Beginner's Guide to Shopping for MP3 Players

By Helena Enteerha

If you're thinking about getting an MP3 player then you need to brush up on MP3 player basics. There are many makes and models to choose from but some of them are not very good quality. Some players double as video players, or have advanced audio functions built in as a secondary feature. Finding a player that's just limited to playing music is something of a rarity these days.

Playing music is just one of the many features you can find on the Apple iPod. In fact, they are so far ahead of everyone else, some of the benefits aren't found on other units. Simplicity of use is perhaps their biggest feature, and it took some time before other companies were able to challenge them in usability. Using an iPod is as simple as downloading songs, and playing them for your enjoyment.

While the iPod may be the main (perhaps only) brand name that first comes to mind when discussing MP3 players, there are several others out there. There's even cheaper "knock-offs" from smaller companies that are out there, but these don't offer all the benefits. Due to legalities in the industry, these companies stick with just giving their consumers the ability to play music. The bigger companies look at the big picture.

Another thing to think about is the battery life. Most of the cheaper models will use triple As, which fade out quickly. In today's world most of the models will use rechargeable lithium ion batteries. What it will come down to is whether or not you want to purchase batteries every month or just recharge the unit.

Then of course it's important to look at the durability. Thanks to our societies "jump on the bandwagon" ways, it's the most overlooked part of the process. You need to know whether or not the product you purchase is going to last years, or a couple months. All it takes is one misstep for one of them to be damaged or simply breakdown.

You don't see durability issues often with major name brands, but the smaller, less expensive companies try to cut corners whenever they can. In order to stay away from this trap, it's recommended that you do your research before actually making your purchase. The Apple iPod is a great example of how they are sent through test after test in order prior to being released to the public. Keep in mind you can still break it, but it won't happen from just turning it on and using it appropriately.

One final MP3 player basic to consider before buying is the button layout. On very rare occasions you may find a basic player that has no buttons other than play or stop. I'm not joking; these do exist, although they aren't sold at very many outlets. These are the very bottom barebones models that are cheap, and often fail within a month or two.

Before you go out and buy any type of player, remember to look at all the functions, check the battery life, and anything else that would give you a clue to its overall quality. Course if you don't want to go through the hassle of lots of research and testing, you can always just purchase an Apple iPod. They're considered the best on the market for a lot of reasons. An iPod Nano is good introductory buy, the Classic is great for users that demand more features and a larger screen, and a Touch will give you internet wherever there's open Wi-Fi. If you want to save some money, get an older generation iPod - there's usually not much different in practical features you'll actually use, and you say save 10% or more on the price. - 30404

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