Mp3 player opinions

[Terrancelee]

Looking to pick up a 30G or larger mp3 player. Zune is 200 bucks vs Creative M at 250, both 30G sitting at the local circuit city. I don't want itunes, so haven't thought much about Ipods. What are any of you using, and what are likes/dislikes? Anyone use Ipod with third party stuff so you can not be dependent on itunes? I don't buy digital music so don't have to worry about any kind of format issues. I rip all my stuff at 160vbr. Not sure if I'll even use the video that much, but am planning a 9 hour plane ride early next year, so might on the flight. Although, I'm not real sure how to go about getting my movies in a digital format that could be used on any of these.

[kenw]

if you want movies, buy a $100 DVD portable player. The larger screen will keep you from going blind.....

as far as the MP3 players, I've had an older Creative for several years. Whichever kind you buy invest in some better head/earphones.

[okcwannabe]

Why don't you want iTunes? I have an iPod and like it. I don't mind paying for my music unlike my sis and others and when you think about it-you can buy a cd for 15 bucks and maybe listen to 4 or 5 of the say 14 songs at most, or pay 99 cents for those individual songs and save. Also iTunes has good deals on new cd's themselves and "package" deals on cd's different from in the stores. However, I know there are other sites that charge a flat rate that just work fine too (I have downloaded some with great quality and some with not so great from these sites). I dunno if you can go wrong these days...I have heard good things about all of them. Good luck!

[LoungeLizard]

I've owned several - from one of the original MP3 CD players, a Creative Nomad Jukebox HDD player, couple of flash based ones, and several iPods. I've played with a Zune.

Best one in my mind is the iPod. Good feature set, good battery life, lots of after-market accessories. iTunes is not bad and it gets a bad rap. If you're ripping your own CDs or just using MP3 files, it's fine. If you're buying stuff from the iTunes store - learn how to move it to MP3 format and you're back to where you would be with any other software/player.

Oh, and portable DVD players suck when it comes to battery life. The best out there MAY get you 4 hours. I can go from Houston to Shanghai listening to my iPod the entire time without running out of juice.

[Terrancelee]

I have a laptop I use for my "mobile dvd player" :) The battery life won't last the trip across the pond, though. I did pick up a pair of maxell noise canceling headphones from wally world but they end up hurting my ears after about 45 minutes. So those went back. Can't justify $300 for hypermarket bose equipment, so will probably just use the AKG set I used when I dj'd on air. Quality is better anyway, I just did want the noise canceling for killing ambient noise around me. Little maxells didn't do a bad job in that dept.

I don't want Itunes as I don't like proprietary software when it comes to my music. Having been a mobile DJ for several years back in AR, I ripped all my music and switched over to digital before it was commonplace. I used a simple winamp setup that I liked and if I ever want to do that kind of work down here I want to be able to use any new music I may aquire. That, and I don't think the digital music you buy is as good a quality as what I rip to. Course, they may have improved that over the past several years now.

[JamesB]

I got my wife a 30gig creative Zen Vision W. she loves it. I transfer her tivio recordings to it so we can watch on the road when traveling

plus it has a built in FM tuner.

plus its battery is replacable.

James

[the-beholder]

The zune right now is like in 'proto-type' mode. There will be newer versions, that correct problems with the previous version. Plus there aren't many stuff designed for it. AND you could get a 80 GB ipod for like $150 more.

I have an iPod, and i think iTunes is great. its easier to work with than Windows Media Player.
Plus, you don't have to buy songs from iTunes. And its not like it won't play songs that are not from the store.

In my opinion, get an iPod. It's pretty finalized and the screen is fine, even with watching movies on it. I don't get why people think its horrible. It very clear and you can see everything perfectly. but what won me with the ipod is that you can get a transfer cable so you can transfer your pictures from your camera and use your iPod as a portable hard-disk. In case you run out of room on your mem card (neat for traveling)

[wondershots]

I picked up three original Zunes for $99 each. One for me and two of my sons. Great value since you can update them with the new software interface. I've been really happy with mine. I've even seen them around for $85. It's got a great screen for videos also. I watched a full movie while on an airplane to CA last month.

[Redmouse]

I'm using a Zune as well. The new firmware updated my old 30g to the same revision as the new series that were just released. I have loaded movies and music. But one of the biggest advantage is the larger screen over the iPods, because I also use it to show my photos. Until the iTouch and iPhones came along. But other than that, my Zune has been rather solid. And I also subscribe to the Zune Marketplace for music. Downloads are fast, and the quality is good.

[shawn patrick]

I got a 30g zune for $89 on woot two weeks ago. I also have a 4g Ipod nano. The zune has a much bigger screen, cost less and had 26G more memory. But the Ipod (to me) is nicer to use. I like the Itunes software more than I expected and it will let you put all your existing mp3s into it. So for the money the zune was a much better deal. But if I wasn't worried about the price I would pick an ipod.

[d2creative]

Originally Posted by Terrancelee

I don't want Itunes as I don't like proprietary software when it comes to my music. Having been a mobile DJ for several years back in AR, I ripped all my music and switched over to digital before it was commonplace. I used a simple winamp setup that I liked and if I ever want to do that kind of work down here I want to be able to use any new music I may aquire. That, and I don't think the digital music you buy is as good a quality as what I rip to. Course, they may have improved that over the past several years now.

I still don't understand. iTunes plays pretty much all formats, doesn't it? It also will rip your music from your cd's in any of those formats. And you don't have to buy your new music to use it. I don't think anything out there beats the ipod/itunes setup. The only advantage I can see to anything other than an ipod is a user replaceable battery and honestly by the time my battery starts to even show any kind of problem I am upgrading my ipod anyway. I have 4 different iPods right now and they all work with itunes flawlessly.

[OTRphoto]

Another vote on the Zune... We have 4 in the family and all love them. We got the last three from woot as well for $79 a couple of months ago.. but I do see them regularly advertised on sale for at/under $100 now at many stores

I love the large screen and keep a digital portfolio on it of my work for easy quick show of my work if someone asks. And movies look GREAT on it!

[photosbysergio]

iPod all the way.

[Mike G]

I had a Zune 30gb and only gave it up when I got my Ipod Touch 16gb .. I still like quite a few things on the Zune better but the Touch has a nicer screen and other things I wanted. If cost doesn't matter get the Touch, if it does, the Zune is a great deal if you buy the 1st gen 30gb version.

the-beholder, the 80GB Zune is $250 normal price, the 80GB Ipod Classic is $250 with a smaller screen, no wifi sync, and no wifi sharing.

[MikeyG1965]

I used to be an iPod/iTunes 'hater, but I finally broke down and picked up an 80 GB iPod Video. I LOVE it.

I keep tons of photos on it....travel with three to four movies on it, and all of my music and still have lots of room.

With my movies, I have an AV cable that I can hook to the television RCA connection and watch movies.