Best MP3 Players: What and Where to look Before Buying

Choosing a cheap MP3 player is not simply a matter of price.  There are features and must have options you should be aware of before you buy.  While we all want a good deal, some things you simply have to pay for...

This Hub will give you information on MP3 players and will give some suggestions on where to get the Best Deals....    But first some...education.

What exactly is a MP3 Player.. or a Media Player?

A MP3 player is a portable device that plays digital files in a industry standard.  They have replaced virtually all other forms of portable music.  A MP3 player just plays music, while a media player plays back all different files, such as video or photo  There are two different types you should know about.

Flash Memory and Hard Drives

Flash memory players store information and files without internal moving parts.  Hard drive players actually have tiny magnetic disks that spin, similar to home computers.  The advantages with flash memory is that it is more durable than of hard drives.  Hard Drives can carry substantial amount of storage on their disks.  They can also malfunction more, because of their moving parts.  If you want high capacity and are not very abusive to your music player, a hard drive player is a good option.  Flash memory players do have the advantage as they can be quite small.

There are a couple of features that make listening to your music more enjoyable.  Ease of control use.  Before you buy check out how easy it is to use the Mp3 players.  Most have touch wheels (Ipod).  These are great for easily getting to your music.  Other controls are hard to use and very small.  

Another suggestion is to have a display screen.  I know that is a option on the higher cost players, but believe me, it is well worth the price.  With out it, you have a hard time finding the song that fits your mood!

Finally, consider battery life.  Battery life can range from 9 hours to over 27!  If you are constantly charging your player, that can become a real pain.