Umm yeh... Im going halfs with my dad to get a MP3 Player... Maybe.

He already has a Creative Zen Touch 20GB and its pretty good. Except the part where I have to rip 1,500 + Albums

Anyway, The main Choices are the following that i've narrowed it down to.
Space isnt a HUGE Issue.. I dont even have More then 3.5GB of music on my Computer & unlike him I wont be using it as a mass storage device for all his CD's. Just for songs that I can swap around after a few days etc.

Creative! Zen Touch 20GB - http://uk.europe.creative.com/products/pro...4&product=10274
20GB, upto 24 Hour Battery Life
Rather Bulky really
£189-£200

Creative! Zen Micro 5GB - http://uk.europe.creative.com/products/pro...4&product=10795
Tiny, Average Battery Life upto 12 Hours
Only 5GB for the same price as the one above, Feel hard done by becasie for £10 more I can get 15GB more space, but with a Bulkier Body.
£179-£189

Apple iPOD Mini 4GB - http://www.apple.com/uk/ipodmini/
Stylish, Fashionable, Desirable
Fashion Accessary, Only 4GB, Kinda Boxy, EXPENSIVE
£179-£189

Probably not possible as its so expensive... But the 4th could be a iPOD 20GB.
How would the iPOD 20GB Compare to the above 3? (Except the obvious Capacity Difference)
http://www.apple.com/uk/ipod/
£239-£249

Thanks Ultima

Moved to Mobile Devices & poll updated

Zen Micro - it looks better. As for disk space - 5 Gb is more than enough for me!

i know this isnt in your list but have you looked at the iriver range of products?
especially in that price bracket...

I got the iPod mini for Christmas and I love it. It may be a little expensive, but the quality is worth it. I'd only suggest using it if you use iTunes on a regular basis. It's the easiest way to transfer music, and (in my opinion) the best interface. But, if you don't, feel free to go with something else.

how can u honestly say that the zen touch is bulky? 4" x 2" x .75" isnt big...

Compared to other players, it is a tad on the thick side, but it doesnt really matter that much.

Compared to the Zen Micro I played with & then used my Dads Zen Touch it felt heavy and bulky...

Its Not HUGE by any means. I just means it a tad bulky compared to the Mirco.

I really wouldnt recommend any of those compared to the iRiver products but I would go with the Zen Touch over the iPod because I find Ipods overpriced for what they are

Have you considered the Rio Carbon? IMO, it's the best 5GB player. It uses a CompactFlash (II) card for storage (photographers buy it just to yank out the CF card lol), so it's suitable for any kind of exercise, whereas the HD based micro or mini isn't. (edit: this is what I've read, can't confirm it yet. Does anyone know if a CF(II) card is solid-state or based on HD technology?)

There's no point of getting a large capacity player if you don't have the music to fill it. Unless you plan on reaching 8-10GB in the next year, a 20GB player is just extra weight.

iPod mini? I think the mere fact that you have the Zen Micro in your selection should rule out the iPod mini.

If you're willing to wait, iRiver's H10 is supposed to come out soon (along with other players if announced at CES).

All the current players lack some important features (to me at least), so if you're willing to wait, the 2005 line-up *might* fix these issues.

Its hard drive based

As far as I'm concerned, iRiver died when H120 was discontinued. I wont be recommending any HD players from them to anyone until they bring something new out. Flash? fine, their flash players are okay.

It looks ugly to me and I dont like CPII, I'd prefere a HD Player...

What is Planned for 2005 exactly?

I guess at the moment the Zen Micro is my best bet?



Hmm I checked them out earlier... the only decent ones are the really expensive ones, the 10GB H110 I think looks crap and is nothing to shout about, sorry

What's planned? I don't know. Hopefully the companies learned something from their mistakes (holy crap Creative, why take off so many features that was present in the Zen Xtra for the Zen Touch and Micro???).

But yes, right now, the Zen Micro is your best bet.

@ N@t5: So a CF (II) IS a HD? not solid-state?

I was under the impression that CFII cards are microdrives (hard drives)

Zen Touch looks very nice almost like an iPod but ten times nicer. iPod sucks... who wants to buy off iTunes? *no flames my opinion only* lol

I'd say Zen Micro or iPod mini...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B...9234890-7135666

You calling this crap and expensive

My dad wont buy online though

Ive not seen ONE iriver in a Store yet.

