiny iPod shuffle (the clip-on kind) and I can throw it in my pocket and hardly know it's there. I like that.

 

[mountdew1]

The difference between MP3 player and iPod is like the difference between sneakers and Nikes. Same type of product, one is a brand name, the other the product category. You really need to know what your son wants to do with it. Just audio, an iPod shuffle would be fine. Throw in video, then yeah, you need one of the bigger iPods, or something like a Zune. Different players will handle different types of files. (MP3, MP4, AAC, OGG, WMA, WMV, etc..) If you have no current collection, it doesn't really matter, but if you son already has a bunch of wma files, it can be a pain to convert them if the player doesn't support it. Same goes for video. iPod's are probably the easiest to use right out of the box, and their interface is still one of, if not the best one out there. You can try checking the Apple online store to see how much they are charging for refurbished iPods if that that helps.

 

[earthfaries]

no that's not true. iPODS can play mp3 songs from other places, you just have to import them into your iTUNES software playlists.

The difference ---

Are you old enough to remember how cool Calvin Klein Jeans were in the 1980's?
iPODS are Calvin Kleins. The Lee jeans from Kmart covered your butt the exact same way, but every teen worth their salt knew the difference between them and the real Calvin Kleins.

When you say download from YouTube, do you mean just music or Video also? The iPOD shuffles do not play video.

Also, 512mb will only hold a couple hundred songs and no video.

He wants to download songs only from youtube because there are some he likes there. They aren't regular songs, they are songs like the Haunted Mansion theme song, etc. Can you download songs only from there or is that what everyone is saying is illegal?

As for brands, we don't buy offbrands~we pay more for better brands but not for brands because of their names. For ex. If I were rich I would never buy a BMW or Mercedes because they are crap, I would buy an Infinity or Lexus. I don't care about popular name brands and neither does my son. I want a good product that will last, and cheap junk from Wal-Mart and K-Mart usually doesn't last

I can't imagine him even finding 200 songs he would like so I guess we don't need anything too elaborate, 512 mb sounds fine.

 

[Toby'sFriend]

well the Shuffle's are fine products. I have an older one that I take when I walk that I like because it is small and fits in my pocket.

However you might want to consider something like the 2GB refurb Nano.

It comes with a 1 year warranty included and adds the option of being able to select which song is being played. With the shuffle, you can't do that. You can see the silver one listed here for $79

http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore.woa/wa/RSLID?mco=AA9C1546&nclm=Certified

As for YouTube - there is both legal and illegal downloading to be had there. I try to avoid these fights.

 

[micki7337]

Hello, I was once a non iPod user. I had the dell DJ 20G. I was so anti-apple I never wanted an I pod well not I am a few years older and very happy with my 80gig iPod video. I now go every where with it even to work to listen to my music. I also take it on vacations it is great. So I would say to buy the iPod. It is great. and so easy to use even my non tech savvy DW can us hers with ease.

Right now we are prepping for Christmas and a Trip to WDW and Our iPods will be coming with us (LOL) as well as our children.

 

[earthfaries]

no that's not true. iPODS can play mp3 songs from other places, you just have to import them into your iTUNES software playlists.

The difference ---

Are you old enough to remember how cool Calvin Klein Jeans were in the 1980's?
iPODS are Calvin Kleins. The Lee jeans from Kmart covered your butt the exact same way, but every teen worth their salt knew the difference between them and the real Calvin Kleins.

When you say download from YouTube, do you mean just music or Video also? The iPOD shuffles do not play video.

Also, 512mb will only hold a couple hundred songs and no video.

well the Shuffle's are fine products. I have an older one that I take when I walk that I like because it is small and fits in my pocket.

However you might want to consider something like the 2GB refurb Nano.

It comes with a 1 year warranty included and adds the option of being able to select which song is being played. With the shuffle, you can't do that. You can see the silver one listed here for $79

http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore.woa/wa/RSLID?mco=AA9C1546&nclm=Certified

As for YouTube - there is both legal and illegal downloading to be had there. I try to avoid these fights.

Thanks for the refurbished website link
As for the illegal downloading , we won't be doing any of that!
My son just thought you could download anything from anywhere, he knows nothing about copywrights and such.
I looked them up online at Consumer Reports and the Creative Zen was actually rated better than the Shuffle so I might just go with that.