Tell me everything you know about mp3 players...
I'm looking to buy a new mp3 player. My last one was a Creative Zen: Vision M. I bought it for the watching avi files on the train commute into work, and the mp3 capability was an added bonus. I would still be working with it, except it doesn't work any more. (I did get a replacement battery via ebay, and I was either conned (I don't think so) or it requires more TLC than a new battery (more probable).)
So. I'm replacing it. And I'm looking to you guys for recommendations. However, I'm not looking for quite the same functionality, this time, I'm more concerned with mp3s rather than playing avi/videos (this would be a nice but not essential feature).
Killer Features:
+ Bookmarking - it should definitely bookmark my place in a track. Additionally, it would be awesome if you could bookmark the track as part of a playlist, ie remembered the current playlist as part of the bookmark. This would would probably make me buy it on the spot. (ie listening to podfic and audiobooks (in mp3 format, not m4b/audiobook format))
+ Very good battery life - definitely >20hrs, and >30hrs would be very nice.
+ Reasonably compact
+ a screen - I want to be able to select tracks; relying on the vagaries of 'shuffle' is not happening (see: listening to audiobooks/podfic)
+ Not i-anything (ipod, itouch, iphone, ipad, ad infinitum) - I'm sorry; I have issues with Steve Jobs here, and iStuff, is not happening.
Other stuff:
I'm not too concerned with capacity, probably in the 8GB - 16GB range, but anything over 1GB or 2 GB would be acceptable. Re cost, I haven't won the lottery or anything, but for my killer features, my budget is pretty flexible, ie if you think it's what I'm looking for, rec it and I'll do the worrying about the price. *g* (Plus, I got birthday money.) I'd also like something that's going to be pretty reliable, so if you've have good or bad experiences with a brand, feel free to give me that too.
ETA: In an ideal world, any associated software will be entirely optional. I should be able to just drag and drop mp3s from my desktop to the mp3 window, to get the basic 'plays mp3s' functionality. Software that provides added extras / cool features, is fine. /ETA
So. I'm asking you guys for help, advice, recommendations, stuff I should look for etc, etc.
So. I'm replacing it. And I'm looking to you guys for recommendations. However, I'm not looking for quite the same functionality, this time, I'm more concerned with mp3s rather than playing avi/videos (this would be a nice but not essential feature).
Killer Features:
+ Bookmarking - it should definitely bookmark my place in a track. Additionally, it would be awesome if you could bookmark the track as part of a playlist, ie remembered the current playlist as part of the bookmark. This would would probably make me buy it on the spot. (ie listening to podfic and audiobooks (in mp3 format, not m4b/audiobook format))
+ Very good battery life - definitely >20hrs, and >30hrs would be very nice.
+ Reasonably compact
+ a screen - I want to be able to select tracks; relying on the vagaries of 'shuffle' is not happening (see: listening to audiobooks/podfic)
+ Not i-anything (ipod, itouch, iphone, ipad, ad infinitum) - I'm sorry; I have issues with Steve Jobs here, and iStuff, is not happening.
Other stuff:
I'm not too concerned with capacity, probably in the 8GB - 16GB range, but anything over 1GB or 2 GB would be acceptable. Re cost, I haven't won the lottery or anything, but for my killer features, my budget is pretty flexible, ie if you think it's what I'm looking for, rec it and I'll do the worrying about the price. *g* (Plus, I got birthday money.) I'd also like something that's going to be pretty reliable, so if you've have good or bad experiences with a brand, feel free to give me that too.
ETA: In an ideal world, any associated software will be entirely optional. I should be able to just drag and drop mp3s from my desktop to the mp3 window, to get the basic 'plays mp3s' functionality. Software that provides added extras / cool features, is fine. /ETA
So. I'm asking you guys for help, advice, recommendations, stuff I should look for etc, etc.