Eat a bag of DivX, Microsoft!
March 14, 2011 7:43 PM Subscribe
With the recent announcement that Microsoft will no longer be making Zune players, can anyone recommend a Windows based personal media player with an internal memory of AT LEAST 30GB that supports audio (mp3, FLAC, wma), video (wmv, mp4) and podcast subscriptions? Recommendations for a new media player/software to manage all that stuff would be helpful as well. (I'm just going to cut the Zune cord entirely when my current player finally gives out).
Please note, I do not want an iPod or iTunes.
Nah, there are still excellent non-Apple options. iRiver is the brand I've recommended for many years to people who want to avoid Apple products.
(I'm primarily an Apple user myself, but I'm also an audio/music pro who has always respected iRiver for their attention to both audio quality and general build quality; I've owned two of their HD-based audio player/recorders.)
posted by kalapierson at 7:57 PM on March 14, 2011 [1 favorite]
(I'm primarily an Apple user myself, but I'm also an audio/music pro who has always respected iRiver for their attention to both audio quality and general build quality; I've owned two of their HD-based audio player/recorders.)
posted by kalapierson at 7:57 PM on March 14, 2011 [1 favorite]
I've been using Creative-brand players on Windows and Linux since...a lot of years, and never had any difficulty with them at all. Their Zen brand is quite well-respected. I'm several generations back with my current player - largely because I have no complaints about it and so no need to replace for years to come. Give them a look!
posted by Rallon at 7:58 PM on March 14, 2011
posted by Rallon at 7:58 PM on March 14, 2011
Best answer: Prior to my selling my soul to Apple, I was a huge fan of the Creative Zen mp3 players, and used MediaMonkey to manage it. It's been almost 3 years since I've paid any attention, but it looks like Creative's still got their Zen line going and MM is still in active development, so it might be worth checking out.
posted by cgg at 7:58 PM on March 14, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by cgg at 7:58 PM on March 14, 2011 [1 favorite]
I bought a Zen Mozaic last year and have been very happy with it.
posted by frobozz at 8:04 PM on March 14, 2011
posted by frobozz at 8:04 PM on March 14, 2011
Best answer: Cowon and iRiver; lots of people like to use MediaMonkey to load music and playlists
posted by stratastar at 8:05 PM on March 14, 2011
posted by stratastar at 8:05 PM on March 14, 2011
Cowon ftw. Anythingbutipod.com is a great collection of reviews. The S9 and j3 in particular are sexy sexy beasts with an off the hook battery life, and drag-and-drop (hallejujah!)
posted by smoke at 8:09 PM on March 14, 2011
posted by smoke at 8:09 PM on March 14, 2011
iRiver is your friend.
posted by the mad poster! at 8:10 PM on March 14, 2011
posted by the mad poster! at 8:10 PM on March 14, 2011
Also a big fan of Creative Zen. I can't condone an mp3 player that requires software on a computer to load music.
My creative Creative Zen Neeon plays mp3s, wma, plays FM radio, AND will record my voice OR FM radio broadcasts to an mp3 file on the player. Drawback? Slow startup. I can deal with it.
posted by CarlRossi at 8:35 PM on March 14, 2011
My creative Creative Zen Neeon plays mp3s, wma, plays FM radio, AND will record my voice OR FM radio broadcasts to an mp3 file on the player. Drawback? Slow startup. I can deal with it.
posted by CarlRossi at 8:35 PM on March 14, 2011
nthing the Cowon J3. I had Irivers also and they are good as well.
Cowon: FM radio, drag and drop music, plays multiple formats, has an external speaker, can play video, very long battery life. No additional software needed.
posted by edgeways at 9:01 PM on March 14, 2011
Cowon: FM radio, drag and drop music, plays multiple formats, has an external speaker, can play video, very long battery life. No additional software needed.
posted by edgeways at 9:01 PM on March 14, 2011
oh and it has an expansion slot so you can plug in additional music via mem card.
has a photo vieer as well... but seriously it is really a PMP above all else.
posted by edgeways at 9:03 PM on March 14, 2011
has a photo vieer as well... but seriously it is really a PMP above all else.
posted by edgeways at 9:03 PM on March 14, 2011
nthing Cowon. Amazing battery life, excellent format support.
posted by jjb at 9:29 PM on March 14, 2011
posted by jjb at 9:29 PM on March 14, 2011
Response by poster: Thanks for the tips everyone, especailly those of you who mentioned MediaMonkey (A Podcast Catcher is a VERY big deal for me). Those Cowans are indeed sexy (and have great specs), and I'm going to look into getting one of those first, with a Creative Zen as my back up plan. I'm still open to any other products not previously mentioned, so feel free to continue to make recommendation on players & software.
posted by KingEdRa at 9:38 PM on March 14, 2011
posted by KingEdRa at 9:38 PM on March 14, 2011
Cowon. I have an iPhone and that's my first choice, Cowon is second.
posted by Brian Puccio at 5:39 AM on March 15, 2011
posted by Brian Puccio at 5:39 AM on March 15, 2011
I have an iRiver simply because in addition to mp3's it also has a FM radio. I use Media Monkey to sync it, which works great.
posted by Four Flavors at 8:28 AM on March 15, 2011
posted by Four Flavors at 8:28 AM on March 15, 2011
I used to have a Creative Zen, and yes, it's a great player. The software for it sucks though.
This is the problem you're going to find with non apple/non zune stuff. I've owned iPods, Zunes, and Zens. The best part of an iPod/Zune is that there is decent software that works with it. The Zune software is still lacking, but it's better than nothing.
I used Media Monkey with my Zen, and it certainly works, but it still doesn't have that "this is made for that" feel that you get from iTunes or Zune.
There are plenty of options out there, but just know that the thing that you're really giving up is the software/hardware friendliness.
posted by toekneebullard at 1:15 PM on March 15, 2011
This is the problem you're going to find with non apple/non zune stuff. I've owned iPods, Zunes, and Zens. The best part of an iPod/Zune is that there is decent software that works with it. The Zune software is still lacking, but it's better than nothing.
I used Media Monkey with my Zen, and it certainly works, but it still doesn't have that "this is made for that" feel that you get from iTunes or Zune.
There are plenty of options out there, but just know that the thing that you're really giving up is the software/hardware friendliness.
posted by toekneebullard at 1:15 PM on March 15, 2011
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posted by kthxbi at 7:45 PM on March 14, 2011