what is the difference between an ipod and mp3 player???

[fordfiesta]

which is the best etc

An i-Pod is the brand name of Apple's (range) of MP3 players.

'Best' depends on what you want. When I was looking to buy dh's mp3 player, I was advised that for music fans a Creative Zen was better. For style/cool, i-Pod better.

You will also find though that most hardware/software and general stuff is designed for i-Pod players, and i-Tunes is encrypted so that only i-Pod players will work with it. (Think that's still true, although it may have changed now).

DH and I both have Zen players. He wanted one because he objects to having to download software, and you need itunes to use an ipod (I think).
Anyway - Zen is great - I just have a wee one, and it suits me fine. Have no urges for ipod.

can you plug the zen into a stereo and get it to work???
Oh god, when i was a kid i used to laugh at my mum for being clueless!!!!

Don't know, but you can buy sets of speakers to plug your player into. Not that pricey and quite good quality. We have some Sony ones that fold up so are good for taking on holiday.

I've got the Zen vision and you can get the cables to connect it to both your hi-fi and your TV. A good idea to take compressed DVD's on holiday with you for when the hotel TV is rubbish. You can get an infra red remote control for it as well.

I can plug my zen into my car stereo, no problem. Just a headphone socket thing.

I can plug my zen into my car stereo, no problem. Just a headphone socket thing.

ipods are a bit style over substance but if you have a mac then you'll find it so much more straightforward.

I was after a Zen, but then DH got an ibook instead of a proper computer, so I ended up getting an ipod.

I have a Zen stone - 20 quid from amazon, although you can pay an extra 7 and get it with a radio as well. really pleased with it and it's teeny tiny.

Dh said it was far more user friendly than his mums ipod. You can still use the zen to download stuff from itunes if you wish.

hmmm [sorry quick thread hijack] so does anyone know if i want to buy something for my mum to download audio books onto, will any mp3 player do? My local bookshop said it would need to be an ipod...but not sure i can afford one so had wondered if cheaper ones would work.

Don't see why it would need to be an ipod - anything with mp3 format would work. You'd need to think of memory capacity though if downloading lots of files.

thanks hairtwiddler.

Ok.... will look for a zen,then!

I download books on my Zen - I have the 4Gb version of uk.europe.creative.com/products/product.asp?category=213&subcategory=214&product=16999 this one]] - it came with two free credits for downloads from the Audiblewebsite - a book lasting 2 hours takes about 30Mb of space, so you can get quite a few on my 4Gb Zen

rusty.... that sounds like a good idea...... can you then play it back on your computor?

Yes, I download it to my laptop & then copy to my Zen - so I have a backup copy in case I lose the Zen. Om my laptop I can play it on the Audible Manager software which came with the Zen, or with I-tunes or Windows media player.