Best mp3 player for a 13-year-old?

[wmw999 2,573]

OK, I listen to the news mostly; not that musical (although I did go to an amazing sing-along Messiah last night).

But my brother has said that his son would absolutely love a new MP3 player for Christmas; several of us can go in on one to get something mega-cool. His current one only holds 30 songs.

So. Is it the ipod shuffle (price is OK, 1GB, and the apple name), or another brand, or is video the total way to go these days?

He'll be like any other 13-year-old with it, which means that the most delicate one on the market isn't good for him. I'm sure he'll forget it in his backpack etc.

Ideas?

Wendy W.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[TomAiello 26]

Can you afford the 4GB ipod nano (I think it's about $140)? The Nano probably has a lot more cool factor for a teenager, because it does video, and although it's slightly less tough (it has a screen after all), it's reasonably hardy (no hard drive=no moving parts).

I had a shuffle for about a year. I really liked it for what it was (meaning, you can't pick tracks and such, because there is no selection interface, but it's super light and portable), but the durability wasn't all that (or maybe I was too hard on it--I do that). It died at Bridge Day this year (which probably gives you an idea of the use I was putting it to, which might not actually be any harder than the average teenager).

-- Tom Aiello

Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com
SnakeRiverBASE.com

[BIGUN 1,466]

I have an 80Gig iPOD, but was at Best Buy recently and came across the Zunes. Not bad for gifts for a 13 year old, really. There's one that has 4GB* flash memory stores up to 975 songs, 25,000 pictures or 12 hours of video for around a hundred and fifty bucks. I don't know much about them, but they peaked my interest enough to do some more research on them as gifts. Maybe someone else on here who has one could share some info with us about them.

Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard.

[pinkfairy 0]

Do 13 years olds need Mp3 players, now?



I used to sell iPods, and sold some iPod shuffle to people who gave them to 13-year olds. I've also sold a bunch of bigger and more expensive ipods that were used by 13 years olds, but I do think the shuffle was the most successful for the younger users. It can stand a little more abuse than other players since it has got no display, and is small and can be clipped on clothes. And I really think that iPod has better functional design and build quality than many other mp3 players. I used to send ipods in for repair too, and there wasn't too many issues with them. You have to seriously abuse it to break it.

I remember 13-14 years olds dropping ipods so the display or other parts broke, I've heard about them forgetting them at school or having them stolen. I saw one that water came out of once. Things happen.

He will like the shuffle if it's OK for him that it has got no display. If you can have it delivered from Apple's own internet shop before cristmas, it will be even cooler with an engraving on it.

Relax, you can die if you mess up, but it will probably not be by bullet.

I'm a BIG, TOUGH BIGWAY FORMATION SKYDIVER! What are you?

[pinkfairy 0]

Quote

It died at Bridge Day this year (which probably gives you an idea of the use I was putting it to, which might not actually be any harder than the average teenager).

I've seen skydivers use it with in-ear headphones while jumping, and it looks like that went fine. But it should be equipped with a warning label: "For skydiving use: Be sure to put on and check ALL of your gear before turning on music. Listening to your favourite Rammstein song can make you forget other things. Like your camera helmet".

Shame that your shuffle died at bridge day, but we all know that BASE is more dangerous than skydiving. If it was still covered by warranty you could try to bring it back to the shop. I'm pretty sure it would look better than many other ipods that I sent in. Especially the one with water coming out of it. Or was that what happened?.

I didn't think the video capability on the ipod nano was that great, until I found out some men are so impressed with it that I couldn't do better with a sports car. And that can be useful

Relax, you can die if you mess up, but it will probably not be by bullet.

I'm a BIG, TOUGH BIGWAY FORMATION SKYDIVER! What are you?

[shropshire 0]

An MP3 player for a 13-year old boy? Doesn't sound like a fair exchange to me

(.)Y(.)
Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome

[airtwardo 7]

Quote

An MP3 player for a 13-year old boy? Doesn't sound like a fair exchange to me

Throw in a Buick?

~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~

[shropshire 0]

Throw the kid in the boot (trunk) and we could have a deal.

