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MP3? MD? I'm Clueless

G'day all,

I travel a lot, and just finished dragging my Panasonic portable CD player, Headroom Airhead amp, Grado 60's, and a dozen CD's with me all over Asia. Heavy, bulky...what a pain, there has to be an easier way to enjoy tunes on the road.

While in Hong Kong I perused the MP3, MD, and iPod players but I honestly don't have a clue how these formats compare. What are the most obvious differences? What sounds best? Can I copy CD tracks on to these, or do I have to download compressed files? How do you program these miniature wonders? Which format is the most cost effective, sounds best, and is easiest to use? Thanks to all who take the time to educate me. Best, Jeff

p.s. I'm not Clueless, he already hangs here. I should have said I don't have the foggiest
jeffloistarca
kennyt's avatar
kennyt
1,226 posts
 
Jeff,

As a frequent traveler myself, I can tell you nothing beats the iPod! I am still using a 20Gb version and can fit the majority of my music in my shirt pocket and even have simple games to play on it! I compressed all my CD's @192kbps (now using AAC instead of MP3) and with good headphones, the player sounds more than adequate for use in planes/airports/trains....and given the 10 hour battery life, I don't need to worry about batteries on any but the longest trips. My iPod currently has 3465 songs, 9.6 days of continuous music on it!!!! Tough to beat when you consider how long you can be stuck in an airport!! With the iPod I always have something to listen to, and it fits in my shirt pocket!!!
onhwy61's avatar
onhwy61
5,223 posts
 
If you get an iPod and are going to do some serious traveling, then you need to consider the following accessories - a battery pack and a protective case.
jeffloistarca OP
1,004 posts
 
Swampy, I tried some Etys a few years ago, for whatever reason they didn't fit in my ears well at all. I'm okay with the SR60's they fold flat and can fit in my laptop bag easily enough. The MD players look interesting but I need something that will last a dozen hours without swapping media.

I did some research on the iPod, seems like the answer to my gypsy ways. I took a peek at Ebay and such, any pointers on where to get the best price? I would need a case to protect it since it would be sharing space with a bunch of other stuff I have to carry around with me. Thanks guys, this has been educational and informative.
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