Mp3 payer recommendations

[GJF]

I want to buy my first MP3 player. It must have function buttons that can be felt in the dark rather than touch sensitive controls, built in Radio, and Mic recording. I want a player that I can just switch on and go to the same track where I left off so I don't know if they all do that. Line in would be a plus. I want it mainly for audio so sound quality goes without saying. Any recommendations.

[DereX888]

I strongly suggest getting a PocketPC - you'll be able to play almost any format of music and video files.
No other portable device exists that can match PocketPC's flexibility and usability (iPhones, iPods etc can't do even half of what PocketPCs can). Its like your Windows computer - either install a player for a specific format (say RealMedia crapola) or install a codec when needed... that simple.

I.e. this:
http://explore.toshiba.com/gigabeat

is rather small yet not too small and excellent media player based on latest Windows Mobile 6 (I've played with it in the office last week, really cool gadget - with virtually true hi-fi sound quality, unlike most of the junk out there - and that you can trust me on, because I am somewhat sound quality freak, I can't stand i.e. MP3s and such shit, *I hear* the difference between WAV and 'bestest' MP3, unlike my bro or other peeps...).
It has been certified, so I'd say it ought to be in the american stores.
And there are many other players like this one anyways.

/edit
or just go for a "full" PocketPC with built-in cellphone and all other bells'n'whistles, i.e. this HTC Touch Diamond (has everything you asked for and more):

but since your main concern is music, you'd have to do some research, because not all are equipped with good sound chipsets or FM radio, but still - some do have excellent sound quality (I remember i.e. older HP iPAQ 6000 series cellphone just blew away iPods and iPhone in music quality - and not only)

nicer view:

[GJF]

Would I be able to just press one button to power on and one button to play the track where I left off on a pocket PC ? I was looking at a Samsung T9 a while back but it has been superseded by a touch sensitive model.

[DereX888]

Would I be able to just press one button to power on and one button to play the track where I left off on a pocket PC ? I was looking at a Samsung T9 a while back but it has been superseded by a touch sensitive model.

It all depends. There is no "one PocketPC" (like one iPhone just with or without 3G...) there are so many variants that sometimes don't even look like they belong to the same category.
You just have to choose a model which suits your needs the best (good sound quality etc).
Personally I'm not into touch-screen models. Its a distant secondary feature to me, more important are existence and layout of real "hardware" keys (and a mini keyboard).
Also if you liked one model but it was superseded by newer one, I'm sure you can still find it (brand new often) on ebay. There is nothing wrong with choosing older models if they suit your needs (i.e. my "main" workhorse, after 3+ years, is still HP iPAQ 6500 series running Windows Mobile 2003 SE, accoirding to some people its an "ancient" version of OS - yet simply because it does, and has, everything *I* need why should I change it? I also have other newer and older PPCs, but as I said - that one is basically perfect for me and I still haven't found any newer PPC to be better or more suitable *for my needs* yet, although I must admit my TyTN II is probably the second that suits *me*).
You have plenty of choices if you opt for PocketPC. Finding the one that suits you best is probably the hardest part

[GJF]

Thanks for the tip, I will have a look at a few models to see if I can find a basic easy to use one.

[MJA]

check the Creative Zen 8 GB .I'm not sure if it got all the stuff u are looking for.

http://www.amazon.com/Creative-Portable-Media-Player-Black/dp/B000UV4EUG/ref=pd_cp_e_3...1RCBKJQ7SK6HEP

[GJF]

Thanks I checked it out but reading the comments it seems that it does not have track resume after switching off or a external volume control which would put me off. Have been looking at the iriver E100.

[hauntedtony]

ipod hands down

[DereX888]

Thanks I checked it out but reading the comments it seems that it does not have track resume after switching off or a external volume control which would put me off. Have been looking at the iriver E100.

They all will resume if you hibernate them instead of shutting down, and if you save your current selection(s) as playlist before shutting down, it will play it exactly as you chose it even after battery removal.

They all have external "hardware" volume control (at least all mine do, wheel or slider on the side).

ipod hands down

If he is going to play only low quality AAC or MP3 stuff from iTunes, then sure - why not iPod (however with its audio quality specs its not even among first 10 best sound quality players...)
However I don't think he can hook up external mic or play any other high quality audio formats like SHN, FLAC, etc... not to mention most common MP4 codecs like XVID or containers like MKV, even plain old WAVE/CDA - none of it is playable without prior conversion on all dumb iPods last time I've check (unless Steve-o-iJobs will change his mind one day and let you use them at next upgrade).

[GJF]

Looks like I will be going for the Cowan D2 despite the touch screen being the only one I can find having the features I would like as well as sound quality. Just have to decide if I'm going to go for the 4gb at £99.99 and later get a 4 gb SD card for £7 or go for the 8gb player for £129.99.

[yoda313]

The sd card option might work out to be better.

I used to have an old rio mp3 player with a sd card slot but could only go up to a 1gb card.

The nice thing about it was I could have a bunch of sd cards with different groups on them and swap as I needed. Or you could organize by style or decade or whatever.

I currently have a 30gb zune which I love for video and music and sheer capacity.

However if you don't need that much space you should still look into an expandable player. That way you'll have the option of getting larger storage. And you can get multiple cards so that you don't have to go small on bitrate.

[DereX888]

Any SDHC-capable players? I would choose a player with minimal amount of its built-in storage but utilizing SDHC Cards, since 16GB SDHC cards are cheaper than the difference between 4 and 8 gb of built-in memory...

[GJF]

Yes thats what I am thinking. The Cowan D2 takes SDHC cards and from what I can gather is integrated into the main memory of the card. You just have to wait 30 sec or so when the card has been inserted for it to build up the memory. Most people however seem to think that buying the biggest internal memory you can afford is better but I'm in a frugal state of mind and the cost of SDHC cards should come down.

[DereX888]

Yes thats what I am thinking. The Cowan D2 takes SDHC cards and from what I can gather is integrated into the main memory of the card. You just have to wait 30 sec or so when the card has been inserted for it to build up the memory. Most people however seem to think that buying the biggest internal memory you can afford is better but I'm in a frugal state of mind and the cost of SDHC cards should come down.

You are right, mostof people "think" that. But who cares what the sheeple "think" (if at all)
FYI: their "best" 512MB players of yesterday are in a dollar store junk bins today, while my WinMo-based device can still go up to 32GB memory (on the card, when they become available), and it costs today only a bit less than yesterday

Since the player of your choice uses SDHC, go for the *lowest* internal memory model. It certainly is cheaper, while there is no difference to you (as a user) at all.
You'll save money on something that is cheaper by the minute anyways, and becomes yesterday's tech faster than I can write about it

[GJF]

On the D2 can anybody tell me when scheduling a FM recording does the unit have to be left switched on until the programme has recorded or does it go into a low power standby mode like a VCR etc. I am asking as I would want to record radio programs around 5 in the morning before I wake up.