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So I want to get my wife an mp3 player for xmas because her officemate is a chattyfuckingbetty and he always has peeps come talk to him in the office.  I would normally be able to find one easy enough, but I'm having a hard time picking one out because her main feature is ease of use, and I find most things easy to use.

I need suggestions on an mp3 player that holds 1-2GB+ of music (mainly music, no real need for video) that is super easy to use and smallish.  Anyone have any good experience with any?

Yeah. iPod. For those features, nano.

You can't really go wrong with Apple. Get her a Nano. I don't have one myself (still use bigger iPods), but I don't know anyone who has problems with a nano.

I don't know much about the new Shuffle -- But that may be even more ideal for her.


edit - Sky beat me to it.

The shuffle is cool, if only because it's the size of a quarter.

Anything non-Apple?  We both have a dislike of all things iPod.

I like the new SanDisk one, I think they have them at Best Buy if you want to see them in person. But I haven't used it other than that.

http://www.sandisk.com/Products/Catalog(1014)-MP3_Players.aspx (http://www.sandisk.com/Products/Catalog(1014)-MP3_Players.aspx)

Why? Everyone else has pretty much ripped them off down to color schemes and interface. Just not very well.

Fuctionality? I can't drag and drop files from an iPod to or from my computer without the help of a special (bloated, unoptimised) program, whereas (I'm told) this is possible with most non-Apple mp3 players.

At least with a Rio Karma it is.

Too bad mine is broken.  :cry: (I dropped it. On a slate tile floor).

Seconding Viin - Sansa e280 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16855125017) - 4 GB version is $40 cheaper.

Fuck iTunes in the eye.

Another Sansa recommendation from me. Fuck iTunes. I'm getting the 8 Gig version for Christmas.

I'd get the Zune over a Sansa.

The Zune is DRM city.

It's Wi Fi feature, possibly it's best feature, is still worthless since it doesn't connect to anything except other Zunes (which nobody has except you).

Secondly, it's worthless because it wraps anything you share in DRM. Even if it's a fucking home made mp3 you created yourself.

What this means is that you'll be able to share files with other Zune users -- And they'll last a total of 3 days. After that, they aren't shareable or playable again. Regardless of the file's origin.

[edit]

Also, no podcast equivalent, or secondary function as a storage drive. It doesn't even work for Microsoft's own music store software (used by Napster, MTV, and Amazon) -- Instead, you have to use a completely different shop (Zune Marketplace).

Does the Zune even have the drag and drop capabilities that are main thing speaking against the iPod?

It does that correctly at least.

What? I've heard you can play any MP3 on them that's on your computer and not wrapped in itunes shit. Also, video. Also, aren't podcasts just MP3s? And who the fuck listens to those anyway? Great. Talking. That's what I want to listen to while avoiding someone who just talks (read op).

I'm positively surprised. Not enough that I wouldn't rather pierce my ear drums with a glowing hot needle that buy one, but still.

I listen to them, Schild. You might only use your player to avoid other people, I also use it to inform myself via that talking thing those people do. Hard to read a newspaper while riding a bike or walking through the streets.

Avoid the loony Zune (http://www.suntimes.com/technology/ihnatko/147048,CST-FIN-Andy23.article)

I feel insulted by that dumb fuck. Don't these companies have public relations people that tackle a CEO and wrestle him to the ground if he is about to say something extremely stupid like that?

He gets a dollar for every Zune sold, I believe.

People in various places are already paying a "piracy tax" on recordable media so "taxing" media players is just the next logical step.

He's right.

Yes I do. And I feel insulted by that as well. As I feel insulted by that fee I have to pay for a printer because I could copy books with it. But having to pay one of the companies directly for services not rendered adds to the insult, at least for me.

And no, he is not right. I hear those podcasts nobody else hears and I rip CDs i buy in the store, and I buy the odd song off the itunes store I can't get out of my head. If you steal your music, they should go after you, not after me.

Never review something after a bad install process.

I'm not trying to defend Microsoft, but I've heard some good things about the Zune, and the one thing that guy didn't talk about was the quality of the goddamn video and mp3s.


Simply too lazy to C&P the part after this many drinks.

