I am looking into either getting an iPod or MP3 player. And I was wondering if you own one, which one. And what makes one better than the other.

And can iPods have songs uploaded to them that are in Windows Media format?

I am looking into either getting an iPod or MP3 player. And I was wondering if you own one, which one. And what makes one better than the other.

And can iPods have songs uploaded to them that are in Windows Media format?

No, iPods are not compatible with Windows Media. The iTunes software can convert non-protected WMA files (generally ones you rip yourself) to a format the the iPod can use, but you can't transfer the files directly or play any music that was purchased from online stores other than iTunes. Personally, I believe Apple's insistance on maintaining a monopoly on selling downloadable music for the iPod to be the device's biggest limitation and it is the reason why I didn't buy one.

I ended up purchasing the 60GB Creative Labs Zen Xtra, which I felt had the best mix of features and storage space for the price. The user-interface admittedly isn't as nice as the iPod's, but the sound quality is excellent and the device generally works very well.

I've also heard really good things about the various iRiver players.

-Jeff

Thanks for the reply. I guess I still have some research to do. And I will look into the Creative Labs Zen Xtra. :)

And I was wondering if you own one, which one. And what makes one better than the other.

I own both an iPod Mini 4GB and some mp3/wma players (Rio), but my MP3 players are a bit old and don't hold much (64MB).

Apple will make it's money from iTunes in the long run, not the iPod hardware, so you'll see the iTunes-iPod relationship stay much the same way it is now for a long time.

I love my iPod. It works. It looks great. The user experience is very smooth, the software installs correctly and updates well. My kids keep trying to walk off with my iPod.

Also, the iPod is a standard. It won't be the only standard (Microsoft is after this market), but it is already supported by others outside of Apple (podcasting tools, iTunes plugins, Linux support, etc.)

Anyway. That's my take on your question. I think you'll be happiest if you can try everything yourself first - get music (rip and buy), transfer to device, hold the device in your hand, listen and dance around to Jet and U2 on both, etc. ;)

I own both an iPod Mini 4GB and some mp3/wma players (Rio), but my MP3 players are a bit old and don't hold much (64MB).

Apple will make it's money from iTunes in the long run, not the iPod hardware, so you'll see the iTunes-iPod relationship stay much the same way it is now for a long time.

I love my iPod. It works. It looks great. The user experience is very smooth, the software installs correctly and updates well. My kids keep trying to walk off with my iPod.

Also, the iPod is a standard. It won't be the only standard (Microsoft is after this market), but it is already supported by others outside of Apple (podcasting tools, iTunes plugins, Linux support, etc.)

Anyway. That's my take on your question. I think you'll be happiest if you can try everything yourself first - get music (rip and buy), transfer to device, hold the device in your hand, listen and dance around to Jet and U2 on both, etc. ;)


Word. Agree 100%..

Plus 'rumors' that the PS3 is going to play with the iPod nicely. (Including the fact they mentioned at E3 the PS3 will support other vendors MP3 players, and the pictures included the iPod. Do the math, I guess.)

If I ever get around to getting an MP3 player (just haven't had the need yet) I plan on using Napster To Go to fill it up. Assuming I can fit 10,000 songs onto either an iPod or an MP3 player, with Napster that would cost me roughly $15/month. With iTunes it would be about $10,000 (but I'd own the songs). Now, with Napster I wouldn't own the songs, but it would take 55 years and 6 months to match that $10,000 cost. With iTunes I'd still be limited to those 10,000 songs, but with Napster I could have changed those 10,000 songs 10,000 times at no extra charge.

I am looking into either getting an iPod or MP3 player. And I was wondering if you own one, which one. And what makes one better than the other.

And can iPods have songs uploaded to them that are in Windows Media format?

I own a Flash based MP3 player made by iAudio (model CW300). It has no moving parts and sounds incredible. Down side is that Flash based players have limited song storage (typically 250 MBytes to 2 GBytes).

