Digital MP3 Player Guide

MP3 players have become a vital accessory in our daily lives.

Also called digital audio players, they come in a wide variety of styles, capacities, sizes, and colors. So which is the right one for you?

Hard Drive

These types of devices are the largest as far as size and have the highest capacity of all the portable audio players. They’re often quite heavy and have several moveable parts, but they are very versatile.

These larger memory capacity players are great for home use and can be connected to your stereo speakers. It’s possible to store entire music collections with thousands of songs on this kind of music device. Examples of hard drive players include the Apple iPod video or Sony Network Walkman NW-HD15.

Micro Hard Drive

While these may have a smaller hard drive and lower in capacity than a hard drive portable music player, they are much lighter and they definitely have more capacity than their smaller flash memory counterparts.

While they are still relatively lightweight, they still contain moveable parts, so any impact exercises, like jogging, may jar internal workings. However, these players are ideal for traveling. It is even possible to purchase an FM Transmitter that fits into your car to allow you to listen to music through your car stereo. Examples of micro hard drive players include the Apple iPod mini or Creative Labs Zen Micro.

Flash Memory

These small, very light MP3 players may have the lowest capacity, but they are amazingly portable. This makes them ideal for use while exercising or jogging.

As there are no moving parts in these small players, they’re ideal for sports or active people who don’t want the risk of breaking or jolting players. Examples of flash memory music players include mobiBLU Dah 1500i and Apple iPod Nano.

What Other Features Should You Look For?

You’ll need to check whether it is compatible with your current computers operating system. This means checking for PC or Mac compatibility before you make your purchase. You might also find that some MP3 players include features, such as voice recorders, FM radios, and even video players.