MP3 or ipod??

[sunflower68]

Hi you clever lot; I need some help here please.  I want to update from my Walkman.  What is the difference in MP3 or ipod?

Which is best and can someone please give me an easy-to-follow description of how I would get the music on the thing?  I really really am a novice here so treat me like the buffoon I am, I won't mind. x

[3Styler]

For a start an Ipod is an mp3 player, though it also plays other types of files.  Basically you compress all the music on your cds to a format called mp3 which is smaller but still good quality so that it will fit onto a small portable device.  You can compress your music using the software that comes with the mp3 player you buy.  I completely reccommend the ipod, it's ridiculous how much better than the competition it is and i've handle hundreds of mp3 players.  So you buy your mp3 player, install software, insert your music cds inot computer, click import, and connect your mp3 player. Done, all your cd music is now on your mp3 palyer.

[evenstar]

Hi Sunflower, I have an ipod shuffle and I love it, I even found it easy to use and so much easier to carry around than a walkman. The cheaper mp3 players are ok, but i would choose the ipod. You need a computer to put music on mp3 and ipod players. hope this helps

[sunflower68]

Soz, do I look in the shops for an ipod or an mp3?  Can I download music from the computer onto it?  Or do I physically have to buy the cds.  I have lots of cds but hoped I could get a range more through the net.  Will I only need to buy one thing?  Thanks chaps.

[Mattk]

mp3 is a type of file compression so songs are in mp3 format or mpeg layer 3 to be precise .ipod will play mp3 files amongst others.you can use your cd's but will have to copy them to pc first then using the software that comes with your chosen player you can then export them.  

[twiglet4frog]

u can put all your cds on to the ipod by copying all your cds on to computer and they are then easily transferred onto your ipod from there. You can also purchase any songs u like from stores such as iTunes or napster or Tesco etc where u can download a single song of your choice for approx 79-99p a song, and once these are downloaded onto your computer u can then transfer them onto your ipod as well.

There are also a couple of ways to get free songs as well but as these are involving piracy as u are getting something for free then i wont go into it here but many people can advise u on that area if needed.

[secretsquiz]

just to throw a spanner in the works, i have to say i disagree with 3styler about how wonderful the iPod is.

i have an mp3 player which isn't an iPod and i have to say i find it much better than my friends' iPods. my main problem with iPods is that they aren't flexible enough and you are forced to use iTunes which, personally, i find is a horrible bit of software.

and at the end of the day - just because iPod have the most/best advertising doesn't mean they've got the best product. don't believe the hype!!

[OBonio]

I agree with secretsquiz. I own a Creative Labs Muvo. I chose it because it's solid state. This means you can go jogging, to the gym, cycling etc with it without worrying about damaging it. With an iPod, it has a hard drive inside and so would be susceptible to being damaged due to vibrations. It supports mp3 and wma files. The disadvantage is it holds much less music than an iPod (my 256Mb Muvo holds about 4 hours, which is enough for a trip down the gym!). It's also smaller and cheaper than an iPod.

[WoWo]

I'd agree with the last two. Don't get me wrong I'm not an Apple basher (I have a Mac, iPod Shuffle and my wife has an iPod Mini) but have a shop around and see what sort of things are around.

You need to view MP3 and iPod in the same way as a Vacume Cleaner and a Hoover. iPod is just a brand name for a type of MP3 Player.

Nothing worng with them but equally not heads and sholders above the rest, they are also expesive when compared to comparable players (however the price has just come down).