Well my good ol Muvo2 has at last completely given up on me so its time for a new MP3 player i just have no idea what i want...

What do people recommend these days?

Heres some form of Help...
Budget - Ã,£150ish
Storage - 4GB+
Size - Small as possible
Display - Not really fussed if it has one never mind all that fancy crap
Good battery life is ofc a plus

Would be nice if it didnt need some dodgy software and could just be added to by dragging mp3s into a folder like an external USB device.


So...??


Cheers
Leon

the Samsung YEPP players look good on paper, but be warned, my 1GB one was buggy as hell. Periodically claimed to have a flat battery for no reason, froze up playing certain OGG files and didnt always talk nicely to computers I plugged it into.

I ended up getting a Tatung Elio to replace it, but thats no good for you as its big and chunky and requires special software. I only like it because it is a 20GB player for under Ã,£100 and has USB host and SD card download capabilitys which are useful with my DSLR.

These badgers look quite nice, similar size except thicker than Ipod Nano (The only choice if size really is the biggest concern).

http://www.sandisk.com/Products/Catalog(1166)-SanDisk_Sansa_e200_Series_MP3_Players.aspx

Not used one but might consider getting one unless I can resurrect my other Ipod

Plays video too I think.

Well if you want to burn in hell :
http://www.dabs.com/ProductView.aspx?Quicklinx=48XY&InMerch=1


or :
http://www.dabs.com/productview.aspx?Quicklinx=45DH&SearchType=1&SearchTerms=creative+zen&PageMode=3&SearchKey=All&SearchMode=All&NavigationKey=0

although personally for the money Id get :
http://www.dabs.com/productview.aspx?Quicklinx=3VT8&SearchType=1&SearchTerms=iriver&PageMode=3&SearchKey=All&SearchMode=All&NavigationKey=0

ipod nano 8 gig, 160. you can download software to drag to external device.

*prepares to be flamed*

Theres no other choice IMO.

Im just assuming by the thread there may be a little anti-ipod feeling.

Ipods have good battery life but they are also expensive and require software to be installed so I doubt if one of those would fit the bill.

Dooms, is it just to carry around or are you intending to do some exercise while carrying it? If the latter then flash memory would be definitely preferable. The ability to use rechargeable AAA batteries might also be useful, on several occasions my player ran out and I just swapped what in effect is a cheap battery.

I got one of these before christmas and it seems to work well enough with a 1GB card, not sure if it will work with a 4GB one though. Still its a dirt cheap option.

http://www.7dayshop.com/catalog/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=&products_id=100694

The creative zen v is nice but is very cheap shiny plastic. A friend almost got one recently but went with a samsung instead.

Personally i would go with the nano, the new ones are quite nice. You just have to live with having an ipod.

Definately the best control system of the 3 main ones mentioned that I have used. Those being:

iPod Nano
Samsung  YP-Z5A
Creative Zen V

The new Ipod will be anounced mid November, you can hold off and get a mini till then to save some cash
TBH, Zune with the formats it can and will use sounds like it could actually be good

Creative or Samsung FTW. Ipod are overpriced, lack many of the features of the competition, dont mount as mass storage, dont sound as good, andd require Itunes, which is one of the most annoying and draconian pieces of sh*tty software anybody could ever install on a computer.

http://www.play.com/Electronics/Electronics/RGNNR/3-/911712/Samsung_YP_Z5_4GB_Silver_MP3_WMA_Player/Product.html

- I got the 2gb version, had it for ages and it still works fine, 8/10marks from me

I think I woulda gone with a nano at the time if they hadnt looked so fraggle - I tend to batter stuff around. The sammy has got a much nicer screen tho, and its way cheaper

Creative are just too funny.

Quote from: maximusotterCreative or Samsung FTW. Ipod are overpriced, lack many of the features of the competition, dont mount as mass storage, dont sound as good, andd require Itunes, which is one of the most annoying and draconian pieces of sh*tty software anybody could ever install on a computer.

Over priced, yes, dont mount (without additional software) yes, requie itunes (without additional software) yes.

but lack of features? like what? FM radio? thats all I can think of!
and dont sound as good? not a chance, not only does it sound crap loads better than my, and my friends creatives(MuVo and new zen), but the eq is so much better.

Maybe youre on about an older generation of ipods but with my 2nd gen nano (equal to 5th gen ipod) the features and sound quality are astounding, and yes it cost alot, but the new nano is also really damned durable, ive had it about a month now and theres not even a scratch, no case or nothing! considering my old creative literally fell apart it shows how much i dont really look after them.

the only worry i have with my ipod is losing it because its so small and light, and getting mugged cos it cost so damned much.

you can also rest safe knowing there are millions of adapters/docks/skins/cases/hacks/software/firmware available for it because its the number one mp3 player in the buisness.

lastly, its easy to use, it took my brother 15 seconds to work it out, and hes nearly clinically retarded.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150050797883

Anything else is just unnecessary.

Spend the left over Ã,£84.02 on something nice.

Quote from: matt5cotthttp://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150050797883

Anything else is just unnecessary.

Spend the left over Ã,£84.02 on something nice.

Best recommendation TBPFH

Spend the savings on a half decent pair of earphones.

Thats like buying cheap bubbly; you save a bit of money but you know its cheap and the girl knows its cheap and that ruins it. You start to hate it and turn to 70% white rum and you die of liver failure at just 14yrs old.

You shoulda go for the decent stuff in the first place, or if youre limited to a certain budget a nice Chardonnay or Riesling goes down better than Tesco Value Champagne.

But Ã,£150 buys a lot and you should go for the nicest bottle you can get.