March 26, 2008

iPod not the the only game in town

Full confession here: I own two iPods. Matter of fact, pretty much everyone I know - including my Dad - has at least one. Still, I am going to brave the hate mail from the Apple zealots and suggest the unthinkable. Maybe, just maybe, you should look beyond Apple when buying your next digital music player.

I think there are two good reasons to do so. The first is to encourage innovation. A lot of companies do good work in this category, but people ignore them and their good works. We’re infatuated with the iPod. The other reason is value. Buying a non-Apple MP3 gadget usually gets you more features and better prices than a similar iPod
.

Before you jump off the Apple cart, you should know a few things. Apple leads the way because of its design and ease of use. Apple’s iTunes software also makes it easy to load music and video onto the iPod as well as buy legal music and video content, using either a Windows of Mac computer. Non-Apple players either rely on their own software (you can’t use iTunes with them) or use the built-in Windows Media Player that comes with Windows. It’s not always easy to figure out.

Note that all players, including the iPod
, will play MP3 music files. Apple also uses the AAC file format for its rights-protected music from iTunes. Some Windows-only players use either AAC or WMA files for rights-protected music. For video content, not all video files play on all video-capable players. That’s true for the iPod, too.

Caveats aside, let’s look at the some iPod alternatives, before you hand Steve Jobs your money.

Fitness buff: If you exercise with your music player, you need a small, light MP3 player that can take a few smacks without missing a beat. My pick is the SanDisk Sansa Clip. It’s a tiny matchbox-sized MP3 player that can pack 250 to 500 songs into its flash memory, depending upon whether you choose the 1 GB model ($49.99) or the 2GB version ($69.99). Since its memory has no moving parts, the Clip is ideal for situations where the device may get dropped or jostled. As its name suggests, the device also has an adjustable clip so you can attach it to clothing, a waistband or even a hat. It even features a tiny screen and an FM radio tuner. With the Clip around, it’s easy to skip Apple’s iPod shuffle.

More info at http://www.sandisk.com/sansa/

Sansa Clip 1 GB $49.99

iPod shuffle
1 GB $49.99
Business traveller: When I climb on a plane, I want to watch videos and lull myself to sleep with music. I also want to be able to show photos of my cats to the guy in the next seat who really, really wants to tell me his life story. (I’ve found that a dozen or so cat shots are enough to discourage even the most determined conversationalist.) Granted, you can do all those things with the touch-sensitive, video-capable iPod touch, but a fine alternative is the Archos 605 Wifi. This handheld device is designed for video playback on the go. It has a 4.3-inch touch-sensitive screen and comes with storage capacity of 30GB, 80GB or 160 GB, which gives you space for 40, 80 or 100 movies. Want more? It can connect to a wireless network so you can surf the Internet. It can also record TV to go and play games.

More info at www.archos.com

Archos 605 Wifi 30 GB $369.99

iPod Touch 16 GB $449
Commuter: If you’re looking for small, pocket-friendly device that does video on a small but ample screen, plays your music and shows off your pictures, you could choose the iPod classic
. But take a close look at the Sandisk Sansa View before making your decision. This cellphone-sized player fits nicely in your hand and has a dial and click browse wheel that is as good as the one on the iPod. Its screen dominates two-thirds of the device and it comes in sizes of 8GB or 16GB. It also has an expansion slot so that you can add 2 to 8 GB of storage using a tiny MicroSD data card. The unit is priced to be competitive with the 8GB iPod nano
though you could also compare it to the more robust iPod classic
, which has 80 GB or 160 GB of storage. For my money, the Sansa View is a happy medium between the two.

More info at http://www.sandisk.com/sansa/

iPod classic
80GB $279

Sansa View 16GB $219

iPod nano 8GB $219
Urban hipster: If you’re the office gadget freak or the hippest yoga mom around, you might feel that the iPod nano
is perfect for you. A fine alternative, however, is the Creative ZEN. It’s a purse-friendly device with a nice 2.5-inch screen. Besides video and audio playback it’s got an FM radio, an SD data card expansion slot to add memory, and an audio recording feature that lets you store conversations or voice memos: “Note to self: pick up laundry soap”. Granted it’s not as pretty or delicate as the nano, but if you want good multimedia features in a small, sturdy device that can endure being banged and jostled in the bottom of your purse or courier bag then this could be the player for you. By the way, I dropped it several times, a couple of times onto my hardwood floor and again onto a snowy sidewalk with no damage. I fear the nano wouldn’t do as well.

More info on the ZEN at www.creative.com

Creative ZEN 8GB $179.99

iPod nano
8GB $209