I need a new mp3 player

[BlamoHammer]

I was at the gym today and I realized that I am definitely in need of a new mp3 player. I currently own one of the Gateway mp3 units that I won in a sales contest while working there. A decent player in it's own right, especially for free, it's not really suited for gym use due to its neckstrap. These are the features that I am looking for:

• Small size. This will be going with me to the gym so I of course can't be carrying around some brick.

• Belt clip. I have tried an mp3 player with an armstrap and I hated it. Likewise, around the neck doesn't work either while you're doing cardio. In the pocket wouldn't be TOO bad but I've found most headphone cords aren't quite long enough to stretch.

• FM tuner. The TV's at my gym stream the audio through FM radio channels. Having this feature would allow me to listen in to the programming if I want a break from music. PTI was on today and it's just too hard to follow along with the closed-captioning while concentrating on your workout.

• Hard drive base storage. I know that HD players aren't usually preferred for workout use because of the skip factor, but I doubt this will really affect me. I do most of my cardio on an exercise bike or Ellipse machine due to the fact that my knees don't hold up well to the constant pounding of jogging. Neither of the two cardio workouts I do cause constant impacts like those when yhou jog so I dont think the skipping wil come into play.

I think that is about it for the require features. I don't have an exapnsive music collection so I dont need a 40GB type of player. I think anythign above 1.5GB will work as I don't mind switching out the music every month or so. I don't want to do a flash based player though because I will also use this for my paper route in the morning and so something with 512MB of memory or less will have to be reloaded with new tunes every few days and I would like to avoid this.

If you are kind enough to post your opinion, if you wouldnt mind giving a reason instead of solel what player you would buy, it would be most appreciated. Please, only post if you have a good amount of personal experience with the player you recommend.

 

[Tetsuo]

iPod mini

 

[loup garou]

Rio Nitrus or iPod mini are basically your only choices given your criteria. I think there is one other 1.5/4GB player out right now, but I can't remember what it is.

 

[BlamoHammer]

Originally posted by: werk
Rio Nitrus or iPod mini are basically your only choices given your criteria. I think there is one other 1.5/4GB player out right now, but I can't remember what it is.

Do either of them have FM tuners?

 

[loup garou]

Originally posted by: AngryPirate

Originally posted by: werk
Rio Nitrus or iPod mini are basically your only choices given your criteria. I think there is one other 1.5/4GB player out right now, but I can't remember what it is.

Do either of them have FM tuners?

Nope. Hang on, I remembered the other player, it was the iRiver iGP100, it's 1.5GB and has an FM tuner. Not sure about a belt clip though.

 

[anxi80]

Originally posted by: werk
Nope. Hang on, I remembered the other player, it was the iRiver iGP100, it's 1.5GB and has an FM tuner. Not sure about a belt clip though.

ill help ya out werk..i was already at the iriver site...

igp-100

edit: looks like a negative on the belt clip...they do have a arm-band, which you mentioned you disliked...but iriver's headphone cords have pretty good range on them. of course, im basing this off the 390t, which is a flash based player.

 

[loup garou]

Originally posted by: anxi80

Originally posted by: werk
Nope. Hang on, I remembered the other player, it was the iRiver iGP100, it's 1.5GB and has an FM tuner. Not sure about a belt clip though.

ill help ya out werk..i was already at the iriver site...

igp-100

edit: looks like a negative on the belt clip...they do have a arm-band, which you mentioned you disliked...but iriver's headphone cords have pretty good range on them.

Cool little player. Why does iRiver think they can charge such a premium for their products though???

 

[KokomoGST]

Go one better... get an MP3/Video device.

Archos Media Jukebox, Sony VAIO whatchamaface (not in US market), and the soon-to-be released Creative Zen Portable Media Center. Same price as a 40GB Ispud but you can watch movies. I think that would be ubercool not to mention quite entertaining to have your video of choice as you're doing cardio. Then again mebbe you have one of those sick gyms where each treadmill, bike, elliptical, etc has it's own LCD with cable TV (mine's getting it... wtf!)

Otherwise, I'd look seriously into a CDMP3 hybrid or wait for Sony and it's licensees to come out with the MegaMiniDisc players. I may hate ATRAC3 but it's prolly going to be a better product than a iSpud mini for the $$. Competition from Sony rivals like Panasonic, Sanyo, Sharp, etc should keep the players fairly affordable and MiniDiscs are a whole lot cheaper than a new iPod battery.

