Choosing an MP3 Player
Deciding to buy an MP3 player is easy. Figuring out which one you want can be a little more difficult. There are different types of MP3 players. They are grouped by how they store their media.
Flash memory players are smaller and lighter than hard drive players.
Will you be using the player when you run? You'll want one with a flash memory instead of a hard drive. You can use the flash memory inside the unit, or you can use removable memory cards. Because there are no moving parts, players with flash memory can handle some bumps and jolts. They also use less battery power, so you'll be recharging less often.
Hard drive players are larger and heavier than flash memory players, but they can store many more songs. You could store your entire music collection on a hard drive player and still have room for photos and video.
Hard drive players do have some moving parts, so they may skip when jolted. However, many players are equipped with anti-skip protection to solve that problem.
MP3 CD players are CD players that play MP3 and other digital files. These are cheaper than flash memory and hard drive memory players, but they are also much larger. They might skip when bumped, so they wouldn't be a good choice for sportsmen or runners.
Besides storing digital music, a MiniDisc MP3 player can store data files from your personal computer.
Do you have a project due at school? Make it a power point presentation. No more worries about getting a large display board to school in one piece. You can take your presentation to school on your MiniDisc player!
Before you purchase an MP3 player, try it out. Make sure you understand how to use the on-screen display. Will you be able to find your favorite songs?
How is the sound quality? It's not a bad idea to bring a set of headphones to the store to test the sound quality of different players. You're going to be listening to a lot of music on your player, so make sure you're happy with what you hear.
Many players are equipped with an FM tuner. This is a nice option. After all, sometimes you'll want to listen to the radio to hear the newest releases from your favorite artists.
