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If you're thinking of buying an mp3 player the choice can initially seem overwhelming. As well as the number of songs (and increasingly photos, videos and other files) you want to be able to store and the cosmetic features and add-ons available, you need to consider what you'll be using it for, the software associated with it, and how you will be buying your music.
Yes, a 160 gigabyte iPod looks very cool and can play video and store photos, but it's ridiculously expensive if all you want to do is take it to the gym. Similarly, there's no point in buying a tiny player with a small amount of memory if you want to put your entire music collection on it.
The number of songs mp3 players can store is directly related to the ammount of memory it has. Let's take the iPod as an example. The tiny Shuffle has 1Gb of memory (about 250 songs); the Nano has between 4Gb amd 8Gb (2000 songs); the classic include the 80Gb (20,000 songs) and 160Gb (a colossal 40,000 songs).
Music, videos and photos all use different ammounts of memory, so ask for advice when you're buying. Additionally, smaller players often use Flash memory, which means players can be tiny with no moving parts to jolt while you're active. Bigger ones use hard drives, which can store far more data.
If you want to put all of your music on one device and watch movies on the go, invest in a large iPod, Sony, Creative Labs or iRiver with a hard drive. If you want something to listen to while you're walking the dog, go for a smaller device like Creative Zen V, the iPod Shuffle, or any smaller, cheaper alternatives.
You need to get the music onto the player somehow and it's at this point that you realize that the term "mp3 player" is a bit misleading, as many players use different types of files. You need to use a computer which has had the correct software installed – the player will include this as standard.
Apple's iTunes works on Macs and PCs but once you use your player with one of these it can be difficult to use it with another computer, so you should keep all of your digitally-stored music in one place rather than switching, for example, between the home and the office computers.
A lot of other software packages have fewer features than iTunes but are are easier to use and enable you to control the transfer of music manually, which is a lot easier for some people. Think about ease of use vs. bells and whistles.
Do you want the player to look cool? Brands such as Sony and the iPod have design as a key element, while iRiver and Creative tend to make more functional products. Many players come with radio, voice recorders, photo storage and more, and many brands make all kinds of interesting add-ons for their players.
Finally, and most importantly, have a listen. The sound varies greatly between players - there's no point in shelling for a pricey player if you don't like the way it makes your favourite songs sound.
