Why You Should Own an MP3 Player

Let’s face it, the rise of MP3 players has completely changed how we store, share, and listen to music. Since the first MP3 players became more and more popular several years ago, the market has basically been flooded by MP3 players of all prices, values, and with all different types of features. No matter what your needs are when it comes to portable audio players, one thing is for sure: you need to have an MP3 player!

With an MP3 player, you can store anywhere from a few to nearly one hundred gigabytes of music, which will make your life easier by leaps and bounds. Not only that, but you can enjoy your music in whole new ways, with saved playlists, smart shuffling which you can usually tailor to your own interests, and other features. Also, MP3 players aren’t just for portable listening through headphones anymore; nowadays, it’s just as convenient to use your MP3 player when listening to music in your car or at home.

Again, it’s not a matter of whether you should get an MP3 player, because nearly any music lover would find their lives made much easier by having one. Really, it’s just a matter of deciding which type of MP3 player is right for you!

Why You Need a Huge Hard Drive

Since the main perk of MP3 players is their portability and convenience, it may seem strange that many MP3 players now are bigger than cell phones, and usually heavier as well. Many people, my mother included, have wondered aloud, “why do you need 80 gigabytes of space on an MP3 player?” Well, here’s your answer.

With that kind of space, you can store not only your favorite songs, but literally every song you own. Even some of the biggest music lovers out there won’t have to be too selective to fit every worthwhile music album and song they have on an 80 gb hard drive. Once you do so, you can take all of those pesky compact discs and put them in storage. Next moving day, you’ll be glad that you did.

Then, when you want to go to a party or when you drive a long way to visit family, you can easily transport not just a few songs, but your entire music library with you. Think about it. Hundreds of compact discs stored in the palm of your hand. Now, if you don’t think that’s cool, I don’t know what else to say.

What Size Hard Drive Is Right For You?

In the early days of MP3 players, the market was dominated by just a few (I’m looking at you, iPod) players, without a whole lot of choices being available to music lovers who wanted more options and convenience than compact discs can offer. These days, the problem is that there are often too many choices! Let’s figure out what size hard drive is right for you.

First, consider the size of your music collection. Do you find yourself listening to the same several artists or CDs over and over? If so, you probably don’t need a monster-sized 80 gb hard drive. You can save a lot of money and add some portability by going with a smaller hard drive. After all, it doesn’t make much sense to have twice the space that you really need, does it?

If you have hundreds of CDs (or even more) and you’re constantly finding new music to listen to, you might want to go for that larger hard drive, however. Most people can store their whole music collection on some of the hard drives that are available on MP3 players today, and that makes them just that much more convenient to own.

So, before you buy an MP3 player, make sure you know how much space you need. Don’t buy more than you need, because that is really just a waste of money!

To Video or Not to Video?

If you’ll excuse me for paraphrasing the classic Shakespearean line, whether or not to have video capabilities on your MP3 player is one of the new most-asked technology questions. Today’s MP3 players offer larger, color screens and great video playback features, but those features often come at the cost of a higher price tag and smaller hard drive.

The question for you is, do you really need the video features? How often will you really watch videos on your MP3 player? If you spend a lot of time on public transportation, the answer is likely “yes”. If you rarely have a moment to spare and the idea of watching a movie on a three inch screen makes your eyes hurt, the answer may be “no”.

Consider how often you’ll actually use the feature, and also consider whether you believe it’s worth the extra cost. Many full-featured MP3 players that don’t have video playback functionality can be had at a much lower cost. So before you buy, figure out if video playback is a priority to you or not!

The Zune: Why Is There No Equalizer?

With the somewhat recent updates made to Microsoft’s Zune, the supposed iPod slayer was to be in a better position than before to take on the throne of MP3 players. However, with the positive changes came a few head scratchers. None was more puzzling than the elimination of the equalizer options.

Even basic equalizer presets and options can enhance the listening capability of any MP3 player. Equalizers are especially important because of the fact that MP3 players aren’t just for being listened to via headphones anymore: now, it’s just as likely that people will be listening in their car or on their home stereo system. With different environments, sometimes you want to change the sound levels for optimum enjoyment, and sadly, the Zune doesn’t offer that capability anymore.

It’s unclear why Microsoft would find it wise to make such a change, especially when they are trying to compete with Apple’s own product. However, one thing’s for sure- when the battle is as heated and competitive as this one is, even a small change can turn the tide. Let’s hope for the Zune’s sake that this won’t affect their run at MP3 player superiority.

Some of the Many iPod Alternatives

The MP3 player landscape, once unchallenged by any true competitors to the iPod’s throne, has gotten considerably more cramped in recent years. If you don’t have the money for an iPod, or just don’t want one, you’ll be glad to know that there are other options available. Let’s discuss a few.

