cheapy mp3 player--NOT IPOD...suggestions?

[poisonivory]

OK..so my 80gb ipod got stolen last year. I used to love it when i rode the train to work, but now I drive. However, I still exercise regularly and go running and what not. I only need the MP3 player for this purpose, because I find it so much easier to get motivated when I have music to jam to. Since I only need it for this purpose, I'm not about to spend $100 for the ipod shuffle.

Has anyone bought a small, non-ipod mp3 player that they can reccommend? It only needs to hold like 100-200 songs, nothing too fancy. But one that will work. lol

Any suggestions? Also, if anyone has bought a small mp3 player that absolutely sucked, please let me know so I steer clear.

Thanks!

[Vypurr]

I used an 8gb Sandisk Sansa. It was nice and even had a built in FM radio tuner which was nice!

[poisonivory]

sandisk...i think ive seen that in circulars. I'll be hitting best buy most likely to check out a variety. I def wouldn't be getting the 8gb though, that costs just as much as the ipod shuffle..lol I'm looking for something cheap ($40-60). I only need it to workout and go running, the smaller the better. 100 song capacity is more then enough.

And an FM tuner is def a nice feature!

Anyone have experience with any other non-ipod brands? i.e. - Insignia? samsung?

[Vypurr]

I believe there is a smaller one, and they all have microSD slots so you can add space to it later if you find you want to put more music on it!

[poisonivory]

thanks for the info!!

Yea I did look online and see that sandisk also has 1gb, 2gb and 4gb model. A 2gb would probably be fine for what I need it for.

There is another sandisk model called the shaker or something, that is relatively cheap. But i read numerous reviews that reccommned it for children only becuase the sound quality is kind of crappy.

[russiankid]

Look into some Creative Lab players. I have an 8GB Microphoto and it works great. Of course it is a bit pricey, but they have others that are under $80.

[poisonivory]

cool, will do. I never even heard of that brand, where is it sold?

[russiankid]

cool, will do. I never even heard of that brand, where is it sold?

Just about any electronics store. Surprised you have never heard of it, they are quite known.

[poisonivory]

^^^ i never really had a reason to pay attention, I had an 80gb ipod until it got stolen.

[russiankid]

^^^ i never really had a reason to pay attention, I had an 80gb ipod until it got stolen.

Well Creative makes pretty good products. I have a set of speakers from them and they work great. I have had this system for 3 years now and the sub has always been on all the way. Still sounds like it was new.

[Erik]

creative labs isnt that bad at all. they def. arent top of the line, but they certainly arent over priced, so you do get what you pay for unlike an ipod, which you pay for the name in my opinion.

[Vypurr]

The new iPod Classic you really do get what you pay for. The Touch is a gimmick. I have always been against the iPod because of their stigma attached to them, and the fact other players offered more features such as FM tuners, and more formats supported, but the Classic changed my mind.

For $230 I got an 80gb MP3 player! That is priced very competitively with others, and IMO it is one of the best deals out there. Creative's Player has poor controls. Yes, I have used them, hell, I only bought Creative players in the past, but the interface and controls on my new iPod really puts it to shame.

[461_SS]

zune 4tw! Better than ipods hands down! Creative also makes awesome mp3 players! Anything but an ipod! lol

[Vypurr]

zune 4tw! Better than ipods hands down! Creative also makes awesome mp3 players! Anything but an ipod! lol

I would not agree at all...I am far from an iFanboy, but the Zune has been a failure. It's bigger, has less support, costs more, and doesn't offer significantly more features (only offers more contant support). But they are still very nice MP3 players.

BUTTT This is off topic because he wants a CHEAP mp3 player, and the Zune/iPod is not in that class.

[poisonivory]

i just dont want to waste 200-300 on a full-size 60-80gb mp3 player that i will only using during workouts. Also, since I will be running with it, a little 2gb that i can clip in my waste or shirt is ideal. I dont want a big thing i have to strap to my arm or hold the entire time. Which is why i specifically said the smaller the better.

I appreciate all of the input guys. I'll check out all of the brands mentioned (although the lesser capacity ones).

Thanks

[Rev. Maynard]

I just picked up a 40gig Zune last week off Craigslist. So far its a very nice unit. I had a Creative Zen touch before this that kept locking up. But the sound quality is great, easy to use and had a nice interface. Paid 130 shipped and its a year old.

[GsrSiHatchie]

creative zen

plays WMA and ipod format and has an FM tuner i got the 8 gig version but they all have SD card slots to put all the bulk movies and stuff you want on them since the cards are cheap now, but there are bigger sized zens i just got the 8 gig cause all i use it for is the gym. its very compact about credit card sized and light as all hell

[FocusDude]

I bought Wifey a 2gb Sandisk Sansa for X-mas, she was using it until my iPod kicked it, now Ive been using it during work everyday. For dads day I think were gonna go get a new mplayer for myself so she can have her pink one back. I'll probably get the largest Sandisk makes- iPod are nifty but not worth it imho-

Sansa also has a FM Player which is helpful at times- reception isn't anything to write home about though.

[den9]

http://shop.sirius.com/edealinv/servlet/ExecMacro?nurl=control/StoreItem.vm&ctl_nbr=2640&siId=1745656&catParentID=7874&scId=7874&oldParentID=7870

mp3 plus satelite radio, and it has wifi for sirius online when u cant get a satelite signal in your house, office, etc.

[Munky]

I know you said no iPod but I had to.:thumbup: Comes with arm strap, rubber condom & screen protectors plus Roadtrip for in the car (http://www.tristatetuners.com/forum/showthread.php?t=53419).:mrgreen: $200 and its yours + shipping unless you wanna meet but since my cars in the shop it might be hard for me to meet.

[stover]

def look at the sandisk sansa one with built in FM tuner.. i have had one for over 6 months now and it is AWESOME it allows u to store full legnth videos and song and like posted before has a mini SD expansion slot.. and i got mine for like 80$ at staples when they were having a sale

[poisonivory]

thanks for all the suggestions guys. I'll be getting one this weekend. whether i buy it, or get it for fathers day..haha

[QCs_R4_Girls]

+1 on the sansa 2 gig. I can't imagine a daily situation when 80 gigs of music are necessary, so the storage space in that thing is adequate for me. Besides, once you get done with those 100 songs, load on 100 more. It's great b/c it doubles as a plug and play external memory drive, and if one of your friends wants a song you have on there, you can easily share it with the cord, not like the iPod and how it erases entire libraries (found that out the hard way accidently) It's nothing to write home about if you hook it up to aux port in your car. In fact, sometimes the songs are really quiet since it doesn't have that option to equalize the volume of all the songs. But all in all, you can't complain about the price and the size. You still get a mp3 player with a screen, FM tuner, and you don't need iTunes to transfer music. And if it breaks or is stolen, you're only out $60 or whatever the price is now.

[poisonivory]

^^haha i found out the ipod library delete the hard way also.

thanks for the opinion. Sansa 2 gb seems to be the popular vote. I'll be sure to check that out thoroughly.

Thanks again guys/girls.