If you're thinking about getting an MP3 player then you need to brush up on MP3 player basics. There are many makes and models to choose from but some of them are not very good quality. Some players double as video players, or have advanced audio functions built in as a secondary feature. Finding a player that's just limited to playing music is something of a rarity these days.
Take the Apple iPod for example, it used to be just for playing music. However newer versions incorporate advanced features not present in other units. One of the MP3 player basics is function simplicity. All these extra features are nice but some of us will never use them, and as such we don't want to pay money for something we are never going to use.
While the iPod may be the main (perhaps only) brand name that first comes to mind when discussing MP3 players, there are several others out there. There's even cheaper "knock-offs" from smaller companies that are out there, but these don't offer all the benefits. Due to legalities in the industry, these companies stick with just giving their consumers the ability to play music. The bigger companies look at the big picture.
Another thing to think about is the battery life. Most of the cheaper models will use triple As, which fade out quickly. In today's world most of the models will use rechargeable lithium ion batteries. What it will come down to is whether or not you want to purchase batteries every month or just recharge the unit.
Then of course it's important to look at the durability. Thanks to our societies "jump on the bandwagon" ways, it's the most overlooked part of the process. You need to know whether or not the product you purchase is going to last years, or a couple months. All it takes is one misstep for one of them to be damaged or simply breakdown.
If you go with one of the larger electronics brands like Apple or Sony, durability probably won't be a concern (although there are some notoriously breakable units out there; a glance at a unit's reviews should be enough to clue you in on whether it's solid or not). The lower echelon of companies will try to cut corners wherever they can to offer a somewhat similar product for a cheaper price, so don't be surprised when a player like that breaks down.
Oh, and we can't forget about the button layout. On some occasions, you can find cheap alternatives that only have 2 buttons; stop and play. These are actually out there, but you find these in lower income outlets. This is truly the bottom of the barrel, and if you get one of these you're just waiting for disaster to strike.
So in closing before buying any kind of player remember to go over the MP3 player basics. Check for function, audio formats supported, battery life, durability, and general quality. If you don't want to do bother because it's time consuming you can just buy an Apple iPod. These are one of the most sought after players on the market for a reason. If money is a concern then simply buy an older generation iPod - plenty of new units are almost always available for the previous generation, and you can find savings of 10% and upwards, without sacrificing the most important features.
Take the Apple iPod for example, it used to be just for playing music. However newer versions incorporate advanced features not present in other units. One of the MP3 player basics is function simplicity. All these extra features are nice but some of us will never use them, and as such we don't want to pay money for something we are never going to use.
While the iPod may be the main (perhaps only) brand name that first comes to mind when discussing MP3 players, there are several others out there. There's even cheaper "knock-offs" from smaller companies that are out there, but these don't offer all the benefits. Due to legalities in the industry, these companies stick with just giving their consumers the ability to play music. The bigger companies look at the big picture.
Another thing to think about is the battery life. Most of the cheaper models will use triple As, which fade out quickly. In today's world most of the models will use rechargeable lithium ion batteries. What it will come down to is whether or not you want to purchase batteries every month or just recharge the unit.
Then of course it's important to look at the durability. Thanks to our societies "jump on the bandwagon" ways, it's the most overlooked part of the process. You need to know whether or not the product you purchase is going to last years, or a couple months. All it takes is one misstep for one of them to be damaged or simply breakdown.
If you go with one of the larger electronics brands like Apple or Sony, durability probably won't be a concern (although there are some notoriously breakable units out there; a glance at a unit's reviews should be enough to clue you in on whether it's solid or not). The lower echelon of companies will try to cut corners wherever they can to offer a somewhat similar product for a cheaper price, so don't be surprised when a player like that breaks down.
Oh, and we can't forget about the button layout. On some occasions, you can find cheap alternatives that only have 2 buttons; stop and play. These are actually out there, but you find these in lower income outlets. This is truly the bottom of the barrel, and if you get one of these you're just waiting for disaster to strike.
So in closing before buying any kind of player remember to go over the MP3 player basics. Check for function, audio formats supported, battery life, durability, and general quality. If you don't want to do bother because it's time consuming you can just buy an Apple iPod. These are one of the most sought after players on the market for a reason. If money is a concern then simply buy an older generation iPod - plenty of new units are almost always available for the previous generation, and you can find savings of 10% and upwards, without sacrificing the most important features.
About the Author:
The author, Helena Enteerha, has a site where you can conveniently compare prices on MP3 players and find the best deal.
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