Microsoft’s Zune is one of the only true competitors to the iPod. It offers many of the same features, such as big hard drives (up to 80 gb), video playback, and a store similar to iTunes. Also, you can share songs wirelessly with other Zune owners and use the FM tuner to listen to music like us old folks used to.

Creative Zen has also made quite a splash with their own 4 gb video and music player, which offers features similar to the iPod Touch models. You can listen to a pretty outstanding 25 hours worth of music off a full battery charge, and there’s even a built-in voice recorder with microphone for all you students out there. Its 2.5 inch LCD screen is quite comparable to that which is offered by the Zune or iPod.

So you see, there are quite a few options out there for those not interested in Apple’s iPod, of which these are just a couple examples. Take a look around and you might be surprised at how many good MP3 players there are to choose from.

MP3 Players, With Radio Too!

Although MP3 players are great products in and of themselves, sometimes it can be nice to be exposed to new music via the radio. Luckily, many new MP3 players are not only giving music lovers an alternative to the iPod, but they are giving them portable FM radio capabilities as well. Read on to find out a couple of the best MP3 players available with this function.

Microsoft’s Zune offers many of the same features as Apple’s iPod, with the addition of a convenient FM radio tuner. If you like your MP3 players with video playback, the Zune has you covered there, too. The Zune also has a high storage capacity for your large music collection.

If you want a more portable alternative to the Zune and iPod, go with Creative Zen’s MP3 players. They offer FM radio capabilities along with a smaller, but good-sized 4 gb (or 2 gb) hard drive.

Either of these products are good choices if you want the option to listen to the radio while you’re on the go, instead of just your own MP3s. Make sure to keep these in mind if you’re a radio lover!

MP3 Players: Should You Buy A Used One?

With MP3 players in high demand, and the economy in a crunch, one of the questions that is asked a lot is whether a used MP3 player is a good purchase. The answer is somewhat complicated, but in the end, it’s a matter of preference. Here are some things to consider.

First of all, while most MP3 players are highly reliable, some are prone to break or malfunction, and with a used player you won’t be getting a store or manufacturer’s warranty. This can lead to heartbreak, as well as an expensive day, when your “new” used MP3 player stops working.

Also, many MP3 players are more affordable than ever. Whether you want portability for working out while listening to music, video playback, or a large hard drive, there are more options than ever, and many of the options are quite affordable. With lower prices, it’s worth asking whether it’s worth the risk to save a few bucks by buying a used MP3 player.

The bottom line is that buying a used MP3 player can be a risky proposition. However, only you can decide whether it’s worth the risk or not. Make sure you take all the possible factors into account before deciding whether to buy a new or used MP3 player!

MP3 Players Provide Music For Every Lifestyle

MP3 players aren’t just for teenagers anymore. No matter what your listening style or lifestyle is, you will probably find that an MP3 player is just what you need to enjoy your favorite music in a whole new way. Here are a few examples of how an MP3 player can benefit you.

If you’re an active person, you have no business being without an MP3 player! Even the longest walks, jogs, and weight-lifting sessions are made much easier by custom playlists of your favorite workout tunes. Rather than listening to whatever’s playing at the gym (or nothing at all), you can listen to whatever pumps you up, and get the most out of your workout, all while enjoying yourself much more than before.

Even if you mostly listen to music at home, you can use your MP3 player through your personal home stereo system while avoiding the annoyance of constantly changing compact discs or radio stations. Smart playlists and shuffle modes will help keep things fresh, as well. So do yourself a favor, and look into getting an MP3 player. You won’t regret it.

MP3 Players for Active People

When they first became popular, MP3 players were very popular among joggers and exercise enthusiasts, who had grown tired of carrying bulky personal CD players, or relying on a portable radio for their music fix while working out. Since then, MP3 players have gotten larger and larger, offering bigger screens for video playback and massive hard drives. However, at the same time, smaller MP3 players have made a comeback, as active people have demanded more portable music players for their lifestyles.

Just about every major MP3 player manufacturer offers smaller versions of their products. Many times, you can get accessories for these ultra-portable players, like armbands that will help you keep your MP3 player secure while keeping your hands free for working out. When buying a smaller MP3 player for working out, look into what accessories like these are available for the player you’re interested in.

Many smaller, more portable MP3 players hold less songs, but that’s usually not a big deal. You can easily switch out songs to keep your workout music fresh by changing them in and out at your home computer. By doing so, you can continue taking advantage of the convenience of a smaller MP3 player that can be used while you’re working out and sweating up a storm.