MP3 / I-Pod Player Questions (Update - Problem Solved)

[Old Moparz]

I need some info from the high tech gadget fans, but please remember that I am not asking for high tech answers. 

First thing I need to know, is someone gave me a brand new, but slightly older "ZEN Nano Plus" MP3 player. It has some kind of compatibility issues with Windows Vista & the emails I've sent to their tech support were never answered. Is there a way to get it to work with an update, or maybe a website that can help, or is it obsolete now since the newest version on it said Windows XP for the software it came with?

The other thing I need to know, is I am considering buying a MP3 player for my 9 year old daughter for Christmas. I don't want to get an expensive one because at 9 years old, losing things is a way of life. The bottom end "I-Pod Shuffle" is $49 & is about the most I'd want to spend, but are there other ones that would be a better choice? I don't want anything that will be too hard to figure out, & have heard that the I-Pod is very simple to use.

Also, are these type of gadgets for internet downloading only, or can you transfer music from CD's to them without a problem?

Are any brands more beer proof than others? 

Thanks. 

[Foreman72]

sandisk sansa clip 2G...all the space she'll ever need and she'll be way more happy cuz it has a screen..and i think you can get it in pink... ...my dad has one and he loves it...it covers all the bases for him cuz he isn;t a super tech guy and he doesn't have much music...haven;t had any compatibility issues either...its $50...radioshack & target have it...

[Drache]

I bought a 2gb MP3 player (which can double as a memory stick) from a "discount store" for about $35 CDN! It's run off a single AAA battery. I used it until I lost it and then went out and bought a 4gb Creative Zen so I could watch movies on the damn thing.

[dodgecharger-fan]

  with Foreman

The Sansa line of players provides much better audio than the iPods. Apple just got to market first and with an "experience" rather than just a product. Lot's of manufacturers are putting out better product, but are too late to market to capitalize on the "experience".

2Gb is plenty, I think. I admit that I do have a 30GB iPod Video, but I honestly can not find a way to utilize it completely. it is total overkill for my purposes. It was a gift, though, so I'm not about to run out and replace it.

The tough part: kid's want the "experience" even if you can convince them that the audio quality is better.
My grand daughters weren't total smiles when they got their no-name MP3 players a couple of years ago, but they use them every day and can't think of doing without them. They eventually got past "it's not an iPod."

As for music sources - yes you can rip your own CDs and put them on to the MP3 player. The player will likely come with a piece of software to let you transfer songs to the player. In the case of the Sansa, you can just drag and drop songs to the device within windows. There's a great video on their support page that explains it: http://www.sansa.com/support/sansa_clip/faqs Click the Load Music button along the bottom..

[dodgecharger-fan]

For your Zen plus, there are updates to the driver AND the device's firmware that should get it working with Vista

http://support.creative.com/Products/ProductDetails.aspx?catID=213&CatName=MP3+Players&subCatID=215&subCatName=MuVo&prodID=12720&prodName=ZEN+Nano+Plus

[Old Moparz]

Hey guys, thanks for the info & the links, I will look at them later tonight & see about downloading an update. 

I like the drag & drop feature that the Sansa has. The guy at Radio Shack was telling me about it when I was there today for something else. One good thing about my daughter is that she isn't worried about brand names. (yet) She knows from what my wife & I tell her about products & how to get more for your money with certain ones.

Thanks again.

[Old Moparz]

Update:

I didn't have to do a thing with the Zen that I couldn't get working in my computer. The laptop I dumped beer in handles it well, & my 9 year old daughter figured it out. 

I'm guessing that since the laptop has a Vista version that's 2 years newer than the PC I first tried to use, it loads whatever automatically & without any problem. Also, since my daughter runs circles around me with her Wii & her Nintendo, I guess she proves you need to have a kid around to solve electronics issues.   

She's got several CD's loaded in the MP3 already,   

[Foreman72]

glad 2 hear it works man

[skip68]

thanks for this thread Old Moparz!!!!!  I've got two kids,....6yrs.  & 12 1/2yrs.!!!!!!!!!! This is good info!!!!! 
Mrs.Skip68

[68 CHARGER R/T]

i got two of these for dirt cheap because my buddy deals with the company it's an a 8g memory with a 2.7 inch screen (i beleive)for 40 dollars. neat little toy to watch video's listen to radio view picture's and download alot of music . i can get more if people are interested.

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

i got two of these for dirt cheap because my buddy deals with the company it's an a 8g memory with a 2.7 inch screen (i beleive)for 40 dollars. neat little toy to watch video's listen to radio view picture's and download alot of music . i can get more if people are interested.

Put me down for one!