I'm in the market for a hard drive based MP3 player (such as the iPOD), but I'm not interested in the iPod because, as I understand it, iPods don't have custom EQ (i.e. all equalizer/tone settings are pre-programmed). I'm looking at Creative's HD-based players, but haven't made any decision yet.

A side question: What is the minimum MP3 bit rate that still sounds good to you? For me, it's 256 KBits/sec, which only provides about a 4-to-1 compression ratio (or reduction in file size versus the .wav file). Needless to say, I don't fit as many songs into my player as others do. Bits rates below 256 don't sound good, in my opinion.

The compression format that iTunes uses (which is a secure MP4 format, I believe) is 128 KBits/second and sounds quite good. It's only compatible with iPods and iTunes PC software, as far as I know.

Also, the iPod is a standard. It won't be the only standard (Microsoft is after this market), but it is already supported by others outside of Apple (podcasting tools, iTunes plugins, Linux support, etc.)

Is there any more information on a Microsoft MP3 player? Is it already released or is it being deleloped?

Is there any more information on a Microsoft MP3 player? Is it already released or is it being deleloped?

Microsoft hasn't made branded hardware that I know of - like a Microsoft MP3 player. It makes the software used to run them. Just like for PCs, only smaller. Partners (licensees) make the hardware.

This is overkill (http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmobile/devices/portablemediacenter/americas.mspx), but any of these brands are what I consider Microsoft partners. Creative Labs (the Zen product line) seems to be in the game for the long haul and has sold MP3 players for years.

The key is that WMA is the Windows storage format, MP3 is generally the neutral format everyone supports, and Apple encourages it's own formats.

There's lots of technical reasons why all of this "choice" exists - having to do with copyright protection schemes and more. That's why I suggested earlier that it's probably best to just try things out if you can and go with what you like to use.

http://www.iriveramerica.com/

I think this is my favorite so far. I will go check it out at Circuit City and see what their return policy is so maybe I could try it for a few days.

http://www.nomadworld.com/products/zentouch/

Here is another good one I am looking into.

http://www.nomadworld.com/products/zentouch/

Here is another good one I am looking into.

I own this one, although I bought it two years ago and I think they've changed the controls a little. It's the same size, though. It's a bit bigger than an ipod, it's not as easy to wear on your belt, say. But if you are going to stick it in a backpack or a computer bag, it's pretty good. I have the 20GB hard drive and have put about 4,100 songs (mp3 128-192) on it so far, I can fit about another 300.

First off to save you money and all that paying for songs just take a small short cut........only if you want just a recomandation......

Go to www.limewire.com download the free software. This is a "file sharing" software you can dowload and get the basics to just get songs. Know if you are wiling to go this far you then download any song that you want by any artist just know the name of the song or the artist.

When you have any song you want downloaded and this is without and 15$ a month, or a dollar a song you can create a file with all this songs and save it to your hard drive.

Next say you go iPod and get iTunes still download iTunes it is required and this is your main software to organize and download songs onto the iPod. So go to your library on iTunes under your iPod and go to files then find your song file on the hard drive and open it onto your iTunes library all the songs in that file are know in your library and then you click download onto your iPod and you are set with the only fee of buying your iPod!

However if you go with and mp3 i don't know how to do it i guess the same just with a diffrent software instead of iTunes.

So don't let the downloading songs price get to you if you go this little side step.! :fez:

That said i would definately go with iPod since it to me just seems more user friendly more organized and just overall better quality that can come with plenty of accesorizes like a connector to speakers and im not talking headphones but about 8-10 inch speakers that you can use for the iPod and an armband for working out and other cool toys.

Does anyone own or have seen this one?

http://www.radioyourway.com/

I don't know too much about these mp3 players but this one looks pretty good. Any opinions?

Go to www.limewire.com download the free software. This is a "file sharing" software you can dowload and get the basics to just get songs. Know if you are wiling to go this far you then download any song that you want by any artist just know the name of the song or the artist.

When you have any song you want downloaded and this is without and 15$ a month, or a dollar a song you can create a file with all this songs and save it to your hard drive.Maybe I'm not reading what you said above correctly, but how is this different from illegal file sharing programs?

