MP3 players

[dick dastardly]

...again

I've had a 4GB iPod Mini for the past two years and after 6 months of constant problems the thing has finally given up and died.

I need to buy a replacement but can't make up my mind. Despite crap build quality and battery issues on early iPods should I risk buying another? Atleast I won't have to transfer my 0000's of songs already in iTunes.

Should I get

a. Video iPod - I won't use the video but the extra memory would be nice
b. iPod Nano - should I just get the normal one?
c. Sony NW - isn't the software crap?
d. Creative Zen - don't know anything about these
e. ???

Help, I'm stuck.

[Nick P]

no contest as far as i am concerned....get the Sony 20Gb Walkman.

The software (Sony Connect) is UN-USABLE....but just download 'Sonic Stage' at a variety of websites including the Sony site.

Battery life is up to 35 hours!!!

Userbility is great.......you can get them for £175 now

I have 5000 songs on mine and its still not full

[skibum]

I went with the 30Gb iPod video. Its nice to have a few video's on there for show, as well as the photo's, but I went for it for the capacity and design. I think it looks awesome in black and wasnt sold on the looks of the Sony, despite being a massive Sony fan.

[dick dastardly]

If I were to get one of the Sony ones would I have to re-copy all of my CDs or can I use the tracks in iTunes?

[Nick P]

dick dastardly said:

If I were to get one of the Sony ones would I have to re-copy all of my CDs or can I use the tracks in iTunes?

you should be able to just convert them across if you have them on a pc already....

[8]

Nick P said:

dick dastardly said: If I were to get one of the Sony ones would I have to re-copy all of my CDs or can I use the tracks in iTunes? you should be able to just convert them across if you have them on a pc already....

This may degrade the quality though.

Have you looked at irivers? I've had one for a while and its great. It plays most formats and you don't have to mess around with any software to put your songs on, all you have to do is drag and drop.

[tycho]

I still have my 1st gen iPod and have never had a problem. I would however look at the Creative Zen Vision M. This is meant to be better than the iPod Video and it has an adaptor you can use to watch movies on your tv!

[Parrot of Doom]

Archos also make some funkeh devices:

www.archos.com/?country=gb&lang=en&culture=gb-en

[plug]

I have just brought a Sony NW-A3000 the 20GB player its very good but as the others have said the software is cr*p. It is my first mp3 player so couldn't compare it with anything else.

[dick dastardly]

I am quite liking the idea of buying one of the Sony ones this lunchtime. Do they come with or can you buy a belt clip? (I need one for the gym)

[ofcorsa]

just been looking at ebay. Loads of sellers from Hong Kong with good deals on Ipods. would these be stung with import tax anyone got experience of buying them?

Also there are some cheap no brand MP3/mpeg viewers, how bad are these likely to be?

[egomeister]

Mate of mine has the 20gb Sony (old black model, not the new "blob" shaped one). Very impressed with it - sounds great through his stereo (proper expensive hifi kit). He also tried out the ipod, creative, and iriver before buying and reckoned the creative was the only one to come close.

I have a little 6gb Philips jobbie - again good sound quality and nifty touch sensitive buttons.

[plug]

Nick P said:

no contest as far as i am concerned....get the Sony 20Gb Walkman. The software (Sony Connect) is UN-USABLE....but just download 'Sonic Stage' at a variety of websites including the Sony site.

Just downloaded Sonic Stage also, its alot better than the connect player.

[julianhj]

Another vote for the Sony. I have an HD3 (the previous model to the current one) and it's excellent. Sonic Stage 3.1 is available from the Sony website and is fairly easy to use. Sound quality is great (though I upgraded the headphones to Sony EX71s for about £25), battery life is fantastic.