I need to gather information on Mp3 Players, as I'm entertaining the idea of buying a new one, and I need your opinons. I need a big HDD, and I need it not to be made by Apple (I don't like iPods, period, sorry). So, share your wisdom, people.

Why not an iPod? There's a reason they're so popular.

DON'T get a Sony Walkman, they suck. I'm saving up to get a new iPod because I lost my old one.

Nautilus wrote:

Why not an iPod? There's a reason they're so popular.

The incessant advertising?

But seriously, I don't like the whole feel. Plus, I hate the software.

The only other thing that would be worth looking into is a Zune, but I don't know how the new ones compare to the iPod.

Bidley wrote:

Nautilus wrote:

Why not an iPod? There's a reason they're so popular.

The incessant advertising?

But seriously, I don't like the whole feel. Plus, I hate the software.

I guess. The advertising/"fad" aspect of it is annoying but they're easily useful, universal, and just like... easy to deal with. Zunes and others cost more for less storage.

I have a 30GB Zune, but for some reason it stopped syncing with my computer several months ago, and I think it may have something to do with one of the more recent software updates: this first happened when Microsoft released version 3.0 of the software last fall, and while I was able to get it working again shortly thereafter, it happened again last spring when the software was updated again and I haven't been able to get it to work since.

I'm generally opposed to Apple products (I hate the OS on their computers), but for once I'm actually considering buying an iPod, mostly because of the price: a 120GB Zune costs $250; an iPod classic with 160GB capacity costs the same. And to be honest, I'm not terribly impressed with the Zune software in the first place, so I don't think iTunes could be *that* much worse.

The only MP3 player I have ever owned is an IPod. I love it. I-Tunes sends me up dates all the time. In fact every time I plug it into the computer it checks to make sure it is fully updated. As has been said above. Everyone I have know that had a Zune was unhappy in the end. They also offer a lot of cool apps for the I-Tunes touch if you go that route (though if you don't have a lot of Wi-Fi access it may not be AS worth it). But combine all this with the fact you are able to get more storage space for a cheaper price. The I-Pod sells itself in my opinion.

Nautilus wrote:

I guess. The advertising/"fad" aspect of it is annoying but they're easily useful, universal, and just like... easy to deal with. Zunes and others cost more for less storage.

Universal? What file extensions can iPods play? I'll tell you now, it isn't as many as the Creative I've had for the past 4 years. I don't like the fact that I have to convert everything for some arbitrary reason. You're right though, they are easy to use, if you can get on with the button layout/mechanisms. Which I don't.

Well I meant universal in that they've got millions of accessories and they're so widely used.

When you import any music to iTunes though, it does convert automatically to a lossless codec.

Ash much as I dislike iTunes, I'd get the 160Gb iPod just for the space. There's always the Samsung though, that's what I have now and I'm quite fond of it.

Nautilus wrote:

Well I meant universal in that they've got millions of accessories and they're so widely used.

When you import any music to iTunes though, it does convert automatically to a lossless codec.

Ah, that I agree with. It's irritating how 3rd party companies think iPods are the only product every uses (and to be fair, they're not far wrong).

When I import music to my MP3 player, it does just that

Kwartin wrote:

Ash much as I dislike iTunes, I'd get the 160Gb iPod just for the space. There's always the Samsung though, that's what I have now and I'm quite fond of it.

What's the capacity of your Samsung?

iPods = only popular because of advertising. I have used them and they do seem to be quite user-friendly. But I have also used a Zune and it's way better. They have a 120BG one which will cost you around $220, (convert it into pounds). It has WIFI and a huge-ass screen.

I like my Sansa Fuze, but it's not a huge HDD. I only got the 4GB one, but there is a slot for mini SD cards...so technically I can buy a 32GB SD card and have a 36GB player.

LegionOvDoom wrote:

I like my Sansa Fuze, but it's not a huge HDD. I only got the 4GB one, but there is a slot for mini SD cards...so technically I can buy a 32GB SD card and have a 36GB player.

~

I had no idea SD cards came that big.

