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IPod, therefore I am? The MP3 player guide
Analysts predict that the MP3 portable market will boom into a $58 billion industry in the next five years. The iPod will hold 40 to 50 percent of the market share of all MP3 players. But they certainly aren’t your only choice, take a pick:
By Tyler Gaskill
IPod mini
- Four gigabyte hard drive (roughly 1,000 songs)
- 18-hour rechargeable battery life
- Available in pink, blue, silver and green
- $200
The iPod is the dominant force in MP3 players mainly for its long list of accessories. They include remotes, docks for recharging, FM transmitters for car accessibility, y-audio-cable for home stereo connection and a dizzying array of fashion accessories.
Creative Labs – Zen Micro
- Five-gigabyte hard drive (2,500 songs)
- FM tuner/recorder
- Syncs with Microsoft Outlook calendar
- Works with Napster to Go ($15.99 monthly flat rate)
- $180
- Available in 10 different colors
A unique feature of the Zen is its multiple EQ options including acoustic, classical, disco, jazz, new age, pop, rock and vocal. The lower price and larger hard drive space delivers stiff competition for the iPod.
Rio – Forge Sport
- Expandable memory<
- Stop watch and lap timer
- Available in two different memory sizes
- PC and Mac compatibility
- $70-$90 with mail-in rebate, depending on memory size
The inclusion of an armband and sports clip makes Rio’s Forge Sport perfect for the exercise junkie. Its controls are designed for easy one-handed operation. Drawbacks include a limited hard drive space, 256 or 512 megabytes.
IRiver
- 512 megabytes or one-gigabyte hard drive
- Offered in red, blue or silver
- Uses AA batteries
- 1.6 inches thin with a weight of 1.7 oz.
- Comes with a sports band and clip
The iRiver’s sleek design rivals Rio’s Forge Sport. A nice feature for athletes is the built in anti-skip protection. A negative for iRiver is the cost: $150 for 512 megabytes and $200 for the one-gigabyte hard drive.
SanDisk
- Three different memory sizes: 256 megabytes, 512 megabytes and one gigabyte
- $60 for 256MB, $80 for 512MB and $80 for 1 GB
- FM tuner and voice recorder
- Carrying Case and Armband
- PC and Mac compatibility
SanDisk is the Ford Focus of MP3 players — affordable, efficient and reliable. There’s nothing too flashy here — just the basics. Therein lies the drawback — it lacks any unique qualities.
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