I am considering buying a new portable media player. For playing music I already have an old 2nd Generation IPod and a 4Gb nano, but I want to get something on which I can watch films and videos. I don't want another Ipod and am leaning towards this:

http://uk.store.creative.com/products/prod...3&pid=18965

Anybody have one or have any advice?

Also, if I do buy it, what software do I need to get to rip my DVDs and upload them to the player?

Looking to flog off your old kit? I might be interested as I am sick of listening to people's banal conversations on the ferry and train but can't afford to fork out for a fancy bit of brand new gear that plays music and also bakes potatoes.

'fraid not Loz. The old classic Ipod holds our entire music library and is rigged up to speakers in the house and you'd have to rip the nano out of our daughter's hands!!

How old is she? I'm not that strong but maybe strong enough!!

Cheers

I've had 3 MP3 players, all of which have been Creative Zen, and everyone has never let me down. They're easy to use, very easy to put music on to it, they look good. They're awesome, basically.

I've had 3 MP3 players, all of which have been Creative Zen, and everyone has never let me down. They're easy to use, very easy to put music on to it, they look good. They're awesome, basically.

But still not as good as iPods though.

I am considering buying a new portable media player. For playing music I already have an old 2nd Generation IPod and a 4Gb nano, but I want to get something on which I can watch films and videos. I don't want another Ipod and am leaning towards this:

http://uk.store.creative.com/products/prod...3&pid=18965

Anybody have one or have any advice?

Also, if I do buy it, what software do I need to get to rip my DVDs and upload them to the player?

The one that you're planning to go for is a pretty good device. But I don't have an idea about what software you'll require to stack your device with multimedia. It might as well act as a flash drive on been connected to the computer with USB.

However, I really doubt whether it's a better option than an iPod Touch. They have set really high standards for all touch screen multimedia players.

Cheers!

Edited February 28, 201016 yr by kalpitv

Best software for ripping your DVD's is Handbrake. It has presets for all the popular formats and works really well. You can use it to encode other video files that you might have acquired "cough, cough" too.

As for the player, I'd have to say go for an iPod Touch. Encode everything for iTunes and then music, video, podcasts are all a breeze. Plus you get all the other goodies that come with it, like BBC iPlayer and Sky TV (if you can bear to pay the £6 per month).

However, I really doubt whether it's a better option than an iPod Touch. They have set really high standards for all touch screen multimedia players.

+1 to this.

You're pretty much guaranteed to find plenty of apps you will like on it too, so much more than just a media player.

loz I have a 30gb creative zen (basically an ipod type thing) which is still works perfectly, but has been "well used"... I'm also looking to buy a new music player of some sort so if you're interested then I will probably have no use for it soon.

p.s. just I find creative's harder to use than ipods (if you are used to ipods) but far more reliable.

Edited March 1, 201016 yr by gullit4

Sounds interesting. Give me a shout when you are looking to get rid. Easy enough to operate in terms of transferring music etc?

yeah the programs are all on their site- the best thing is the progam that makes any video files an appropriately small resolution and file type which is obviously very useful.

p.s. it could be as late as may- if you need it before though then let me know- I can get by using my phone for music in the meantime. don't have any cases or even spare headphones. perhaps I'll send it by post and you can see if it's what you're after?

Edited March 1, 201016 yr by gullit4

No rush at all. Just whenever.

great. I'll wait for the next portion of my taxpayer funded bursary then.

You don't need any software for a Creative, well not for the ones I've had anyway, you just plug in, drag and drop, sorted.

Best software for ripping your DVD's is Handbrake. It has presets for all the popular formats and works really well. You can use it to encode other video files that you might have acquired "cough, cough" too.

As for the player, I'd have to say go for an iPod Touch. Encode everything for iTunes and then music, video, podcasts are all a breeze. Plus you get all the other goodies that come with it, like BBC iPlayer and Sky TV (if you can bear to pay the �6 per month).

Thanks everyone for the input. I'll give Handbrake a try ES, cheers.

The reason I don't really want another Ipod is becasue I'm not a fan of Itunes and how it automatically syncs your library to your player everytime you plug it in. As Ruh Buh Juh, said you can do with the Creative, I much refer to do this manually and drag and drop files from Windows media player or Realplayer, whichever I am using. Also, I have just had an issue porting my music library from the Ipod back into my upgraded computer. I couldn't do this without using third party software.

Another vote for Creatives from me, too. Very reliable, long-lasting and very easy to use.

There are some great iTunes alternatives in the market, waiting to be discovered.

Thanks everyone for the input. I'll give Handbrake a try ES, cheers.

The reason I don't really want another Ipod is becasue I'm not a fan of Itunes and how it automatically syncs your library to your player everytime you plug it in. As Ruh Buh Juh, said you can do with the Creative, I much refer to do this manually and drag and drop files from Windows media player or Realplayer, whichever I am using. Also, I have just had an issue porting my music library from the Ipod back into my upgraded computer. I couldn't do this without using third party software.

It is easy enough to stop iTunes syncing automatically. There is a setting on the summary screen when your device is plugged in. You can also set it to allow you to manually manage your music too if you want. Moving stuff off an iPod to a computer will need 3rd party software.

You don't need any software for a Creative, well not for the ones I've had anyway, you just plug in, drag and drop, sorted.

i've got a Creative Zen Mosaic, and this is true for audio and images - i usually just copy and paste mp3's, or more usually entire folders, but for video you need the creative software that comes with the player to convert to a compatible format.

excellent player though.

My Iphones the best thing I have used, all in one place everything, Internet/Phone/Email (work and personal)/radio/games/movies(good quality screen and picture) and ipod... plus a load of other crap... whoopie cushion being my favorite.

nothing else has had a look in since I had it.

I take the point in the mobile phone thread about the battery life, its only downfall as far as I can tell... then again not many portible devices doing as much as this have great battery lives.

Just PM'd you