I want to buy an easy to use MP3 player, and recomendations?

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Robin

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I want to buy an MP3 player for my dad who is quite useless with technology.....below are my / his requirements, if anyone can recommend any players you input would be great.

Cost it not really and issue.

Firstly it has to be small, so Im thinking solid state players for a start.

Memory maybe something UP TO around 1GB at the most.

It has to be easy to use (fool proof) with not loads of complex settings and buttons.

It has to be easy to upload music from CD onto it, maybe a player that comes with such software, or I could use WMP or something. Preferably a player that can act like a disk on key where you just port the music into the removable drive.

He wants to have like a playlist of the tracks he picks from his CD's, im sure this can be done in WMP so the player itself may not need playlist creating software on board (like the iPod).

......................

This kind of market for solid state player is vast! the choice is endless......but I need one which just does the job, something really easy for my dad to use so that he can listen to the best music he picks from his CD.

So far I considered something like the Creative Muvo which has an LCD screen and no complex 'itunes type' music software, just plug and play.......however a screen may complicate things.... plus the button arrangement could be confusing.......

This leads me to the iPod shuffle, admitedly a rip off compared to cheaper and better solid state players that offer more features it seems amazingly easy to use which is why I think it will be a hit for the older generation! I doesnt have a screen which could make things less complex, the buttons are well laid out with a clear shuffle / lock / off slide switch arrangement and its plug and play (doesnt need itunes). The storage capacity seems about right with 512 and 1gb on offer but I don't know if Apple is the best way to go.

Which is why I need your advice.......what would you buy with the requirements listed above.......something to get your dear old dad on the tech bandwagon!

Any advice would be great, Thanks

Robin
 
I recommend you read through the iPod thread a little below this one. I like my Shuffle and I find iTunes easy to use, but there are people in that thread who believe I should be getting checks from Jerry's Kids for thinking that way.
 
i have a Phillips Key013 256MB player (they are available in 128 and 512 also) and its the easiest thing ever to use. just 5 buttons: play, skip forward, skip back, volume up, volume down which are on a remote, and it has a screen too :) no software needed for 98SE upwards PC's
 
I have a Rio 5GB.

It is extremely small and light.

Great for the money.

Cost $140.

And the buttons are SIMPLE.
Menu is a little complex but you get used to it.
 
I'd like to say one thing... Don't underestimate your dad, he's been here way longer than you've been, it might take you 2 minutes to figure something out, it might take him 20, but I'm sure your dad can handle something with more than five buttons...

Apple Shuffle is sexy...
 
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