The MP3 player has become the next cassette player or Walkman for the 21st century. Everyone, young and old, is realizing the potential of having a digital media player the size of a deck of cards that holds hundreds and sometimes thousands of songs!
The problem arises from the fact that there are so many different MP3 players on the market that it is mind boggling to figure out what is best for the person that you intend to buy a gift for. That's why I'm here; to simplify the world of MP3 players and allow you to make an easier decision this season.
The easiest way to divide this category up is: Apple's iPod lines vs. everyone else.
This is for good reason. Apple has been specializing in MP3 players since their creation and has gone through multiple versions (known as generations) to create a near perfect player. All the other competitors have been going through several versions but to no where near the extent of innovation that Apple has done.
Nonetheless, here is the buyer's guide for MP3 Players:
Apple: Price: $79-299 Availability: The closer we get to Christmas, the harder it is to get one.
- Apple's iPod lines cover all of the bases in terms of price range and ages.
- The iPod Shuffle is a simple, no display MP3 player that holds several hundred songs. This is great for the beginner iPod user, whether 10 or 70. Simply plug it in into a computer with iTunes installed on it and pick the songs you want on the Shuffle. Unplug it and hit play and it works. Simple, standard and economically priced at $79.
- The iPod Nano is the next step up in the iPod line and offers an easy to use color display that allows the user to select their songs from a simple, categorized menu. This particular model is in a new generation phase and now offers support for video playback as well. By uploading your favorite DVD's to iTunes, the user is able to view them while using their iPod Nano. A great addition for the slightly more technically savvy person, but not the complete music or tech aficionados.
-The iPod Classic is the perfect gift that person that has so many CD's and DVD's that they couldn't listen to or watch all of them if they had all 24 hours of the day for an entire week! This model has a larger storage space that allows for 20,000-40,000 songs or a couple hundred movies. Basically, this is what you buy for the person that is looking for a great gift for the music lover in the family. At $249, it's hard to beat!
- And finally, the iPod Touch, the tech lovers dream and my personal choice. This device serves as the next generation of PDA's. With the ability to view movies, download and play music, add a bunch of applications and surf the web from your iPod! What more could you ask for? At $299, it's the most expensive iPod but the capacity for usage is well above any iPod or other MP3 player for that matter!
The "Others":
-Microsoft Zune: Price: $149-299 Availability: Readily Available
-This is the main competition for the Apple iPod and is currently on the second generation. This is a great MP3 player but because it is still considered new, it has not reached as deep of a following as the iPod. This MP3 player has all the features of iPod Classic which a larger storage space and the ability to play both music and videos. A high quality device worth looking at for the person that loves Microsoft product or just doesn't want to worry about iTunes.
-Creative and SanDisk players: Price: $35-100 Availability: Readily Available
-These particular MP3 players are truly designed for the true beginner that really has no preference. With a lower price tag, a similar design and ease of use ability, these devices are great for the person that seems to break things easily or just the quick pick up for the surprise guest at Christmas.
I'm excluding all MP3 playing cell phones for the sole reason that this is a personal preference and solely dependent on the cell phone provider.
This is the round-up for MP3 players. Enjoy and feel free to make suggestions for next year's guide.
Thursday's Guide: PC's vs. Macs vs. Linux computers.
Have a great day!
Showing posts with label holiday gift guide. Show all posts
Showing posts with label holiday gift guide. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Holiday Guide 2007: Day Two: Blu-Ray vs. HD DVD
So you have someone in the family that is a movie fanatic and you are looking to buy the next generation of movie playback devices because let's face it, the DVD player you've had for 2 years is just "so 2005." So now the question is: "Which kind of player do I buy: Blu-Ray or HD DVD? What's the difference?"
Here's your answer:
Blu-Ray: Price: $300 & up
- Blu-Ray is the offspring of the Sony Corporation and is basically the next step in data storage. In response to developing the next generation of data storage after DVD's, Sony developed a technology that used the reading of data through a blue laser instead of red laser like those on DVD players. By doing this, they were able to put more data in the same size disc because of basic physics revolving around the color spectrum. Enough with the science chat. The Blu-Ray discs hold a lot of information on the same size disc as a DVD or CD but because of an increase in production costs for the technology, the price to develop the discs increased. With this in mind, some of the major film studios have moved away from this technology for financial reasons causing support for the next format.
