MP3 players have become the indispensable portable media device of an entire generation, so much so that it is difficult to imagine a time when music, videos, and movies could not be taken with you while on the go. Apple started the trend with their unbelievably popular iPod series of MP3 players, but today a host of manufacturers have caught up and there is a huge range of choices available to the consumer.

Contents

• The Apple iPod vs. Everyone Else
• What to Look for in an MP3 Player
• Popular MP3 Player Brands

The Apple iPod vs. Everyone Else

The iPod series from Apple is so ubiquitous that it almost defines the MP3 market itself. The iPod was the first MP3 player to make a big splash, and with good reason. The interface is intuitive and easy to use, the device itself is attractive, compact, and ultra-portable, and Apple's iTunes Internet service is a ready-made source of abundant and affordable content. However, iPods typically are more expensive than comparable MP3 players by other manufacturers, they come with fewer accessories standard, and the copyright protection on iTunes content does not allow for sharing with other devices.

The iPod may have been the first MP3 player to become a part of the popular culture, but other manufacturers have been quick to develop their own technology and address some of the iPod's shortcomings. Many other brands offer an AC charger, radio tuner, and satellite radio compatibility as standard features. And content on these MP3 players can usually be shared freely on your other devices.

What to Look for in an MP3 Player

Multimedia Options – MP3 players can do much more than just play music. More advanced models can play videos, movies, games, and more. Obviously, increased functionality comes with an increase in price, but an MP3 player with strong multimedia support offers the most convenient package available, since you are able to store your favorite music, videos, and movies all in one place.

Storage Capacity – If you are just storing music files, an MP3 player with smaller storage is fine, but if you plan on having a lot of videos and movies, you will need one of the larger units. Following is a rough guideline for storage space for music files:
256MB 4 hours of playing time
4GB 60+ hours of playing time
20GB 300+ hours of playing time
40GB 650+ hours of playing time

Battery Life – Battery life is very important, since most people require a lot of use from their MP3 player between charges. Ten to fifteen hours is standard, but twenty hours and beyond is not uncommon and does not require a significant additional expenditure.

Popular MP3 Player Brands

Apple makes several versions of the iPod. The tiny iPod Shuffle is the entry-level model: the current version only plays music and offers 4GB of storage. The iPod Nano is the smallest one that offers video playback, yet the newest version still offers 16GB of storage. The iPod Classic offers a hard drive with additional storage, while the iPod Touch includes a touch-sensitive screen and a web browser that can accommodate wireless downloads.

SanDisk is the number two manufacturer of MP3 players, behind Apple, and their devices are easily upgraded with a number of different card-based expansions. Samsung has brought its tremendous reputation in electronics to the world of MP3 players, and they have several well-received models at a number of different levels of price and performance. Sony revived the Walkman brand for its line of MP3 players, which have proven as popular in the '00s as they were in the '80s. Creative Labs and Archos were two of the first MP3 manufactures, and they have a substantial number of offerings at different price points.