What mp3 player to buy?

[progman_2000]

I am looking to get something strictly for the gym - don't need more than 1 gig of space on it, don't need it to have a contact list or play movies or any of that crap. I just want a small, durable mp3 player to attach to my belt and/or upper arm when I am working out - what do I get?

 

[ATXtennisaddict]

Ipod shuffle refurbished. I heard they go cheap.

 

[Thomas15]

ipod shuffle or ipod nano, you cant go wrong with ipods

 

[35ft6]

Shuffle or Nano, no moving parts. Get the Nano if you can afford it. Sure, 1 gig is more than enough for a 2 hour workout, but changing songs gets old after a while. It can take a while for songs to load.

 

[movdqa]

iPod Nano or Shuffle. I prefer the Nano as I sometimes download radio shows and listen to them and need to find them on the screen. That new clip-on
Nano looks cool though.

Part of the iPod experience is the syncing and using iTunes on the desktop along with the portable aspect of the device.

I have an el cheapo MP3 player too by ILO. Crashes all the time and I have to take the battery out to reboot it. It doesn't get used very much - only when I misplace the iPod. Avoid the cheap junk. It is exactly that.

 

[mucat]

I use MPIO a while ago (pre iPod), not bad. However, I think you have to research (read reviews) of different models and different brands to decide.

 

[M1KE]

I recommend taking a look at some other mp3 players, other than ipods. If you don't need a screen the new shuffle is a great option, but there's plenty of great mp3 players that aren't ipods. For example:

http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/><w...3FBLACK&INT=sstyle-MP3players-topflash-1gb_S2

 

[xtremerunnerars]

Look for a good flash-memory based mp3 player. You need not purchase an ipod of any flavor.

 

[zapvor]

^right on the nose. the ipod is way way way overrated, and at its cost gives you less than the competition. this is one of the biggest marketing successes i have seen ever, aside from coca-cola.

get something like the creative zen its only like $70 or less, and gives you voice recorder, radio, among other features lacking in the ipod.

 

[timsims]

Here's another vote for the Creative flash based players. The Sandisk players aren't bad either. Both are great alternatives to the ipood.

 

[OrangeOne]

^right on the nose. the ipod is way way way overrated, and at its cost gives you less than the competition. this is one of the biggest marketing successes i have seen ever, aside from coca-cola.
get something like the creative zen its only like $70 or less, and gives you voice recorder, radio, among other features lacking in the ipod.

The only reason you say that it is "missing" those features is because some other players (and their marketing) tells you that you need them. Ironic? Possibly.

Anyways, I hate to say it, but it really seems like you didn't read the Original Post at all:

- don't need more than 1 gig of space on it, don't need it to have a contact list or play movies or any of that crap. I just want a small, durable mp3 player to attach to my belt and/or upper arm when I am working out - what do I get?

To the OP: Buy a Shuffle - old model or new model. They are very small and durable, possibly moreso than any other out there imho. Oh - again imho - they weigh nothing, they have good sound quality, they're very reliable, their battery life is solid, and they integrate brilliantly with itunes. I have a few of the old model, one of which I've even put through the washing machine. I let it dry for a few days, and it still works!.

 

[zapvor]

The only reason you say that it is "missing" those features is because some other players (and their marketing) tells you that you need them. Ironic? Possibly.

Anyways, I hate to say it, but it really seems like you didn't read the Original Post at all:



To the OP: Buy a Shuffle - old model or new model. It is small and durable, possibly moreso than any other out there imho. Oh - again imho - they weigh nothing, they have good sound quality, they're very reliable, their battery life is solid, and they integrate brilliantly with itunes. I have a few of the old model, one of which I've even put through the washing machine. I let it dry for a few days, and it still works!.

the Apple marketing budget is 100x that of creative and the other companies combined, so no marketing didint tell us to want radio or recorder; its built in. why wouldnt you want it, at a lower price than the ipod which is lacking these features that are NOT BEING ADVERTISED ON TV LIKE THE IPOD COMMERCIALS.
and i did read the original post- for the same amount of money going with something other than ipod is a better value. i think he would prefer that. of course,this is just my opinion.

