I posted this at Mini2 yesterday...on the offchance there are prople that do not frequent Mini2 .. although I don't know why...I'm cross posting it here...




I have MP3 music on my PC (s) ..but have not made the move to an MP3 portable player.

It would seem that IPod has become the defacto player out there, but there are a lot of others to choose from.

I understand that they do not all support all formats...and indeed some are very limited. With regard to Music Stores, I've downloaded Itunes and looked over the available artists. Truth be told, there isn't really that much there for me...I'm ..shall we say...the wrong demographic. I've also downloaded Real's new service and taken advantage of their 49 cent offer. I found quite a bit there..of course they're MP3 and IPod compatible or so they say.

I'm looking at Hard Drive units.

So...I'm confused and thought I's ask here for advice.

Thanks for any and all help!!

Peter ... evaluating battery life stats ...in Denver

 

Are you asking which MP3 player is best to work in your Mini, or just which MP3 player is best in general?In my family we have a few MP3 players, and there are huge differences in cost and usability. My daughter has an iPod, with the adapters to use it in her New Beetle. As a portable MP3 player it is pretty good, but it has a non-replaceable battery that will only last so many charges before it starts to fail. If you use it a lot, it may cost over $100 to put a new battery in it. The paraphernalia to use it as a car player is klunky and all bright white. Now if your car interior is bright white, it will all blend right in. If your car interior is anything but bright white, it will scream "steal me" everytime you leave the car, locked or not. I do not consider an iPod a viable means of playing MP3's in a CAR - OTHERS DISAGREE.

I also have a Creative MUVO2 - this is a by-product of being into digital photography. I bought the MUVO2 as a way to get a cheap 4 gig microdrive to fit my Canon G5. I paid $199 for the MUVO, and pulled the 4 gig chip worth, at the time, $400 to put in my camera. I then put a 340 meg microdrive I paid $38 for on Ebay into the Muvo2. So I have a 340 meg MP3 player for $38. Great price/performance ratio. It holds about 3-4 albums at a time and reloads really fast as a USB 2.0 device. Battery is replaceable and lasts about 4 hours.

I also have a TEAC mini CD player that plays MP3 files. A mini CD holds about 150 meg of MP3's and cost very little. The player is very small and has a good sound. Uses AA batteries so you can use rechargeables. Costs under $80.

So, think about what you want. An iPod has a certain cachet, but is expensive, klunky for car use, and in the long run will be more expensive to maintain. Remember all electronic devices are extinct in 2 years. Lots of people are busy cursing their first generation 5 gig iPods about now.

When buying a small, easily stolen, easily lost, accessory laden, may become obsolete at any moment item - buy the cheapest thing that makes you happy.

 

I bought a 1st generation 10 gig iPod 2 years ago. The screen failed. I never had battery problems. I took it to the place I bought it and they handed me a brand new 4th gen 40 gig iPod in exchange. :smile: I LOVE my iPod. I am however, very curious to try some of the other players out there... just for the sake of comparison.

 

ipod, ipod, ipod......
Have had one since they came out.
PLUS, you drive a mini ... it's a logical fit.

Superior design FOR superior design.

 

For me the choice was iPod for a few reasons.

1. Capacity- While mp3 cd's would have been a reasonable alternative as well as other cheaper smaller capacity mp3 players, I wanted to have ALL of my music collection at my finger tips.

2. Audio Format - This comes back to capacity. Specifically Capacity vs Quality. I could have bought any of the variety of other players out there but it came down to audio quality across formats. 128kbps MP3 vs 128kbps AAC. I am VERY PICKY about audio quality. I don’t profess to be an audiophile. My budget does not afford me such tastes. That said there is an obvious and discernable difference when comparing 128kbps MP3 to the source CD. Independent studies done on AAC (Apples patented version of MP4 or M4P) have shown that it is near impossible for the naked ear to tell the difference between 128kpbs AAC and the source CD. So with any other player I would have to encode my music at 256kpbs MP3 or better and thereby greatly dimminish the capacity of the player.

3. Mac vs PC - I have a Mac. There are very few other players that are Mac-compatible.

4. Ease of use - The iPod itself has a very intelligent design. The UI is very easy to use and is at best a 5 minute learning curve.

