MP3 Players
To play MP3 files you need an MP3 player. MP3s come in two varieties: portable players and
software players. A portable player is a hardware device similar to a CD or cassette player.
Software players are applications you install on your computer.
Portable players let you create custom playlists of all your favorite music, allowing you to take them with
you wherever you go. These MP3s are skip-free, smaller than a Sony Discman, and can often
play a dozen hours of music on a single AA battery. Before purchasing a player, carefully consider
the following details:
- Memory- 1 minute of music equals 1MB of near-CD quality music. Many players come standard
with a 32MB memory card or 32MB of on-board memory. Make sure that the player you select either
comes with 64MB, or can be Feature Set. This will give you at least one hour of music.
- Speed- If your computer supports a USB connection, look for a player that supports it. This
will speed up the process of transferring your songs from the computer to your portable
MP3 player.
- Compatibility- Macintosh and Linux users will find few MP3 players that work well.
The Rio 500 seems to be one of the most popular among Mac users.
Below are two of the most popular MP3 portable players out on the market right now-
- Creative Nomad Jukebox Zen NX (30GB)$249 - $299
- Apple ipod for Mac users
Software MP3-
Unlike Napster, Gnutella has no central server that can be shut down by legal authorities.
Also, it allows the sharing of any type of file, not just MP3's. That means videos, still images,
and even programs could be swapped. However, Gnutella is notoriously slow. Many variations of Gnutella have sprung up,
the best so far is BearShare. Go to bearshare.com
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