[ant!bacterial]

I understand that these polls can be a pain, but I am DESPERATE for your help. I have been looking around for MONTHS for the best mp3 player to get--and because technology is so hard to keep up with (I swear it goes faster than my heartbeat), I am so awestruck by how many choices there are! I have limited my decision to four possible choices.

I am asking YOU GUYS to help me by voting & reviewing the pros and cons for each one. It coule be based on your experiences (which is the best source), what you hear/read/see from other people, etc. I have also listed a few of the features each has for those who are not familiar with each mp3 player. Please keep in mind these are NOT ALL the features to these products!

Keep in mind:
- I drop my stuff a lot, so it's a plus if it's almost immune to those abuses
- Price range: I don't really have one, but since I'm paying with my own money this time (my parents refuse to buy this for me bc I always ask for a new one -0-). The less, the better. So price IS a factor. I don't want to buy a $300 Mp3 that only hold 2Gs when I can buy one that holds 30Gs. Nah'm sayin?
- Durable & can last for a long time.
- Battery life is a factor, but I'm not hoping for much since it's always a factor that never satisfies anyone.
- Colr is NOT a factor.


1. APPLE iPod 30G -- $270~$300

I'm sure everyone knows what this is, how it works &what not.
This choice is up there, but I realllllly don't want this one. LOL
However people keep asking me "why don't you just get the ipod?" when I ask them
about other mp3 players. So... it's on my list.

• Stores up to 7,500 songs, 20,000 photos, or 75 hours of video playback
• 2.5-inch (diagonal) color LCD with LED backlight
• Up to 14 hours of music playback; up to 3 hours of slideshows with music; up to 2 hours of video playback
• Comes with earbud headphones and USB cable
• Compatible with Mac OS X v10.3.9 or later, Windows 2000 with Service Pack 4 or later, or Windows XP Home or Professional with Service Pack 2 or later

2. TOSHIBA Gigabeat S MES30VW 30G -- $250~$300

I just saw this today on the web &everyone's saying that's it's the new competitor to the iPod.
I love how slick it looks, but I am not fond of the whole "Windows" theme. >0<...
You can also play your videos &see your pictures landscape as well.

• Compact dimensions with up to 60 gigabytes (GB) of storage space
• FM radio tuner
• Extended battery life (12 hours of audio and up to 2.5 hours of video)
• Familiar Windows Mobile software navigation
• Compatible with popular media file formats, including .wma, .wmv, .wav, JPEG, and MP3
• Media download from Media Center PCs
• Recorded TV download from TiVo Series2
• Audio integration with Xbox 360 (don't really care about that.. )

3. SAMSUNG YP-Z5AS 4G -- $170~$200

Yes, it's only 4G compared to the 2 30G's up there,
but I love it how it looks and I've seen awesome reviews on this one.
It's simple & easy to listen to music to.

• 4GB Storage
• Also available in silver
• Playback time up to 35 hrs.
• Stores up to 25,000 pictures
• Comes with earphones, USB cable and install CD
• Tap Bar navigation
• Photo Viewer
• Customize player background with JPEG images

4. Cell phone that includes an mp3 player
ORRRRRR Should I just get a cell phone that includes an mp3 player?
It might not hold many songs, but 2-in-1 is always great.
I'm T-Mobile btw, so a Samsung t809 is most likely.
Or whichever is the newest.


Thank you so much for your opinion.
<3

[BabyBoy]

Or you could wait for Microsoft's "Zune" (by Toshiba), supposedly it's claiming to knock out the Ipod. Personally, I've been a big fan of the Gigabeat for a while.

[PockyUpNose]

I personally like samsung's product better.

[FirstTheWorst]

The Toshiba seems the best by description. Ipods really aren't that great if you think about it...considering it's price is wayyy not worth it.

[ant!bacterial]

Or you could wait for Microsoft's "Zune" (by Toshiba), supposedly it's claiming to knock out the Ipod. Personally, I've been a big fan of the Gigabeat for a while.

When is that coming out?

[`Babykisses]

Anything but the Ipod. The battery life SUCKS!

[joongie;love]

I have the Apple one, DONT BUY IT

Wait for the Zune !

[erure]

i have the iriver e10 and it's pretty awesome... 6gb for $220 and it plays videos too (with video converter included) >_< plus it's scratch resistant and looks gorgeous.

[yunax21]

the TOSHIBA Gigabeat S MES30VW 30G looks pretty nice.. it has good qualities.

[burntvinyl]

out of all the choices you have up there, the samsung one.
just because the battery life is wow.
i wouldnt buy a cell phone just to listen to music. i have a cell that plays mp3s but the battery life runs out so fast, its ridiculous, i mean what am i going to do if i need to make calls? anyway, yeah the samsung.

[GOOMBA]

Apple iPods are not only played out, they literally suck.
I'd stick with the samsung.

[bonbons]

i'd go with samsung, smaller drive doesnt break as easily

[azn_kira]

have you considered the Meizu M6? (it's <3, i'm planning to buy it next month) you can find a VERY detailed review at www.anythingbutipod.com or go to their website www.meizu.com. This mp3 hasn't come to North America yet, but i'm pretty sure you can order online. I really think it can give Apple some serious competition once it goes mainstream=]

Or the Sandisk Sanza? it goes up to 6 gigs for about 200 dollars right now at OD.

The two mp3's mentioned above both play vids, and are about $200. the designs are similar to the ones you posted above so i think you'll like it=] check them out before you decide

if i had to go with one you chose i'd probably to with the samsung...but personally i don't really like anyXD sorry.

[advent.shk]

I say stay away from Ipods....it usually dies after your warranty...if your lucy before. My brother has ahd to send his vid. ipod in twice and its stopped working three times. My old photo ipod stopped working like 7 months after I got mine. I was just about to buy the gigabeat S but decided to go with the Zen Vision M.

[jkim62]

get a cell phone w/ mp3 player.

its 2 in 1 and more! games, text/picture message, camera, internet browsing, etc.


and... if u got the money... u acutally have more choices than the samsung. u can always get a phone and brnd it to tmobile.

im a tmobile user also but i have the sony ericsson k800 (euro version)

[captainEDEN.]

i'm a HUGE Apple fan when it comes to MP3s
so i voted for the ipod.