8 Tips for Choosing an MP3 Player

by Dave Donovan

MP3. The term alone is enough to send mega-musical acts cowering in a corner or trying to come up with litigious motivations. It's also a term that allows brilliant independent artists the ability to become noticed and build their fan base.

Over the last few years, the MP3 has taken over the recording industry. Today, full albums or individual songs can be purchased right over the Internet, you can listen to the songs before you buy them and you can store them all on a device no larger than a deck of cards. In fact, there are so many MP3 players available on the market, it may be difficult deciding which one to buy. To help you sort it out, here are 8 tips to consider when choosing an MP3 player.

Storage Size – In the world of MP3s, size does matter, and the more storage you have, the more music you can take with you. Today's MP3 players range from a scant 256 MB of flash-drive storage to a mammoth 160 Gigabytes of hard drive storage. The amount of storage you will require depends on a few factors. First, do you want to back up your entire CD collection on your player or do you prefer individual songs from certain albums? Is your MP3 player going to be an extension of your life or is it going to be used exclusively for brief periods of time, like exercising? Additionally, your listening preference should also be considered. If you love listening to audiobooks or you like to download podcasts, then an MP3 player with more storage would be ideal. If you want your MP3 player to provide music for the home or office, then a larger player will also work best in that situation.
Player Size – Of course, with more storage, comes a larger MP3 player. While some players come in around the size of a deck of cards, although thinner, many smaller MP3 players are also available. The iPod Shuffle is a popular choice for joggers as it can fit comfortably on an armband and still provide a full Gigabyte of storage for you favorite running tunes. Again, your lifestyle will dictate the size of your MP3 player. If you don't want to carry around a larger player, then you will sacrifice some storage space.
Video Features – With modern video compression technology, many people love having the ability to watch their favorite movies on their MP3 players. From a downloaded television program to the hottest music videos to the latest DVD release, you can watch just about anything on your MP3 player, as long as it has the capabilities. Since a traditional movie comes in around 700 MB when compressed, storing one on your MP3 player will crunch your space, but it's all about what you enjoy. If you love movies on the go, then look for an MP3 player with video capabilities.
Brand Names – For some people, they only want a product if the name is recognizable. In the land of MP3 players, Apple is undoubtedly the king, but there are a number of key brand-names putting up a worthy fight. Microsoft is one, with their sturdy line of Zune players and Creative Labs makes truly robust audio equipment. Smaller names like Insignia, Samsung, Archos and Philips also have quality products in the MP3 arena. The great thing is that at many electronics stores, there is a wall of samples where you can look at the players and get a good feel for how they are constructed, which one feels the best and ultimately, which one will serve your needs.
Screen Size – This plays along into the video capabilities on most cases, but if you like being able to quickly manage your listening pleasure, then a nice big screen is ideal. The afore-mentioned Shuffle doesn't feature a viewing screen, so you are basically at the mercy of the player choosing what song you are going to hear next, hence the name of the player.
Connectivity Options – Most MP3 players available offer USB connectivity, but not all do, so be sure to check how the player connects to your PC or Mac. If your computer offers Firewire connectivity, then finding an MP3 player that offers that option will allow for the fastest data transfer.
File Types – While the term "MP3 player" is associated with just about all of the hand-held music players, not all of them offer MP3 playability. Some may feature only WMA support. Therefore, it is important to find out what kinds of files the player supports. You don't want to rip all of your CDs to MP3 only to purchase a music player that doesn't support it.
Product Reviews – Before purchasing anything, be it an MP3 player or a new television, you should always check out current reviews. There are a host of review websites available and Consumer Reports usually publishes electronics reviews every so often. Knowing how the experts, or even other consumers, feel about a product will help you get an idea about the quality of it.