Consider yourself an expert on mp3 players?

[shof002]

Can you help me decide which mp3 player to buy?

I have about 24 hours to decide what type of mp3 player to buy (so obviously only fast replies will be usefull). Some friends are travelling to the USA and have offered to pick one up for me since they are cheaper than in expensive little New Zealand. I will obviously be making my decision based on a lot more than just any replies I recieve to this thread, but I figure hey, all input is valuable. Plus, this is my first mp3 player so I'm allowed to be a little excited.

I only started reading up about mp3 players today (talk about slack) so I pretty much only have a general outline about the main categories and their main pros and cons.

I am looking for an mp3 player which I can use in my car, plug into my stereo and take with me to university. Storage would be good because I have to computer of my own (but I am fine with burning CDs from my dad's computer also).

My basic dilema (brand options and pricing aside) is whether to go for an mp3 CD player or a hard drive based mp3 player.
Also, here are some questions which I haven't been able to find direct answers to:
1. If a get a hard drive mp3 player will it be less durable?
2. In terms of batteries, I read that some brands have inbuilt ones which can not be replaced; which players in particular should I avoid?
3. Some players have been critised as having low battery lives (eg: ipod); which players have the longest battery lives (in terms of hard drive mp3 players)?

As you may have guessed I'm leaning toward the hard drive based ones, but all discussion is and opinions are welcome.
Plus any general information that might be relevant to my situation is appreciated!

Thanks,
Sarah

[FrozenShadow23]

iPod or the Dell thingy.

[alliercollins]

http://www.zeropaid.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=21353&highlight=ipod+battery

Read that... I would go with the iriver one that fudge tunnel recommended.

[maartendc]

Anything by creative sounds good to me. Or an iPod offcourse. All depends on how much you want to spend.

[rebirth]

iPod. I own one. iPod.

[fujow]

I'd go with an ipod or Dell. There are not many that have the option for a car adaptor.

[black_magiic]

I would have to say Ipod aswell. I have heard nothing but good things about them

[MushroomheadXIII]

Ipod is way overpriced. Dell or Zen (nomad aka jukebox).

[hawkburn]

Ipod is way overpriced. Dell or Zen (nomad aka jukebox).
Yet the iPod is the original. Plus it has no moving parts (they're touch sensitive buttons) so theres no fear of ruining it early. The only thing bad about the iPod is having to replace the battery, which was 30 dollars every 1 and a half years and last time I checked.

iPod.

[shawners]

this one looks cool
http://www.circuitcity.com/detail.jsp?c=1&b=g&u=c&catoid=-8721&qp=0&oid=75962&m=0

i would go with Nike CD mp3 player, just cause i like the style =)

[seraph]

I wouldn't recommend the ipod for 2 reasons:
a) the battery issue (also a fairly low battery life of only 8 hours)
b) overpriced

Instead I'd go with the creative mp3 players...I only read positive reviews of them, and got a lot of good feedback from friends who own 1.

Personally I very much like this 1 ---> http://www.nomadworld.com/products/muvo_2_15/

However u can check out all of them on that same website i pasted u!

good luck!

[IshareManyFilez]

This is something very bad with the Ipod. I had an old generation Ipod and am forced to get a new one because after using it for a year and a half i plugged in my headphones into it so many tinmes the jack to put the headphones only allows me to listen in one ear. I have yet to come to find a way to fix it. I will just buy a new ipod or a dell.

[broadwayrock]

There are 2 types of hard drive mp3 players.

The 1.5gig/4gig ones and the 20+gig ones.

The 1.5gig ones can fit in your pocket, while the 20+gig ones are too big at the moment(apart from the 20 gig Rio Karma).

The three leading 1.5gig / 4 gig players are: Mini Ipod, Creative Muvo2 and Rio Nitrus

The Ipod Mini has 8 hour battery life whereas the Creative and Rio have 12-14 hours

For storage, only the Creative Muvo2 will be recognised as an external drive without the use of drivers.

For the larger drives i would recomend the iRiver or Creative Nomad.

iRiver have just released a new 20gb model with a colour screen and Creative are releasing the Zen Touch with 24 hour battery life.

I would recomend a hard drive player over mp3 cd player but its up to you what brand,size or price you are willing to pay for one.

[g0b]

iRiver. No questions asked.

[mcovey]

thinkgeek.com has an iriver one that plays ogg files and gets great battery life.

I have an old archos that isnt sold anymore, I would reccomend archos but their product line has changed so much its hard to tell.

[wonderboy2005]

iPod or creative Nomad. Both are good, but both have advantages and disadvantages. If I had to make the decision though, I think I'd go with an ipod again... the Nomad looks too much like a CD player.