[sahd03]

My niece is turning 13. We know she wants an MP3 player. Has mentioned an iPod, but probably doesn't know what else is out there. I need help, there are so many. She tends to lose things, so it's gotte be $100 to $150 in price, and I think Flash memory for size. They have dial-up Internet connection, so she might be doing more copying from CD's than downloading music.

It looks like probably 512MB or 1GB for the amount of music she'd be able to have fun with, without going overboard.

I'm looking for brand guidance mor than anything. At 13, it'd be nice to have some fun color options, but those seem to come with the cheaper, maybe less reputable MP3's...

Please keep the adivce simple. I want this to be a quick decision!

[mzdagrl]

She's 13. if she wants an iPod, get her an iPod. Doesn't have to be the new one that's like $800, but one of the older ones should be fine. I think you can get a first generation iPod now for like $100 or less... I know when I was 13 it was all brand names, if I didn't have the right brand I hated it, regardless of whether it did the same thing or not.

[sahd03]

An excellent point.... and it would make the shopping easy....

[SSearchVT]

+1 for the Ipod, for the same reason (it's amazing how picky nieces and nephews can be). As for color, they make tons of covers. Good luck...

[reiobard]

you can get an ipod mini usually at Circuit City as an open box buy for about $175 that will be probably 4 gigs. about $200 for new, this is for the mini, not the nano which is much more expensive, I have been looking into new MP3 players for a while now and Ipod definately has them on lockdown, they are the best and i haven't found any other brands that work as well without costing more. seems to me that all other companies are trying to copy the ipod but can't do it without making it more expensive.

[mycirus]

I got my Phillips 1 GB on ebay for like 96 shipped. It holds tons of music, and has a radio built in too. And its a decent size, not too bulky and not too small. That Nano IPOD looks like it would snap in half.

Bruce

Mine looks like this one, but is only 1 gig, not 2. This aint a bad price either.
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...uct_id=3910156

[sahd03]

hmmm.... I've also heard and red very good things about the Creative Labs stuff. Any thoughts?

I'm definitely going for the 1GB and SSearchVT makes an excellent point about changing covers for color with the iPod.

[Karaya One]

Tammy has the IPod Mini.

$100.00 and worth every penny. A very cool machine.

[sahd03]

Decision made: iPod it is. Two reasons, though. Since Abby is 13 and loses things, we actually wanted the Shuffle becuase it's a hair bigger and MAYBE less likely to get lost than the Creative Labs stuff, which are my favorites. Also, the iPod accessories are found just about everywhere that Abby would have access to without her parents. And, the iPod has some neat accessories for cheap, that every 13 year old girl will love.

Personally, if I decide to buy one for myself, I'm going with the Creative Labds Zen Nano with 1GB of storage in some funky color.

Thanks for the help!

[sahd03]

Decision made: iPod it is. Two reasons, though. Since Abby is 13 and loses things, we actually wanted the Shuffle becuase it's a hair bigger and MAYBE less likely to get lost than the Creative Labs stuff, which are my favorites. Also, the iPod accessories are found just about everywhere that Abby would have access to without her parents. And, the iPod has some neat accessories for cheap, that every 13 year old girl will love.

Personally, if I decide to buy one for myself, I'm going with the Creative Labds Zen Nano with 1GB of storage in some funky color.

Thanks for the help!
Get back to work!

[CitizenFrye]

I'm a fan of the iPod.. you can get mini's from apple direct (see the special Deals link on the store webpage) for like 159 for a 4 gig mini..

But the first mp3 player I got my son was an iriver like this one.
http://www.iriveramerica.com/prod/ul...0/ifp_795.aspx

so you can record from any line out audio source as well as all the regular mp3 player stuff..

[LowSider]

I bought the 6gig mini. Best size/storage you can get for the money.
The 4gig is a little cheaper.
($100-$130)

If you buy it from the apple site, you can get a student discount. You also get a free lazer engraving.
The mini comes in a few colors, sivler, blue, green, and pink.


Think it has everything you want.