 

[movdqa]

You can get the best and enjoy it or get second or third best and wonder if you should have bought the best. I have a 2 GB Nano and it's a pleasure to use. We have two others and (ILO and Rio) and they don't compare.

 

[OrangeOne]

the Apple marketing budget is 100x that of creative and the other companies combined, so no marketing didint tell us to want radio or recorder; its built in. why wouldnt you want it, at a lower price than the ipod which is lacking these features that are NOT BEING ADVERTISED ON TV LIKE THE IPOD COMMERCIALS.
and i did read the original post- for the same amount of money going with something other than ipod is a better value. i think he would prefer that. of course,this is just my opinion.

This is a common assumption in modern consumer behaviour, that more "features" = better. It's not necessarily the case. The OP wanted small & durable. The OP said nothing about price, and explicitly said he doesn't care for extra "features".

Small: Do Creative (etc) even do a player in the ultrasmall (new / old shuffle weight 14g / 22g) player range that has the specs he wants?

Durable: Sometimes (most of the time) extra features = extra complexity = more things to go wrong, and suddenly durability comes into question.

Durable: There's also the quality argument. By your math, even if they were the same price, he should get the one with more features. What about design & build quality? They're both relevant and a component of cost. They're some of the reasons a 'basic' car from BMW will cost you much more than an equivalent vehicle from Toyota or Honda.

Sure - you pay a little more for iPods. But to write that all off to marketing, and ignore the design & development experience and expertise, well that's wrong.

 

[zapvor]

so we obviously disagree on this. you make good points, i have made mine.
progman_2000 i say you do your own research and decide for yourself. its unfair for me to say what is better for you without knowing your exact preferences.

 

[mucat]

This is a common assumption in modern consumer behaviour, that more "features" = better. It's not necessarily the case. The OP wanted small & durable. The OP said nothing about price, and explicitly said he doesn't care for extra "features".

Small: Do Creative (etc) even do a player in the ultrasmall (new / old shuffle weight 14g / 22g) player range that has the specs he wants?

Almost all brands will have small enough models for sports.

Durable: Sometimes (most of the time) extra features = extra complexity = more things to go wrong, and suddenly durability comes into question.

I got mine before iPod ever existed and it still works today. Durability should not be a problem in most MP3 players today.

Durable: There's also the quality argument. By your math, even if they were the same price, he should get the one with more features. What about design & build quality? They're both relevant and a component of cost. They're some of the reasons a 'basic' car from BMW will cost you much more than an equivalent vehicle from Toyota or Honda.

It is more a status quo, BMW require high maintain and does not last as long as Honda and Toyota (no one last as long as Toyota anyway). Of course, most BMW are more highly tuned (for performance) vehicle too.

Sure - you pay a little more for iPods. But to write that all off to marketing, and ignore the design & development experience and expertise, well that's wrong.

It is all about research before you buy, be a smart consumer.

 

[Silentgunz]

you should get those new ipod shuffles that u clip on ur clothes, they look pretty good.. i think there pretty cheap to

 

[zapvor]

Almost all brands will have small enough models for sports.



I got mine before iPod ever existed and it still works today. Durability should not be a problem in most MP3 players today.



It is more a status quo, BMW require high maintain and does not last as long as Honda and Toyota (no one last as long as Toyota anyway). Of course, most BMW are more highly tuned (for performance) vehicle too.



It is all about research before you buy, be a smart consumer.

thank you mucat

 

[Belafonte]

samsung t8, it has all the things u need and could possibly want. can get one real cheap on the auction site. or spend alil more and get the newer samsung t9. don't follow the crowd and get an ipod, theres so much more out there

 

[OrangeOne]

Almost all brands will have small enough models for sports.

True, but for active pursuits, it's hard to argue the (within reason) 'smaller is better' for MP3 players - they just get in the road less.

I got mine before iPod ever existed and it still works today. Durability should not be a problem in most MP3 players today.

Excellent sample-of-one there. So many things 'should not be a problem today' (most heart disease, poverty, type II diabetes, illiteracy).... but they still are. To say that the lower-end products are not cutting corners in some departments is a little simplistic imo.

It is more a status quo, BMW require high maintain and does not last as long as Honda and Toyota (no one last as long as Toyota anyway). Of course, most BMW are more highly tuned (for performance) vehicle too.

