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Comparing Portable MP3 Players
With the recent explosion of MP3
music files, it was only a matter of time before the portable MP3
player market started heating up. While portable MP3 players have been
available for several years, only now has competition spurred better
features and lower prices. We’ve reviewed the six players below in
an attempt to help you better understand this new-fangled electronic
device and select the best MP3 player for you.
 With no recognizable difference in sound
quality, the obvious benefits of a portable MP3 player over a portable
CD player are; physical size and ‘skip-free play’. Since MP3 files
are completely digital, you can listen to your favorite music on your
portable MP3 player in your car, while running, skiing, mountain
biking or doing just about anything - without skipping a beat.
Requirements
Any portable MP3 player is useless without a full functioning computer
to go with it. MP3 audio files are passed to a portable player from
your computer. Each player comes with its own software that must be
loaded on to your computer which enables the two to communicate.
Subsequently, each player has its own requirements for the
accompanying computer’s processor speed, Random Access Memory (RAM),
operating system and connecting port.
Almost all players require at least a 90 Mhz
processor, 16 MB
of RAM, a serial or parallel port connection and will
work on Windows 95 and Windows 98. Some players require faster
processors, more RAM and there are a few that will work on Windows NT
or MacIntosh operating systems.
Storage
Most portable MP3 players come with a standard 32 MB of storage space.
With an average three minute song taking up 3 MB of space, that’s
storage for about 10 songs. Some players come with 64 MB of storage or
are expandable to 64 MB.
Increased storage usually comes in the
form of a removable memory cartridge. This means, in essence, that
these players are forever expandable. It also means, that you are
able to use these cartridges much as you would a tape or recordable CD
-- storing
different collections of your favorite music.
Features
There are a number of features that are unique to assorted players.
Some players come with a built-in microphone for recording, a
rechargeable internal battery, an auto shut-off mechanism, a wired
remote or a built-in FM radio. Of course, additional features add to
the price of the player, so it’s important to find the traits that
are most useful to you.
In the charts below we compare the various
attributes of several portable MP3 players. As you review the charts,
keep in mind how and where you intend to listen to your music, what
kind of computer you have, what features are most important to you and
how much you are willing to spend. Good luck purchasing your portable
MP3 player and thank you for visiting FTPplanet.com.
[ MP3
Player Ratings
and Reviews | MP3 Music
Discussion ]
| Features |
Jaz
Zipper |
Diamond
Rio 300 |
Creative
Labs
Nomad |
| Microphone |
Yes |
no |
Yes |
| FM Radio |
no |
no |
Yes |
| Power |
2
AAA |
1
AA |
2
AAA |
| Battery Life |
10
hrs. *CP |
12
hrs. *CP |
8-10
hrs. *CP |
| Low Battery
Indicator |
Yes |
no |
no |
| Auto shut-off |
no |
no |
no |
| Size |
3.5"
x 2.5" x 0.875" |
3.5"
x 2.5" x 0.625" |
3.6"
x 2.5" x 0.875" |
| System Requirements |
Pentium
level processor |
Pentium
90, 16 MB RAM, W95.98 |
Pentium
200, 32MB RAM, W98/95 &
Mac |
| Wired Remote |
no |
no |
Yes |
| Other
Specs |
Telephone
Directory |
32
MB built-in storage |
Docking
Station & Rechargeable Batteries |
| Price
- 32 MB |
$189.00 |
**$149.99 |
$170.00 |
| Price -
64 MB |
$249.00 |
***+
$100.00 |
$250.00 |
| |
 |
 |
 |
*Continuous Play
**$99.99 through 3/15/2000 with a $50 rebate from Rio.
***2 x 16 MB cards at $50 each.
| Features |
Samsung
Yepp |
RCA
Lyra |
I-Jam |
| Microphone |
Yes |
no |
no |
| FM Radio |
Yes |
no |
Yes |
| Power |
2
AAA |
2
AA / 4.5(dc) |
2
AAA |
| Battery Life |
10
hrs. *CP |
12
hrs. *CP |
8-10
hrs. *CP |
| Low
Battery Indicator |
no |
Yes |
no |
| Auto shut-off |
no |
Yes |
no |
| Size |
3.4"
x 2.5" x 0.875" |
4.5"
x 2.5" x 0.875" |
3.5"
x 2.0" x 0.875" |
| System Requirements |
no
available |
Pentium
166, 65MB RAM, W98/95/NT |
Pentium
266, 32MB RAM, W98/95 |
| Wired Remote |
no |
no |
no |
| Other
Specs |
Telephone
Directory |
Also
plays RealAudio G2 |
Storage
comes as
2 x 16 MB cards |
| Price
- 32 MB |
$149.99 |
$199.00 |
**$149.99 |
| Price -
64 MB |
$229.99 |
$249.00 |
***+
$100.00 |
|
 |
 |
 |
*Continuous Play
**$89.99 through 03/01/2000 with a $40 rebate from Beyond.com.
***2 x 16 MB cards at $50 each.
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