What should I look for when buying an MP3 player?

Here are a few things:

1. Built-in memory. This is a big deal, especially for MP3 players without the ability to add more memory.

2. Expandability. Let's say you bought an MP3 player with 64MB of built-in memory, and it fills up. Many players have slots that allow you to expand their memory many times over. Sometimes this may be more cost-effective than buying an MP3 player with a large amount of built-in memory that isn't expandable.

3. Bit rate. This number may not always be advertised, but you want one that will play high bit-rate MP3s if you can find it. 128kbps would be a low bit rate, 256kbps or above would be high.

4. Bundled software. Make sure this will work with your computer.

5. Size/weight.

6. If you're looking for one to use while exercising, you may want to avoid the ones with internal hard drives at this point in time. The constant jostling and possibility (probability) if you dropping the player is high, and could damage a unit with a hard drive more easily than those without.

7. Interface. Try it out if you can. Make sure the interface and controls are intuitive for you.

I know. The only reason it's good is that it has a click wheel and a few gigs, and lots of Popular kids use them. If you want a good buy, look at what the competitors have to offer. Price, quality and longevity are things to look at. No one I know has 60 gigs of music and $500 of expendable money

Memory. Preferably the Equalizer Function. EQ for short. A screen (To see what you are listening to). And it should be compatible with the Operating system you use (Windows or Mac). Of course it should have a USB plug, so you won't need a tool to plug it into your PC.

While I'll be the first to admit that the iPod is one of the coolest and best designed hard-drive based players out there, it was not my pick. I chose the Zen by Creative Labs. The first of their Zen players had a 20GB hard drive and cost $500CDN. Now they have a 30GB for the same price that is smaller and the battery charge now lasts 14 hours instead of 10. Plus it now has a replaceable battery.

While my Zen is not as easy to operate as the iPod, the sound is fantastic, it mates with Windows very well. My wife and I no longer fight over what CDs to bring on car road trips, I bring the Zen and plug an FM transmitter into the earphone jack. That way we listen to it on our car stereo.

I use my Zen at work too - I just put it on random shuffle and let it go. When it's playing a song I don't want to hear, I just skip to the next random song. I'm currently storing about 2000 songs and using about 11GB of the total 20GB.

iRiver makes a new one this year (20GB), it's even cheaper than the Zen, has a built-in FM radio and can be used as a voice recorder. I can't speak for the quality of the device.

An iPod.

You should look for good quality such as, price, giga bites,and (how any songs it can hold)