Hot MP3 players for the holidays
Tue Dec 9, 2008 3:42PM EST
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Got a music lover on your list? These popular MP3 players run the gamut, from hard drive- to flash-based, pricey to cheap, iPod to (gasp!) non-iPod, you name it.
Some music fanatics just can't leave the house without all—and I mean all—of their tunes in their pocket. These hard drive-based MP3 players may not be the smallest on the market, but they've got storage to spare.
iPod Classic
Price: $249 (120GB)
Notes: Obvious choice for Mac users; redesigned, two-paned interface; supports video and iTunes movie rentals; no Wi-Fi; no music subscription support.
Reviews: 4/5 (CNET)
Zune
Price: $249 (120GB)
Notes: Syncs music and podcasts over Wi-Fi; can buy music wirelessly over Zune Marketplace; music subscription (via Zune Pass) available; meet fellow music lovers on the Zune Social; limited selection of TV shows, no movie rentals
Reviews: 4/5 (CNET), 4/5 (PC Magazine)Ibiza Rhapsody
Price: $299 (30GB)
Notes: No, 30GB isn't a tone of storage, but player offers deep, seamless Rhapsody support over Wi-Fi; works without a PC; podcast support; Web browser; video player
Reviews: Me: "Looks like the new Zune (and the iPod Classic, for that matter) may have some stiff competition"; 3/5 (CNET)
Small, but beautiful
You won't be able to fit your entire music collection on these flash-based players; then again, you can't clip a hard-drive MP3 player onto a key ring, can you?
iPod Nano
Price: 8GB ($149), 16GB ($199)
Notes: Super-slim and trim; new, iPod Touch-like interface; video playback, including iTunes movie rentals; no Wi-Fi; no subscription music support
Review: 4/5 (CNET), 4.5/5 (PC Magazine)Zune (flash-based)
Price: $179 (16GB); $139 (8GB); $99 (4GB)
Notes: Same Wi-Fi, video, and Zune Social features as its HDD-based big brother; a bit cheaper compared to the iPod Nano; subscription music (Zune Pass) support
Reviews: 3.5/5 (CNET), 3/5 (PC Magazine)
Sansa Fuze
Price: $129 (8GB), $79 (2GB)
Notes: Steep discounts online make this a good choice for bargain hunters; just 0.3 inches thick with a 1.9-inch display; video playback; Rhapsody subscription support
Reviews: 4/5 (CNET), 3.5/5 (PC Magazine)
iPod Shuffle
Price: $49 (1GB), $69 (2GB)
Notes: One of the tiniest (and cheapest) MP3 players out there; clips onto your clothing; no display, so there's no way to browse for songs
Reviews: 3/5 (CNET)Creative Zen Mozaic
Price: $119 (8GB), $79 (4GB), $59 (2GB)
Notes: FM radio; built-in speaker; voice recorder; video playback; stylish design; a bit clunky at 0.5 inches thick; critics aren't in love with the so-so interface
Reviews: 3.5/5 (CNET), 3/5 (PC Magazine)
They've got the touch
Touchscreens are all the rage, and these flash-based MP3 players have 'em.
iPod TouchUpdate: I originally wrote that there is no 16GB version of the Samsung P2; in fact, there is (it was released several months after the original 4GB and 8GB versions). Apologies for the goof.
Price: $399 (32GB), $299 (16GB), $229 (8GB)
Notes: Tons of apps available over iTunes; Wi-Fi; video playback, including iTunes movies rentals; TV-out capabilities; one of the best touch UIs on the market; earned stellar ratings from critics; relatively pricey
Reviews: 4.5/5 (CNET), 5/5 (PC Magazine)
Samsung P2
Price: $249 (16GB), $179 (8GB), $149 (4GB)
Notes: Way cool design, snazzy touch interface; lets you take cell phone calls via Bluetooth; supports video rentals via CinemaNow; getting a bit long in the tooth; no 32GB model
Reviews: 4/5 (CNET), 3.5/5 (PC Magazine)
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7 Posted by radar696 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:25PM EDT Report Abuse
Why would anyone buy anything other than an iPOD? Well lets see, Sansa Fuze 8 gig online right now for $70.00? Also plays video and has an expansion slot for MicroSD cards! So you go and purchase an 8 gig Micro card and WOW!Now you have 16 gig for a fraction of the Nano! Plus you still have some $'s left over!
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8 Posted by chenjinglyf on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:22PM EDT Report Abuse
I have an ipod and a zune. i like Zune more than ipod, but the only thing i dislike is Zune doesn't support east asian languages.