College kids dude, college kids.

And good luck going after them, they're not lost customers anyway.

The only thing I download in terms of music is soundtracks I can't get in America that I'm not willing to drop 40-50 on and then not enjoy it.

Doesn't change the fact that MP3 players are, for the most part, repositories for stolen music.

Neither my problem nor yours then. So why should we pay for it? I cry a single tear for those poor Universal people.

"Hey, we couldn't get that speeding driver. How about we write you and the next 9 normal drivers a tenth of a ticket to make up for it".

I could point you to a dozen reviews that say the same thing (a dozen reviews only because that's as far as I'm willing to search. There are many more).

Also....

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v231/lonestar627/Misc/zune_shot1.jpg)

Brown...Wtf were they thinking?

[edit] With swamp green outlining at that.

Whoa whoa whoa. Brown with a green stripe is actually awesome. I have a shitload of brown clothing, and ya know that Amazon thing for the winter - I was hoping it was the brown one instead of the white one.

Prease to not knock brown.

I like brown, but not brown plastic. That's shitty.

Wrap it in suede, and I'd probably change my mind.

I've heard lots of negative things about the Zune, but liked the interface when I found a working demo (at EBGames of all places, everywere else had one that didn't work).  However, the little clicker thing feels hella cheap.

I'm thinking the Sansa unless I get in on this $90 Zune today at Amazon.  Thanks for the advice.

Also re: iPod.  I've had 2 bad experiences with iTunes and fucking hate hate hate that program.

I also have to find some comfortable earphones for someone who has small ear canals (not me, apparently I'm loose).  Any suggestions on those? Comfortable for smaller ears and decent enough for good sound.

You mean iTunes on windows? It's gotten much better. I haven't used it much, as I don't have an iPod, but if I don't get one for xmas (c'mon santa, I've been sooo good) I'll be getting an 80GB before they do something dumb like adding a Zuneish screen and lcd touch dial. I won't ever watch video on it, I'd just like the huge disk size.

Ah, well. If you don't like iPod, I've got nothing more to say. Except brown is nasty. Were you guys alive in the 70s? I have brown nightmares.

We have a couple of iPod devices (mini and video ipod) and I must say - while iTunes On Windows has gotten better, it blows chunks when it comes to speed. Not only does it freeze my enter computer while trying to read a disc, it often stumbles around and goes really slow for no apparent reason. Other than that, I like it.

Whatever the device, my big constraint would be whether or not I can mount and access it's drive storage via Finder (or Explorer) or CLI.

That would rule out the Zune for sure.

I have had nothing but trouble with iPods. Between my wife, sister, and I, we have had 2 Shuffles and a Nano go tits up for no earthly reason. Apple CS thinks it is cute to suggest that we buy the new models, since they "aren't very expensive any more". How about you make something that doesn't bust in 6 months, chucklefuck?

I have a Dell, so it's not available.

But I will put out a negative on apple and a plus for a whole lot of other players. I actually pay for my music and I get it through a subscription service that gives me access to the entire library. If you're at all interested in that, make sure you have one that's compatible. It's a microsoft DRM "Plays for Sure", but it doesn't affect your other mp3s. It's just an option for the subscription services and they all seem to use the same one.

Unfortunately, Apple doesn't offer this in any of their ipods.

Because they own 85% of the market and don't have to.

Also, funnily enough, the Zune itself doesn't work with PlaysForSure. Heh.

My Nano's only about a year old and I still  :heart: it.  I don't have a problem with iTunes because I only use it to swap songs.  An older version of Music Match works much nicer to organize, label & rip songs (into .mp3 rather than some DRM format.)  so that's what I use on the media machine.

Sky - I concur on the brown.  I was only around the last 6 years of the 70's, but I remember enough of it and the early 80s that I have the same nightmares.

Velour shirts baby! I had a lovely purple one...

Anybody have an experience with the Toshiba Gigabeat (http://www.bestbuy.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?logon=&langid=EN&sku_id=0926INGFS10062063&catid=22578) player? I've read a few reviews on them, but haven't had a chance to get any hands-on time with it yet.

