How to buy ... a MP3 player / portable digital music player

Whether you want to get your groove on while working out or would like to amuse yourself as you commute on public transit, a portable MP3 or digital music player could suit your needs. Available in a wide variety of styles and sizes and capable of storing thousands of songs, these players capitalise on digital technology to supplant traditional Walkman-style cassette-tape players and portable CD players.

The Big Picture

A portable digital audio player sets your music free so you can easily mix and match songs in any order and take the tunes with you. Players use one of two storage mediums: hard drive or flash memory. Hard-drive players offer the greatest amount of storage space but tend to be larger and more susceptible to damage due to the fragile nature of hard disks. Flash-memory models hold a more limited number of songs, but their lack of moving parts makes them more durable than hard-drive players.

An alternative technology beckons as well: Portable media centers, made by companies such as Archos, Creative Labs, and IRiver, play both music and video (on LCD screens about the size of a playing card). Exclusively hard-drive devices, these pricey handheld entertainment consoles tie in closely with desktop PCs and let you watch hours of recorded television shows or movies.

Getting Started

Nearly all MP3 players require that you have a reasonably modern PC with a free USB 1.1 or 2.0 port. As you begin creating your music collection on the computer, you may want to upgrade your hard drive to be able to store more files.

Specialized MP3 players are not the only devices you can buy to listen to your music: You can now get mobile telephones, thumb drives, digital cameras, personal digital assistants, and car stereos that can store and play back MP3 music files. Many pocket-size voice memo recorders can now also record and play back MP3 files. But a word to the wise: Dedicated MP3 players usually sound better and have more user-friendly controls than hybrid devices.

Key Features

Storage: The greater the storage capacity, the more songs you can take with you. Hard-drive-based players hold the most. Currently, the highest capacity is 60GB (roughly 1000 hours of MP3 music at 128 kilobits per second). The latest (and most expensive) flash-based players can hold up to 4GB of music (about 1000 MP3 songs at 128 kbps); more-affordable options tend to max out at around 1GB.

File management: MP3 files include ID3 tags, meta information embedded within each song file that provides artist, song title, and album name information to the player. Working with this data, a player can organize the files for you, though each does so in its own way. Most players have a built-in LCD screen, so look for one that shows the information you use most.

Transfer speed/port type: Downloading 5GB of songs all at once from your PC using a USB 1.1 interface can take all night. Most new players employ the much faster USB 2.0; but if speed is important, ensure that your player of choice supports the faster standard before you buy.

Software: All players come with software and drivers that allow you to download songs to them from a PC. Some units work well only with their included software, while others work with a variety of music programs. Before buying, always be sure your favorite jukebox software will work with your player of choice.

File type support: All digital audio players can play MP3 files, but your music may not be recorded in that file format. If you use media files encoded in the proprietary Windows Media file format (.wma) or the open-source Ogg Vorbis format (.ogg), your media player will be able to play those files only if it has appropriate support built in. Check the player's specs, either on the box or on the manufacturer's Web site, if file format support is important to you. And even if your player doesn't support your preferred format out of the box, many manufacturers provide downloadable updates to the player's firmware, some of which can add support for other formats.

Music service compatibility: Online music stores offer users with a broadband connection a fast, easy, and legal way to build their digital audio collections. However, not all players work with all stores. For example, Apple's ubiquitous iPod line works well only with the iTunes Music Store. Similarly, online music subscription services that let you "rent" music for your portable audio player, such as Napster to Go, work well only with specific players that carry Microsoft's Plays For Sure logo. If you have a favourite online music source, be sure it works with your player of choice.

The Specs Explained

Initially only a few MP3 players dominated the market. Now you can choose from dozens of players, each sporting a wide variety of features.

No matter which player you pick, be sure you test it in a retail store before you buy. When you test a player, pay close attention to the interface you use to choose the song you want to play: Large LCD screens will let you find and organize stored music more easily than tiny ones. Also look for a player that holds the most songs in the smallest package you can afford.

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MP3 Player Shopping Tips

Choosing the right MP3 player isn't that difficult, but one player does not fit all. People will want different things from their players.

Think about how you'll use the player. Joggers will almost certainly want a lightweight, flash-memory-based device, since hard drives don't react well to the shock of bouncing around all the time; audio aficionados who want lots of music at their fingertips should keep their eyes on the highest-capacity hard-drive models.

Try your favourite before taking it home. We can't stress this enough. Make sure you can use the on-screen display to navigate to a specific song, and ask a clerk to show you how to transfer music to the device, if possible. Always bring your own set of headphones to listen to the sound quality of each unit you're interested in.

Get the largest-capacity device you can afford. Whether you buy a flash- or hard drive-based MP3 player, make sure to choose a model with the largest storage capacity possible. Even if you don't think you'll need it now, you will probably be happy to have it later.

Pay close attention to the user interface. Does the player's menu system make sense to you, and is the interface easy to use? If you can't find the songs, artists, or albums you want to play quickly and easily, keep looking.

Mind your power options. While some flash-based portable players use replaceable alkaline batteries, most hard drive-based units feature a built-in rechargeable battery that cannot be easily removed. While these devices can keep going for tens of hours, if you're not going to be somewhere near a power outlet or a computer with a USB port, you might find yourself out of juice with no way to charge the player.

Look for wide file format support. All players should support the MP3 format; but if you prefer WMA, AAC, or Ogg Vorbis, make sure your player of choice can handle the files.

Consider a player with an FM tuner. Usually found on flash-based players, this feature isn't essential, but it's a nice addition--especially if you grow tired of your recorded music.

Do you need a carrying case? Some players come with a small carrying case, others don't. The more expensive and more fragile the player (hard-drive devices are the most delicate), the more likely you'll want a custom-fitted case to protect it.

Shop around, online and offline. MP3 players are widely available in almost every consumer electronics outlet, and their prices fluctuate.

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