MP3 player info? Which download service???

[Wishing on a star]

Okay, I am showing my ignorance here, and how behind the times that I must be. But, I am hoping that some of you experts can help me here.

I do like music, and my DH wanted to get me an expensive IPOD for Christmas. Well, I am not big on having to have that cutting edge name. And, it looks like I see some nice mp3/mp4 players online with 1 or 2 gig, picture display, etc. for as low as around $40.00. In particular, one ebay site that is selling them out of Hong Kong.

Like I said, I do not have to have the IPOD name, or even all the bells and whistles. I just wanna have my music.

Is there any reason why I wouldn't want one of these?
Is it the same basic technology which would work with all the major music download sites? etc.

Any help from you experts appreciated!

 

[ElizK]

I haven't seen one with that much storage for the price you quoted, but DD11's Sandisk w/256m sounds really good, is easy enough to use, and was much less expensive than the iPod. Can't use iTunes to download music, but you can use just about any other music download site.

256m is not enough storage for her, so I wouldn't recommend that for you. You can get 2gig iPod for $149.00. That's what I have, and I love it! I think it's easier to navigate iTunes than Windows Media Player (maybe because I learned iTunes first).

Go to epionions.com and check the various brands. That's how we settled on the SanDisk for DD11.

 

[Wishing on a star]

Thanks!

I'm bumping this up.

I will definately consider a SandisK if we don't get the cheap online one, which probably come from Hong Kong.

It looks a lot like an IPOD. they have 1 or 2 gig, photos, etc...
I am just wondering if there is a difference in technology or some other issue that means that I could not use it.

Anybody know???

 

[goofy4tink]

Last year I got my dd, then 12, a cheap MP3 player...around $60. I wanted to see how responsible she would be before spending a lot of money on a better one. She did fine, so this year I went in search of an upgrade. I asked at several different stores what the basic difference was between a particular IPod and the Sandisk I was looking at. Other than being able to store 1000 tunes on the Ipod vs 500 on the Sandisk and the $85 difference, nothing! Several clerks even told me the Sandisk was actually a better product. So, for $100, after rebate, my dd is happy. No..it isn't pink. Neither is her phone. That seems to be her big complaint now...perhaps I'll buy some pink paint!!!
Our issue? The computer. We are running such an old program that we can't download any tunes for the poor kid. Looks like it's time for an upgrade for mom!!

 

[Papa Deuce]

Last year I got my dd, then 12, a cheap MP3 player...around $60. I wanted to see how responsible she would be before spending a lot of money on a better one. She did fine, so this year I went in search of an upgrade. I asked at several different stores what the basic difference was between a particular IPod and the Sandisk I was looking at. Other than being able to store 1000 tunes on the Ipod vs 500 on the Sandisk and the $85 difference, nothing! Several clerks even told me the Sandisk was actually a better product. So, for $100, after rebate, my dd is happy. No..it isn't pink. Neither is her phone. That seems to be her big complaint now...perhaps I'll buy some pink paint!!!
Our issue? The computer. We are running such an old program that we can't download any tunes for the poor kid. Looks like it's time for an upgrade for mom!!

Never listen to clerks! I am a techno geek. I own more of this stuff than anybody I know. I do TONS of research. I used to sell electronics. I even taught a course called "Tech for the Tech Deprived" at an evening class at a local HS. Clerks, and even salespeople, frequently just key in on something they heard without really knowing the facts.

The Sandisk is FINE, no doubt. I would recommend it. The Creative models are fine. So are many others. But there is a certain elegance about an iPod. And of course, the ease of use with iTunes.

To the OP:


Not everybody needs an iPod. I bet the Sandisk will do fine, but, IMO, you will want AT LEAST 2 Gig of space.... and remember 2 gig is not a ful 2 gig... my iPods are only 27 gig, though they say 30 gig. Some space is used for the OS and utilities that the device needs.

And that brings up another quick point. Does you need a display? Maybe you wants to have photos on her device. Not all devices can do that.

Anyway, IMO, you do not need an iPod, but I don't think you can go wrong if you buy a decent brand. Oh, and know if you are going to use a download service, make sure the devices is compatible.

 

[Wishing on a star]

Thanks again you all!

PapaDeuce,
The one I am looking at does have a nice display. Even if I don't use it for pictures, the display will be used when operating it, which will be nice... right.

The compatibility is my only concern.
I know that with an Ipod you use Itunes.
With the others, you can use the other services.

However, I also know that with electronics, there are sometimes Asian/European versions of the technology, and that you want to be sure you get the full U.S. version.

Is this the case with these players? Or will any player work with my computer and with the main music download services?

Which music download services are recommend??? (other than Itunes, of course!)

 

[S. C.]

I got my grandson a sandisk sansa 2gig for christmas for $99 after a $20 rebate. it will hold 500 songs, holds pictures,video, has voice record, & FM radio. He can also record off of the built in FM radio to the mp3 player.

They also have 4gig, 6gig & higher that will hold 1000 or more songs. One of my coworkers has the exact same player only it is a 4 gig. This is a really sweet mp3 player.

Do an amazon search on the sandisk sansa e250. There are lots of reviews 95% are great reviews. The only bad reviews are the ones that got bad players which happens with all stuff.

 

[Papa Deuce]

Thanks again you all!

PapaDeuce,
The one I am looking at does have a nice display. Even if I don't use it for pictures, the display will be used when operating it, which will be nice... right.

The compatibility is my only concern.
I know that with an Ipod you use Itunes.
With the others, you can use the other services.

However, I also know that with electronics, there are sometimes Asian/European versions of the technology, and that you want to be sure you get the full U.S. version.

Is this the case with these players? Or will any player work with my computer and with the main music download services?

Which music download services are recommend??? (other than Itunes, of course!)

Hard to say. I absolutely love Napster To Go..... $14.95 a month and UNLIMITED downloads. However to burn a CD still costs .99 per song. But you can put the music on 3 devices. Napster has a list of comapitble devices on the site.

Good luck.

 

[S. C.]

With the sandisk sansa you can use windows media player 10. It is very easy to rip your own cd's and put them on the sansa.
Software comes with the sansa to convert your photos or videos to the player & is also very easy to use. If i can do it anyone can.

Note: Sansa is not compatible with a mac.