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zebra
Citizen
Username: Zebra
Post Number: 13
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, January 5, 2006 - 9:22 pm: |     |
I see that there was a discussion about iPods vs. other MP3 players in November -- much of it over my head -- but I'll re-raise the issue because my needs are a little different. I need an MP3 player that will be able to download (if that's the right word; it would be from my computer) classes I am taking by long-distance. Each class is 90 minutes. I'd like to be able to keep a couple of classes on the player at a time, plus maybe an interesting podcast or two from, say, a radio program. POSSIBLY I'd want to be able to store an audio book or two at any given time in addition to all this. I don't really want/need the player for music. Would 512 MB be enough capacity? If not, what's enough? My school sends the classes via iTunes; does that mean I'm better off using an iPod, or does it not really matter? I'm willing to spring the 200 bucks for the iPod 2GB Nano if it's really necessary, but would feel more virtuous if I could get away with only 80 bucks for, say, the Creative Zen 512MB Nano. The other player I've looked into is the Samsung 512MB. I know tons of people who use and love the iPods, but does anyone out there have any comment about the Samsung or Creative Zen 512 Players? Thanks so much for helping someone who is just beginning to grasp this new technology. |
Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 11789
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, January 5, 2006 - 11:31 pm: | |
There are various quality levels of recording. That's one factor that affects the amount of space a recording occupies. I notice that at 128K, recordings take up about 1 megabyte per minute. So a 90 minute class would take up about 90 MB. But you might be able to get them at 64K, which would cut the storage usage in half.
You can probably do what you want with the cheapo player. You can move stuff onto and off of it. Keep the important stuff on your computer.
But if you get hooked and realize you like this, you'll end up buying an ipod, maybe even a big one, which would make the initial $80 purchase a shame. That's what I usually do. 
The ipod has a better user interface than most or all the other players. (I haven't tried them all.) The others can be super frustrating. The problem is that they are small, so a very few buttons have to do a lot of different functions. That's why the quality of the user interface is so important.
And there are far more accessories available for ipods than for the others.
If you're curious about all this and cautious with your money, maybe you should get a used mp3 player cheap, to test your own level of interest. Then you can decide if you should buy a fancy player or stick with something cheap.
I recently got an RCA Lyra at K-Mart (K-Mart sucks!) for only $40. It has an FM radio and all sorts of cool features. It has 256 MB of internal storage. I also love that it uses an ordinary AA battery. But I am always hitting the wrong button and I end up being unable to adjust the volume or switch from mp3 player to radio. I was puzzling over it for 10 minutes and couldn't figure it out yesterday. And I'm a technologist by trade!
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Bailey
Citizen
Username: Baileymac
Post Number: 134
Registered: 3-2005
| | Posted on Friday, January 6, 2006 - 12:03 am: | |
couple of things..
if your school "sends the classes via iTunes", sounds like a podcast. Apple's iTunes software will allow you to subscribe to that, and download to your computer. From there, you have options, but the iPods will be the easiest to use.
Apple has the 512MB shuffle for 99.00, and the 1GB shuffle for 129.00, a better buy for storage per megabyte, obviously.
I don't know if any new iPods will be introduced next week, but Apple has an Expo in SanFrancisco on the 10th, and is expected to introduce new cool stuff, so it may be worth waiting until then.
I'd suggest you download one of the podcasts and see how big the file is, or check with the school, I'm sure they'll know.
For ease of use and simplest integration with iTunes, I think an iPod is your better choice.
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