Make my husband's Xmas happy-what should I get?

[Firefly]

I know nothing and want to make my husband happy. Please help. All
suggestions are appreciated. (And if you know an alternative, a nice
explanation on why would be seriously considered.)

He wants a portable MP3 player. What I know is that he wants a huge
file capacity, and wants to be able to work-out with it as well as take
it everywhere else, like work and car and home, and wants pretty good
quality. (He always *wants* the very best, but can handle a nice
medium-level quality.) I think FM capability would also be nice so he
can tune to the gym's TV stations. From what I've read, this is pretty
mutually exclusive.

I don't want the price for a really good one all at once. I am sure I
heard mention of being able to upgrade, or add memory as time goes by,
to one or another.

I talked to several electronics stores and all any of them told me
about was the iPod. I'm pretty sure he isn't overly interested in that.


I really am out of my league here. I searched through the boards and
thought this the most appropriate, but if you know a better one to post
to, I would appreciate a tip-off. Any recommendations you could give
would be nice. Happy Holidays!

[R]

"Firefly" > wrote in news:1102555898.829779.88380
@c13g2000cwb.googlegroups.com:

> I know nothing and want to make my husband happy. Please help. All
> suggestions are appreciated. (And if you know an alternative, a nice
> explanation on why would be seriously considered.)
>
> He wants a portable MP3 player. What I know is that he wants a huge
> file capacity, and wants to be able to work-out with it as well as take
> it everywhere else, like work and car and home, and wants pretty good
> quality. (He always *wants* the very best, but can handle a nice
> medium-level quality.) I think FM capability would also be nice so he
> can tune to the gym's TV stations. From what I've read, this is pretty
> mutually exclusive.
>
> I don't want the price for a really good one all at once. I am sure I
> heard mention of being able to upgrade, or add memory as time goes by,
> to one or another.
>
> I talked to several electronics stores and all any of them told me
> about was the iPod. I'm pretty sure he isn't overly interested in that.
>
>
> I really am out of my league here. I searched through the boards and
> thought this the most appropriate, but if you know a better one to post
> to, I would appreciate a tip-off. Any recommendations you could give
> would be nice. Happy Holidays!
>
>

My son likes his MP3 player made by Creative Labs. Seems pretty rugged
and sounds as good as any MP3 player.

r


--
Nothing beats the bandwidth of a station wagon filled with DLT tapes.

[Clyde Slick]

"Firefly" > wrote in message
ups.com...
>I know nothing and want to make my husband happy.

Hmmm, he probably already is.

sugarpie, honeybun, I can't help myself.
Sorry.

[Schizoid Man]

"Firefly" > wrote in message

> He wants a portable MP3 player. What I know is that he wants a huge
> file capacity, and wants to be able to work-out with it as well as take
> it everywhere else, like work and car and home, and wants pretty good
> quality.

I'd recommend the usual Christmas gift. An Apple iPod.

> I think FM capability would also be nice so he
> can tune to the gym's TV stations. From what I've read, this is pretty
> mutually exclusive.

Not sure what technology lets FM tune into the audio channel of cable TV
broadcasts.

[Firefly]

Do you know which one he has? There seems to be quite a range of
Creative Lab players.

[Firefly]

R said:
>My son likes his MP3 player made by Creative Labs. Seems pretty rugged

>and sounds as good as any MP3 player.

Firefly said:
>Do you know which one he has? There seems to be quite a range of
>Creative Lab players.

I'm sorry about not quoting. For some reason I thought it had.

After I said:
>I know nothing and want to make my husband happy.

Clyde said:
>Hmmm, he probably already is.
>sugarpie, honeybun, I can't help myself.
>Sorry.

I suppose I am proving you correct! Good catch.
Thanks for the help, it really is appreciated.

[normanstrong]

"Firefly" > wrote in message
ups.com...
> I know nothing and want to make my husband happy. Please help. All
> suggestions are appreciated. (And if you know an alternative, a nice
> explanation on why would be seriously considered.)
>
> He wants a portable MP3 player. What I know is that he wants a huge
> file capacity, and wants to be able to work-out with it as well as
take
> it everywhere else, like work and car and home, and wants pretty
good
> quality. (He always *wants* the very best, but can handle a nice
> medium-level quality.) I think FM capability would also be nice so
he
> can tune to the gym's TV stations. From what I've read, this is
pretty
> mutually exclusive.
>
> I don't want the price for a really good one all at once. I am sure
I
> heard mention of being able to upgrade, or add memory as time goes
by,
> to one or another.
>
> I talked to several electronics stores and all any of them told me
> about was the iPod. I'm pretty sure he isn't overly interested in
that.