5. Interface options - I was interested in a lot of the interfacing options. “Ipod your BMW/MINI” and ICE link. I will eventually buy the ICE link for my aftermarket Sony head unit. This will alow me to control my iPod through my head unit. The iPod will actually be connected through my head units CD changer port. Buy a MFSW adapter for my head unit and I will be set.

6. BEST FOR AFTERMARKET HU’s - If you have one already or are planning on buying one the iPod becomes the best solution in terms of usability. If you are will to buy the appropriate ICE link adapter for you HU as well as the PAC swix MFSW adapter you can have your MP3’s controlled from your steering wheel.

 

Thanks for all the input...


Looks like Ipod if it's to be a HD based portable...Joe's advice regarding obsolete technology and going the lowest possible cost route is sound advice though.
Just wish there were a combination MP3 Hd player / XM Roadie receiver so I can have all my eggs in one basket!

Peter...who wants it all and who wants it now! ..in Denver

 

Apple will replace ipod batteries for around $100. You can find info on their (pricey) replacement on their web site here.

You can also get aftermarket replacement batteries, which last a bit longer than the battery apple uses, for around $30. There are some here, but check around, because they're for sale lots of places.

 

An iPod is a great MP3 player, but it is designed as a personal stereo and not as a means of playing MP3's in a car. By the time you pay for and hook up all the klunky devices needed to charge and play, you have a white spaghetti mess, you are out a lot of bucks, and still have a tiny display and controls not meant for use in a car while driving. Sony makes great Head Units for cars. No one would get a 12 volt adapter and carry one around as an MP3 player.


If you want a personal stereo get an iPod. If you want to play MP3's in your car, get a 2005 or a new Head unit that does that, or a Phatbox or equivalent that will sunstitute for the 6 disk changer. I am amazed that people who spend a fortune detailing, modding, and altering their cars would consider the mess of an iPod in a car acceptable.

 

This is definitely true. I'm an original ipodaholic (I bought one within a week of their first release), but I'll agree that as a vehicle only solution, they are far from ideal.

The beauty of the ipod is that you can take the same music, playlists, and preferences with you everywhere you go. So, if you're in the car, your stereo is in the car (whichever car that might be), along with your music collection. When you're working in the shop, your music is there, too. And when you're upstairs at home, there it is, as well. Even better, when she drives your car, your wife doesn't have to listen to your music--she can listen to her own, with her own playlists and preferences. And both of you can customize your music as you get new songs, or your tastes change, and your customizations will follow you around, too.

The ipod is a versatile, portable music organization system. If you just want the best MP3 player for your car, the ipod is not it. But if you want a system that you can take wherever you are, I'm sold on the ipod.

 

Phatbox (or a similar system) is probably the definitive setup for in-car MP3's but these types of systems are quite expensive
at $1000 plus. Thanks to the odd placement of the cigarette lighter in the MINI the "spaghetti mess" is not an issue.
My wires are pretty much out of site to the casual eye.

Here is a Pic
http://www.bancroftsonline.com/DSCN1839.JPG

 

Hi Peter,

I have a Phatbox in my 2002 MINI S and I love it (I even bought one for my Audi, so I have 2). It is great being able to have all your music in the car with you all the time. I have a personal player that I love (RIO Karma), but I don't know if I would be as pleased with the personal player in the car. The Phatbox has audio navigation that allows you to browse your music without taking your eyes off the road. It is probably not quite as fast as searching visually, but given that your main task should be driving, it's pretty good.

One thing to consider is buying your Phatbox from Audi. I just got a 20GB unit for about $400 + tax and shipping. I don't think that Audi is selling many of these so they are lowering the price. That's why I bought a second one. I actually was trying to buy just the interface cable from Audi, but I've been waiting months and have had no reply from them. Phatnoise sold them directly in the past, but since Audi started selling them directly, Phatnoise directs you to Audi for everything.

You would need to buy a cable from Phatnoise (for the MINI), but I'm almost positive (you should ask someone at Phatnoise) that you can just change the software on the DMS and it will work in a MINI. You need to be careful doing this sort of thing, but I am pretty sure that it will work.

I paid a little less than $1000 for my MINI unit (it's 40GB though), so there is a considerable saving to be had if you have the stomach for it.

Don.