Opinions on MP3 tools?

[jducoeur]

So my mother has decided that she wants to get into the MP3 world -- she spends a lot of time walking her dog, and would like to be properly equipped for it. I'm visiting her next weekend, and would like to get her set up properly.

Truth to tell, though, my own experience is limited. I have my own tools that I've picked up over the years -- Audiograbber (a good medium-power tool) for ripping, Easy CD Creator (because it was there) for burning, a little iTunes for random online shopping. But those tools aren't all the easiest to use, especially for a non-techie like my mother. And I don't have much experience with the real MP3 players; I just have a CD player that handles MP3 discs.

So I'm looking for any and all opinions about tools for MP3s -- software for ripping, burning and downloading, and portable playback hardware. I'm much more interested in ease of use, rather than power -- odds are that I will set up defaults and my mother will never change them. Price isn't a major issue: while I'm not going to spend a thousand dollars here, I'm happy to spend a few hundred to get her the right equipment. What have y'all used, and what did you think of it?

Comments

[umbran.livejournal.com]

In doing some holiday shopping this year, I wanderered through a number of electronics departments. It seems that quite frequently, MP3 players and CD/MP3 players come with software for ripping and burning. I'd presume that these packages are not aimed at the techies, but instead at the more average user. Considering that the makers don't want lots of tech-support hassle and customer complaints, I expect they're pretty simple to use. If you go with a major name brand of player, I doubt you could go too wrong.

[solipsistnation.livejournal.com]

Lots of the pack-in software with mp3 players is lame for various reasons. Even the big names. Check before buying one...

[shipbrook.livejournal.com]

I agree with umbran, but I find myself frequently using MusicMatch to create MP3s directly off of CDs. Its default encoding settings are perfectly adequate, it's easy to use, and it has excellent options for audiophiles who want to tweak to their hearts' content.

I currently have an iRiver MP3 player. Sadly, I've got one of the models that can't be firmware-upgraded to handle Ogg Vorbis format (better quality than MP3, or equivalent quality with smaller filesizes), but other than that I'm quite happy with it. When I decide it's time to get a new one, I'll definitely be staying with the iRiver brand. Mine lasts for three or four workdays of continuous play before I have to change the battery (one AA), and it came with Sennheiser earbuds which give fantastic fidelity.

I love my iPod

[vortexofchaos.livejournal.com]

I use it constantly. It's trivial to use and I walk around with it from time to time, never missing a beat. If syncing it up to a Windows box is as easy as it is to sync to my Mac, then it's a breeze.

[solipsistnation.livejournal.com]

iTunes, iTunes iTunes iTunes. For ripping, burning, and everything.

iTunes is wicked easy to use to burn CDs, too.

[laurion]

Abso-freaking-lutely. I've recently turned on the rest of my office on to iTunes, because of how easy it is to just pop it in and convert everything to mp3, and have it organize it for you. Very little thought, very little work. Turn around and upload to an iPod as easily as plugging it in. Turn around and burn a CD as easy as making the playlist.

[solipsistnation.livejournal.com]

Ya, me too.

And now we're doing the "Ooh, whose playlist is that? Weird!" thing looking at peoples' shared music. That's lots of fun too. ("Showtunes? Boy bands? Okay, that must be the windows guy downstairs.")

Since iTunes appeared on the Mac a couple of years ago, I've moved almost all my music-listening, let alone CD-burning and so on, to it. Then I picked up an iPod early this year, and good lord, how that changed things. I now have a car stereo with a connector for the iPod, and that's sure made long car trips a different sort of experience. No longer am I disappointed that I didn't bring something along-- now I can just dial it up. Passing through Newark? I can play "Ironbound" by Suzanne Vega. Passing through NYC? Interpol. Rolling through Connecticut at night, and needing a trance state to stay awake? My Bloody Valentine. It's all there. It's lovely.

Go with the smallest iPod

[(Anonymous)]

I've used several MP3 players, and the iPod puts them all to shame for ease of use with its built-in indexing and a usable and useful display. Yeah, it's bigger than some, but it's still a comfortable size. And the hard drive storage means you can put comfortably long pieces in there (think symphonies) if that's what you want to hear.

Go with the smallest iPod

[(Anonymous)]

I've used several MP3 players, and the iPod puts them all to shame for ease of use with its built-in indexing and a usable and useful display. Yeah, it's bigger than some, but it's still a comfortable size. And the hard drive storage means you can put comfortably long pieces in there (think symphonies) if that's what you want to hear. -- Russ Kay, russkay@charter.net

MP3 players

[(Anonymous)]

Just heard of a new company (called Auvi) at CES - they have some cool products coming out in June - a HDD player to compete against the ipod. I just got their first player for $49. It holds 64MB - its a great value and performance is OK. They have a 128MB coming out soon as well. For first-time, non-techies its definitely easy and fits on a keychain and runs on a AAA battery. Only downside is that it does not come with the ripping software. Not a bad buy by any means though! Check 'em out online - www.auviworld.com