Just a heads up, I went with the SanDisk Sansa c250 2GB MP3 Player.  It has a microSD slot if I need to expand it later and its tiny and easy to use.

Now, earphones!

Here you go:

$180 ear phones (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000E5DLIE/ref=wl_it_dp/104-7320920-4694359?ie=UTF8&coliid=I3L93PDDJUJJ4O&colid=204XX4WZ94ES0)
$80 ear phones (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000BQSGMM/ref=wl_it_dp/104-7320920-4694359?ie=UTF8&coliid=I1G8PPCDWD1Y5O&colid=204XX4WZ94ES0)

That's ridiculous. I'll get these if I ever need another set of headphones. (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16826249001)

Well, you get what you pay for.  :wink:

I'm easily willing to spend $150+ on earphones for myself.  For her though? Any decent $50 dollar ones?

I have a Rio Carbon 5gb. It has what can be best described as a no frills interface, but its tiny, not much bigger than a zippo lighter, sounds good, shows up as a drive in explorer and charges via USB too. Considering how cheap it was it's been one of my better buys.

 

Saw a post about headphones, Yoru will vouch here:

Buy these, IceMat. (http://www.icemat.com/products/icematsiberia/icemat_siberia_inear_headset)

Yea, and the IceMats are fucking awesome. Though I might pick up a pair of these (http://www.razerzone.com/Products/Gaming-Audio/Razer-Barracuda-HP1-Gaming-Headphones/) (Razer Barracudas) just to try out.

Well, to be fair, I've spent $150+ on a nice pair of sunglasses before, so I really shouldn't be criticizing.

You might want to consider one of the iRiver mp3 players. No DRM bullshit, no iTunes bullshit, just drag and drop USB storage. I've had my H340 for 18 months or more now, with heavy use (average 1-3 hours a day, commuting sucks) and no problems at all. Very happy with it, despite it's "Soviet iPod" design stylings.

Here's their fanboi forum, but it does have some useful info and links on it.
http://www.misticriver.net/

Their global webpage (they're Korean)
http://www.iriver.com/

I hated my iRiver, it was fucking slow compared to the iPods i had before and after it. I am a fan of turn on-listen to music instead of turn on-wait for 20 seconds-listen to music. Maybe that improved over time.

Only going to last an hour or so - but I'm buying this:

http://www.woot.com

Worth it just to record XM.

That's pretty nifty, but 512M sure isn't a lot.

Has to be plugged in for XM. Meaning, has to be at the computer. Meaning, 512 is managable. I don't drive across the country much.

Heh.

It's probably true. I have almost every single Ramones album ripped. Comes out to 445 MB.

Some of the tracks are 128k though...

Pretty sure you couldn't tell the difference between 32 and 128 on a Ramones track. Same goes for old Misfits tracks and the US Bombs.

I never had an iPod, and indeed, my 40gb iRiver does take 20-30 seconds to boot up, but I'll pay the price of those 20-30 seconds to not have to deal with iTunes, DRM, Creative's bullshit prop software and the ability to carry and use a 40gb USB2 drive.


As for the Ramones, they really only had about 2 different songs anyway (just they had 800 titles for those two songs). Both of them only go for 90 seconds. And I say this as a fan of the band...

Psycho Therapy has those cool panning police sirens. That's 96k at the very least  :-P

Why? Despite my probably well deserved rep here as a mac nut, the current ipod's are pretty nice pieces of kit, particularly when compared to Zune's and such...or get her a 2 gig music phone. Those are cool too.

Nobody reads anymore.

Schild, do those IceMats fit smaller ears?

Santa is bringing me a pair of these (http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Sennheiser-HD280-Pro-ClosedBack-Headphones?sku=242411).

Very much so, that's why I mentioned the earbuds. Now, freakishly small ears? Hell if I know. But the 3 flap rubberish siliconish piece the IceMats come with should be snug and perfect. If we're not talking about carnie small.

lol @ work from carnie small.

I picked up the eyonic 5i headphones and if I begin to use them enough, I'm going to get a musicians mold made. Whatever they are called. For ear pickups. The 3 ring rubber thing is too big, I have to use foam. I have carnie ears.