HD DVD: Price: Cheaper than Blu-Ray
- HD DVD is the offspring of Toshiba in response to Sony's development of the Blu-Ray. Basically, it was created to bring in more money for Toshiba and not allow Sony a monopoly in the next generation of movie playback. The technology is virtually the same as Blue-Ray but the discs themselves do not hold the same amount of data which brings in the controversy similar to that of Beta vs. VHS. Blu-Ray discs hold more data and can theoretically adapt to the ever growing realm of high definition. HD DVD, in comparison, holds less than half of what a Blu-Ray disc holds but it is gaining more support from the major film corporations due to alliances between Toshiba-based companies and the film industry.
Overall approach: This is basically the return of Beta vs VHS. There is no safe purchase this year when it comes to the next generation of movie playback devices because no one knows which format is going to become the standard. Sony's strong backing in the gaming industry mixed with some support in the film industry has kept the Blue-Ray disc alive. However, HD DVD has just gained the support of the majority of major film corporations in the past several months which has caused a greater divide for which will survive: Blu-Ray or HD DVD.
Both players and discs cost more than the standard DVD player and discs and make it hard to justify which will be the dominate format this year. Personally, I'm in support of Blu-Ray due to it's integration into the Playstation 3 (a personal desire for this Christmas) but there is no way of telling.
To prevent relapse of that $400 Beta player people have sitting in their basement (Mom and Dad), my suggestion for Blu-Ray vs HD DVD: DON'T BUY EITHER THIS CHRISTMAS! There are too many variables this Christmas and without a standard, eventually one group will win and the supporters of the losers will be sitting at home with a bunch of useless hardware. Wait a year and see what happens in regards to the battle between the two technologies.
*If you want to read more about the technology, check out Engadget's synopsis of the technology.
Tomorrow's Gift Guide Topic: MP3 players
Have a great day!
Here's your answer:
Blu-Ray: Price: $300 & up
- Blu-Ray is the offspring of the Sony Corporation and is basically the next step in data storage. In response to developing the next generation of data storage after DVD's, Sony developed a technology that used the reading of data through a blue laser instead of red laser like those on DVD players. By doing this, they were able to put more data in the same size disc because of basic physics revolving around the color spectrum. Enough with the science chat. The Blu-Ray discs hold a lot of information on the same size disc as a DVD or CD but because of an increase in production costs for the technology, the price to develop the discs increased. With this in mind, some of the major film studios have moved away from this technology for financial reasons causing support for the next format.
HD DVD: Price: Cheaper than Blu-Ray
- HD DVD is the offspring of Toshiba in response to Sony's development of the Blu-Ray. Basically, it was created to bring in more money for Toshiba and not allow Sony a monopoly in the next generation of movie playback. The technology is virtually the same as Blue-Ray but the discs themselves do not hold the same amount of data which brings in the controversy similar to that of Beta vs. VHS. Blu-Ray discs hold more data and can theoretically adapt to the ever growing realm of high definition. HD DVD, in comparison, holds less than half of what a Blu-Ray disc holds but it is gaining more support from the major film corporations due to alliances between Toshiba-based companies and the film industry.
Overall approach: This is basically the return of Beta vs VHS. There is no safe purchase this year when it comes to the next generation of movie playback devices because no one knows which format is going to become the standard. Sony's strong backing in the gaming industry mixed with some support in the film industry has kept the Blue-Ray disc alive. However, HD DVD has just gained the support of the majority of major film corporations in the past several months which has caused a greater divide for which will survive: Blu-Ray or HD DVD.
Both players and discs cost more than the standard DVD player and discs and make it hard to justify which will be the dominate format this year. Personally, I'm in support of Blu-Ray due to it's integration into the Playstation 3 (a personal desire for this Christmas) but there is no way of telling.
To prevent relapse of that $400 Beta player people have sitting in their basement (Mom and Dad), my suggestion for Blu-Ray vs HD DVD: DON'T BUY EITHER THIS CHRISTMAS! There are too many variables this Christmas and without a standard, eventually one group will win and the supporters of the losers will be sitting at home with a bunch of useless hardware. Wait a year and see what happens in regards to the battle between the two technologies.
