iPod or MP3 player?

I'm in the market for a PMP (portable music player). It doesn't have to be an iPod but I want something easy to use with lots of storage. It will be primarily used in my truck but occasionally for travel or around the house.

What are the differences between MP3 players and iPods?

Do iPod's only use MP4's?

Do downloaded song's cost the same for either?

Your suggestions, opinions and recommendations are greatly appreciated

 

I've only had an iPod, and it's been great! Easy to use, easy to manage with iTunes (IMO)... Pretty straight-forward if you ask me. If I'm not mistaken, the songs cost the same.

If I had to pick for myself, I'd get an iPod.

 

Since it's going to be in your truck I'd go with a flash based MP3 player.

I've had an iRiver H20 and a Creative Zen Vision M both have their hard drives fail on me (Best Buy replacement plan saved my ass) Right now I have a 8gb Sony Walkman. It's cheap and easy to transfer music (drag and drop. don't need a proprietary piece of software to transfer music to it.) The downfall of drag and drop is that every time that I start it up it has to build a library of songs. I plan on returning this to best buy and getting a 16gb Nano. I could get a 16gb version of what I have, but iPods are the only MP3 players that have aftermarket stuff for them. It sucks that there's such a monopoly in the MP3 market.

 

i would say an iPod or a Zune. I had a Zune. Best $200 spent on a mp3 player. Only reason i got rid of it was cause I got a macbook and microsoft doesn't make a marketplave for mac

 

I had a Zune too. If Best Buy carried the Zune 16 I'd buy that instead of the 16gb Nano.

I like pressing buttons, so as badass as the new Zune HD is, I'd hate it since it's a touch screen.

 

Got the Wife a Zune. She loves it.

Fuck Apple.

Let me rephrase that...


Fuck Apple.

 

Personally I would go with the Ipod. There are programs that will convert M4A and M4P files (apple) to MP3 also.

 

If you want the steering controls Ipod and interface

 

I've only ever owned an ipod....and between my husband and I - we have 3 of them.

Ipods are soooooo HUGE and the aftermarket support is HUGE. There's all kinds of crap out there for them, whether it be accessories or hardware.

Itunes is GREAT if you know how to use it and get around its weirdness in how it works. It's been GREAT now that I organize my music myself and I don't allow itunes to do it for me.

Tons of people out there that have done tons of things to their ipods. You can get on Youtube and find videos on how to fix ipods and there's a huge forum called ilounge.com that's great to learn.

Not to mention....you can buy an ipod touch and do all sorts of other stuff with it. They're expensive but neat as hell!

 

Why do you say that?

 

I'm pretty sure itunes will convert them to MP3's.

I just purchased about 5 songs from itunes and converted them to MP3's.

 

I had never heard of the Zune until I read these posts. Did some research and I am very impressed. I like that it has HD radio and an FM tuner. I use my current (crappy) MP3 player at Steeler games to listen to the FM broadcast.

I'm watching reviews on both right now...

 

There's a TON of cool stuff for iPods...

 

I always hear this...

What are some things people are purchasing for their iPods?

 

I agree with colton, the ipod is a pretty simple thing to use but I cant compare it with anything but this is my 4th ipod and I keep coming back to them because they're really easy to use.

 

Ipod has more aftermarket components to make it compatible with your truck. A bunch of my buddies have Zunes and use FM transmitters to play it with their vehicle which equals horrible sound quality. Or they use the AUX jack to their Zune which is cool but, they also need to hook up a charger to it, way too much cords and sh!t goin on there. Unless Zune has some new products out there for vehicle connections I would stick with an Ipod. Its what I have. Just dont get the Nano cause it isnt capabale of charging with aftermarket headunits for some reason. The Itouch from apple is actually the way to go. Its more than just your regular mp3 player...internet and all that good stuff. A little on the expensive side but I think its worth it.

 

You're 16...why have you had 4 ipods? I've read that durability is an issue. Is that the case?

 

Concerning the iPod touch vs Zune HD.

The Zune is a MEDIA player first and foremost, whereas the touch is an APPLICATION player.

If you want great sound quality, HD radio, HD video support and dont mind slower loading apps and internet, get the Zune HD.

If you want to fill your mp3 player with a bunch of stupid applications instead of music, get a touch.

 

so tell me how using 2 cords for a zune to play thru an aux port and charge at the same time is way too many cords compared to the one that an ipod uses?

 

Yeah...I'm not worried about aftermarket HU's that are compatable with my device - I am content with the AUX port. And it would connect to the power outlet right next to the AUX port. 2 wires but they both originate and end in the same place. Not too hard to conceal.