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MP3 Digital Audio Guide
Digital vs. Analog
MP3 vs. CD
Playing MP3's
Finding MP3's
Creating MP3's
Types of Players
Feature Guide
Comparing Primary Features
Comparing Secondary Features
Manuals and On-line Catalog
Musical Piracy and Legal Issues
FAQ
Glossary
Help & How-to's
 

 Understanding and Comparing Primary Features

What are some of the primary features to look at when comparing MP3 players?
The features which are most commonly used to compare MP3 players are listed below. While these are not the only features which can be considered, they cover the basic considerations of usability. Platform, software, connection type, memory and power source are most commonly used as they directly affect the connection and after-sale cost of using the MP3 player.
Platform: Refers to the type of computer and operating system required to connect to and transfer files to and from the MP3 player. The two primary computer types are PC and Apple®. The two primary operating systems are Microsoft® Windows® and Apple's Macintosh® OS.
An MP3 player which can be connected to a computer will support at least one or possibly both of these platforms. Occasionally, the Macintosh-compatible software will be made available for download rather than being packaged on the CD. Generally, you would need to contact the manufacturer of the software to determine if they support a particular version of your operating system (such as Windows XP or Macintosh OS X). You can get more information on the software package for a particular player by clicking on the software title in the comparison chart.
  • Microsoft® Windows®: Most common operating system for PC computers.
  • Macintosh OS: Standard operating system for Apple® computers.
Other operating systems, such as those listed below, are not as commonly supported. Connecting an MP3 player to computers running these operating systems will usually require additional drivers, which may not be available.
  • OS/2: IBM® operating system for PC computers
  • Linux: Open source operating system for PC or Apple computers (not typically supported out of the box).
  • Unix: AT&T® and Berkeley University for PC or Apple computers, primarily workstations (not typically supported out of the box).
Included Software: Refers to the software (usually on CD) which is packaged with the player. At a minimum, this software should allow you to play MP3's on your computer and transfer them to your MP3 player. Additional software features include ripping MP3's off of CD's, managing playlists and burning audio and data CD's.
Connection Type: Refers to how the MP3 player is connected to a computer or how information is shared between the computer and the MP3 player. This is usually done through a direct cable connection or a cradle; however, depending on the player, this may also be accomplished using a memory card reader.
Direct cable connection is through one (or more) of the following types, with USB being the most common:
  • Parallel Cable: Offering the slowest cable connection speed, parallel connection has the primary advantage that it uses a port style which is found on most of the older computers (which may not have a USB or firewire port).
    Note: Macintosh computers do not have parallel ports.
  • USB Cable: USB is a fast connection speed using a port style commonly found on most computers sold recently. Most new computers will have at least one USB port built-in.
  • Firewire: Using the IEEE-1394 standard, Firewire offers the fastest connection speed presently available. Because firewire ports are not yet standard on new computers, you may need to install a firewire port in order to use this connection type.
A cradle is a piece of hardware which remains connected to the computer and allows you to quickly connect the MP3 player without connecting and disconnecting cables. This is more important when using a parallel connection.
A memory card reader allows you to plug a memory card for your MP3 player into a reader connected to your computer in order to transfer songs directly to the card. There are three basic types of card reader, listed below in order of speed and by how they connect to the computer. The reader would need to be capable of reading the recording memory card used by your MP3 player.
  • Parallel Port Card Reader: Slowest.
  • USB Card Reader: Fast.
  • PCMCIA Card Reader: Fastest.
Built-in Memory: Refers to the amount of memory the player has built-in, which determines how much music the MP3 player can hold without using an external memory card. Everything else being equal, this should be as high as possible.
Memory Type: Refers to the type of external memory that the player can use. There are four types of memory typically used in MP3 players. SmartMedia™ and MultiMedia™/Secure Digital™ Cards are the most common types, followed by CompactFlash™, Memory Stick and PCMCIA cards.
SmartMedia (SMC): 45 mm x 37 mm, up to .76 mm thick.
Multimedia (MMC): 36.4 mm x 24 mm, up to 1.4 mm thick.
Secure Digital (SD): 32 mm  x 24 mm, up to 2.1 mm thick.
Secure Digital cards are similar to Multimedia cards, except that they use a different number of pins and incorporate SDMI requirements. Devices with SD slots can generally use MMC cards as well.
CompactFlash (CF): 36.4 mm x 42.8 mm
There are two types of CompactFlash memory card available.
  • Type II: up to 3.3 mm thick.
    Type II CompactFlash cards can be used with multiple brands and types of devices and offers the highest maximum size of the memory types.
  • Type I: up to 5 mm thick.
    Type I CompactFlash cards can be used with multiple brands and types of devices. While they have a higher maximum size than SmartMedia cards, they are more limited in memory size than Type II CompactFlash.
Memory Stick (MS): 21.5 mm x 50 mm, up to 2.8 mm thick.
The Memory Stick format was created by Sony® but is now offered by other manufacturer. It offers a range of memory sizes.
PCMCIA Cards: 85.6 mm x 54 mm
Short for Personal Computer Memory Card International Association, PCMCIA cards come in three types, with Type II and Type III being the most common. Because of the larger size, PCMCIA cards are rarely used in MP3 players.
  • Type I: up to 3.3 mm thick.
  • Type II: up to 5.5 mm thick.
  • Type III: up to 10.5 mm thick.
Power Supply: The type of power supply directly affects where and for how long you can use the player. An AC power supply allows stationary use without relying on battery power. A DC power supply allows use in a vehicle without using the player's batteries. If the player does not have a built-in battery, you should use either high-performance alkalines or rechargeable batteries; MP3 players are high-drain devices and will go through batteries fairly quickly. There are three types of batteries which are most commonly used (the size is usually AA or AAA).

When not using the MP3 player or when using the AC or DC power supply only for an extended period, you should remove the batteries to prevent leakage and/or corrosion.
  • AC Power Supply
  • DC Power Supply
  • Rechargeable Battery (built-in)
  • Premium Alkaline Batteries (AA, AAA): These will last the longest of the battery types. However, they are single-use and may be more expensive over the long run.
  • Rechargeable NiMH Batteries (AA, AAA): These will not last as long as alkaline batteries. However, they generally have a higher capacity than high-capacity Ni-Cd batteries. The cost per unit is higher than alkaline, but the ability to recharge the batteries will make them less expensive over the long run.
  • Rechargeable High-Capacity Ni-Cd Batteries (AA): These will typically have the lowest capacity of these three types. As with NiMH batteries, the cost per unit is higher than alkaline, but the ability to recharge the batteries will make them less expensive over the long run.

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