*If you want to read more about the technology, check out Engadget's synopsis of the technology.
Tomorrow's Gift Guide Topic: MP3 players
Have a great day!
Monday, December 3, 2007
Holiday Guide 2007: Day 1: Next Gen Video Game Consoles
The holiday season is approaching incredibly fast as everyone dives deeper to finish up final projects for the year. I fall into this category as well. Final exams are in two weeks and semester papers and projects are coming due within a week.
In light of all of this, I've been doing my research for Christmas gifts for everyone around and with this, I've been reading a lot of gift guides through many of the major sites. There is one trend that I've noticed in most of the tech guides and that is that somewhere along the lines, the sites are sponsored in one way or another by certain companies and therefore they need to be in support of the companies that are supporting them! Considering I'm not sponsored by any company, I figured I would provide an unabashed tech guide for anyone looking to buy a tech gift for a loved one.
Today's focus is on the next generation of video games consoles. There are three and they each play to a major demographic of the video game playing world.
So here we go:
Nintendo Wii: Age range: 2-100 Price: $250 Availability: Scarce
-This is the most innovative game console to come out since the mainstream move to 3D games on the Nintendo 64. This console is great for kids and adults. I'm calling it the game system that "gets people off their butts and moving" because it really does that. In order to successfully play most of the games available for the Wii, the player must be able to use full dexterity of their arms and hands and sometimes their entire bodies! Players are given two "motion sensitive" controllers that they use to manipulate the characters in the game through motions with the controllers. This console does not have nearly the intensely realistic graphics as the next two consoles, but the innovative gameplay lets you have a more complete control of the video game characters. The audience for this game console is anyone from any age group with an experience level of beginner to expert in the world of gaming. The hardcore gamers may laugh at the simplicity of the games, but will be seduced into the intense gameplay and complex moves required in later, more difficult levels. Recommended game for the Wii: Super Mario Galaxy
Microsoft Xbox 360: Age range: 10-35 Price:$279-$399 Availability: Readily available
-This was the first next generation console to hit the market two years ago and has been through several ups and downs during those years. This year marked the "red circle of death" for the machine where a hardware failure caused Microsoft to completely revamp the machine for better components. This machine is intended for the more hardcore gamers that are into great graphics, backwards compatibility with their old Xbox games and a more online gamer based world in what is known as Xbox Live. This is a subscription service ($50 a year) that allows anyone with a broadband connection to play other gamers from across the world. The majority of the games are meant for more experienced gamers and do not play to the younger (or older) inexperienced crowd. The issue with this machine is based around the fact that you can start with a basic product ($279) that does not include anything but the machine and start to add on components like a hard drive ($100), an HD DVD player ($170), a wireless connection ($100) and several other components that total the machine out at more than $500 plus the subscription service for the Xbox Live. This makes for a very pricey machine that Microsoft doesn't advertise at the base level. Granted, you can buy a machine with a hard drive attached ($349-399) but you still will need to buy the HD DVD drive and wireless if you wish to have a machine comparable to the next console. Recommended game for the Xbox 360: Halo 3 (the Xbox 360 lifesaver)
Sony Playstation 3: Age range: 10-35 Price: $399-499 Availability: Readily available
-This machine has become the ultimate gaming machine for anyone that is a die hard gamer or looking to get into gaming. The included DVD/Blu-ray player, wireless connectivity, hard drive and overall processing power makes this machine great! When it was first released, the price and the lack of quality games knocked this system down, but with a recent price cut and the inclusion of some great new exclusive games, the Playstation 3 has become a must have for anyone looking to buy a next generation console. Not only does this system include everything that you will need to buy for the Xbox 360, but the online play is 100% FREE! Beginning in 2008, Sony has announced that they will be opening up an area for each called a Home that will enable people to create an online character and place of residence to interact with other gamers and show off their online accomplishments. The more expensive price tag is outweighed by the simple fact that the gamer is not required to pay subscription fees every year. One year of use makes this machine more cost effective compared to the gamer. The major issue with this machine is a lack of backwards compatibility with some original Playstation and Playstation 2 games. Otherwise, this is a must buy! Recommended games for the Playstation 3: Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
This is just my opinion in regards to the next generation consoles but each has a point of interest for person you have in mind. Let me know what you think is the best!
