| Choosing to buy the right MP3 player
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| | options. While some portable players use
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| isn't that difficult, but one player does
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| | replaceable alkaline batteries, many
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| not fit all. People will want different
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| | feature a built-in rechargeable battery
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| things from their players. MP3 CD players
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| | that cannot be easily removed. While
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| represent the best value: Most retail for
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| | these devices can keep going for tens of
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| less than $200, and additional blank
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| | hours, if you're not going to be
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| discs are cheap.* Think about how you'll
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| | somewhere near a power outlet or a
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| use the player. Joggers will almost
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| | computer with a USB port, you might find
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| certainly want a lightweight,
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| | yourself out of juice with no way to
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| flash-memory-based device, since hard
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| | charge the player.* Check the prices for
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| drives don't react well to the shock of
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| | extra storage. If you're considering a
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| bouncing around all the time; audio
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| | player that uses one of the major memory
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| aficionados who want lots of music at
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| | card formats (Secure Digital, SmartMedia,
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| their fingertips should keep their eyes
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| | MultiMediaCard, or Memory Stick) to store
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| on the highest-capacity hard-drive
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| | music files, factor the price for an
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| models.* Try your favorite before taking
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| | extra or replacement memory card into the
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| it home. Make sure you can use the
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| | cost of the player.* Look for wide file
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| on-screen display to navigate to a
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| | format support. While this isn't a
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| specific song, and ask a clerk to show
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| | necessity, players that support music
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| you how to transfer music to the device,
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| | files in the MP3, WMA (Windows Media
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| if possible. Always bring your own set of
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| | Audio), and OGG formats give you more
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| headphones to listen to the sound quality
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| | listening options than players that
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| of each unit you're interested in. If you
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| | support just one or two of those
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| plan to test CD-based MP3 players, bring
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| | formats.* Consider a player with an FM
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| your own disc.
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| | tuner. This feature isn't essential, but
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| * Get the largest-capacity device you
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| | it's a nice addition--especially if you
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| can afford. Whether you buy a flash- or
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| | grow tired of your own music.* Do you
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| hard-drive-based MP3 player, make sure to
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| | need a carrying case? The more expensive
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| choose a model with the largest storage
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| | and more fragile the player (hard-drive
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| capacity possible. Even if you don't
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| | devices are the most delicate), the more
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| think you'll need it now, you will
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| | likely you'll want a custom-fitted case
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| probably be happy to have it later.* Pay
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| | to protect it. If you plan to carry your
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| close attention to the user interface.
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| | player with you wherever you go, consider
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| The simplest-to-use MP3 players use a
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| | investing in both a fitted cover and a
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| Windows Explorer-like file and folder
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| | rugged carrying case that can also hold
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| interface to organize music on the
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| | headphones, a USB cable, and/or spare
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| player. While some players require you to
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| | batteries.* Shop around, online and
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| use their software to pick the play order
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| | offline. MP3 players are widely available
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| before loading music files, other players
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| | in almost every consumer electronics
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| let you rearrange the songs once the
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| | outlet, and their prices fluctuate.
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| music is in the player.* Mind your power
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