Ahmedeus wrote:

iPods = only popular because of advertising. I have used them and they do seem to be quite user-friendly. But I have also used a Zune and it's way better. They have a 120BG one which will cost you around $220, (convert it into pounds). It has WIFI and a huge-ass screen.

Dude the Zune sucks, and WMP is shit. I used to have one and it was endlessly frustrating. I've never had a problem with my iPod, but it got lost/someone stole it. :[

Nautilus wrote:

Ahmedeus wrote:

iPods = only popular because of advertising. I have used them and they do seem to be quite user-friendly. But I have also used a Zune and it's way better. They have a 120BG one which will cost you around $220, (convert it into pounds). It has WIFI and a huge-ass screen.

Dude the Zune sucks, and WMP is shit. I used to have one and it was endlessly frustrating. I've never had a problem with my iPod, but it got lost/someone stole it. :[

To be fair, I'm reading some favourable reviews in various places on the web.

Bidley wrote:

LegionOvDoom wrote:

I like my Sansa Fuze, but it's not a huge HDD. I only got the 4GB one, but there is a slot for mini SD cards...so technically I can buy a 32GB SD card and have a 36GB player.

~

I had no idea SD cards came that big.

They do, and buying a Sansa MP3 player and an SD card that large is still cheaper than buying an ipod. And you don't need any software to use one. Easy drag and drop. You can sync it with a program if you want, but you don't have to. Easy to use and I've never had a problem with mine.

Nautilus wrote:

But it got lost/someone stole it. :[

IPods are prone to this problem.

Although it hasn't been released outside North America (the Zune 120GB), which is news to me. Doesn't bode well.

LegionOvDoom wrote:

Bidley wrote:

LegionOvDoom wrote:

I like my Sansa Fuze, but it's not a huge HDD. I only got the 4GB one, but there is a slot for mini SD cards...so technically I can buy a 32GB SD card and have a 36GB player.

~

I had no idea SD cards came that big.

They do, and buying a Sansa MP3 player and an SD card that large is still cheaper than buying an ipod. And you don't need any software to use one. Easy drag and drop. You can sync it with a program if you want, but you don't have to. Easy to use and I've never had a problem with mine.

That sounds fucking perfect, but space is the clincher for me. I have a Creative Vision M 30GB, which I'm happy for the moment with, but I want something with a 100GB+ HDD, maybe 80GB.

Bidley wrote:

LegionOvDoom wrote:

Bidley wrote:

LegionOvDoom wrote:

I like my Sansa Fuze, but it's not a huge HDD. I only got the 4GB one, but there is a slot for mini SD cards...so technically I can buy a 32GB SD card and have a 36GB player.

~

I had no idea SD cards came that big.

They do, and buying a Sansa MP3 player and an SD card that large is still cheaper than buying an ipod. And you don't need any software to use one. Easy drag and drop. You can sync it with a program if you want, but you don't have to. Easy to use and I've never had a problem with mine.

That sounds fucking perfect, but space is the clincher for me. I have a Creative Vision M 30GB, which I'm happy for the moment with, but I want something with a 100GB+ HDD, maybe 80GB.

Well, that's what I thought when I was first looking. But, what I thought about was buying a few SD cards and having certain stuff on certain ones...which means instead of wiping my MP3 player and reloading new stuff, I just swap in a new SD card.

LegionOvDoom wrote:

Well, that's what I thought when I was first looking. But, what I thought about was buying a few SD cards and having certain stuff on certain ones...which means instead of wiping my MP3 player and reloading new stuff, I just swap in a new SD card.

You, sir, have been awarded my thanks for this thread.

That's an extremely interesting idea, and I feel like a massive dipshit for not thinking of it.

Bidley wrote:

LegionOvDoom wrote:

Well, that's what I thought when I was first looking. But, what I thought about was buying a few SD cards and having certain stuff on certain ones...which means instead of wiping my MP3 player and reloading new stuff, I just swap in a new SD card.

You, sir, have been awarded my thanks for this thread.

That's an extremely interesting idea, and I feel like a massive dipshit for not thinking of it.

Don't worry, I still love you even though your brain power is inferior to mine

LegionOvDoom wrote:

Don't worry, I still love you even though your brain power is inferior to mine

Must be all that DOOM intake.