MP3 Player Types

Q:
Can you tell me a little about the different types of MP3 players?

A:
I sure can! People may not know that there are so many different types of MP3 players, but there definitely are. It seems like everything these days have several variations and MP3 players are no exception. I know that iPods have taken over the world (in a way) and that MP3 players aren't really talked about much anymore, but in all actuality, more people may have MP3 players than iPods. So, it's important to still talk about these as well, so let's get started!

Just in case you're not sure, MP3 players are pocket sized devices that allow you to store and play music and other sound files. While there are several types of these players, they all can be placed into one of three categories: hard drive based players, micro hard drive based players and flash based players. Who knew?!

1.) Hard Drive Based - These are usually a little bit larger in size and heavier than the other types. The reason for that is because they come with a large hard drive right inside. Since they have that hard drive, they are able to hold the most data, going up to at least 10 GB or more. In case you're not sure, that equals to about 2,900 sound files. (That's a lot!) Although these are heavier and not as convenient, they do hold more and that's the one thing that makes this type so popular.

2.) Micro Hard Drive Based - These are similar to the hard drive based players, but they are much smaller (hence the micro), both in physical size and in terms of storage space. These MP3 players only hold up to six gigabytes of data, which equals to approximately 1,700 files. That still is quite a bit of space and along with its smaller size, people have been crazed over this type of player. Since these are smaller, people like to take them on walks or to the gym with them, which is great, but they are susceptible to skips if movements are too big. On the other hand, there's another good note about these. They come with rechargeable batteries, just like the hard drive based player.

3.) Flash Based - Last, but not least is the flash based MP3 player. If the other two players didn't strike you, this one may. The main advantage of this type is that it contains no moving parts and therefore, it will never cause any skipping. They are also smaller in size and since they have no moving parts, they are able to hold a battery charge for a longer period of time. This helps your batteries last longer, which is always nice. On the other hand, they only hold up to 32 MB, which is only around 10 songs. There is another model that holds two gigabytes, which is around 570 songs, but that's still not very much. Either way, the other two players hold much more! If you have a huge music collection, this player may not be the right one for you.

So, as you can see, there are several differences between to three types of player models. There are other features that differ between MP3 players, but these are the most prominent. If you're looking to buy a new MP3 player, you'll want to keep these things in mind. Hopefully this helped clear up some pros and cons for you!

~ Erin