how does a mp3 player work

[willow74]

I want to get my brother a MP3 player for xmas. Ive looked at 525mb ones with a USB thingy

Are they any good. Do you just download songs onto them using the software provided?

I have no idea how they work so any info appreciated. Also how many songs will you get on a 500and something MB.

ta!

[jeffx]

I have an iPod which i bought from an Apple store. Music is obtained either from ripping CDs (which require a license authentication from the media player - this makes the ripped MP3s usable only on my device) or purchase MP3s from the various online music stores. Windows Media Player and iTunes have their own online stores which sell music by the track which costs around �1. A bargain really!

[Philtaz]

You need to shop around a bit more because for what you may pay for a 512Mb(roughly 100 tracks or so) player you can get a 20Gb 'jukebox'(5,000 tracks) for a few quid more, even cheaper if you go for a year old model(brand new on eBay).

The software provided will convert tracks from your CD's to mp3 files then you just upload them onto the player.  With a 512Mb player you would be constantly deleting and uploading the tracks as the mood takes you where as with a jukebox type player you can store your whole CD collection on it with loads to spare and just keep adding as you buy new music.  I've got hundreds of tracks on mine and have only used a quarter of the 20Gb hard drive space.

[penfieldcott]

Not just music, I've just tried an audio book (14 cds from the library) Its great - a long job ripping the cds though!Even more reason for the bigger storage models (not me - I only have 256MB - woe!)

[sam2391]

www.airmp3.com has loads of the latest mp3s all 100% free. i also got no viruses from it either