Non-iPod MP3 players

[justjohn]

I wanted to start a thread for anybody that is looking for or has a non-iPod MP3 player. This should be a place to share information on other options to the iPod.

Personally, I have a Creative Zen Nano Plus 1GB and a iPod 30GB and I can honestly say that except for the Creative not having FF, I would much rather use it before I even think of touching the iPod.

The Zen Nano Plus has a display, FM receiver and holds a ton of music. The organization is pretty simple and coupled with MP11 it is a snap to fill with music. Add this to the price of $65 on Amazon and I think it is a pretty amazing deal for the price.

What other players are you using out there?

[Xharryb]

I've got a 40gig Creative Zen and the only problem I have is that it's almost full already.

[justjohn]

Thats a cool problem! What program are you using to sync it MP10 or 11?

[Xharryb]

Uhhhh... whatever the Creative software does I suppose.

[justjohn]

I never bothered installing the Creative software when I got the two for us. I just used the Media Player 11 that I got from Microsoft. It will take care of all your music needs in a beautiful package.

[Hakuna Makarla]

this will be an interesting thread. I wanted to get another MP3 player ( we have an ipod) but I wanted to get the zen my self. So I need some info please. where does one get there music from if not itunes? and is it safe and cost less? I got the ipod for my daughter because my sister said there was nothing easier, I am finding folks like there zen and are not complaining as much as ipod folks are.

[justjohn]

I bought my 30GB because everybody told me how easy it was to use. While the iPod is "relatively" easy, iTunes isn't.

You can buy music through Urge which is imbedded in MP11. The price is the same at .99 per track or you can subscribe to all you can sync for $14.99 a month. You basically rent all the music you can listen to for that price. You won't be able to copy it though.

[justjohn]

I've had a player for over a year now and I have only bought 4 songs online. I want to be able to hold a cd, look at the artwork and read the liner notes.

You can't do any of that when you buy online. Add to that the fact that a cd will cost substantially more if it has more than 15 tracks and I'm out.

[Hakuna Makarla]

I have bought about 20 songs, and I am so thrilled since these songs are oldies, and hard to get in stores. plus I burned them onto a cd for my car. I have never had a hard time with itunes, I am not sure what problems there are. I just go search a song, it finds it, I down load it and its there right away.

[justjohn]

The problems are pretty numerous for me.

First, no artwork for 80-90% of my cd folders.

Each cd will get split into numerous folders depending on how many artist are on it. Musical History is an easy example. The first disc, gets split into 15-20 different folders. To compile these into one folder, I need to click on EVERY track, scroll down and click on "part of a compilation".

When I want to sync up my player or create a burn list, I need to click on each track I want. It will not allow me to highlight more than one track at a time.

Ripping is slow and burning is slow compared to MP11.

I have to push play, next or stop about 3-4 times before it will actually do the task I want.

It will not allow me to cue up more than 3 podcast for downloading at a time. If I cue more, it will time out and I have to babysit the machine to get them.

There are more, but my fingers are cold right now. This is on a P4 machine BTW, not some old POC.

[justjohn]

I will give you that 3 of the songs I bought were hard to find and expensive when you could find the ep.

[Xharryb]

I haven't bought any of my music online really. L has has, but not me. I just have a REALLY big collection of CDs that I transfered over to my player.

[justjohn]

Thats what I've been doing lately. This is why I am so anti-iPod lately. Its just not a friendly program.

Oh and one more complaint about iTunes...

It REALLY slows down my computer in general.

[justjohn]

I apologize, I don't want this to be an anti-apple thread. I would just like to talk about other options that are out there.

[Hakuna Makarla]

your right john, I noticed my music was all ovver the place. I just atributed it as me not doing things right. I do hate to have to click on each song to be able to burn it, and all your points are acurate. yeah, some things are anoying .