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Needing to buy a replacement MP3 - Recommendations please


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Old 30-09-2007, 16:28
IzzyS
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So following on from my last topic in this forum, as was fairly obvious it seems the hard drive has failed on my main MP3 Player, which was/is a Creative Zen Xtra 30gb, that I got back in January 2004.

Anyway I managed to recover most of, though unfortunately not all, of the files from it and ive also got a new laptop that has Vista Home Premium installed.

My dad suggested that while im having problems at the moment using my MP3 Player, I maybe think about buying a smaller one to put me on for a while, until I get a proper replacement, like one with a smaller size capacity but cheaper, while I research what the best one would be as a larger replacement of my main one... however having bought a laptop and thinking ahead to what I'm going to have to pay for soon, I think I'd rather try and go straight to buying a full replacement (as in, to save me paying for two, a smaller and a larger one)... though having said that, I did spot this £39.99 Alba 4GB solid state MP3 Player which has an SD slot for expandability and wondered if thats any good(?) its just been released I believe so should be Vista compatible, see:- http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Produc...id%2Bstate.htm
I could put most of my favourite music onto that I reckon and ive been converting files to .wma to compress them as well, so I could fit more into a smaller capacity machine, but im still thinking I'd maybe be better bypassing that and looking for a larger device that will take all my music and be a full replacement, rather than paying for two MP3 Players and possibly not using the smaller one once I've bought the larger one, if you know what I mean...

The obvious replacement to me was going to be the Creative Zen Vision M I think its called, the 30gb one that has photo and video playback but then I read that it doesnt have a replaceable battery which I see as a pretty big disadvantage and also it doesn't work properly on Vista, which is what im using now...

I would like to get a new MP3 player, not an Ipod, one thats compatible with MP3 and WMA files, one that works on Vista and is drag and drop would be great. I'd like it if it has photo and possibly even video capabilities, though im not so bothered abour video and I'd prefer it if it has a replaceable battery as I use my MP3 Player alot and so batteries don't last long after a year or so's use...

The Sony Walkmans looked good and seem to specify that they work with Vista but then I discovered that they only seem to stock models up to 8gb and really for my main MP3 Player I'd be wanting one that has I'd say between 20-30gb (well I have around 12gb of music in total and would like space for photos and space for future downloaded music etc., plus I never really see MP3 Players between 8 and 20gb in size).

I think the smaller size ones look good but I just don't feel like its good value for money considering I probably wouldn't use it again after I buy a larger one to replace my main one and the Alba, I just don't know if its any good or too 'cheap' that it might break down soon after purchase(?) so I can't decide what to do...

Anyone know of a decent MP3 Player that matches my requirements? oh and one last thing, I'm planning to pay anything from £140-180 max... im not interested in anything that costs more than that really.

Thanks in advance for any help!
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Old 30-09-2007, 16:33
Mystic Eddy
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I'm using a Vision: M on Vista now and it works fine. Only use it for the odd song and occasional radio listening though. If you want it, it's yours for £40.
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Old 30-09-2007, 17:11
IzzyS
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I'm using a Vision: M on Vista now and it works fine. Only use it for the odd song and occasional radio listening though. If you want it, it's yours for £40.
Oh? I read on anythingbutipod.com's forum for the model that some people were have trouble getting their Vista computers to recognise the Vision: M, I think... but even so it still sucks that you can't change the battery I think *shrug*

I shouldn't really buy stuff through here... no offence but I wouldn't really know who's genuine and what-not... im guessing thats a smaller storage capacity, 2/4gb or so?
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Old 30-09-2007, 17:32
Mystic Eddy
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30GB capacity. Got it as a present just after I bought my iPod so have no real use for it.
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Old 30-09-2007, 18:42
IzzyS
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30GB capacity. Got it as a present just after I bought my iPod so have no real use for it.
Nice present
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Old 30-09-2007, 19:53
sancheeez
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... but even so it still sucks that you can't change the battery I think *shrug*
Well .... that really depends how comfortable you are taking gizmos like this to bits.

Yes, the battery in this one is not meant to be user replaceable. But ... if you don't mind poking about with jewellers screwdrivers, it's not really that hard.

I've replaced batteries in a few MP3 players that you're not meant to do it yourself and it's never been much of a problem.

http://www.anythingbutipod.com/archi...n-vision-m.php

PS ... £40 for his Vision:M is a bargain. If you can sort it out, I'd buy it if I were you. Private ebay sale maybe? That way you get an element of protection.
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Old 30-09-2007, 20:33
IzzyS
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Well .... that really depends how comfortable you are taking gizmos like this to bits.

Yes, the battery in this one is not meant to be user replaceable. But ... if you don't mind poking about with jewellers screwdrivers, it's not really that hard.

I've replaced batteries in a few MP3 players that you're not meant to do it yourself and it's never been much of a problem.

http://www.anythingbutipod.com/archi...n-vision-m.php

PS ... £40 for his Vision:M is a bargain. If you can sort it out, I'd buy it if I were you. Private ebay sale maybe? That way you get an element of protection.
I'd be pretty hesitant to do that really. They say the same thing about the hard drive for my current MP3, you can replace them if you don't mind opening it all up and buying a laptop hard drive but it has to be the right type and size etc and sometimes they only work for an extra couple of hours...

Yeah I know its a very good price to offer it for, I was actually tempted to say put it on Ebay with a BIN for that price and give me the link I'd buy it since ive got PayPal, though im aware there are more long Royal Mail strikes around the corner and wouldn't want anything getting lost in the post... or I thought I could say send me it all in the mail and I could give them a link to my about me page on Ebay and my feedback page to prove I'll pay but there's little to prove its my account I guess... though my Ebay ID is pretty similar to my name here... it would save alot of money but obv. I don't want to end up doing that and then having it get lost in the mail or anything and end up paying an extra £150 or so again...

I don't mean any offence at all btw Eddy, sorry if you take it that way...
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Old 30-09-2007, 21:30
TheBigM
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Capacity is important to you - fair enough but bear in mind with the new SDHC cards higher and higher capacity cards will be released and whilst they are initially expensive they drop in price quickly with the 4GB already about £15.

This means it may be acceptable for you to get a player with less capacity now but with an SDHC card slot.

I recommend the new Creative Zen 8GB or 16GB which has such a slot. If replacement batteries mean a lot to you then my other suggestion is the Iriver X20. Both of which will meet all your other requirements.
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Old 30-09-2007, 21:32
IzzyS
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Capacity is important to you - fair enough but bear in mind with the new SDHC cards higher and higher capacity cards will be released and whilst they are initially expensive they drop in price quickly with the 4GB already about £15.

This means it may be acceptable for you to get a player with less capacity now but with an SDHC card slot.

I recommend the new Creative Zen 8GB or 16GB which has such a slot. If replacement batteries mean a lot to you then my other suggestion is the Iriver X20. Both of which will meet all your other requirements.
Thats worth knowing, thanks I hadn't spotted any Zens that had SD slots but its good that they have that option, it would be easy to carry extra cards around...

Thanks for the suggestions!
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