That's the most significant part of your post. Why isn't he
interested in the iPod? Once we know that, we'll be in a better
postition to recommend something.

Norm Strong

[Arny Krueger]

"normanstrong" > wrote in message
news:xx%td.469262$wV.192766@attbi_s54
> "Firefly" > wrote in message
> ups.com...

>> I talked to several electronics stores and all any of them told me
>> about was the iPod. I'm pretty sure he isn't overly interested in
>> that.
>
> That's the most significant part of your post. Why isn't he
> interested in the iPod? Once we know that, we'll be in a better
> postition to recommend something.


IME usual reasons are that it can cost a little more, and it has the image
of being an expensive kids toy.

In general, it often seems like the comparable equipment from Creative is
usually not a whole lot less. The core technology in these products is a
storage device that costs about the same, no matter which manufacturer buys
it.

IME the iPod is not all that bad, not all that bad of a value, and I advise
my clients to look at them favorably.

The sound quality of iPods is pretty much limited by the earphones, so I
advise my clients to take a listen to the Shure and Futuresonics IEMs. It
seems to me that the basic IEM technology favors better sound quality. It
also provides a lot of isolation in both directions, which many of my
clients are looking for.

[Firefly]

Norm Said:
>That's the most significant part of your post. Why isn't he
>interested in the iPod? Once we know that, we'll be in a better
>postition to recommend something.

I managed to get an explanation out of him. He said the Mini iPod only
had 4 (was it MB or GB? I guess it would have to be GB), but the big
one is big enough at 40 GB. The price for the large size was higher
than he thought appropriate, at around $400, though.

[Arny Krueger]

"Firefly" > wrote in message
oups.com
> Norm Said:
>> That's the most significant part of your post. Why isn't he
>> interested in the iPod? Once we know that, we'll be in a better
>> postition to recommend something.
>
> I managed to get an explanation out of him. He said the Mini iPod only
> had 4 (was it MB or GB? I guess it would have to be GB), but the big
> one is big enough at 40 GB. The price for the large size was higher
> than he thought appropriate, at around $400, though.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/browse/-/3221551/ref=amb_right-3_145335_2/002-2189208-9576022


....says you're about $100 high for a 20 GB iPod. Trust me, 20 GB is LOTS!

[Firefly]

Arny said (with a link to Amazon, showing a 20 GB iPod at $300):
>...says you're about $100 high for a 20 GB iPod. Trust me, 20 GB is
LOTS!

So I am surmising that right now there really isn't a more
cost-effective route, like my previously mentioned possibility of
upgrading over time. He currently has about 10 GB of songs, and I have
another 6 GB. And he is downloading more every day (through a legal
source in case the RIAA is watching).

I also read something about the iPods only lasting a few years, and the
consumer not being able to change the batteries once they die. I don't
like that little marketing technique.

Any other possibilities? Or is this one of those things we're going to
have to wait a few years on? By then, we'll definitely need the 40 GB!

[Joseph Oberlander]

Firefly wrote:

> Arny said (with a link to Amazon, showing a 20 GB iPod at $300):
>
>>...says you're about $100 high for a 20 GB iPod. Trust me, 20 GB is
>
> LOTS!
>
> So I am surmising that right now there really isn't a more
> cost-effective route, like my previously mentioned possibility of
> upgrading over time. He currently has about 10 GB of songs, and I have
> another 6 GB. And he is downloading more every day (through a legal
> source in case the RIAA is watching).
>
> I also read something about the iPods only lasting a few years, and the
> consumer not being able to change the batteries once they die. I don't
> like that little marketing technique.
>
> Any other possibilities? Or is this one of those things we're going to
> have to wait a few years on? By then, we'll definitely need the 40 GB!

There are other options.

I myself hate hard drives in mobile equipment that is used while
moving - it's a bad combination. Solid-state is far better.
That said, you might look into a PDA type device with a CF or
memory stick slot - that way he can get email and maybe
use it as a phone or PDA and still play MP3s.

Secondly, use your hard drive in your PC. All you really need
is 1-4gig in the player at any one time.

Third, there is always the venerable, yet bulletproof CD-MP3
player. Burn a CD with your favorite tunes on it and enjoy
5-6 hours of music at once. I hear they are now planning
DVD MP3 players, for 4 gig at once. It's not as small and
sexy as an IPod, but it is far more serviceable.

Me? I'd get a MP3 Discman and use the leftover to get a MP3
CD player in the car - so that he can use one set of CDs
for both places.

http://www.mp3playerstore.com/stuff_you_need/dvd/DS701.htm
It also is a portable DVD player, but the goal here is
4 gig of MP3s for a dollar that you burn at home on your PC.
A small wallet would hold all of your combined music.

