by I-mei Ling
Ever felt frustrated at your CD player? If it’s a monster that comes with a handle, you puff and pant as you lug it around to dance rehearsals. If it’s a portable one that looks like a big round biscuit, you’ve got to be extra careful because one single jolt could cause the music to stop playing. However, thanks to the rapid development of technology, we have an alternative. MP3 players have arrived, bringing an end to all the inconveniences mentioned above. Although they are still far from common, the market is definitely growing. MP3 players are sleek and solid, small enough to slip into your pocket. Buttons and switches line along the surface, allowing you to play and pause music at your own convenience. They often have tiny screens (technically knows as LCD) which can display the audio track’s title, artist, and even lyrics. They accommodate more songs than your typical CD player—a memory capacity of 128 MB can store up to 4 hours of music, roughly equaling about 40 songs. And most players have lots of other functions—you can record human voices, listen to FM radio, and transfer files from your computer to your player, so it can also serve as a portable hard drive. Sound appealing? Think again. Though prices have dropped in recent year, MP3 players still cost quite a lot more than CD players, ranging from NT $2000-$10000. So in order to get the best for your money, here are several things you might want to consider: ※ Memory: If you’d like to store movies as well as music in your MP3 player, a capacity above 1GB is a must, but of course, more capacity requires more money. If you only want to listen to music, then a typical 128MB or 256 MB player will do. You may also need an editing function on the screen which allows you to create folders (like in Windows), or you’ll have to press the button twenty times to get to the twentieth song. ※ Battery: Most MP3 players use AA or AAA batteries, and can usually allow you to play up to 10 hours of music. Some may have a non-removable battery inside, and you recharge the player by linking it to your computer. It may seem convenient, because you don’t have to buy a load of batteries, but if you’re on a vacation, it may be difficult to find a computer to recharge your player. Also, if anything goes wrong with the non-removable battery, consider your player totally broken. You’ll need to send it back for repair. Also, check if the player has an auto shut down function. Such a player will automatically shut off after a few minutes if it’s not being used, so it will save energy. ※ Software: Some MP3 players need you to install software on your computer, which usually enables you to encode CDs into MP3s and then transfer them to your player. However, nowadays you can get MP3 encoders for free on the internet, so it may be more convenient if your player has a plug-and-play function. That way, you can simply link your player to the computer and transfer files. ※ Serial Number: When buying your MP3 players, check to see if the serial number on the player is the same as the one on the box, because some dishonest shops sell second-hand players or fake ones carrying international names. ※ Appearance: Are you kidding? Isn’t it the inside that counts? But hey, when you’re blowing several thousand NT on a tiny device, you’d better show it off. Besides, MP3 players look much cooler than CD players. You can find players shaped like lipsticks, cigarette lighters, spaceships, etc. There are also players that look exactly like watches and can tell the time as well as play music! However, what I’ve said is only the tip of the iceberg. For more information, log on at: 1. http://140.113.170.113/mp3/ The ultimate site. Tons of information is added daily, and the webmaster is such a MP3 player freak that he wrote 10-page introductions on each popular model. 2. http://forums.dearhoney.idv.tw/index.php This site has discussions on anything related to digital music. The MP3 section has a lot of good information too. 3. http://www.mren.com.tw/ The prices of the MP3 players sold here are considered to be some of the lowest around. However, you’ll have to pay the shipping cost. 4. http://shopping.pchome.com.tw/mp3.php DO NOT come here to buy MP3 players; they cost more than those you find at NOVA or the Guanghua market. It is good only for its easy-to-navigate layout and quick introductions of the latest, hottest models. Having said so much about MP3 players, I’m sure that you have some idea what they’re like. But reading about them isn’t enough. Buy one and see for yourself! a
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The Taida Student Journal has been active since 1995 with an ever-changing roster of student journalists at NTU. Click the above link to read about the authors Archives
May 2024
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