Coby MP305-1G MP3 Player with 1 GB Flash Memory FM Radio, USB Drive and LCD - Black Buy Now

...at least when I'm exercising. Lots of storage space, very portable, and great sound quality.Get more detail about Coby MP305-1G MP3 Player with 1 GB Flash Memory FM Radio, USB Drive and LCD - Black.

Creative MuVo TX FM 128 MB MP3 Player Order Now

I own a Creative MuVo TX FM 1GB MP3 Player that is great! But, I paid the same for it as this 128MB player is currently listed for. You can get a much larger capacity player than this for the same price. Unfortunately the newer 2GB MuVo V100 has some significant issues with download speed and folder/track navigation so I can't recommend it.Get more detail about Creative MuVo TX FM 128 MB MP3 Player.

Apple iPod 4 GB mini M9802LL/A (Turquoise) OLD MODEL Decide Now

Item came with a sticker on the back in the form of a star with the name James in the star. I removed the sticker to find a large, deep scratch underneath. Clever way to disguise the flaw!Get more detail about Apple iPod 4 GB mini M9802LL/A (Turquoise) OLD MODEL.

RCA M4308 8GB Digital Media Player Right now

Pros: Wal*Mart didn't hassle me about bringing it back.

Cons: This piece of doo-doo locked up and failed to boot three times in 48 hours. Also, I can't say anything BAD enough about Audiovox's "Customer Service."

Summary: Don't waste you time, money and good nature.

A year or so ago I bought a new car with a nice factory stereo, which in addition to playing MP3 and WMA formatted CDs, had an 'AUX' input for portable stereo devices. One can plug in, for example, a portable cassette player, 8-Track (no, I never owned one) or MP3 player. For a while, I used the MP3 player in my camera/cellular phone, but it does not keep your place in the music if you use another function, and its playlist editing capability is, well, limited. I wanted a dedicated MP3 player primarily for use in the car (those Public Radio beg-a-thons can be SO tedious) and on the commuter bus.

Wal*Mart had a selection of MP3s available right after Christmas, ranging in price from about $30 to $230, not including the Fruit Machine EyePods. There were a few Sony machines in my price range, but the screens were on the small side. They also offered a handful of Philips MP3 players, but many of the reviews I had read were negative. There were also a couple of RCA players, including the 8GB 'Opal' series model M4308. It had a 2" screen (minimal, with my aging eyes) and didn't require an indentured servitude to the Company iStore to load my own files. I brought it home for $50, and left it connected to my computer for the required four hours before starting it, while I loaded music and videos onto it per the manual.

When I had loaded less than 2GB into the flash RAM and finished the charging cycle, I disconnected the unit and turned it on. It told me it was creating the library, and that it could take a few minutes. I went and made dinner and took care of other chores, I checked the player, and found it was still creating the library - an hour and ten minutes later. I had a $50 brick on my hands.

I tried to find help on the RCA consumer service website, but it's a hopeless case. I finally called their 800- line and talked to the AudioVox (surprise!) Customer Support desk. They sent me an eMail, which told me to go to the AudioVox website and click something from the front page. Guess what? Their front page is a Flash animation with loud music and four selections: "Find a Product | Product Registration | Corporate Information | Branded Sites," none of which lead directly to the Consumer Support area. I called the Customer Support desk back, and the RUDE S.O.B. called me an IDIOT (his word) and told me what I needed was right there in front of me! Gee, I'm sorry, but I'm only a professional Computer Scientist, and I can't navigate a website that their CSRs obviously haven't seen since the last update.

I hung up on the @$$ and downloaded the firmware update I needed from the RCA Audio-Video website. The good news was that it de-bricked the unit. The bad news is that a firmware upgrade requires formatting the flash RAM - bye, bye tunes and movies. One can still backup the contents to the computer, but what a pain. Without loading any files to the machine, it booted okay. I loaded up some music and short videos (see NOTE, below). Again, it booted, and played fine. As I filled the RAM with files, I discovered that the device had bricked again. Repeat after me: "Wipe, reload, repeat." Progressing slowly, I found that the Opal hung once I had loaded more than 1.5 gigabytes of files onto it, even using their own software. I have also discovered that it hangs when you use the 'drag and drop' method to load any unsupported file formats (MPEG-4, for example).

