What to look for in an MP3 player...
3.Compatibility.
One of the most suprising things you may learn about mp3 players is that they are not all compatible with all the commonly available software, some mp3 files may not even play on some players depending on how they are coded, and some players may have software or drivers that will not work on your MAC or PC.
The more modern the mp3 player is that you choose to buy then the less chance there is of having any problems with system compatability. Indeed it is more likely that you will encounter problems with much older players if you are considering a second hand device that may have been developed only for earlier versions of your operating system. Even so if an older player has a usb connection and supports drag and drop then most modern operating systems will allow you to use it as a portable storage device should any included transfer software not function.
One key feature that will assist compatability is bundled software. If a device comes with a good software package for encoding mp3s from WAV, and even better if it can convert to/or from ogg vorbis, real audio, windows media, quicktime, etc. then the more options and functionality you have. In fact it is worth mentioning the Ogg Vorbis file, so named after its creator, because general opinion (from those who have tried this format) largely favours Ogg Vorbis for creating more compact yet higher quality sounding files. There is quite a following for this format and it does appear to be gaining popularity by the day so it may well be worth considering this as a feature you may want in your mp3 player, there are some that can play Ogg Vorbis files and many that cannot.
Another issue with compatability is how the player connects to your PC or MAC to transfer the files. Is it a USB connection, is it the newer faster USB connection or the older slightly slower one? Have you got a spare USB port? Perhaps it is a faster firewire connection which you may or may not have.
Once again, buying a cheap player by a lesser known brand may be more likely to hold current or future issues over compatability, this is one of the reasons many people favour Amazon for shopping because shoppers can read and write reviews and major compatability issues are usually commented on very quickly.
It is important to remember that compatability issues are not just a current concern but also a future one. Do you trust the manufacturer to provide updated drivers and software if required? Do you think their customer support will be satisfactory once you have parted with your money and made your purchase?