So they're highly tuned... that's one dimension of quality, which is the point I was trying to make. Try safety - BMW is often a leader there too. In terms of quality, most Toyota reps would soundly agree with me here, I can't help thinking you posted that paragraph....just because you wanted to disagree with all and not just some of my post? If Toyota truly believed they were the quality rival for BMW, they wouldn't have created Lexus. (And don't think I'm anti-Toyota, I've owned 7 or 8 Toyota cars).

It is all about research before you buy, be a smart consumer.

Also largely the point I was making. Except the OP was posting here to do a little 'research', get some opinions, and thus he probably doesn't need to be told to do research....

thank you mucat

 

[mucat]

True, but for active pursuits, it's hard to argue the (within reason) 'smaller is better' for MP3 players - they just get in the road less.

I think iPod is not the smallest flash memory mp3 player, so according to you, iPod is worse than some other MP3 player. But seriously, I still say most MP3 player is small enough for gym use. So I am not saying iPod is better or worse just by size, it is not important, they are all about the same size, which is small to tiny.

Excellent sample-of-one there. So many things 'should not be a problem today' (most heart disease, poverty, type II diabetes, illiteracy).... but they still are. To say that the lower-end products are not cutting corners in some departments is a little simplistic imo.

However, I have read reviews after reviews of different MP3 players for months before I put down my money, so it is hardly a sample-of-one. Moreover, I did not say I bought a lower-end product, I bought a top of the line product back then. Non-apple mp3 player does not equal lower-end product, they just mean not made by apple. And other brands had made mp3 players way before apple did. Which I am not saying they are better, I am just saying they are not worse.

So they're highly tuned... that's one dimension of quality, which is the point I was trying to make. Try safety - BMW is often a leader there too. In terms of quality, most Toyota reps would soundly agree with me here, I can't help thinking you posted that paragraph....just because you wanted to disagree with all and not just some of my post? If Toyota truly believed they were the quality rival for BMW, they wouldn't have created Lexus. (And don't think I'm anti-Toyota, I've owned 7 or 8 Toyota cars).

Yes, that's why I mention BMW's engine are highly tuned for performance, thats one kind of quality. But toyota's engine (and honda too) are far more reliable and last longer than BMW engine, which is a kind of quality too. Also, Toyota and Honda has more reliable electronic than european cars, that's quality too. Leuxs and Acura are known as luxury brands, not quality brands (not that they lack in qualities), more expensive does not necessary mean quality in the autoworld or in the mp3 world too.

Sorry, it is only a 2003 survey.
http://money.cnn.com/2003/07/08/pf/autos/bc.autos.durability/index.htm?cnn=yes

Also largely the point I was making. Except the OP was posting here to do a little 'research', get some opinions, and thus he probably doesn't need to be told to do research....

I mean do real research, search around on the web instead of asking people, read reviews in mp3 players related site instead of asking ppl in TW. The problem with mp3 players are, some will do something well but other things bad, some will do something well but do not have the features to do other things at all. Research, research, research.

 

[progman_2000]

Wow, good stuff, thanks guys - Yes, I am partly inclined to not jump on the Apple bandwagon myself - I have been considering the Sony NW-S203F - seems to have everything I want, targeted towards exercising, comes with an armband right out of the box which, surprisingly, few of them do (hence the huge add on market).

I mean do real research, search around on the web instead of asking people, read reviews in mp3 players related site instead of asking ppl in TW.

Thanks Mucat - I have been doing research by the way - and I'm not sure why reviews from mp3 related sites should be better than reviews from my tennis brothers - I'm sure I have more in common with TW board people than I do with mp3 board people. You guys gave me plenty of good opinions, thanks all.

 

[rommil]

Wow, good stuff, thanks guys - Yes, I am partly inclined to not jump on the Apple bandwagon myself - I have been considering the Sony NW-S203F - seems to have everything I want, targeted towards exercising, comes with an armband right out of the box which, surprisingly, few of them do (hence the huge add on market).



Thanks Mucat - I have been doing research by the way - and I'm not sure why reviews from mp3 related sites should be better than reviews from my tennis brothers - I'm sure I have more in common with TW board people than I do with mp3 board people. You guys gave me plenty of good opinions, thanks all.