(.)Y(.)
Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome

[LisaM 0]

I have to say that my 11 year old would not be happy with the shuffle. He loves to flip through the songs and will listen to only one artsist days at a time. You can't do that with the shuffle. Sure you can change songs but to get to the one you want could take a while.

He has the Classic 80 gig video. It's all he got for Christmas from us last year. He really likes it.

If I were to get him one this year, I would get the nano though since it's so much smaller.

~ Lisa
~ Do you Rigminder?

[NewGuy2005 53]

My kids have Nano with screens. They've had them a year and haven't broken them yet.

It's the best money I've ever spent. They love them.

[skydiver30960 0]

Start him off with a transistor radio. You know, the one that got AM only and had the little wrist strap. Get it in pink, because that was the only color available when they were really popular. Let him carry that around for a few years.

THEN, move up to a cassette recorder. You know, the one with only the one speaker and the row of buttons down the side with the extra little orange button for RECORD. Let him spend a couple years recording his favorite songs off the radio by holding the microphone up to the home stereo's speakers.

Now make a big leap: get him a WALKMAN. Still only one cassette's worth of music, but in a format that was still simultaneously bulky AND battery-guzzling. Nothing was better than being at the best part of the tape to hear the "wooob... wooo----ob, wob" of the rhythm going to crap as the batteries died. A year or two of this should be enough to prepare him for:

The DISCMAN. Now he'll be able to listen to CD's, as long as he holds the unit completely still. Tell him not to plan on walking or running while listening to his music. Hell, tell him it's best not to even look at it crosseyed or it'll skip.

THEN, around about the time he hits thirty, you can get him an MP3 player. By the time he's suffered through all the above like we have, he'll understand how to truly take care of it.

Elvisio "mix tape" Rodriguez

P.S. I left out boomboxes on purpose. Damn, that was a bad time for my ears.

[airtwardo 7]

What ....no 8 tracks?

~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~

[billvon 3,096]

Go on Ebay and get the cheapest one you can find that will hold an SD card. Then get him a 2GB SD card (about 500 songs.) When he breaks the player, he will still have the SD card with all his songs on it.

If you want to buy new, go to a local store and find the cheapest one you can. Radio Shack has the Creative Sansa line for pretty cheap ($29-$39)

[skydiver30960 0]

Wow. I'm truly humbled. I didn't even know portable 8-tracks existed.

You win: you're older.


Elvisio "good stuff" Rodriguez

[airtwardo 7]

You win: you're older.

Quote

And don't EVER forget it!

~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~

[SarahC07 0]

My thoughts: A 1 GB shuffle by iPod is just fine - it holds 300-400 songs if I remember correctly and it's pretty durable. And you're right he'll drop it, lose it, abuse it, etc.

Plus, by the time he's 16 someone is going to have come up with something way cooler... and he'll want that.

[ltdiver 3]

Thanks for the trip down memory lane. Dang!

ltdiver

Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon

[wmw999 2,573]

Thanks for all the suggestions.

Wendy W.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[Miranda 0]

I have a 13 year old daughter and I bought her a Nano last year for Christmas. She loves it and has taken excellent care of it. This year she's getting the new ipod touch. No she doesn't need it and no there's nothing wrong with her current Nano. BUT, she's 13, it's all the kid wants for Christmas and she wouldn't be satisfied with anything else. Try to put yourself in the kid's shoes: When all the other kids get this year's "cool gadget" for Christmas and you show up with a cheap $50 imitation how likely would you be to tell others what you got for Christmas? Just try it from a 13 year olds perspective...I'm just sayin.....

[shropshire 0]

That seems to describe a fundamental flaw in our society too (It's not just America) and it's so sad that people give in to their kids that easily.

(.)Y(.)
Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome

[Miranda 0]

Never said it was right but it is what it is.

[Shell666 0]

I bought my nieces and nephews (all 4 of them) one of these last Christmas. I have a Mac so I needed something that was compatible with my computer and their PC. They love it. And it serves their teenage needs (the two girls are now 13, the two boys are 11).

And they've lasted the year (so far!). And to be honest, they look pretty cool too! According to them, it's the best gift they got last year.

The only downfall ... they monopolize my computer downloading tunes when they come over!

'Shell

[Guest]

Good suggestion, Bill.

mh
.

"The mouse does not know life until it is in the mouth of the cat."