CD/MP3 Discmans are $50 or so last I checked. I've used
everything and I still like the ease of a CD/MP3 player
as I can fit about 50-75 songs on a CD and use any old
CD burner to make one. The last CDRs I bought were 20 cents
each. But DVD? That is interesting.

My favorite, though, is the mini-CD. It gives you enough
for about 2 CDs worth of MP3s and is the same size as an
IPod.
http://www.mp3shopping.com/english/EXP401.htm

Small and uses little CDs that are easy to fit in your
wallet or a small carrying case(which fits in your pocket
quite easily). Last I checked, the mini-CDs were about
40-50 cents each. There are smaller ones as well.

[Arny Krueger]

"Firefly" > wrote in message
oups.com
> Arny said (with a link to Amazon, showing a 20 GB iPod at $300):
>> ...says you're about $100 high for a 20 GB iPod. Trust me, 20 GB is
>> LOTS!
>
> So I am surmising that right now there really isn't a more
> cost-effective route, like my previously mentioned possibility of
> upgrading over time.

The only consumer-friendly upgrade route in this category is called buy a
bigger one.

>He currently has about 10 GB of songs, and I have
> another 6 GB. And he is downloading more every day (through a legal
> source in case the RIAA is watching).

Just because you have a zillion songs on some hard drive in a computer
doesn't mean that you have to load your portable player with each and every
one of them.

> I also read something about the iPods only lasting a few years, and
> the consumer not being able to change the batteries once they die.

There is some truth to these stories.

> I don't like that little marketing technique.

It's driven by consumer desire for long running times, small size, and light
weight.

> Any other possibilities?

The leading competition is arguably the Creative Zen Touch. I happen to have
an older Creative player and its been just fine for me. It's only a couple
of years old, and it is very large and heavy by *modern* standards. Heres a
link to a competitive price for the Creative Zen Touch.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00028DJTY/002-2189208-9576022?v=glance



> Or is this one of those things we're going to
> have to wait a few years on? By then, we'll definitely need the 40 GB!

[[email protected]]

You want big? Try the 80GB Archos:

Archos 500648 AV480 80 GB Video Player / Recorder and MP3 Jukebox
Player:

http://mp3-players.review-center.com/catalog/product.php?ASIN=B0002IHP62

Here's a Portable MP3 Player Buyer's Guide that might help you out.

http://mp3-players.review-center.com/guide/guide.php?id=31


Having huge storage capacity *and* having something you can work out
with and take with you everywhere are sort of on different ends of the
spectrum, since the more storage, generally the larger the player. A 40
GB player is pretty good and of course the iPod is really the most
popular player. It's because it's not only size that counts. Apple
iPods have a great design and interface so are very usable. If you get
a player that's hard to use, he won't use it. The 40 GB iPod is larger
than the iPod Mini (4 GB) and is about $365 right now on sale:

http://mp3-players.review-center.com/catalog/product.php?ASIN=B0002OZXGU

I like the previous poster's idea of keeping most of the music on a
hard drive. You could get a Flash player, which has no moving parts so
is very good for more active lifestlyes, and then you could put music
on various flash cards for storage. These players are quite tiny.

Check out:

http://mp3-players.review-center.com/guide/guide.php?id=32

or a 512 MB size:

http://www.review-center.com/news/2004/12/iriver-n10-new-flash-mp3-player-in.html

[Firefly]

Photobu[g] said:
>You could get a Flash player, which has no moving parts so
>is very good for more active lifestlyes, and then you could put music
>on various flash cards for storage.

How many songs can go on any one flash card? I like this idea. The
flash players are less expensive and good for working out, but also not
the best on hearing quality is what I read. Is there one you recommend?
I know he needn't have his entire collection in one place, but he has
about 8 hours of songs that he likes to shuffle through on a regular
basis.

Michael said:
>If he wants to record his own tunes and play them back iPod, Creative
Labs,
>and Rio and many other companies make MP3 players.

Yes. But the question is: Which model combines everything of worth:
large capacity, portable, workout, FM, quality, price, etc.

>If he's interested in FM and better sound quality, XM makes a portable
unit
>and the sound IIRC is better than MP3. You will of course have to pay
>$10.00 per month for their service.

No. He isn't. He's interested in tuning into the news stations that are
on the TV at the gym. I think he has enough songs to keep him going
from now 'til infinity! He surely doesn't need to pay to listen to more.

[Arny Krueger]

"Firefly" > wrote in message
ups.com
> Photobu[g] said:
>> You could get a Flash player, which has no moving parts so
>> is very good for more active lifestlyes, and then you could put music
>> on various flash cards for storage.
>
> How many songs can go on any one flash card?

