mp3 vs. ipod...which one do I choose?

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rgi

Cathlete
When it comes to technology, I really am far behind. I just know that I want one of these, but will someone please explain the difference between the two? I hate going to places like Best Buy without at least SOME knowledge of what I'm looking for.

I'd like to be able to download music, but also have things like Cardio Coach on there, too, if that helps in my decision.

TIA!!!!:)
 
Well, my only real experience is with my iPod. I absolutely love it and it's very easy to use. My father bought an mp3 player and has had no luck with it. He wanted to be able to get FM on it too (which isn't an option with iPod). He is able to do the FM, but can't get the ability to import other music on it. None of us can figure out what the problem is and he doesn't want to call customer service. I even offered to call for him - I'm perfectly happy talking with the folks in India.

I've had my Pod for over a year and haven't had any problems with it at all. It's an Apple!
 
Hello,I've got a MP3 player and love it,I only use it for walking/jogging though! It holds about 60-70 songs and is perfect for me! I got it at walmart for like 35$,so it was cheap too!

take care!
 
I love my iPod Nano - I've got no complaints. It's SUPER easy to use, it's fantastic for going out for runs (especially with the Nike+ capability), I can hook it up to my car stereo and listen to it while driving, I use it for Cardio Coach workouts... it's wonderful! I will admit that I am biased - I love all things Apple and am a certified Mac-head. But I really do think the iPod Nano is great little gadget. :)

For workouts, I would not recommend a full-sized iPod, just because they're so big, and there's the off chance that you could mess up the hard drive with jumpy/jerky movements. I also am not a big fan of the iPod Shuffle, because they have no user interface screen like the other iPods, making it more difficult to use during a workout. Just MHO. :)
 
I think what you're asking is the difference between an mp3 player and an iPod? Well, there is no difference. An iPod IS an mp3 player, but iPod is the brand name. Just like you say Q-Tip instead of cotton swab.

I have no experience with any other kind of mp3 player but iPod. I have a Nano and my DD has a Shuffle, which is fine for her, since she's only 9. I LOVE LOVE LOVE my Nano. Like Emily said, it's so versatile. I use mine for running, for my Cardio Coach workouts, in my car... I don't actually know how I managed without it!
 
>I think what you're asking is the difference between an mp3
>player and an iPod? Well, there is no difference. An iPod IS
>an mp3 player, but iPod is the brand name. Just like you say
>Q-Tip instead of cotton swab.


See what I mean? I have no clue! LOL!

Thanks, everyone, for all the input!
 
I think an ipod is an mp3 player. I bought my ipod at Costco along with an itunes card. It was very very easy to use! The directions were easy to follow. I was worried that it would be impossible to use, but it wasn't. I love my ipod and found these great power walking workouts on itunes.
Ellen
 
IF you're going to use your iPod for workouts only, then yeah...the full-sized is not great. I have a heckuva time with my 30g video when I'm doing Cardio Coach on my Nordic Track. I can clip it to the waist of my sweatpants and it's OK, but there's always a few minutes where I'm adjusting it.

But, since that's only 1 hour out of my week...I would never go with anything less than the 30g video. I have almost all of my favorite cds on it, and plenty of room to download more when they're released. I never buy a cd anymore, and have stored all of my old ones in the attic. My stereo components with the big honking speakers are also in the attic. I just have the little Bose speaker system - which works great. It made such a difference in my living room!

I can also download shows that I've missed and use it for storing photos to use as my "brag book" of my daughter. I can also play games on it, if I'm sitting at the doctor's office and am bored.
 
We have three SanDisk MP3 players, and they are great. We have a subscription to Napster, and you can't use an iPod with it. My DH likes to download an album, listen to it for a couple months, and then he never wants to hear it again. So a music subscription service like Napster is perfect. I use mine mainly for Cardio Coach and iTrain and it works great for that too.

Lori
 
How much is a subscription to Napster?? Of course they don't make it obvious on their site, ugh.

I just bought my son a new Nano. He had a Shuffle but - dummy me - it ended up going through the wash. UGH. Anyway, it worked out for him since he wanted the larger size, lol.

I'm trying to figure out the best way to get the music, though. What do you guys use? Isn't itunes like 99 cents per song or something??

Advice appreciated.

Thanks.
 
iTunes is free to download, but yes, it costs money to download music. I figure that's pretty fair. Artists work hard to make music, why on earth should we get it for free? Anyway, that's a whole other discussion.
 
The major difference in mp3 players (ipods whatever) is flash players vs. hard drive based players. If you are going to use the mp3 player for working out you want a flash based player. The hard drive based players have moving parts and the impact can damage them over time.

The major brands are IPods, IRivers and Creative. Much like car brands you will find people that love them and people that have had nothing but trouble with them. I would check out amazon.com user reviews before I would buy anything.

I have a small creative mp3 player for running and I love it. The thing I love about creative is songs are so fast and easy to get on their players. With other players you have to copy CDs on your ocmputer and then copy them from your computer on your player. With IPods you have to use ITunes to do the same thing. With Creative Mp3 players you can copy them right from the CD on to the player. It saves me a tone of time.
 
For reviews you might want to check out PC World, Computer Shopper, and/or Consumer Reports. I am looking at a SanDisk myself. I have too many concerns about the iPOD to consider spending that much money. Some friends have the SanDisk and are very pleased.
 
I bought my DH a SanDisk mp3 player for Christmas and it works really well. It also has a recorder on it. My kids have ipods. I have an Oregon Scientific mainly so I can use it while I swim laps, but I also use it for itrain on the ellipticals and inline skating. Shop around, get info, make your choice. We have also had a bad experience with Rio brand. Ipods are more expensive and may not be worth the extra $. IMHO
 
You also have the ability to put your cd's on the ipod. That's what I did. It's very simply to do using itunes. I purchased a few songs from itunes and then lost my harddrive. Just a word of caution, backup our itunes catalog to a cd.

I love my nano! Have fun and good luck.

Diana
 
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