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9 Posted by jazzman0069 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:30PM EDT Report Abuse
Why would anyone buy anything other than an iPOD? for better sound quality, there are a number of mp3 players that have incredible sound quality alot better than ipods players like the sansa clip and fuze or the new sony players, or the cowon D2 if you want to learn about them go to the site www.anythingbutipod.com
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10 Posted by vnguyen2007 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:37PM EDT Report Abuse
wow sansa clip completely kills the ipod shuffle
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11 Posted by joe_potosky on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:38PM EDT Report Abuse
The sansa clip completly blows away the shuffle. You can get a 4 gb version for as low as $35 (sears). Twice the capacity of a shuffle for half the price, comparable sound quality, a navigation screen, fm radio....not even close.
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12 Posted by xygoat56 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:54PM EDT Report Abuse
The Cowan A2 and A3 blow IPOD out of the water.
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13 Posted by dakotazgirl101 on Fri Dec 12, 2008 9:10PM EST Report Abuse
i really hope my mom gets me an ipod for Cmas this year. last year, she got me this "thing" which didn't even have a brand name on it! it was a piece of crap! it broke a couple weeks ago.
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14 Posted by floridamale42 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:00PM EDT Report Abuse
I have an Ipod shuffle and it sucks BIG TIME. The stupid skips all the time and it is not supposed to. Apple refused to take it back as well. Instead they said, they can take it in the back and fix it. All they did was erase all of my music so that did not help at all. The only redeeming factor is that I got the shuffle as a free gift from one of my credit card companies. DON'T BUY APPLE PRODUCTS THEY SUCK!! I just bought a new 2gb sansa clip and I love it. It never skips and sounds much better than the crappy ipod ever did.
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15 Posted by colsonhillier on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:28PM EDT Report Abuse
What is it going to take for people to start thinking about phones as their MP3 player? Now that every song is available as MP3 from multiple storefronts - you get ATT or VZ to subsidize your device, can buy from anywhere, can get subscription option, carry a single device, have expandable memory and can get songs over the network if you want to pay a bit of a premium. I got the Storm from VZ and it blows away every device on this list (iphone wasn't mentioned, but I WONT deal with ATT and want subscription)
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16 Posted by imorekyeh on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:23PM EDT Report Abuse
The Samsung is a Cool device and I think you should try the m out. Lots of everyday useful features
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17 Posted by chnks@ymail.com on Fri Dec 19, 2008 6:06PM EST Report Abuse
I got the 4GB Sansa Clip for $35 at Sears and it is really amazing. Great sound. I have a rhapsody subscription so it made sense to get the Sansa. I have 2 iPods and they are great too. But $35. C'mon. :)
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18 Posted by duan3k on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:49PM EDT Report Abuse
wow, they forgot the cowon and archos players.
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19 Posted by archangel2014 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:57PM EDT Report Abuse
had my p2 for awhile now and it gets better all the time. whatever it lacks it usually gets in an update.
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20 Posted by janmauss on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:28PM EDT Report Abuse
In case you like to listen to audiobooks as well as music, and want to do it cheap, iPods won't play audiobook downloades available from your library. No cost to you--just a library card is needed. Both major services, NetLibrary and OverDrive use a Windows compatible format for books. OverDrive does have a few selections that can be played directly on iPod, but only a few.
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21 Posted by derekkishpaugh on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:41PM EDT Report Abuse
I was also about to comment that the sony players got no love. I know sony has got a bad rap the past few years but their player has been great for me. Awesome battery life, no stupid software to install, they are like generic nano's, great players at good prices.
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22 Posted by radio.heaven3412 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:25PM EDT Report Abuse
I purchased a Creative MUVO V100/2GB/ MP3 Player last month at Walmart for under $40.00 - I can download any MP#3 files and folders. It holds Audiobooks and music, more than I'll ever be able to get my head around in a month. Sure, you pay more you can get more. But do you need more? or do you need to focus on a few audiobooks, say 10, and maybe 10 albums. For those who are feeling the $$$ pinch, looky here.
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23 Posted by wangjrming on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:40PM EDT Report Abuse
You don't mention that the Zune also has FM radio, which is one of the reasons I chose it over the iPod (also all my music was in WMA and I did not want to convert it all to MP3 or ATRAC).
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6 Posted by jesusfreak737@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:33PM EDT Report Abuse
why would anyone by any other mp3 player besides an iPod?