Was out with him again today, looked in about 12 shops.
Everyone has sold out of the Zen Touch, Zen Micro, iPod Mini, 20GB iPod, (Only 40GB's left because there so expensive )

Be nice to actually find a place that has some in stock!
Any stores that sell that Iriver? It looks good... Specs page or anything (Lazy day)

All found here

http://www.iriveramerica.com/products/H320.aspx

Also why wont your Dad buy online ?

Cos hes old and stubborn lol

Are the irivers good then?

Wish they was a bit smaller...

Damn yeah iRivers are great , with this iRiver you can record off the Radio

Could he not write you a cheque and you buy it online if possible?

iRivers are tiny , they are very tiny in real life, I got an iHP-140 and its really small to what I thought it was

You can do that with the Zen Micro....

The Colour screen is cool, but then it becomes more of a Multimedia devices, as opposed to a MP3 player, which what I want. I need all that extra.

I hate devices that try and do too much

Looks good and is impressive...though

Its astill basically an MP3 player device, the colour screen is a bonus, batterey still lasts 16 hours (more than the iPod) and can store photos if you wish but still an mp3 player which is its main point

iAudio M3
http://eng.iaudio.com/zeroboard/product_M3...enu=p&id=cw5000
210GBP

CNET Review:
8.7/10

We've been waiting for more than two and a half years for a high-capacity MP3 player smaller than the iPod, and finally, we're holding one in our hands. The $369 JetAudio iAudio M3 (with cradle, $349 without) is about 10 percent slimmer than the iPod, though the manufacturer took a few design shortcuts, namely, moving the screen, the controls, and the ports to external modules. If you can picture yourself using only an in-line remote--albeit one with a spacious screen--to control your MP3 player while it's stored out of sight, the M3 deserves serious consideration as an alternative to the iPod.

cnet has a good review on it:
http://reviews.cnet.com/JetAudio_iAudio_M3...7-30842848.html

Basic specs for JetAudio iAudio M3 (silver, 20GB, with cradle)

Product type-- Digital player / recorder / radio
PC interface(s) supported-- Hi-Speed USB
Flash memory installed-- 330 hour(s)
Digital storage-- Built-in 20 GB Hard disk drive
Digital formats supported-- ASF, MP3, WAV, WMA, Ogg Vorbis
Signal-to-noise ratio-- 95 dB
Weight-- 4.8 oz
Dimensions (W x D x H)-- 2.4 in x 0.6 in x 4.1 in
Battery technology-- Lithium ion
Mfr estimated battery life-- 14 hour(s)
Included accessories-- Carrying case, Connector coupler
Software type-- Drivers & Utilities
CD system-- None
Cassette system type-- None
Factory presets-- Pop, Jazz, Rock, Vocal, Normal, Classic
Tuner type-- Digital Radio tuner
MD system type-- None
Remote control-- Player remote control - Cable
Headphones type-- Binaural Ear-bud
Cable(s) included-- USB cable -, Audio cable -
Battery-- Lithium ion Rechargeable Player battery

iRiver has new 5gb music player with color LCD.

It has *detachable* 12 hour battery, and all those features you'd expect from iRiver; custon EQ, FM radio and voice recorder.

http://www.iriver.co.kr/common/notice/view...String=&idx=695

If you are bothered about colour etc, wait for the iAudio X5. By the way, iAudio M3 has all that you have mentioned joseph apart from a detachable battery, but the iAudio has a 14hour battery life. If you want to spend slightly more you can get the M3L, which is practically the same but the iAUDIO M3L can play continuously up to 35 hours.

It can also act as a removable storage device so you can hold all types of files.

Heck!!! I bought a Zen Micro but I want this one!! Do you guys think that I should get it refunded and wait until this comes out in North America? ARGH I LOVE the Colour LCD Screen.

iRiver!!

I have an H340. It's the shiznit.

Got my Zen Micro, Silver.

Damn those things are hard to find. (Not online)

You can get them in "Must Have IT" stores (used to be Discovery Store)

Yup. Congrats. It took me a week to find one in store.

Did you guys get the free extra battery though? Well worth it as they cost $50 themselves.

I hear that ALL the recent ones that came out are the limited editions.(Free battery).
Mine included one too but i never opened that one cuz i personally do not use or listen to music 24 hours straight and at night i plug the battery in and the good thing about this is that when it is charged full, the charger stops on its own so it doesnt damage my battery at all.