craigb


Cool.  Thanks for the ideas!

Not sure about the iPOD Shuffle, I don't see how you can select what you want (no screen?) or how you can stuff it in a pocket without hitting those buttons.

The Samsung, San-Disk and the Coby all look pretty interesting.  The price on the Coby looks worthy of a gamble too...   Hmm...

ah, but I thought the purpose was for during exercise, walking, training, etc.  My answer was based on the assumption that you wouldn't be "fiddling" with looking for different things to play during exercise, but that you would just turn it on a playlist and let it play during the duration of your workout.  in which case the shuffle would be perfect for.
 
but if you want to be able to interact with it on a constant basis, then I agree you do not want the shuffle.

Beagle

craigb


Cool.  Thanks for the ideas!

Not sure about the iPOD Shuffle, I don't see how you can select what you want (no screen?) or how you can stuff it in a pocket without hitting those buttons.

The Samsung, San-Disk and the Coby all look pretty interesting.  The price on the Coby looks worthy of a gamble too...   Hmm...

ah, but I thought the purpose was for during exercise, walking, training, etc.  My answer was based on the assumption that you wouldn't be "fiddling" with looking for different things to play during exercise, but that you would just turn it on a playlist and let it play during the duration of your workout.  in which case the shuffle would be perfect for.
 
but if you want to be able to interact with it on a constant basis, then I agree you do not want the shuffle.

True, but some of the tracks for training (brain entrainment types) can sound similar.  The walking and exercise ones would be play and forget.  I like how the Samsung does voice recording though - might be handy.  Fidelity isn't as important for these applications.

craigb

  I like how the Samsung does voice recording though - might be handy.  Fidelity isn't as important for these applications.

It also has a built in radio which is great for me when working somewhere that I can't use my regular radio. I also like the slide away usb connector, so no leads to worry about. 

I have had a really hard time switching to MP3s. I've bought a couple of small MP3 players over the years but it was back when the only option was headphones or buds (for mobile listening) and I just never was able to stay with it. Maybe I should I try again... I am still using CDs. I just need to upgrade my truck stereo. I am glad you posted this, I really need to change with the times before I get completely left behind. I have a San Disk somewhere...
Tell us where you land.

I'm still using my old 3G iPhone - in fact, it's all I use it for: MP3 when I'm training and to take crappy pics of my cats. I've had a regular iPod before which I loved too.

So I don't really have much to suggest BUT I can tell you that my first MP3 player back in 2006 was that little 600 mb Sony kidney bean and that the software that came w/ it was one of the worst piece of junk ever coded. Sonic Stage it was called IIRC. The little player itself was ok.

bitflipper


First of all, I wouldn't buy anything with an "i" in front of it. Not if you care about fidelity, anyway.

I've had a number of inexpensive players and they were all crapola. Aliasing galore and bass-hyping EQ whether you want it or not. 

I finally got fed up and spent a little money, not for the gobs of storage (32GB, expandable to 64GB) but for the hi-fi playback quality, which is flat and full-spectrum, and with enough power to drive any headphones. At ~ 2" x 4" it's not tiny but easily fits into a shirt pocket. The 16GB version is about 90 bucks less.

Here's a review of it.

If you do get some generic player, be sure to buy it somewhere that'll give you a no-hassle refund. You might want to load up some acoustic guitar and audition it before you get too far from the store.

The J3 is no longer available... I looked. There is an X9 and an i10 and some others. Maybe the X9 is a goodie... I will do some research. I thought an i-pod touch was as good as anything, I am glad for this thread because fidelity is important to me.
 
J

Decision made!  Sold a useless (to me) electronic control module for a car I don't own anymore which gave me juuuuuust enough in my PayPal account to get...
 
A SanDisk Sansa Clip+ 1.0" Black 4GB MP3 Player from Newegg for only $35.99 shipped.  The prices were a bit weird on some of the others I looked at, but this one looks like it will do all I need.  Thanks for all the suggestions!