In less than 48 hours, this little nightmare had hung three times, requiring major brain surgery (a lobotomy) to correct. I took it back to Wal*Mart, where the Service Desk attendant told me that she had personally processed three returns over two weeks. I traded it in on the new Sony Walkman NWZ-S540 (16GB with built-in speakers) for twice the price, but I haven't had a single problem with that one.

Do not even consider the RCA 'Opal' 4300 series. You will face nothing but heartbreak (or heartburn) and disappointment.

NOTE: The M4308's press claims it supports the AVI, MPEG-4 and WMV video formats. Only conditionally - you have to use their "RCA EasyRip" software to convert it to Sigmatel's proprietary SMV format. That conversion takes longer than the video's runtime for anything longer than a few minutes.Get more detail about RCA M4308 8GB Digital Media Player.

Lowest Price Skullcandy Men's MacGyver 1GB MP3 Player Watch # McG-B1024

I bought this watch because it was on sale for $35 and I figured it would be nice to have to sneak music in almost anywhere.

Pros:
1) included headphones are nice, enough slack
2) watch serves as voice recorder, mp3 player, and flash drive
3) sound recorded is good quality
4) good sound quality
5) included pod cast software, even though I haven't used it, nice to know I can
6) glow in the dark dials and time tick marks are nice addition in absence of built in button light
7) steal at 35 bucks

cons:
1) not waterproof, for someone like me that woulda easily bumped the price up to 150
2) a lil bulky on the wrist, but not uncomfortable
3) controls are a bit confusing, after skimming through the instructions, I've yet to learn how to work the shuffle and master the sound recorder
4) for a unit so small I know it wouldn't have an organized way of picking songs besides moving forward and backwards through the tracks 1 by 1, but man is 1 gb a lot of music to go through to find that one song you want.Get more detail about Skullcandy Men's MacGyver 1GB MP3 Player Watch # McG-B1024.

Low Price Centon Craze 4GB MP3 Player (Blue)

I bought 2 of these MP3 players. Result after 3 months of very moderate use:

One was only playing for 1hr before the cheap, plastic on/off switch broke and rendered the unit useless
The second one only plays for 1hr and only immediately after being charged. If you wait a couple days after charging there is not even enough power to start up the unit.

Save your money, don't but a Centon product.Get more detail about Centon Craze 4GB MP3 Player (Blue).

Save Ipod video 30gb Black

This is product is a good investment when it comes to download videos/movies/photos/podcast. Im in favor of this product because of its features.I have already download over 500 music/photos/videos/movies from itunes store and still downloading more within a month. This player is a good value for the price. Get more detail about Ipod video 30gb Black.

Discount Tricod iQfm Extreme fm-iqfmexbl - Digital player with RF modulator

I drive a Toyota RAV4 and wanted some way to play the music I want, since the radio station selection where I live is pretty poor. I've been doing music downloads, CD ripping and burning for a while, and I was pleasantly surprised to find these FM modulators that would allow me to take my digital music with me in the car.

Pros:
1. Plays WMA format.
2. Simple to use (once you figure out a couple of small things)
3. Decent sound (but what do you expect from an OEM stereo system, in a vehicle that has quite a bit of wind/road noise?..the RAV4 is NO concert hall!)

