How to Choose an MP3 Player

What else is there to consider in getting an MP3 player aside from the usual suspects, namely capacity, brand, sound quality and portability? These days, an MP3 player isn't necessarily a luxury anymore, having been mass produced by different companies and sold at very competitive prices and even combined with other portable devices such as mobile phones and portable video/DVD players. With the progress achieved in legitimately selling music online through sites such as iTunes and Napster, MP3's have single-handedly caused a revolution in record companies' existing business models as well as the way we listen to music.

With so many MP3 players of different shapes, makes and sizes out in the market to choose from, it's temptingly pain free to just head on over to the nearest Apple Store and plunk down a couple hundred for the latest iteration of their massively popular iPod since it provides an answer for all our MP3 player criteria for judging: it has varying capacities to suit every individual need, the Apple brand is well respected and positively recognized, it sounds great, and it's small enough to fit anywhere. Although the iPod is a quick "get it over with" solution to your MP3 player quandary, that's not to say that there aren't other good players out there such as Microsoft's Zune and Creative's Zen. But then again, apart from form factor and minute multitasking abilities at the time of this writing (as in the case of the Zune's wifi capabilities), it's basically the same banana, and so instead of monkeying around with other MP3 players in the market based on what points to consider, here are some things that you should NOT consider when choosing an MP3 player:

Choice based on it being an all-in-one solution

Despite the temptation to pocket a device everytime you head out that contains all your music, videos, pictures, pdf files, flash games, e-books, and what have you, the fact of the matter is there isn't any product (as of June 18, 2008 mind you) that is capable of doing all these things while providing the tiny form factor characteristic of MP3 players as well as their intuitive interfaces. Your mobile phone cum music player cum movie viewer cum digital camera may be well and good for light use, but for heavy music listening and photography, you'll probably run out of juice sooner than you think. Whenever you purchase an MP3 player, keep in mind that it's primary purpose is to be able to store and playback your music collection without fail. The other stuff become secondary.

Choice based solely on it being insanely popular

We know that the iPod looks good, and it was even really cool before everyone started getting all their computer stuff from Apple. But even if the guys from Cupertino had concocted the savviest ad campaigns and most clever viral marketing known to man, no one would consider getting it if it didn't have a very clean interface, intuitive controls and a flawless computer software backend in the form of iTunes (a stark contrast to the failure that is Sony Sonicstage). If you're making a choice against the iPod because everyone has it, remember that a huge chunk of people have it because it really is a great machine. If you're making a choice to get the iPod simply because everyone has it, however, you should dig for more details of the other MP3 players before committing to it.

Choice based on the number of cute accessories available at the local mall

We love dressing up our gadgets, from necessities such as screen protectors and cases to inessential knickknacks such as phone charms and Hello Kitty lanyards. If you're basing your decision on the sheer amount of stuff that you could buy for your MP3 player at the mall, you might be missing out on the true essence of it, which is its playback functionality. There are a lot of online vendors selling custom vinyl skins, cases and even entire replacement unit casings for just about any of the more visible MP3 players out there, so do take the time to check them out before going with the player that has the most accessories that you could buy at the shop at that instant.

Hopefully, you've arrived at a sound decision regarding your choice of MP3 player. Whether it be the ubiquitous Apple cash cow, Redmond's hardy Zune, or just some plain unknown generic MP3 player at the bargain bin, the best thing to keep in mind is to do your research and make sure that the choice you make will eventually keep you and your music collection satisfied for years (or months, even) to come.