MP3 players

The Pinball

i know this is an often asked question, but which should i get and why??

if there's a thread on this, just link it; i tried the search and couldn't find one.

i want a new MP3 for Christmas -- ipods are everywhere now, do i have to have an ipod? it seems there are lighter ones. the BestBuy people don't seem to mention sports and MP3s in the same sentence.

it will be used for treadmill running. i'm tired of running for an hour or more on the treadmill in the morning and hearing very little music.. commercialscommercialscommercials. Mad

morning radio stinks!

thanks for any input.

Excelent

An iPod is on my wish list.

I like it because of how much music it holds, 20 gigabytes.

The player I have now is 128 megabytes, which is about 2 hours worth of music.

PRESIDENT

I have the Rio Cali Sport. I use it on the mill all the time. It is an updated model now, the one Elkid has. Not sure of the new name, it's silver I think. I love this thing. Mr. Green

About $169.00 I believe at Best Buy.

Member

I have an Archos Jukebox that I never use (cannot find the software or the transfer & power cable even) and it was great, just really bulky for running. I think we're looking at iPod mini's now, maybe get one for both me and Libby for Christmas. We're walking a lot now (trying to get her into jogging a bit here and there) and tunes would be great. But even the mini (holds 1,000 songs) version is like $250, and you can get a 20gb iPod for $299.

But the mini's come in designer colors. Wink

Member

Check out the wholesale clubs (Costco, Sam's Club, or BJ's) for great deals on MP3 players. Costco has some of the Rio players dirt cheap on my last visit there a few months ago.

Kermitologist

i just got one at target, on clearance for 97 bucks, regularly 140 or 150. its a virgin brand, and its got 256 mb of space on it. the software was really easy to install on my computer.

thats all i got. Neutral

i really havent gotten to use it yet. i havent had time to load any music on it.

a friend just bought the dell version of an iPod. she likes it way better, and it was a little cheaper.

Member

First question: WHY? This varies. I know people who run with one for pacing, others for motivation. Me, the primary reason is I cannot stand the lamaze-like sounds of my own breathing. Yes, it's helped me get through some rough spots in races. Yes, it sometimes makes a longer race or 4 1/2 hour training run seem shorter and more bearable. But I've run and raced without music, and the sound of my own breathing makes me sick. Get one if you want one; just use common sense and good judgment (safety issues, etc.). If you race with one, be prepared to sometimes Incur The Wrath. Ironically, most often from those pushing baby joggers. Confused

Though most small races are headphone friendly, and many bigger ones as well.

Second question: WHICH ONE? I am the MP3 player QUEEN! Having gone through so many, that is. The first one I had was a Samsung YEPP. Hubby got it for me for Christmas 2002 because I was sick of my CD player with handstrap (bulky, got heavy after 10 miles, hard to wipe off sweat/blow nose). Loved my YEPP so much, RLAG got one last Christmas from Chez Partay. Though the armband was a little weak; it adjusted only so much. It was 128MB so it didn't hold much music (wrapped around during my looong marathon) and it really ate batteries (had to change the battery during my looong marathon). Other than that, I never had a problem with it. That thing got dropped, kicked, rained on (dried out in 2 days), you name it. Then I conveniently left it, along with my Bolle sunglasses, on the hood of my car after my first monster tri and drove away. I hope it went to a good home. cry

Next I got the MPIO FY200 256MB. Nice adjustable elastic armband. Lasted 20 hours, killed by the horrid humidity of the South. Brought it back and got a new one. Killed once again on another business trip to the South by the humidity. I still have this one which was "fixed" by the manufacturer. Used it on a recent 2 hour run in the rain; so far it's still kicking but it's a back-up player since I don't have much confidence in it. Then I bought the iRiver 890T 256MB and the buyer protection plan from Best Buy (VERY SMART MOVE). This had a really sucky armband. That had a manufacturer's defect and broke in 2 hours. I returned it under the BPP, no questions asked, and managed to break the second (rain, even though wrapped in plastic bag).

Finally, under the advice of our beloved bonobo, I moved to the Rio Forge Sport, $160 MSRP. Great elastic armband adjusts and, as I've discovered recently, can be used to nicely loop an extra long headphone cord around when wearing a longsleeved shirt. It holds a lot of music, depending on how you rip it. With the quality I use, I get about 7-8 hours. 20 hours of playtime. It rests in a plastic case that keeps the player elevated from your arm, which is a HUGE bonus in keeping it dry if you are a heavy sweater like me. The software is easy to use, too. It just takes awhile to get used to the playlist function. This is the one to get, and I can't recommend enough going through Best Buy and getting their 2 year protection plan (price dictated by product price level). If anything goes wrong (remember, these things are HIGHLY susceptible to moisture, whether it be humidity, rain, or snow) you take it back and exchange it for the same model, or an equivalent. So you buy one, and then get free upgrades every 2 years. Cool

The Pinball

thanks for the input! my son has a rio so i was thinking i should just get one since we are kinda set up for their system anyway...but i wanted to hear it from someone other than my kidrock.

thanks...i'll seriously consider that rio.

doesn't anyone run with their music on their waistband? i don't like the idea of an armband

crazy cat lady

Anyone have any ipod reviews? And how much bigger is the non-mini one? Anyone?

Member

Rock, I use Wally Worlds MP3, Lyra I think its called. For less than a hundred bucks you can't beat it. I think its 128 MB but you can buy extra MB's to add too it if you need to. (no i'm not a techie. Also the armband thing is no big whoop, i hated the idea of wearing one myself until my hubby made me try it.

With a price that cheap you'll have enough left over to by Massengil by the bulk load, and a roll of duct tape.

The Pinball

MP3 players

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