Any recomendations on MP3 players?

GreenSalsa · 08-27-2004, 16:56

Hey guys,

I am heading downrange and am interested if anyone has any opinions on portable music devices (MP3 players). I am looking for a MP3 player with the following characteristics;

Battery powered (I want to avoid the internal rechargeable battery, I will be in a mixed austere / office environment and recharging might present a problem)

1 GB or larger in memory (Larger is better, I intend to use it to hold photos of family and use it to transfer emails to my personal laptop)

I have done some preliminary research but canâ€™t seem to find a player bigger than 256 MB that is powered by a battery. I love the idea of the Dell DJ model with the 20 GB of memory but it has a rechargeable battery. If anyone has any recommendations on what has worked good for you please let me know,

Thanks again,

GreenSalsa

magician · 08-27-2004, 17:09

I use a 40GB iPod with a battery attachment. I forget who makes the battery pack, and I am too lazy to walk all the way downstairs to check it out. It takes AA batteries, and works ok. You get a good eight hours out of the internal iPod battery, and can get another good eight hours out of the external battery pack.

The iPod is expensive....but cool as hell. I have over 18GBs of music on mine, with more to load. It syncs automatically with iTunes software running on your choice of laptop, and updates your lists, and transfers any new music. It transfers fast, whether you use USB2 or FireWire.

The new ear plugs have some really decent bass. I have been lusting over those Harman-Kardon noise-negating headphones.....saving up for a set. About another $250 for those. A spare set of standard ear plugs are about $30-40. They are not the ear bud style. Rather, they are like a funnel, and insert snugly into your ears.

It is the heat. Not cheap.

bberkley · 08-27-2004, 17:11

http://www.iriveramerica.com/products/iFP-899.aspx

The skip-free iFP-899 delivers superior sound in a sleek, sport-ready design. It features 1GB of internal memory for up to 34 hours of music, extended battery life up to 40 hours on one AA, a built-in FM tuner and voice recorder. It also records music from any audio source. Plus, this lightweight player can be used to store music or transfer files of any type. MSRP: $399.99

Plays MP3, WMA & OGG music files
1GB Internal Storage
Plays up to 34 hours of music
Transfers music up to 3X faster*
Skip-free and sport-ready
Record music from any audio source (no PC required)
FM Tuner & Recorder
Voice Recorder
Store or transfer any file type
Up to 40 hours of battery life

iFP-899 music player
iRiver earphones
Sport arm band and carrying case
Neck strap
Preloaded tracks from eMusic
USB 2.0 cable
Line-in cable
Installation CD (PC/Mac)
1 AA battery

Solid · 08-27-2004, 18:08

I have been an iPod user since its first iterration. I was recently given the newest version, and it's the heat. My iPod has been through numerous hikes, river fordings, skis and ruck marches. It has been dropped, hit, shot with a BB gun (bastige younger bro) and wet. It kept running. With the battery add-on, it is a very high-quality piece of hardware. Furthermore, the iTunes product which it is packaged with is perhaps the best jukebox and MP3 software platform available on the market, and the iTunes store has an expansive and cheap amount of music to download (all at .99 cents). The newest version connects to both Mac and PC with no problems, and is very pragmatic and functional.

I would seriously, seriously recommend this product. It is by far the best on the market, in my opinion.

HTH,

Solid

magician · 08-27-2004, 18:18

my battery unit is made by Belkin.

not sure if there are alternative units. It works fine.

battery time is actually longer than 8 hours. More like 12 hours.

I bought it in a duty free shop in Taipei. Pretty sure they are available via mailorder, or via the apple store.

**The Reaper** · 08-27-2004, 18:23

I will second the iRiver, I have the FP-190 and love it.

There are 512 MB models and I believe a 1GB as well.

Not sure about transfers of non-music files, though.

TR

**Team Sergeant** · 08-27-2004, 19:21

What's an MP3 player?

**Jack Moroney (RIP)** · 08-27-2004, 19:33

Quote:

Originally posted by Team Sergeant
What's an MP3 player?

I'm with you TS. I can still remember my crystal set. I am still stuck back in the time warp where I carried a small walkman tape player so I could practice copying code.

Jack Moroney

**Razor** · 08-27-2004, 20:24

I also have an iRiver FP-190. Bought it for my wife a year ago in lieu of the Rio S30, and wasn't disappointed. I was very happy once the software upgrades came through to allow one to use Windows Media Player for handling files, rather than the iRiver proprietary software (can create playlists for fast swapping of music, etc). However, I'm pretty sure the iRiver players only deal in music files (no photo or e-mail file storage), so it won't work for what GS needs.

Desert Fox · 08-27-2004, 20:25

Quote:

Originally posted by Team Sergeant
What's an MP3 player?

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&i...3+player&meta=

bberkley · 08-27-2004, 22:30

Quote:

Originally posted by Razor
I also have an iRiver FP-190. Bought it for my wife a year ago in lieu of the Rio S30, and wasn't disappointed. I was very happy once the software upgrades came through to allow one to use Windows Media Player for handling files, rather than the iRiver proprietary software (can create playlists for fast swapping of music, etc). However, I'm pretty sure the iRiver players only deal in music files (no photo or e-mail file storage), so it won't work for what GS needs.

Razor,

The one I quoted above does everything GS needs according to their website.

08-28-2004, 01:35

Has anybody the Creative Muvo TX FM (512 mb)? I'm bouncing between the IRiver and the Muvo, with the second one being cheaper.

stanley_white · 08-28-2004, 04:16

I just picked up my 40gb IPOD a week ago and let me tell you I don't know why I didn't buy one sooner.

To think I was still humping a gigantic binder full of half-scratched CDs on my last trip shocks me.

The IPOD is a compact, lightweight way to escape to your happy place. I highly recommend them.

08-28-2004, 07:02

Btw, if you'll be running a lot or jumping around, it's better to have an Compact Flash (CF), (IRiver iFP-xxx) based player than a harddrive one (IPod).

You have a max of 1 GB storage using CF, but since they have no moveable parts they are less likely to fail.

HTH

magician · 08-28-2004, 10:15

I agree.

However, I doubt any of us would use an MP3 player if we were jumping around a lot, unless it were an aerobics class or something. It is not a problem to use an iPod when you run, or work out. It has a huge buffer. Likewise in a plane, or an automobile, etc. Mine has never skipped.

I also have a small memory stick that doubles as an MP3 player. I bought in Baghdad, for about $125. It holds 256k of data, whether files or MP3's. It is small enough to hang around my neck. It holds about 60 songs, I guess.

My iPod, on the other hand, holds my entire music library. All of it. Hundreds of CD's worth. I have my music library sorted and classified in iTunes on my Mac Titanium laptop, and the same organizational structure transferred over to my pod with no drama. The iPod is sealed, so dust has not been a problem. The primary downside that I see is cost. They are wicked expensive. I have been giving some thought to purchasing an AppleCare warranty for mine, for about $65, as mine is more indispensable to me than I ever thought possible. When I make that long visa run to Cambodia, the trip goes a lot faster if I have Sly and the Family Stone to keep me company. Likewise, when stuck in Bangkok traffic, I just tune it out, and chill.

It is an insanely good piece of kit.