How big is the card, in megabytes?

Rough estimate - 4 megabytes a song, so that would be about 30 songs per 128
megs.

Note that not all players can use the largest flash cards that are available
in their format.

[Joseph Oberlander]

http://www.tomshardware.com/mobile/20041210/index.html

A cmoplete review was posted today that covers most of
the non-hard drive models. Most are about the size of
a Zippo Lighter - very tiny and lightweight.

In any case, replace the headphones with better ones
unless it comes with good name-brand ones.

The Creative MUVO is nice, especially in the 1 GB version.
Want more songs? Snap it out of the case and insert into
any USB port. A minute later, you're ready to go all day
with your new playlist. AAA battery, good tuner, and
decent sound.

http://www.tomshardware.com/mobile/20041210/audio_players-07.html
This also seems good. While the FM tuner is poor, it
should easily pick up the local broadcast in the gym,
which it seems to be made to do. The memory slot is
also neat, allowing a whole range of expansion options.

[Firefly]

Joseph said (in part):
>http://www.tomshardware.com/mobile/20041210/index.html
>A cmoplete review was posted today that covers most of
>the non-hard drive models. Most are about the size of
>a Zippo Lighter - very tiny and lightweight.
>http://www.tomshardware.com/mobile/20041210/audio_players-07.html
>...
>This also seems good. While the FM tuner is poor, it
>should easily pick up the local broadcast in the gym,
>which it seems to be made to do. The memory slot is
>also neat, allowing a whole range of expansion options.

Thank you! That is just PERFECT and exactly what I was needing. I
really appreciate it, Joseph.

[Michael McKelvy]

"Firefly" > wrote in message
ups.com...
> Photobu[g] said:
>>You could get a Flash player, which has no moving parts so
>>is very good for more active lifestlyes, and then you could put music
>>on various flash cards for storage.
>
> How many songs can go on any one flash card? I like this idea. The
> flash players are less expensive and good for working out, but also not
> the best on hearing quality is what I read. Is there one you recommend?
> I know he needn't have his entire collection in one place, but he has
> about 8 hours of songs that he likes to shuffle through on a regular
> basis.
>
> Michael said:
>>If he wants to record his own tunes and play them back iPod, Creative
> Labs,
>>and Rio and many other companies make MP3 players.
>
> Yes. But the question is: Which model combines everything of worth:
> large capacity, portable, workout, FM, quality, price, etc.
>
I'm sure there's someplace to find some objective info on those criteria.

>>If he's interested in FM and better sound quality, XM makes a portable
> unit
>>and the sound IIRC is better than MP3. You will of course have to pay
>>$10.00 per month for their service.
>
> No. He isn't. He's interested in tuning into the news stations that are
> on the TV at the gym. I think he has enough songs to keep him going
> from now 'til infinity! He surely doesn't need to pay to listen to more.
>
XM does carry plenty of news and talk stations.

[Bruce J. Richman]

Michael McKelvy wrote:


>"Firefly" > wrote in message
ups.com...
>> Photobu[g] said:
>>>You could get a Flash player, which has no moving parts so
>>>is very good for more active lifestlyes, and then you could put music
>>>on various flash cards for storage.
>>
>> How many songs can go on any one flash card? I like this idea. The
>> flash players are less expensive and good for working out, but also not
>> the best on hearing quality is what I read. Is there one you recommend?
>> I know he needn't have his entire collection in one place, but he has
>> about 8 hours of songs that he likes to shuffle through on a regular
>> basis.
>>
>> Michael said:
>>>If he wants to record his own tunes and play them back iPod, Creative
>> Labs,
>>>and Rio and many other companies make MP3 players.
>>
>> Yes. But the question is: Which model combines everything of worth:
>> large capacity, portable, workout, FM, quality, price, etc.
>>
>I'm sure there's someplace to find some objective info on those criteria.
>
>>>If he's interested in FM and better sound quality, XM makes a portable
>> unit
>>>and the sound IIRC is better than MP3. You will of course have to pay
>>>$10.00 per month for their service.
>>
>> No. He isn't. He's interested in tuning into the news stations that are
>> on the TV at the gym. I think he has enough songs to keep him going
>> from now 'til infinity! He surely doesn't need to pay to listen to more.
>>
>XM does carry plenty of news and talk stations.
>
>

I don't know if they are in their current catalogue, but Radio Shack has
traditionally carried a large number of portable radios with special broadcast
bands. I have a small portable of theirs that covers AM/FM/VHF TV bands. That
might fit your needs.


Bruce J. Richman