Portable MP3 Players: Making PC Music Portable

Now that quality music downloading services like the iTunes? Music Store, BuyMusic, Rhapsody?, and Sony Connect? are available, pocket-sized MP3 players are more popular than ever. That's because the right portable lets you take your PC audio with you wherever you go. MP3 players include enough memory to store at least an hour or two of your favorite tunes — and some can store hundreds of hours' worth! Sound good so far? Check out the following facts about these hot portables.

MP3s to go
Most MP3 players can also handle other file formats, such as AAC, WMA, and WAV. But because the MP3 format helped to launch the PC music craze, and because it's still widely used, these portables are generally known as MP3 players.

Storage options
There are three basic types of memory that MP3 players use: removable or embedded flash memory, or a hard drive.

Flash memory. This type of memory is rugged and very compact, and because it's "solid-state" memory, the player can't skip! For these reasons, players that use flash memory are great for listening during active uses, such as jogging.

· Examples of removable flash memory include the Secure Digital? card and the MagicGate? Memory Stick? Duo. The benefit of using this type of memory is that you can always add storage capacity by buying more cards.

· Embedded flash memory is built right into the player. It's great for folks who aren't interested in buying and carrying around extra memory cards. (Some players can use both removable and embedded memory, combining the convenience of built-in memory with the ability to add more storage if you need it.)

The hard drive. A third category of players stores music on a miniature hard drive, like the one inside your computer only smaller. Compared to portables that use flash memory, hard drive players can store many times more music — some can hold a thousand hours of audio or more! — but they also tend to be a bit bulkier. Their large LCD screens are often backlit, and their interfaces are designed to give you easy navigation through an entire music library consisting of hundreds of files.

Since hard drives contain moving parts, technically they can be susceptible to skipping. In practice, however, most of these players incorporate memory buffers that virtually eliminate skipping.

Music per megabyte
If you've been wondering how all those MBs and GBs stack up when it comes to storing music, you're not alone — it's a common question. "MB" is the abbreviation for megabyte: it's a unit for measuring data. "GB" is the abbreviation for gigabyte, which is a larger measurement of data. There are 1024 megabytes in a single gigabyte.

So how much music can a given player store? The basic rule of thumb is "one megabyte holds one minute." That is, for every megabyte of memory, you can store about a minute of compressed music at near-CD quality. To help you compare specs when you start shopping, here's a quick peek at some typical player capacities, and how music and megabytes match up:

In the chart above, our numbers are based on a bitrate of 128Kbps. Some folks store more music per megabyte by encoding their music at a lower bitrate. Although certain codecs claim better sound quality at lower bitrates, generally the more compression you use, the lower the sound quality. Consider encoding files at lower bitrates for applications such as audio books, where sound quality is less critical.

Are you compatible?

Even the coolest MP3 player won't satisfy if it can't connect to your PC! Before you buy, make sure you've got total compatibility with your computer's connections and capabilities. If your PC's equipped with a newer operating system, that's a good start — most of our players require Windows? 98SE or later.

Does your PC have a USB port? All of our players offer USB connectivity, for speedy file transfer and easy setup. (A few USB-capable players, instead of making a direct connection, supply a flash card reader — a device which plugs into a USB port and accepts a memory card. A reader offers fast transfer and can stay plugged in; it's especially handy if you have another device, like a digital camera or PDA, that uses the same kind of memory.)

Some newer MP3 players are equipped with USB 2.0 interfaces. This type of connection is amazingly fast, allowing you to transfer up to a song per second! But your computer must also have a USB 2.0 port in order for you to take advantage of the faster 2.0 transfer rates. If your PC is equipped with a standard USB (also known as USB 1.1) port, a USB 2.0 player can still work with it — it simply transfers songs at the slower USB 1.1 speed.

Some PCs include music management software, for handling downloaded audio files and ripped CD tracks; you can also purchase this software separately. Conveniently, most digital music players come with a program of this type.

Music management software is an important part of using your computer as a jukebox. If you're going to rely on the application that comes with your portable, you should select a player/software package carefully. Software usually has a set of requirements, specifying what platform (PC or Mac?, what kind of operating system, and how much memory it needs. Be sure the player you select has software that will work with your computer!

Extras, options, and accessories
Current MP3 players come with a wide range of features and accessories, so be sure you know exactly what your player does, and what comes in the box, before you buy. For example, some players are also recorders, capable of capturing voice snippets, audio from another source (like a CD player), or even radio broadcasts from a built-in tuner. Those are handy perks for people who want to save interviews, lectures, songs, or radio shows to their player's memory.

Speaking of radio, if you like to listen to FM broadcasts, look for a portable that incorporates a tuner. An LCD display, another useful feature, lets you view track information. For extra convenience, remember that a larger display can show more track info, while a backlit LCD makes it easy to find tracks in low light.

For some people, looks are the most important factor in choosing a player. We think all our players are pretty stylish — but they do vary in terms of color, size, and shape. Browse through our offerings and see which player you think looks the best. On a related note, all of our MP3 portables come with headphones of some kind. If you prefer a particular style — in-ear headphones, for example — look for a model that includes them, or plan to buy a pair separately.

If you want to save on the expense of batteries, look for an included rechargeable or an AC adapter. And for models that come with a rechargeable, pay attention to how long you can listen between charges; it varies from player to player and battery to battery.

If you plan to exercise while you listen, check out players designed with wearability in mind. They usually include a neck strap, arm strap, belt clip, or some combination of these. (And remember that, as we mentioned above, flash memory players are ideal for active uses due to their compact size, light weight, and durability.)