I don't understand the belief that purchasing an iPod entitles you to fill it up for free. It's like buying a car and complaining that you're expected to pay for gas. iPods will cost most users substantially more than the base price of the unit - if you aren't prepared for that, don't buy one.

AVP

I don't understand the belief that purchasing an iPod entitles you to fill it up for free. It's like buying a car and complaining that you're expected to pay for gas. iPods will cost most users substantially more than the base price of the unit - if you aren't prepared for that, don't buy one. Exactly. That's why I went with an mp3 player (40GB Zen, shoulda held out for a 60GB). I have close to 500 CDs ... physical, store-bought platters. To have to go thru the extra step of converting standard mp3 files to a format an iPod can read, which stores less files, at more cost ... just didn't make sense.

BTW - if you have your own CDs and want to make mp3s, I'm sure people have their favorite ripper, and mine is cdex. Fast and simple.

I don't understand why people are saying the iPod can't play MP3 files. Mine certainly can. Have you actually tried, or where do you get this?

Our ipod Shuffle reads mp3 files just fine. If I rip the CD using ITunes, I can't use those files on my Nomad Jukebox Zen, but if I rip them using another program into mp3 files, they play on my ipod.

You shouldn't steal music. You shouldn't steal it from win.mx, that's for darn sure. You also shouldn't check CD's out of the library and rip them and put them on your mp3 player. That's just wrong.

You shouldn't steal music. You shouldn't steal it from win.mx, that's for darn sure. You also shouldn't check CD's out of the library and rip them and put them on your mp3 player. That's just wrong.

Nice. :rolleyes:

I don't understand why people are saying the iPod can't play MP3 files. Mine certainly can. Have you actually tried, or where do you get this?OK, my bad. I've been going on what other have said ... so I retract my comment/criticism re:mp3s. What I've heard of iPods is that they are good, solid .... and trendy.

My $$/GB criticism, still stands though.

And the $$ thing is worse with the iPod-mini ... 4GB for $200 ?!?! :eek: Geez, for the same price you can get 10 times the storage.

[best teenager whine]

But, daaaadddyy ..... it's not an iPod!

[/best teenager whine]

:rolleyes:

ETA: Just to clarify, I'm not criticising people here that have made an informed choice if you choose an iPod for yourself. It's your money, do what you want. It's just not my choice. I do, however, have a pet peeve about parents spoiling their children with a trendy name. But that's a different subject.

Maybe I'm not reading what you said above correctly, but how is this different from illegal file sharing programs?
It's not. He is encouraging people to pirate music.

What's the Mouspad policy on telling people how to engage in illegal activities?

What's the Mouspad policy on telling people how to engage in illegal activities?
There isn't one. The closest we have is our policy on posting copyrighted material (http://mousepad.mouseplanet.com/showthread.php?t=7979), which applies specifically to material included in MousePad posts (not links to external resources).

Telling someone where to find WinMX or LimeWire doesn't seem very different to me than telling someone where to find a Valentine One radar detector.

Maybe I'm not reading what you said above correctly, but how is this different from illegal file sharing programs?

I don't understand the belief that purchasing an iPod entitles you to fill it up for free. It's like buying a car and complaining that you're expected to pay for gas. iPods will cost most users substantially more than the base price of the unit - if you aren't prepared for that, don't buy one.

AVP

Limewire isn't diffrent from illegal file sharing programs....

And if you have the chance to fill it up for free through a two second download then why not, limewire hasn't been caught with file sharing, along with Bear Share, and many others.

Why pay stupid 15/month or a dollar a song when you can go limewire or otheres and get it for free with no hassel

It's not. He is encouraging people to pirate music.

What's the Mouspad policy on telling people how to engage in illegal activities?

I didn't say he had to pirate music im just offering him an other alternative that he can use instead of purchasing music through iTunes, or Napster.

I didn't in no words tell him he has to drop dead use this or otherwise.........
read my post!