Buyers Guide: MP3 Player

In the past, MP3s were limited to playing to music. Today, you can use them to listen to the radio, record audio, listen to audio books, browse through photos, and even watch videos. But with the many models and brands in the market, choosing one that fits your budget and still have the features you want may not be easy. Here are some things you need to consider.

Usage

The most important thing you need to consider when buying an MP3 player: where or how do you want to use it?

At the gym. If you want a player specifically for use in a gym or any workout area, you need an one that is small and sturdy one, with simple controls. You want to be concentrating on your workout, not on your MP3 player.

Large MP3 players with big screens are not recommended for gym use because they tend to be fragile-an inconvenient thing when there's a lot of movement involved.

Memory or storage size may not be so important if you are buying a player to use during workouts. A memory capacity of one to two gigabytes (GB) can already store up to 150 songs, more than enough for an hour or two's workout.

What you should look for is a model that is sweat resistant and shock proof.

Watching videos. An MP3 player can also be good for watching videos, since most players now have large screens. Their compact features make it easy for one to scan through videos while on the go.

If you want to use your MP3 player mostly for watching videos, you may want an MP3 with a wide screen and massive storage so that you can store as many videos as you like.

Listening to audio books. MP3 players for audio books are just starting to create a buzz in the techno world. Since audio books are usually bought from specific websites, you have to make sure that purchasing and transferring the file from the website to your player won't be hard for you.

Since audio books can take twice as long to listen compared to reading the book itself, you must look for an MP3 player with a long battery life.

Look also for an MP3 players with a bookmarking feature, which allows you to bookmark at a certain period of the audio book, so that in case your "reading" gets interrupted for a few hours, you won't have to use the Fast Forward button when you get back.

Recording audio. Many MP3 players nowadays are equipped with a recording feature. This is useful if you want to carry your CDs or even tapes in a much more compact MP3 format. Not a lot of MP3 players have a voice recording feature, though. If it's interviews you want to record, you can look for an MP3 player with an in-built mic.

Other features to consider

• Size and weight. These are major factors in picking out an MP3 player. The smaller and lighter an MP3 player, the more portable and more convenient it is to use-and the more expensive it will be to buy as well. Expect to pay around $200 for the smallest, lightest models.
• Storage capacity. The amount of songs, videos, and other files that can be stored in a single unit is something you need to consider when buying an MP3 player. A storage capacity of one to two gigabytes may be too small, considering that most players can now store up to 120 GB. Again, MP3 players with a large storage capacity are more expensive than those with a small storage capacity.
• Display. The screen of an MP3 player can be very helpful, especially for first-time users. Here you can see the track list, remaining battery life, song title, and track number. But unless you are planning to use your MP3 to view videos, you could live very comfortably with one whose screen is only big enough for you to see the song title.
• Battery life. Most MP3 players run on rechargeable batteries. MP3 players with smaller screens tend to be more energy efficient than those with larger screens. Watching movies also tends to drain batteries faster. Players with small screens or without screens at all can last from 20 to 50 hours, while those with bigger screens can last only up to 14 hours.
• Connectivity. This is how you can transfer files from your computer or laptop to your MP3 player. The most common type of file transfer is through the USB. An MP3 player usually comes with a USB plug. And there are models that use Bluetooth for wireless transfer. An MP3 player that features wireless connectivity can be more expensive than a wired one, but some people find them more convenient to use.

Summary

• When buying an MP3 player for gym use, make sure to buy one that is sweat resistant and shock proof. All the constant moving in the gym should not affect your listening experience.
• For MP3 players that will be used for watching videos, pick one that has a big screen.
• Pick an MP3 player with a long battery life if you plan to use it for listening to audio books.
• For MP3 players that will be used for recording voice, you need one that has a built-in mic.
• The smaller the MP3 player, or the larger its storage capacity, the more expensive it will be.
• MP3 players with larger screens have shorter battery lives.
• Files can be transferred to an MP3 player using a USB plug (wired) or via Bluetooth (wireless).