I must say though that I have the iPod shuffle(clip on) and I use that for jogging and working out and it's the best player I have for that reason. I am not sure if somebody made mention here that it takes time to transfer songs which I strongly disagree. The sound is pretty good. I really would suggest you try it out and I think the price is very reasonable. It is small, functional and straightforward. Good luck on your search.

 

[progman_2000]

I must say though that I have the iPod shuffle(clip on) and I use that for jogging and working out and it's the best player I have for that reason. I am not sure if somebody made mention here that it takes time to transfer songs which I strongly disagree. The sound is pretty good. I really would suggest you try it out and I think the price is very reasonable. It is small, functional and straightforward. Good luck on your search.

Hey Rommil, what do you attach that thing to when you are running/working out? It doesn't come with anything, does it?

 

[movdqa]

Hey Rommil, what do you attach that thing to when you are running/working out? It doesn't come with anything, does it?

I was considering one of these and assume that you put it on a piece of clothing. Not sure that I like the idea of no screen though. I guess that you have to be a little more careful of what you put on it. I like to put all kinds of things on the Nano and then just skip something that isn't appropriate for what I'm doing at the time.

 

[zapvor]

True, but for active pursuits, it's hard to argue the (within reason) 'smaller is better' for MP3 players - they just get in the road less.

haha i had to

 

[OrangeOne]

haha i had to

LOL mate, i'll pay that one! Thanks, I needed the laugh. I hope we discuss things from opposite sides again mate, you have both tact & a sense of humour, and both are too rarely seen around here....

 

[rommil]

Hey Rommil, what do you attach that thing to when you are running/working out? It doesn't come with anything, does it?

I clip it on the pocket seams or the waist of my shorts. The controls are easy to master (lol) that if I want to skip the song I know where to press. You can have it run on the order of the songs when you download it on the player or you can have it on the shuffle mode. I tell you it's very light and convenient. No it doesn't come with any accessories to hold it. Just clip it on your clothes.

 

[zapvor]

LOL mate, i'll pay that one! Thanks, I needed the laugh. I hope we discuss things from opposite sides again mate, you have both tact & a sense of humour, and both are too rarely seen around here....

haha. i was laughing too. i have much more humour than tact unfortunately. but we can agree: both are too rarely seen around here.

i propose next topic:
OrangeOne sucks at tennis. whos with me!

 

[OrangeOne]

i propose next topic:
OrangeOne sucks at tennis. whos with me!

Me! . Today I won 23 games and lost 8, not a bad day.... except that 6 of the 8 that I did lose were in the one set (1-6 ) that I actually desperately wanted to win!

OrangeOne sucks at tennis, you heard it here first

 

[matchpoint54]

If you want an mp3 player to use outside of the gym also, consider the sandisk sansa e250. It's a 2gb iPod look-alike, but it's sturdier and has a built-in radio and also can play videos. You can sometimes find it for $100 at amazon

 

[zapvor]

Me! . Today I won 23 games and lost 8, not a bad day.... except that 6 of the 8 that I did lose were in the one set (1-6 ) that I actually desperately wanted to win!

OrangeOne sucks at tennis, you heard it here first

hmm....thats pretty good actually. very good. how long have you been playing?

 

[OrangeOne]

hmm....thats pretty good actually. very good. how long have you been playing?

On and off for most of my life, and I'm 30 now. Yesterday wasn't as good as it sounds, as the first 16 games were won 16-0 in a 16-game round-robin comp. I'm playing Div 1 (probably covers a wide NTRP of 4.0->5.0!), and the 16 yr old guy I played really shouldn't be in division 1 in my humble opinion, and in the score's humble opinion either I guess. He thinks he should, however, and he was heartbroken at the end.

Funny thing about my playing history is that I never played seriously as a junior, only played twice a week, one coaching one for school, no training days or whatever, never had time for comp, was always studying etc etc. It's only since I turned 20 I've really wanted to play well, and on good days I am.... Ahh, the reasons we like the game.

 

[GS]

I just got a Sansa m250---2 gigs, FM radio and voice recorder, $75 shipped from amazon.com. It's a great deal. I'd like a Nano someday, but not now.