iPod or iRiver..........or something else?

[GregWhelan]

Hi all

I'm going to annoy you all now with a newbie type question but hopefully some of you can help.

I am definitely going to buy a portable mp3 player sometime soon, probably after Xmas. I have been doing research, and a couple of you on here have helped out (thanks Mr big and neoee). I'm still pretty confused as there is so much choice!

Basically i'm after:

1. Something that can hold a fair amount of tracks, at least 10,000 say

2. Something that I can hook up to my car stereo very easily, eliminating all the damn cd's I have in the glove compartment etc. Whatever I get IT MUST BE COMPATIBLE WITH MY CAR STEREO

3. Something that looks decent

aside from that I have a general question about file transfers. Say I buy an mp3 player and i download a set from MS. Can I transfer that to my portable mp3 player as a series of tracks or will it be one long file? I don't wanna end up with a load of files that are hours long as It will put me off tuning in.

Thanks for any advice guys!

[Kamal]

Re: iPod or iRiver..........or something else?

Just get the new iPod color for $399. You can store 60 GB worth of data (about a year ago, I paid $399 for my 40 GB one). If you download a set as a single MP3, then it gets transfered as a single MP3 i.e. without breaks.

[timriley12]

Re: iPod or iRiver..........or something else?

Are you going to be exercising with it ie. jogging? I've never found anything better than the Rio Forge for that (great looks, holds extra memory card) but alas Rio has left the MP3 arena. Not a big fan of carrying a square looking ipod around the gym. If you're not going to be lugging it around though, and want the expanded ability to store/transfer photos from a memory card ie. from a camera on a long trip, while being able to look at it, the Creative Zen Vision looks pretty promising.

[jeffrey collins]

Re: iPod or iRiver..........or something else?

unfortunately the iriver is costing more than an Ipod these days. and frankly i'm a bit skiddish on their products.

[picklemonkey]

Re: iPod or iRiver..........or something else?

Creative Zen products

[MDE420]

Re: iPod or iRiver..........or something else?

I saw get the Sony HD3 or HD5. both are atleast 20GB and sound quality is much better than ipod. not sure about the sound in iriver. the sony software is alittle difficult but the main priority should be sound. go to cnet.com and get their educated opinion

[juouelle]

Re: iPod or iRiver..........or something else?

I think if you do a search on "iPod" vs. "iRiver" you'll find much discussion w/in this forum.

I do believe that there is probably better "bang for your buck" type products on the market. But i'm completely brand loyal to the iPod as I believe it has the friendliest platform out there.

If you've never been an iPod user then you may be at a better advantage than I, and might be able to get more features for your money.

I'm on my 3rd iPod now (after loosing a few) and the 60gig photo fulfills all my listening needs.

[Kobe]

Re: iPod or iRiver..........or something else?

I have an iRiver and have wrote volumes on the subject, do a search

[DancingQueen]

Re: iPod or iRiver..........or something else?

I *heart* my iPod

I have a 20gb colour....I would be lost without it.

[picklemonkey]

Re: iPod or iRiver..........or something else?

I recommend the Creative Zen... this is why:

http://www.mercuryserver.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12195&page=4

[GregWhelan]

Re: iPod or iRiver..........or something else?

Cheers fr the replies guys.

Forgot to mention, I'm not that fussed about it playing videos and photos etc but if it comes with that then great.

I'm guessing I could download a set (say a digweed kiss 100 set) split it into the individual tracks on my pc, then transfer it to the mp3 player right?

And the zen and irivers - can they be hooked up easily to a car stereo?

[Kobe]

Re: iPod or iRiver..........or something else?

Getting the audio to play through the speakers isn't a big deal, but it sucks to use the mp3 players interface while driving. ipod has all the toys when it comes to controlling the device through you head unit-- factory stereo compatibility in many newer cars, adaptors for many aftermarket head units, and it will only be getting better. If using in the car is important to you (is to me) get an ipod because the market has chosen it as the standard so the options for other brands will be relatively no existant.

[picklemonkey]

Re: iPod or iRiver..........or something else?

^it doesn't matter as long as your deck has RCA inputs



if your stereo doesn't have RCA inputs, you can get creative like I did. I put a powerless 2-way RCA switch between my stereo and my amp, and have the switch coming up in the center of my console. I plug my Zen into a headphone jack, which is spliced into standard RCAs through the switch and runs to the front of my car at the main console. I just pick A or B and I can listen to my CD player or my Zen Micro through my subs.


that, or you can get a personal radio transmitter, but I've found that those have too much static when you adjust your volume too high (to a decent listening level)

[Kobe]

Re: iPod or iRiver..........or something else?

uuuuh, yeah... that's why I said, "Getting the audio to play through the speakers isn't a big deal"

I'm talking about controlling the mp3 player from the head unit, selecting tracks, cueing, skipping tracks, etc. If he is asking about using in the car the ipod has advantages that the others don't.

[picklemonkey]

Re: iPod or iRiver..........or something else?

touche.