Recommendations for Inexpensive MP3 players

[ChoralScholar]

It seems there are so many iPod competitors, it's hard to choose.

I need it to be compatible with Rhapsody to Go, and at least 4GB.

Elfrangel and I are buying one for each other for Christmas.

[ChoralScholar]

1. Just as I suspected - I'm on everyone's ignore list!!!! :)

:hide:

[gmoney]

2. No, it's just that everyone has iPods. (n/t)

[ChoralScholar]

3. I'm not opposed to an iPod, I just thought they were expensive. EOM

[WindRavenX]

4. iPod shuffle is 99$.

iPod Nanos start at...199$, I think. Nanos = teh rock.

[gmoney]

6. actually, the shuffle starts at $79

Cheap enough to lose or break!

[Taverner]

5. If you just want a portable mp3 player, you can buy one for $40

But iPods are different - they took usability into the equation.

[gmoney]

7. buy a $79 one that works...

I tried the cheapos, and they're tricky to use, with nothing resembling an interface on the computer. Plus it would play the songs in alphabetical order (?). Not saying all of them are this bad, but I think it's a huge reason for the success of the iPod--very intuitive and effortless to use.

Also, to clear up one common misperception... the iPod can play MP3 files and many other formats, NOT just songs purchased from the Apple music store. For some reason, some people believe this. The OPPOSITE is somewhat true -- the Apple music store files are a proprietary format that only play on iPods, but the songs can be burned to audio CD format, then ripped as MP3 files to use on other players.

[Taverner]

8. Or just spend the extra $20 and buy an iPod Shuffle

They are worth the extra cash...I used the cheapies too.

[gmoney]

14. The new shuffle is only $79 for 1GB

that's what I was referring to... ;)

[jobycom]

9. Dunno. But here's a web page that does.

http://reviews.cnet.com/Music/2001-6450_7-0.html?tag=cnetfd.dir

[MrCoffee]

10. iPod Shuffle is ok, but it's maxed out at 1GB...4GB is gonna get pricier

if you want more storage, check out the Rio Carbon (5GB, $199) I have both an iPod Shuffle and a Rio Fuse (both are 512MB). I like Rio's smaller player, bur have no personal experience with the Carbon.

[youthere]

11. We've been looking at them a lot...

and we decided to just get an actual Ipod. (Birthday present for our daughter..not for us..we're old fogies). We decided on the Ipod because:
1. We KNOW we don't have to worry about compatability for any of the other "doodads" that go along with it
2. plenty of GB
3. Interface is user friendly
4. Warranty
5. Tech Support.
It's worth the extra $$ for us just for the last two alone as my daughter is fairly clumsy with gadgets and my husband and I are fairly retarded technology-wise.

[LynneSin]

12. I have a Sony MP3 player but it uses Connect software

But I love the player and I use the Sony compression to get more on my 1gig than you can get on anyone's 4gig Ipod

[LostinVA]

13. I love my iRiver (20 gigs)

You can get them for $140 now -- of course, they were $300 when I got mine.

I also have a great cheap SanDisk flash player I use for running in the rain. But, that's quite a bit less than 4 gig.

[ChoralScholar]

15. Does anyone have an RCA Lyra?

Several of my students have them, and it looks like a pretty cool unit. They run 50-60 dollars for the 4gig model.

[Squatch]

16. I've got the Rio

It's pretty good on jogs.