MP3 Player

[Skytrooper]

I would like to get one for my daughter, but do not know anything about them. I know that she would like at least 4gb with video.

What are your suggestions ? Pro's & Con's ? Features that you cannot live without ? Price vs value ?

[gassy]

Get her an iPod Touch and be done with it. They're perfect.
http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/shop_ipod/family/ipod_touch?cid=OAS-US-KWG-iPodTouch

[gprsh924]

How old is your daughter? I was going to recommend the iPod nano (either 8gb or 16gb) as a slightly cheaper alternative, especially if she is younger and the chance of breaking or losing it is increased.

[Skytrooper]

She is just shy of 16. Very responsible for her age, takes care of things, has had the same cell phone for 2 years (without breaking it) my son has gone through 3 in the same time and he is 20

[JavaBrewer]

You mean she isn't asking for a particular player?

[porsche4life]

Well on the high end I would go for 8gb or16gb Ipod touch. If you want cheaper I would go for a Creative Labs Zen.

[Pazuzu]

Sansa E series (260/270/280). You can find them all day long new for under $100, or refurbished for closer to $60.
http://www.amazon.com/SanDisk-Sansa-Player-MicroSD-Expansion/dp/B000ETVKHE/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1227457971&sr=8-1

Clean interface, easy to use, can be modded up with rockbox if she's so inclined, and no Apple/Microserf restrictions. However, the screen is small, so if she wants something to watch videos often, then there are better options.

If she's looking for a primarily VIDEO player, then you need to look bigger...3.5 inch screen or more. Creative Zen, Archos 6 series, Cowon D2 or A3...

[masraum]

Get an iPod
But if she wants video, get a big one with plenty of storage

I'd think she'd need 40 Gb being 16 and wanting video.

I've got 40 Gigs of music on my PC, and if I was thinking video, I could probably have 80Gigs of video whether they be movies or music videos.

[SLO-BOB]

Originally Posted by Pazuzu

Sansa E series (260/270/280). You can find them all day long new for under $100, or refurbished for closer to $60.
http://www.amazon.com/SanDisk-Sansa-Player-MicroSD-Expansion/dp/B000ETVKHE/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1227457971&sr=8-1

Clean interface, easy to use, can be modded up with rockbox if she's so inclined, and no Apple/Microserf restrictions. However, the screen is small, so if she wants something to watch videos often, then there are better options.

Agreed. I avoid Ipod just as I avoid all products designed by lawyers instead of engineers. I have the Sansa and it's much more user friendly (for storage) than the Ipod. However, being a kid, she might just want what looks cool and is popular with her friends. Then just cough up for the Ipod touch. It is cool, if not overburdened with restrictions. Also, lots of MP3 interfaces are Ipod only, like clock radios, etc.

[911pcars]

Save earth's resources and your pocketbook too. A new IPOD is around $200, not a small outlay in my family; even as a bday or holiday gift. If you weren't adverse to buying a used Porsche for several thousands, you shouldn't be adverse to buying used.

A refurbished 4 Gb Mini w/warranty is around $50-$70. Same result. She has tunes, you have more Porsche-money or whatever.

Loss is always a possibility, especially with small electronics like cell phones and MP3 players. Minimize the exposure.

Sherwood

[gprsh924]

a mini doesn't play video

[911pcars]

Video. Oh yeah. I overlooked that. Disregard my suggestion. However, my kids often don't get everything they request (At least I try).

BTW, what's wrong with the computer monitor at home or the TV in the living room. If miniature 2" video monitors are so popular (IPOD), why bother with the ones that are 50"?

I'm sounding like a curmudgeon.

Sherwood

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by 911pcars

Video. Oh yeah. I overlooked that. Disregard my suggestion. However, my kids often don't get everything they request (At least I try).

BTW, what's wrong with the computer monitor at home or the TV in the living room. If miniature 2" video monitors are so popular (IPOD), why bother with the ones that are 50"?

I'm sounding like a curmudgeon.

Sherwood

True that, about kids not getting what they request. Cindy told me of wanting a Beatles album many years ago. She got "The Beatles Sound" by some elevator music band... Kids, it's not always the parent's fault...they just sometimes don't have a clue.

[wcc]

I have a Creative Vision W that I've had a couple years now. I really like it. A little on the large side but that hasn't bothered me yet. However, if I was buying something now, I would look into the PSP. Just because you can do MP3, Movies, and video games, plus go on line.

Here is the one I have...

http://www.amazon.com/Creative-Vision-Widescreen-Multimedia-Player/dp/B000IHBZHC

[masraum]

The newer iPod Nanos apparently plays videos. (3rd and 4th generation)

Right now it's on sale at Amazon.com for $130.

3rd generation
http://www.amazon.com/Apple-iPod-nano-Silver-Generation/dp/B000JO1MU4/ref=pe_28260_10803180_as_img_4/

Movies
Buy movies from the iTunes Store and you can sync them to your iPod nano to watch anywhere, anytime. Up to 5 hours of video playback means you can watch two movies back to back. And for your viewing pleasure, the 320-by-240-pixel display--with a whopping 204 pixels per inch--is 65 percent brighter than before.

TV Shows
There's always something good on iPod nano. Browse thousands of episodes of your favorite TV shows on the iTunes Store, buy them for just $1.99 each, then sync them to your iPod nano. Watch last night's episodes this morning, or buy a whole TV series and play a pocket-size marathon.

4th generation
http://www.amazon.com/Apple-iPod-nano-Black-Generation/dp/B001FA1NCI/ref=pe_28260_10803180_as_img_8/
$135

Or, you could go for the BIG iPod that's full size, and has 120Gb of storage for $225
http://www.amazon.com/Apple-iPod-classic-Black-Generation/dp/B001F7AHXM/ref=pe_28260_10803180_as_img_12/

[Rick V]

They have some complex phones that are MP3's. don't know about video though. Might be an idea.

[HardDrive]

Get her an ipod.

Don't disappoint the kid with some BS knock off product.

An ipod nano in her favorite color would be cool. And ipod touch would be awesome.

[rattlsnak]

Originally Posted by HardDrive

Get her an ipod.

Don't disappoint the kid with some BS knock off product.

An ipod nano in her favorite color would be cool. And ipod touch would be awesome.

+1,

sorry, the other brands simply dont compare.

[porsche4life]

You really havent played with a creative have you? Well it doesnt compare to a touch but to the regular its just as good if not better.