Need some advice-MP3 players..

[youthere]

DISCLAIMER: I am technologically retarded.

I want to get my 12 year old an MP3 player for Christmas this year and I know nothing about them..well almost nothing-they play music, right? Anyway, what should I look for in them, what should I avoid, what great deals are out there..blah blah blah...any advice you have would be greatly appreciated. Is 12 too young for this? Whadya' think?

[mvd]

1. Well, I've been satisfied with my 20 GB iPod

iPods aren't great deals, and you might find better, but I can recommend them. It usually integrates fine with iTunes and my computer. One time, CHKDSK fixed a problem. They've now expanded battery life, which is good.

[LynneSin]

2. I would not recommend an Ipod to a 12 year old kid

Mainly because they're super expensive and tend to be coveted by other kids at school

There are a host of wonderful MP3 players under $150 and even $100. I would start the kid off with one of the smaller products availabe that are of a more reasonable price. After a year or so if she wants an upgrade you can work it from there.

My nephew paid over $200 from his savings for an Ipod and it lasted 6 months until it ended up in the washer because his brother borrowed it and then tossed his jeans (with ipod in pocket) into the washing machine.

Apple does have a low-price MP3 player - the shuffle, but there is no interface on the product to see what song you're playing.

I've had great success with the Sony products (they use Connect software), but I also know that there are a few other great MP3 players that come in a reasonable price.

[mvd]

3. You have a point about the price

I'm 30, so I don't mind spending more. But maybe for a kid, you should spend less. It also depends on how much space the kid needs.

But I have enjoyed mine.

[youthere]

4. so this might be a stupid question but...(see DISCLAIMER above)

are you able to transfer music from your CD's to the player..or do you have to download everything online?

what is a good "number" of songs for it to be able to store?
Good advice BTW about the price. My daughter is pretty careful with her things, BUT she is still only twelve and she has a little brother and sister who like to get into her stuff (you know, that old chestnut).

[Omphaloskepsis]

5. You can put music from your cd's onto them..

Really, I would get a iPod Shuffle. $79 for a gig is good.

[youthere]

7. Is that the one with no interface you were talking about?

I don't think that would matter to her. I just think she'd be so happy to have the player.

[LynneSin]

10. Shuffle - no interface

It's a great price and the sound is good but you have no way of knowing what song is playing next.

The best thing about Apple is the fact that they have like 10,000 accessories for their product. Hell my grocery store has Ipod accessories.

I bought this for my best friend's daugther. It happened to be on sale at Sears for $89 but normally runs about $125

http://www.amazon.com/Sony-NW-E507-Network-Walkman-Digital/dp/B0008JFCWY/sr=8-1/qid=1158685749/ref=pd_bbs_1/102-4633821-5683330?ie=UTF8&s=electronics

The interface was decent to use but some people think the software is a bit confusing (I have no problems with it - that's the software I use to play everything on my computer). But I think this style is now no longer produced by Sony (I just got the 2gig variety of the new model - not as friendly with the buttons especially for a younger child)

Rule of thumb is this - every gig holds about 250 songs, provided that the average time of those songs is 4minutes. Sony does use technology to compress the songs even further (I got 625 on my 1gig) but the downside to that is you're pretty much stuck using Sony products (I have no issue with that).

So if you think your daughter needs 250 songs on a player, then go for it. But if you think she just perhaps needs an MP3 player to toss on 50-100 songs, start her off with something under $50. I highly doubt she'll notice the sound difference and if the MP3 player gets lost or broken you haven't sacrificed major dollars. Then after a couple of years you could then upgrade her to an Apple if she still interested in the product

[Omphaloskepsis]

12. One thing to think about too..

Your daughter might be mad if you get her a player that is not a iPod. They are the cool thing to have. It would be like going to school in the 80's sporting a pair of generic airwalks. And most 12 year old girls are going to listen to the same ten songs over and over. Hitting the next button ten times isn't a big deal.

[LynneSin]

16. I got my best friend's daughter a Sony 1gig

I wanted to get her an MP3 player and plus I had just given them my old desktop computer which had about 3000 songs uploaded from CDs. Since the CDs were uploaded into Sony's Connect software and using Sony's Altac3, I figured I pretty much had to give the kid a Sony if she wanted to use the music on it

The girl is going to be 10 in January and she filled up most of the Mp3 player. For some reason she prefers classic rock and is a massive fan of "The Doors" but also likes Led Zeppelin alot too.

She has no problem with being different from those with an Ipod - she figures at least no one will ever try and mistake her player for theirs.

If I was to get a child something other than an Ipod I would make it a point to not buy something that mimics the Ipod but looks uniquely different. If I were to get an Ipod I'd probably get the cheapest thing not a shuffle

You'd be suprised at how many songs a 9-year-old kid can put on their player!

[LynneSin]

9. Absolutely YES

Basically I've uploaded all of my CDs into my computer and now I"m borrowing my co=worker's CDs and uploading them. I bought a really great set of computer speakers and now that's my new stereo. Much better than dealing with the old-fashioned system

[Roon]

6. My personal opinion, don't get an Ipod. They are junk

I am on hold with tech support as we speak. :mad:

[youthere]

8. Really? Why is that?

[Roon]

11. My files randomly dissapear

and I have to re-install them. I have called tech support, I have even sent the damn thing in so they can look at it. They say there is nothing wrong with it. I am very dissapointed, because when it works, it RULES!! I love watching the simpsons on the bus.

[ghostsofgiants]

13. My guess about files randomly disappearing...

They aren't tagged properly. Might be another issue, but I know my friend had the same sort of problem, and that was the issue.

My ipod does tend to want itself retored to factory settings ever so often though. I wouldn't recommend AGAINST ipods, but they wouldn't be my first recommendation either.

[ghostsofgiants]

14. Check out this site...

http://www.dapreview.com

A lot of good reviews and such.

[youthere]

15. Thanks!