OT-MP3 Players

[RobinFabulous]

Just throwing my experience in. I've had an Ipod with video for a few years. DD (then 8) wanted one. I carefully explained to her that they were expensive and she had to take care of it. Two years later she still has it and uses it EVERY day. Hers looks like new b/c it has a case and is taken care of. My DS got one for his 5th birthday. He's Autistic and music is very stimulating for him. He has the shuffle that we can clip on him and he can rock out. I have never had a bad experience with Ipod. The shuffle has a flash memory and can be jiggled and dropped and still works. His was less than $50. It keeps a charge and when he seems tired of the songs I add or remove depending on what we listen to in the car. My DD has the 1st gen nano btw. I have the 1st gen video and even with all of my music and the kids, plus photos I still have storage room. SO has one as well. We (adults) are gearing up to upgrade to the touch soon.

Ipod is the most user friendly MP3 player on the market, it's the pioneer and there's a reason for that. Plus I have found Apple customer service to be super (like when my dd accidentally put in a lock code and couldn't remember it)
And like someone said you can buy a refurbished one online (I know Target has them) for less $$.

Check into the shuffle, it's worth the money. A lot of my friends refused to buy IPods for their kids, bought cheaper ones then ended up having to replace them anyway

 

[solfan68]

I love my ipod. Had a 6gig Mini(that still works), and DW got me an 8gig current gen Nano - which I love.

THAT SAID, Now through June 12 you can get a 2gig Creative Stone(their answer to the shuffle - but has a screen) for $32, with free shipping ! If I was looking for a starter MP3 player, I would think you can't beat this deal with a stick. Compact in size, 2 gig capacity, plus the screen. Just thought I would share.

http://us.creative.com/products/pro...eRecessionBusters_StonePlus2GB&WT.mc_id=15087

 

[MrsPete]

Regardless of what you choose, don't allow the child to take it to school. Just today I was giving an exam to a group of 9th graders -- not even my own group, don't ask, it doesn't matter why -- and after the exam I overheard a group of them discussing their ipods. I was surprised to hear just about every person in the group say, "Yeah, I had one like that but it was stolen". "Mine too, so then I got the newer one." "Yeah, I had the smaller silver one, and it was stolen." I know theft of small electronics is a problem at school, but honestly, this was ridiculous! And they seemed so unconcerned about it.

Of course, they could keep them locked up safe and tight in their lockers, but our students have a "thing" against using their lockers -- ipods are such a status symbol that they don't want them hidden away.

Also, our teens don't tend to be all that careful with their personal things. I remember last year when I had to go out to softball practice for something, and I noticed that all the girls had thrown their backpacks BEHIND the dugout. They were all INSIDE the dugout or on the field, so no one on the team had any view whatsoever of the packs. If I'd been a thief, I could've taken my time and gone through every one of those packs.

 

[MrsPete]

My DD's (10 and 8) wanted an MP3 player, never asked specifically for any brand. I have never heard one of their friends ask about an IPOD specifically either!

The word Ipod is like Kleenex or Xerox -- the name brand is so pervasive that it has "become" the word for the generic item. Examples:

When you go to the store, buy some Kleenex. Here's a coupon for Puffs brand. (We all know that you mean "buy tissue", but we also know that Kleenex essentially means tissue).

Make two xeroxes before you turn in your paper. (We all know that we mean, "make two copies", but xerox has come to mean copies).