mp3 choice

Tran

Hello,
Firstly i'll just say that i have done a search and read other (lengthy) threads on this topic and am still none-the-wiser and that's the reason for my question.

I am wanting to buy an mp3 player. i only want it to play songs that i have currently on CDs, so i can download lectures in mp3 format from the web and so i can download radio programmes to listen while i am out doing my daily brisk walk(that's walking - definitely no running or jumping up and down). I will definitely not use it for watching videos etc etc. I am no good at technology so easy software us quite essential. I have about 200 CDs and i listen to music everyday. Can anyone make a suggestion?

From the other threads it seems to be the ipod everytime despite reservations by people about the itunes software.

What's the difference between an ipod and an ipod nano (other than the thinness).

Lastly, where's best to buy them?

rogerramjet

1. If your unsure what you want and how much you'll use it just buy a cheap mp3 player to start..Argos do a 256mb one for for around £20.00 (has a SD/mmc slot so you can use your own memory card, currys are doing a 128mb one for £9.99...both would be ample for you to decide if you want to spend more

2. Difference between ipod and nano apart from the size is the amount of space and price. Nano's come in 1GB, 2GB and 4Gb size and are expensive for the amount of data they can hold..although they do look nice , ipods come in either 30gb or 60gb and are still expensice, but when you look at the difference in data storage they are better value...basically the higher the GBb the more it will hold...On a 60gb ipod you could run it for days...lots of days non stop playing music without hearing the same track....the one's I've mentioned you would be talking hours at most

hope this helps

3. Comet online have a good price on the 60gb ipod atm, so do dixons if they are in stock

Tran

rogerramjet wrote:

On a 60gb ipod you could run it for days...lots of days non stop playing music without hearing the same track....

what's the battery capacity like on the 30gb/60gb ipods please? can you run it from the mains if you are at home (sorry if it's a daft question)

If it was a toss up between the 30gb or the 60gb - then which is better?

rogerramjet

60gb holds a lot more and works out cheaper per gb

battery life - from apple website

Up to 20 hours
of battery life
The 60GB iPod offers up to 20 hours of music playback between charges, and the 30GB offers 14 hours

I cannot confirm that....I must admit the 60gb is a nice bit of kit having played with one recently.

They can be run from a permanant power supply which are usually incorporarted into a powered speaker stand for them...even the cheap versions give off a good sound

Tran

The cheapest 60gb ipod i've seen is £274 so far...

rogerramjet wrote:

1. If your unsure what you want and how much you'll use it just buy a cheap mp3 player to start..Argos do a 256mb one for for around £20.00 (has a SD/mmc slot so you can use your own memory card, currys are doing a 128mb one for £9.99...both would be ample for you to decide if you want to spend more

if i go for the option of a cheap mp3 to start me off - how will i know how to transfer music from my CDs/from the web to the mp3? Do you get software when you buy even the cheapest mp3s?

amcluesent

Not that I'm biased(!), but as an Ipod owner I would recommend one. The iPod and iTunes software for the PC/Mac would seem to do everything you want.

You can download and play MP3 files on the Ipod
iTunes will automatically get new podcasts, such as the BBC radio programmes, and put them onto the iPod
You can rip you CD collection and store on the Ipod. iTunes will be able to get the artist and track info for most CDs, so your collection will be indexed properly on the iPod.

200 CDs, plus some podcasts and lectures should easily fit on a 30Gb iPod.

iTunes can be downloaded free from Apple's web-site, so you can try out getting podcasts and ripping CDs etc. before parting with any cash. The files you create will just sit on your PC, ready to be copied when you plug in an iPod...

wonderfullife_2

Tran wrote:

if i go for the option of a cheap mp3 to start me off - how will i know how to transfer music from my CDs/from the web to the mp3? Do you get software when you buy even the cheapest mp3s?

Hi
You don't need any software, you just drag and drop, either individual files or folders.
Something like this, 1gb mp3/radio/voice recorder for £33.84+pp
http://www.microdirect.co.uk/ProductInfo.aspx?ProductID=8895&GroupID=1209

Hope this helps

Phantom_Flan_Flinger

Not sure what radio programmes you listen to, but you should try and download one to see how big it is before you go out and spend your money.

A cheap MP3 player may well not be enough. As an example, the Chris Moyles Radio 1 podcast for this week is 12Meg and the Scott Mills Radio 1 daily podcast is just over 2meg.