Advice on MP3 / MP4 / IPod

Ms_Chocaholic

My son has an MP3 player that's on it's last legs and I was hoping to get him a new one for Christmas but I've no idea what to buy and was hoping some kind MSEs might be able to help.

I sort of know how MP3 players work but would like to know whether, if we got him an IPod, could he transfer the information from his current MP3 player and his laptop onto that. There is something about only being able to download music onto an IPod from itunes but I don't quite understand that. He currently downloads music from the internet (not sure how and not sure whether legal), could he still do this but transfer onto an IPod.

I've no idea what an MP4 player is and would welcome advice on this.

Also there is a new IPod that can playback videos - can someone explain if this is music videos you download. I'm totally lost on this one.

Please be gentle with me as you might have already guessed, I'm clueless on this one and I don't want to ask my son as want his pressie to be a surprise.

Thanks.

sra

to get things into an ipod you are supposed to use Itunes (though there are unofficial ways) but you don't have to get the stuff from the Itunes music store, Itunes can import mp3s and some video files (it can also convert some video files but it is very slow).


Have a look at the tutorial videos and that will give you a better idea:
Itunes Tutorials
Ipod Tutorials

Also for video conversion:
Joidix Video Converter


Nothing stopping you downloading Itunes right now to see if you like it, it's a great media organizer even if you don't have an ipod

timread

What make and model does your son have at the moment? That would probably help us with giving appropriate advice.

Also, any idea what storage capacity he needs? And how much were you hoping to spend?

amcluesent

>He currently downloads music from the internet<

99% certain he'll be d/l MP3 format files which the iPod can play fine.

>can someone explain if this is music videos<

In the UK that's most of what you get from iTunes Store. The USA iTunes store can sell TV shows and Movies. Of course these can find their way over on t'interweb

Cypher

I've got a 30GB iPOD video and its full of Music and Videos, Audiobooks, podcasts etc. I've never bought a song off iTunes. All my own MP3s play without a problem.

On the video side I've converted my own music videos from DVD, home movies etc, and I also watch a lot of video podcast.

You can also buy TV shows, Music Videos etc from iTunes (I've never tried that though)

Ms_Chocaholic

timread wrote:

What make and model does your son have at the moment? That would probably help us with giving appropriate advice.

Also, any idea what storage capacity he needs? And how much were you hoping to spend?

His MP3 player is made by IItronics (hope that's correct) but unsure of the size of it. He does download a significant number of music tracks from the internet (free as I understand, but unsure where from) but I thought about possibly getting him one of these new IPods that have ability to play video but unsure whether worthwhile.

superscaper

Ms_Chocaholic wrote:

He does download a significant number of music tracks from the internet (free as I understand, but unsure where from)

Unless they're unsigned artists that noone has heard of offering their music, you can't download songs for free (not legally anyway).

fabwitch_2

I have a Archos Gmini 20gb MP4 player which plays music, films and stores photos. I buy music/films from Ebay which have already been converted to put straight on to your PC/Laptop then you can just tansfere over to 5the Archos. I highly recommend the Archos I find it really easy to use. When buying a MP3 or MP4 player you have to think is yourchild going to be taking the player to School? As if so you may not want to buy an expensive player in case its lost o stollen.

Omertron

How much space does he want/need?
Does he need video?

There are many better players than the iPod.
Have a look at the Sansa e200 series of players (similar to the iPod Nano, but cheaper and more features).
For video, there's the Creative Zen Vision