Tomorrow's gift guide: Blu-ray vs. HD DVD
Have a great day!
In light of all of this, I've been doing my research for Christmas gifts for everyone around and with this, I've been reading a lot of gift guides through many of the major sites. There is one trend that I've noticed in most of the tech guides and that is that somewhere along the lines, the sites are sponsored in one way or another by certain companies and therefore they need to be in support of the companies that are supporting them! Considering I'm not sponsored by any company, I figured I would provide an unabashed tech guide for anyone looking to buy a tech gift for a loved one.
Today's focus is on the next generation of video games consoles. There are three and they each play to a major demographic of the video game playing world.
So here we go:
Nintendo Wii: Age range: 2-100 Price: $250 Availability: Scarce
-This is the most innovative game console to come out since the mainstream move to 3D games on the Nintendo 64. This console is great for kids and adults. I'm calling it the game system that "gets people off their butts and moving" because it really does that. In order to successfully play most of the games available for the Wii, the player must be able to use full dexterity of their arms and hands and sometimes their entire bodies! Players are given two "motion sensitive" controllers that they use to manipulate the characters in the game through motions with the controllers. This console does not have nearly the intensely realistic graphics as the next two consoles, but the innovative gameplay lets you have a more complete control of the video game characters. The audience for this game console is anyone from any age group with an experience level of beginner to expert in the world of gaming. The hardcore gamers may laugh at the simplicity of the games, but will be seduced into the intense gameplay and complex moves required in later, more difficult levels. Recommended game for the Wii: Super Mario Galaxy
Microsoft Xbox 360: Age range: 10-35 Price:$279-$399 Availability: Readily available
-This was the first next generation console to hit the market two years ago and has been through several ups and downs during those years. This year marked the "red circle of death" for the machine where a hardware failure caused Microsoft to completely revamp the machine for better components. This machine is intended for the more hardcore gamers that are into great graphics, backwards compatibility with their old Xbox games and a more online gamer based world in what is known as Xbox Live. This is a subscription service ($50 a year) that allows anyone with a broadband connection to play other gamers from across the world. The majority of the games are meant for more experienced gamers and do not play to the younger (or older) inexperienced crowd. The issue with this machine is based around the fact that you can start with a basic product ($279) that does not include anything but the machine and start to add on components like a hard drive ($100), an HD DVD player ($170), a wireless connection ($100) and several other components that total the machine out at more than $500 plus the subscription service for the Xbox Live. This makes for a very pricey machine that Microsoft doesn't advertise at the base level. Granted, you can buy a machine with a hard drive attached ($349-399) but you still will need to buy the HD DVD drive and wireless if you wish to have a machine comparable to the next console. Recommended game for the Xbox 360: Halo 3 (the Xbox 360 lifesaver)
Sony Playstation 3: Age range: 10-35 Price: $399-499 Availability: Readily available
-This machine has become the ultimate gaming machine for anyone that is a die hard gamer or looking to get into gaming. The included DVD/Blu-ray player, wireless connectivity, hard drive and overall processing power makes this machine great! When it was first released, the price and the lack of quality games knocked this system down, but with a recent price cut and the inclusion of some great new exclusive games, the Playstation 3 has become a must have for anyone looking to buy a next generation console. Not only does this system include everything that you will need to buy for the Xbox 360, but the online play is 100% FREE! Beginning in 2008, Sony has announced that they will be opening up an area for each called a Home that will enable people to create an online character and place of residence to interact with other gamers and show off their online accomplishments. The more expensive price tag is outweighed by the simple fact that the gamer is not required to pay subscription fees every year. One year of use makes this machine more cost effective compared to the gamer. The major issue with this machine is a lack of backwards compatibility with some original Playstation and Playstation 2 games. Otherwise, this is a must buy! Recommended games for the Playstation 3: Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
This is just my opinion in regards to the next generation consoles but each has a point of interest for person you have in mind. Let me know what you think is the best!
Tomorrow's gift guide: Blu-ray vs. HD DVD
Have a great day!
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