 

[BlamoHammer]

Do you guys think it would be a huge undertaking to fashion a homemade belt cllip on put it on there?

 

[BlamoHammer]

Originally posted by: KokomoGST
Go one better... get an MP3/Video device.

Archos Media Jukebox, Sony VAIO whatchamaface (not in US market), and the soon-to-be released Creative Zen Portable Media Center. Same price as a 40GB Ispud but you can watch movies. I think that would be ubercool not to mention quite entertaining to have your video of choice as you're doing cardio. Then again mebbe you have one of those sick gyms where each treadmill, bike, elliptical, etc has it's own LCD with cable TV (mine's getting it... wtf!)

Otherwise, I'd look seriously into a CDMP3 hybrid or wait for Sony and it's licensees to come out with the MegaMiniDisc players. I may hate ATRAC3 but it's prolly going to be a better product than a iSpud mini for the $$. Competition from Sony rivals like Panasonic, Sanyo, Sharp, etc should keep the players fairly affordable and MiniDiscs are a whole lot cheaper than a new iPod battery.

I had never given any thought to MiniDisc, nor do I know anything about it really. What are its negatives/positives?

 

[loup garou]

Originally posted by: AngryPirate
Do you guys think it would be a huge undertaking to fashion a homemade belt cllip on put it on there?

I was actually going to suggest that. You could possible use one of those glue-on cellphone clips. I'd make sure not to get one that rotates, though, because you don't want that sucker swinging around on your waist while you work out!

 

[KokomoGST]

Originally posted by: AngryPirate

I had never given any thought to MiniDisc, nor do I know anything about it really. What are its negatives/positives?

Well, the just announced MegaMDs are going to store a couple hundred MB per MD. MiniDiscs are around $1-2 each at retail but can be found for cheaper. Current MDs are 80mins per... they don't really skip and there is a wide variety to choose from if you're willing to go the extra mile to find one. There are multiple manufacturers and they're very sturdy, skipfree, with easy transfer from your computer or other source. Most have very good recording abilities. Since storage is relatively cheap that's a plus and many of them run on Li+ rechargeables. However, finding replacement batteries may be difficult in the US.

The main drawbacks are lack of availability and limitation by the 80min MDs. However, with MegaMDs coming on the horizon it takes care of that problem. The new MegaMDs will be backwards compatible with current MD players too. Finding one with an FM tuner and belt clip shouldn't be too difficult as there are many models made with those criteria. However, getting your hands on one is the hardest part.

 

[PowerMacG5]

Originally posted by: KokomoGST
Go one better... get an MP3/Video device.

Archos Media Jukebox, Sony VAIO whatchamaface (not in US market), and the soon-to-be released Creative Zen Portable Media Center. Same price as a 40GB Ispud but you can watch movies. I think that would be ubercool not to mention quite entertaining to have your video of choice as you're doing cardio. Then again mebbe you have one of those sick gyms where each treadmill, bike, elliptical, etc has it's own LCD with cable TV (mine's getting it... wtf!)

Otherwise, I'd look seriously into a CDMP3 hybrid or wait for Sony and it's licensees to come out with the MegaMiniDisc players. I may hate ATRAC3 but it's prolly going to be a better product than a iSpud mini for the $$. Competition from Sony rivals like Panasonic, Sanyo, Sharp, etc should keep the players fairly affordable and MiniDiscs are a whole lot cheaper than a new iPod battery.

The Archos is a monstrosity. I'd say your best bet is the iPod Mini, but if you need the FM Tuner, I don't know of any in that form factor that are HDD based and include the FM Tuner.

 

[MustangSVT]

hmm i gues u dont have hot girls on treadmill... sweating...

:Q they are quite entertaining..

 

[AnyMal]

Originally posted by: werk

Originally posted by: AngryPirate
Do you guys think it would be a huge undertaking to fashion a homemade belt cllip on put it on there?

I was actually going to suggest that. You could possible use one of those glue-on cellphone clips. I'd make sure not to get one that rotates, though, because you don't want that sucker swinging around on your waist while you work out!

What about a small fanny pack? That's what I use anyway.