MP3 players and iPod alternatives

[editor]

Sandisk players often come top of the list for sound quality and they're excellent value too. The Sansa is a fantastic buy.

http://reviews.cnet.com/mp3-players.../4864-6490_7-32896580.html?messageID=10029343

 

[Silva]

Have a look here. They're a pretty good reference for non-ipod players.

 

[gabi]

Sandisk players often come top of the list for sound quality and they're excellent value too. The Sansa is a fantastic buy.

http://reviews.cnet.com/mp3-players.../4864-6490_7-32896580.html?messageID=10029343

Cool, presumably all non-apple players still work with itunes ok? Or do they make life difficult for their competitors, microsoft style..?

 

[UnderOpenSky]

Don't use itunes, but songbird will work with any player that displays as memory stick.

The Fuze that Ed has linked to will let you add a memory card if you music collection grows.

 

[gabi]

Don't use itunes, but songbird will work with any player that displays as memory stick.

The Fuze that Ed has linked to will let you add a memory card if you music collection grows.

So, just to be clear, that player won't work with itunes at all? i dont really fancy changing music software..

 

[UnderOpenSky]

That's a don't know...I'm sure that some one who uses itunes will be along soon.

 

[kained&able]

You need a bit of software called itunes agent but you can make itunes sync with other stuff.


which only works for windows..............

dave

 

[editor]

Don't use itunes, but songbird will work with any player that displays as memory stick.

The Fuze that Ed has linked to will let you add a memory card if you music collection grows.

I reckon this is the one to get:

• SanDisk Sansa Clip+ Specs
• Size: 2.16 x 1.36 x 0.6 in.
• Weight: .85 oz.
• Colors: Black, Maroon, Blue
• Capacities: 2GB, 4GB, 8GB (up to 32GB)
• MSRP: $40, $50, $70
• Supported Formats: MP3, WMA, WAV, FLAC, Ogg, Audible
• Included Accessories: (2GB, 4GB, 8GB)
• Battery Life: 15 hours
• Features: Sleep Timer, FM/ FM Recording, Voice Recording, Music Subscription Capable

http://www.anythingbutipod.com/archives/2009/08/sandisk-sansa-clip-plus-review.php

All yours for £42 for the 8GB version and £30 and £24 for the 4GB and 2GB models.

I don't think we've got it here, but that Slot Radio is an interesting concept.

 

[gabi]

I reckon this is the one to get:

All yours for £42 for the 8GB version and £30 and £24 for the 4GB and 2GB models.

I don't think we've got it here, but that Slot Radio is an interesting concept.

Sweet. It aint a looker. But £42....

 

[grit]

nice feature set at a good price, I'm actually in the market as my 18 month nano died on friday.

The dimensions make it seem a bit bulky compared to other players though

 

[editor]

nice feature set at a good price, I'm actually in the market as my 18 month nano died on friday.

The dimensions make it seem a bit bulky compared to other players though

It's pretty damn small you know! I had a play with one recently.

 

[FridgeMagnet]

Just to check, you are using Windows here yeah?

 

[gabi]

Nope, mac..

 

[FridgeMagnet]

Nope, mac..

Ah

Almost no players apart from iPods come with any Mac software. Some of them you can load with music since when you plug them in they appear as standard USB drives (and iTunes supports these, or at least it did when I last tried) but quite often you can't and they have special requirements. Often they will not *tell* you this, either.

A while back when my iPod got nicked I spent a while looking around for Mac-compatible players which were cheaper than iPods but in the end, I didn't find any decent ones at all.

 

[Crispy]

Pretty sure the sandisk ones mount as a USB voume. You can drag and drop from itunes to finder to put stuff on it.

 

[kained&able]

or not

 

[editor]

Pretty sure the sandisk ones mount as a USB voume. You can drag and drop from itunes to finder to put stuff on it.

Yep:

Although I had seen a review of the Clip noting that it could connect to Macs, there was no indication on the packaging that it was Mac-compatible; the box listed system requirements as Windows XP2 and Windows Media Player 10. Luckily, I could have brought it back for a refund if it hadn't worked for me.

The Clip comes with a short USB cable; when it was connected to my Mac, it promptly appeared as an external drive - the Clip's 1" screen showed that it was connected and charging. Double-clicking the drive icon on my Mac showed folders labeled Music and Audible (for Audible book recordings). It was no sweat to copy album folders from my Mac into the Music folder.

The real test, of course, is whether the music works. The Clip's packaging promises support for MP3 and both protected and unprotected Windows Media music files, along with Audible book files. There's no support for Apple's AAC file format, used by default when you rip CDs to iTunes or download copy-protected music from the iTunes Store.

Because I routinely set iTunes to rip CDs to MP3, the music files that I copied over to the Clip played without problem, showing artist and album information on its small screen.

http://lowendmac.com/zisman/08az/sansa-clip-mac.html

 

[grit]

It's pretty damn small you know! I had a play with one recently.

Its twice the thickness of the nano, and for my pockets i prefare thinner and flatter to shorter and thicker, dunno why just seems to take up less room that way.

 

[editor]

I've merged a few threads here to keep things tidy.

Argos have got some real bargains on at the moment:
Sansa Clip MP3 player 4GB £25
Sansa Fuze video MP3 player 4GB £25 (8GB £39)
Philips 8GB Gogear MP3 player £39

 

[kabbes]

Do the non-apple mp3 players work with iTunes?

 

[kabbes]

Oops, I see that the question was already asked and answered.

 

[gabi]

Hmm...

Well, I've just splashed out a refurbed ipod touch from the apple store. As it's refurbed its the same price as a nano. Anyone got any experience with refurbed stuff from them?

 

[FridgeMagnet]

Mostly very good. I buy everything from them refurbed if I can.

 

[gabi]

Mostly very good. I buy everything from them refurbed if I can.

Cool.

£119 for the refurbed touch.

£115 for a new nano. a no-brainer.

 

[6_6]

i quite fancy getting one of these

 

[UnderOpenSky]

I've merged a few threads here to keep things tidy.

Argos have got some real bargains on at the moment:
Sansa Clip MP3 player 4GB £25
Sansa Fuze video MP3 player 4GB £25 (8GB £39)

That might just do if for me...add a 8gb micro sd card and thats £35 for a 12gb player. Don't really want to spend much more as use my phone most of the time, but for when I go running its a bit big.

 

[6_6]

these are rather good-looking

 

[grit]

Hmm...

Well, I've just splashed out a refurbed ipod touch from the apple store. As it's refurbed its the same price as a nano. Anyone got any experience with refurbed stuff from them?

Is the warranty the same as on the refurb?

 

[gabi]

Is the warranty the same as on the refurb?

Yeh. one year.

 

[Crispy]

Hmm...

Well, I've just splashed out a refurbed ipod touch from the apple store. As it's refurbed its the same price as a nano. Anyone got any experience with refurbed stuff from them?

good choice. it's the best ipod in terms of UI and experience, and it's a great PDA/pocket computer. Best gadget I've ever had