Please educate me about mp3 players as a gift item

In My Humble Opinion
1

I have pretty much avoided delving into the complexities of mp3 players and iPods. For example, I’m prettysure an iPod is a brand of mp3 player and that there are cometing models…but not certain even of that much.

Now, the spouse has decided that such a thing might make a good (albeit expensive) gift for a friend. On short notice.

So I guess I need to know whatever anyone can tell me about dabbling into the world of portable music players. Facts and opinion are both welcome.

I recognize that they are difficult to buy for someone else because they are both pricey and special-feature-laden. Is there one sort of device that would make a good gift for a relatively technically-inclined friend to get him started in the mp3 scene? One reason we feel he’d like to try it is that he has specific tastes that broadcast radio seldom satisfies, and he likes to play with techno-toys.

Anyone feel that non-iPod would be worthwhile, or is it an iPod-dominated world?

Thanks,

Sailboat

2

The iPod is an MP3 (and some other formats) player made by Apple. There are several types - some with harddrives and some without (the Nano, for example).

MP3 player brands are like any other brand of electronic - everybody has there favorite and everything else is crap (a generaliztion, may not apply to you).

I purposely did not buy an iPod because I’m not an Apple fan. Also, there was that whole battery replacement debacle. I’ve seen and held an iPod and it feels cheap to me. I like a little more heft.

I have a Creative Labs Zen Nomad. It has a 30Gb harddrive (which I’ve only managed to put about 9Gb of music on). It will play MP3, wav, and WMA files. I have had no problems with it (after almost a year) other than the occasional freeze up (which has been corrected with upgraded firmware).

Think about how this person will use the player. If he’s going to be rough with it, consider a flash-based version (liek the Nano).

3

If the friend is technically inclined, an iPod should be a good gift. I’m a PC guy and I like mine. But you might ask if they would like an iPod, why don’t they have one already?