Cons:
1. If you're a true audiophile, this device probably won't do it for you.
2. Very skimpy instructions...when I first set it up, I had no idea what to look for to see that my car "recognized" the device. When it powered up through the cigarette lighter, the display instantly showed a bunch of icons in the VERY tiny display window. I did see some words that read "No Device." When nothing else happened for a while, I went ahead and inserted my SD card in the slot. Nothing changed, and nothing played. I knew I was on a clear FM station, so I figured the Tricod just didn't work and wasn't transmitting a signal to the stereo system. When I had more time later, and took a close look at the display, I could see that the "No Device" message referred to the SD card (there was a vague outline of an SD card next to the words.) Turns out I had inserted the SD card upside down. So please note that you need to insert the card label side DOWN. Once I turned the card over and re-inserted it, the device started working as advertised. However, this lack of information in the instructions is why I'm giving it 4 stars instead of 5.

A surprising thing..once the device started working on the totally clear FM channel, I found that I had to turn the stereo's volume to the max to hear the music above a faint level. I was still ready to return the thing, when I decided to try tuning in to some of the other FM stations. When I tuned in to another one of the Tricod's designated frequencies (a station that was clearly in use), the Tricod's signal was actually stronger, and I could hear the music just fine at a more normal volume level. Strange...

I've never used any of the other FM modulators, so I can't compare the Tricod with them.
Get more detail about Tricod iQfm Extreme fm-iqfmexbl - Digital player with RF modulator.

Cheapest Cowon D2 4 GB Portable Media Player (Black)

I listen to a lot of audiobooks, and find the D2 an excellent device for that purpose, in particular the bookmarks feature. The Cowon works with NetLibrary,Overdrive and Audible. The display is large and clear, which I appreciate. The battery seems to last forever, much longer than other MP3s I have owned.

I have Vista Home Premium, 64-bit on my computer, and had no compatibility problems.

The manual and customer support pages are terrible. The manual doesn't cover all of the functions, at least that I could find, like how to delete bookmarks. That took a lot of trial and error. [On the bookmarks page, click "settings" at the bottom of the page, and choose to delete one or all bookmarks from the menu.]

My other complaint is that the display, while large and clear, is very busy, and it's not possible to delete unwanted information. I've read that the new version, the D2+, has an improved display. When I purchased the D2 I didn't think the improved display was worth an additional $30, but now I'm not so sure.

I have not found the JetAudio software very useful and don't have it on my computer, but perhaps that's because I don't listen to music that much on the Cowon.Get more detail about Cowon D2 4 GB Portable Media Player (Black).

Cheap Sony 4 GB Walkman Video MP3 Player with FM Tuner (Red)

I own an Ipod Nano (5th generation) and I keep that docked in my stereo as when it comes to using an MP3 player when running or at my desk, I prefer the Sony Walkman. Hands down!! Just easier to use, better sound (once I got different headphones) and less accidental menu selections.

Also, my Walkman (same model shown here) doesn't rely on I-tunes. I LIKE that as I use Rhapsody to buy my songs. You can use Windows Media Player to manage/transfer play-lists.

Again, my only one complaint was I didn't like the headphones so I bought a set I prefer and all is well now.
Get more detail about Sony 4 GB Walkman Video MP3 Player with FM Tuner (Red).

Buying Archos 105 2 GB Flash Video MP3 Player (Gray)

I saw this Archo105 [under forty bucks] on Amazon and bought it for fun. It is smaller than a credit card, very thin and weighs nothing. Put it in your shirt pocket and you'll forget it's there.
The sound is great. The video player is not so great but watchable. The interface is sorta clunky, not pretty. It does have shuffle.
No removable battery/no sd card slot/no external lock(hold) button.

Archos105 interfaces with Windows media player 10, which will sync and easily convert many file types including AVI to mp3 or wmv. It will not convert mp4 files.(I don't know about Mac interface.) Since this player will only play mp3 and wmv files, other files will need to be converted to play in the windows media player v10.

I am surprised how much video this 2gb player holds. When converted to wmv files, a 250mb avi file shrinks to about 57 megabytes. I have a whole season of The Simpsons on my player with lots of room to spare.
For the money it is a good deal and I'm happy with this player.
A far better item is a Meizu player which has more EQ options and a much bigger and better screen and is just as small.Get more detail about Archos 105 2 GB Flash Video MP3 Player (Gray).

