Points to be noted in a portable MP3 player

As we all know, there has been a tremendous explosion of MP3 music files in recent times. While the portable MP3 players have been available in the market for quite a few years, it is only lately that stiff competition has compelled manufacturers to add more features and offer them at lower prices.

With sound quality almost unchanged, the benefits of a portable MP3 player over a portable CD player are its physical size and ‘skip-free play’. Since MP3 files are completely digital, you can listen to your favorite music on your portable MP3 player anywhere you choose to - in your car, while running, skiing, mountain biking or, for that matter, any outdoor or indoor activity.

It is understood that portable MP3 player is useless without a computer to go with it. MP3 audio files are passed to a portable player from your computer. Each player comes with its own software that must be loaded on to your computer which enables the two to communicate. Each player has its own requirements for the accompanying computer’s processor speed, Random Access Memory (RAM), operating system and connecting port.

Almost all MP3 players require at least a 90 Mhz processor, 16MB of RAM, a serial or parallel port connection. They will work on Windows 95 and Windows 98 processors. Of course, some players require faster processors and more RAM and there are a few that will work on Windows NT or Macintosh operating systems.

Most portable MP3 players available in the market come with a standard 32 MB of storage space. With an average song of three minutes duration taking up 3 MB space, there is storage for about 10 songs. Some players come with 64 MB of storage or are expandable to 64 MB. Increased storage space is available in the form of a removable memory cartridge. This means that these players are infinitely expandable. It also means, that you are able to use these cartridges much as you would a tape or recordable CD.

Some players come with an array of extraordinary features like built-in microphone for recording, an internal rechargeable battery, an auto shut-off mechanism, a wired remote or a built-in FM radio. It goes without saying that additional features add to the price of the player, so it’s important to find the traits that are needed by you.

With an MP3 player, a consumer can create music lists of his choice and carry thousands of his favorite songs wherever he goes. Some people use the term iPod when referring to an MP3 player. But an iPod is Apple's version and is not the cheapest MP3 player on the market. But with newer models coming out all the time, it is possible to find a used iPod at a discount. The MP3 players are of light weight and in some cases, weigh less than one ounce. Portability is a large factor in the popularity of the MP3, considering the comfort of carrying in comparison to a CD player. In addition, some devices provide additional technology, like video and photo viewing, alarm and calendar functions, and even cellular phones and Internet service. All portable MP3 players are battery-operated. Most of them come with a lithium battery that is rechargeable and can last between 10-30 hours. A lot of players come with AC adapters that can be plugged into a home outlet and some have DC for cars.