MP3 player or Apple ipod

[No Idea]

Hi

 I really want to buy an MP3 player but i dont no whether to get a normal MP3 player or an Apple ipod! I've heard some bad things about apple ipods but i think they look really nice compared to a normal mp3 player.

Could someone please help me make a decision, Thanks!

[bluedolphin]

Imho at the moment I would go for a cd/mp3/wma player and I would look for one with a radio and would definitley go for a SONY ..... Quality and the battery life is just fabulous.... regarding the Ipods they are really just coming into their own...so for a while i think a good cd/mp3/wma player with radio FM/AM is a great choice and they are so slim and look really good.... good luck ....

[Potatoman]

My friend had an ipod. He took it back to the shop coz the battery wouldnt charge. The 2nd replacement wouldnt transfer songs, so he took that one back. Third time lucky? No! The 3rd one woulndt switch on after a while. So he put it down to the fact that its made by Apple and bought a different one with no problems.

[Mattk]

it all depends on what you want from your player.

if it to wear on long commutes etc then a hdd player such as ipod or sony is for you but if it is for jogging etc then a solid state player would be the choice as they are much smaller.

ipod is the most popular hdd player and is a definite 21st century icon but has its faults.the trouble is that all the competing players arent much cheaper and certainly arent as good looking ! - apart from the new sony but the price is still v.high as it is the new kid on the block

[scatman]

Ria Karma > Apple iPod

[Mike1234]

Check out the creative zen range of mp3 players. (noteably the touch) Looks sweet like an ipod, but is cheaper and in my opinion better. http://www.creative.com/products/welcome.asp?category=213&su bcategory=214 hope this is usefull.

[scatman]

err Rio, not Ria. It was late and I was tired.. Anyway, more info. If you get an iPod you will have a wonderful device, however, it has major flaws. The biggest of which, imho, would be that it is almost impossible to get music OFF of the iPod and onto your (or a friend's) PC. You HAVE to have USB 2. If you have an older PC you will need to buy and fit a �15 USB 2 PCI card, not a great expense but an unnecesary one. Oh, also, EVERYONE has an iPod. And Apple smell. =) The Rio Karma can do pretty much everything the iPod can do, i.e. play songs. It is only available in 20gb but should be ample for most people. Has support for .wma, useless for me but apparently you can squeeze more songs on with wma. By far the best feature of the Karma, for a geek like me at least, is the ethernet port on the hub. This means I can plug it into my wireless router and access the player from anywhere in the house from any pc or even a compatible hi-fi, if I had one. Mwahaha. It plays ogg, too. OGG is wonderful :D iPod Good, Karma Better. Oh, and don't buy a Sony unless it plays MP3s.. Second thoughts, don't buy a Sony at all. Their software is awful, you'll be suicidal within a week. Good players, crap ATRAC3 format, crap software, nice Sony badge.

[No Idea]

Hi.

I would mainly be using it for travel ie. when i go on holiday, but i would also use it at other times aswell.

Hope that helps!