Buy Philips SA1110/37 1 GB Flash MP3 Player (Black)

I agree with most of the negatives/CONS posted already. (e.g. the packaging IS DECEPTIVE, i.e. it APPEARS you are getting a unit the exact size and SHAPE of a 7-stick gum pack, but it's really quite a bit thicker, and triangular in cross-section.)

Also, I can see the *potential* for the USB cap to become loose-fitting, but after 24 months, mine's still snug. Knock on plastic.

OTOH, karma swung my way: i.e. agreed to pay $75 (incl. tax, May 2007) only because $40 mail-in rebate included from Office ____. Months go by, no rebate, visit customer website, clickety-click-click... then TWO $40 rebate checks show up! So they PAID ME $5 to take it off their hands, nyuk-nyuk-nyuk.

Later on, I would need that fiver to buy new Philips-Magnavox (ChiCom) earbuds, as the wire for first one channel, then the other, eventually broke inside the original plug's strain-relief. No violent bending involved, just normal use. Perhaps a right-angle plug would prove more durable?

PROS: 1) EASY (albeit slow) to load files on--it's ALPHABETICAL! (Wish my bloody Nokia phone were so straightforward!) If you want the folder called 'Xray Death Metal' to be first, just prefix a zero or 'a' to the title. For what you wish to be last, place a small 'z' in front of the name. Similarly inside the folders, simply prefix numerals to change the "natural" order to the desired sequence. Duh-simple. I like it.

2) Nice nuanced assortment of equalizers.

3) Handles several NON-MP3 formats, including some very compact versions of WMA. Kudos.

4) Voice memo function handy, voice quality very good, even in vehicle; more than adequate for dictation. (Have NOT tested it in high-din situation, e.g. lecture hall.)

5) Fits securely in the excellent and affordable Tunebelt AB3 armband.

6) Accurate and linear battery meter.

Pro/con: *does* remember exactly where you were in which file during battery swapout, but ONLY IF: a) you manually shutdown before battery dies completely; and b) you swap the battery quickly, say less than 20 secs. empty-bay time... as if it uses a small capacitor to keep "pointers" alive in a volatile memory...? Anyway, that's how it behaves.

CONS: 1) Agonizingly SLOW FF/REW function! This is the only REAL DEAL KILLER: It's only 4x normal speed! So to jump (crawl) to minute 30 of an hour-long podcast/language lesson/lecture, you're holding down the FF button for 7.5 minutes! Holy thumb-cramp, Batman! And with NO audio feedback (you know, that screechy accelerated sample-stream), so now you have to WATCH the timer to avoid overshoot... on an AUDIO device... oh, the cruel IRONY... Bloody HELL!

This could easily be remedied in firmware, but Philips has NEVER issued a single firmware update for this product, AFAICT. You know, like maybe after holding the FF/REW down for more than 30 seconds, it *accelerates* to perhaps 10x, or better yet, 16x!... HELLO Dutch persons!!!... ;')

2) Awkward ergonomics. Whereas w/ iPod you can activate anything/everything with a single hand/thumb, this SA1110 unit requires 2 thumbs plus 2 index fingers! I call it the "crab-pincer" interface, LOL.

3) Klugey, stilted menu navigation. e.g. the FF/REW button doubles as the folder-skip button, but there's WAY too many pushes of THREE separate buttons required to make this function-swap! Ridiculous. Annoying, actually. Not to mention AVOIDABLE... a little thinkin' and designin' next time 'round, eh?

RE: Battery life--I get about 4 hrs. per hybrid re-chargeable AAA. Since I rarely use it more than 2 hrs./day, no problem keeping it ready by rotating a pair of batteries dedicated for this purpose.Get more detail about Philips SA1110/37 1 GB Flash MP3 Player (Black).