The Ten Most Common Mistakes When Buying an MP3 Player (and How to Avoid Them)
One of the most common reactions after buying a new MP3 player is "GEE! My player doesn't have X!" Substitute "X" for FM radio, microphone, or enough memory and you get an idea of some of the options which are available on MP3 players. Everybody has different requirements for an MP3 player, so avoid the first common mistake --
1. Not considering how the MP3 player will be used.
Sure, everybody (or almost everybody) wants a portable player to listen to music. Every MP3 player does that! What else do you need it for? Do you need a microphone for recording lectures or business meetings? Do you need an FM radio for keeping up-to-date on the weather reports or traffic conditions?
2. Not getting enough memory.
You can pick up an MP3 player for less than $50. What a bargain! The trouble is, you don't get very much memory for $50, and if you have a sizable music collection you will need to transfer music to the player almost every day.
3. Not getting a powerful battery.
Check out the battery life when you buy a new player. Flash based devices should last for more than 20 hours on a single charge, and hard drive based players should run for at least 15 hours. This is enough power to keep you in music for several days before recharging.
4. The player doesn't handle "X" format.
What kind of files can be played? If you have a sizeable MP3 collection and discover that your new player only plays WMA files you will have to convert all your music to that format.
5. The sound is not great.
Some players have less-than-ideal sound for music. Look for a signal to noise ratio of at least 90dB.
6. Low (or high) bitrates are not supported.
If you want to use the player to record voice, look for a player that supports a range of bitrates. Voice recordings do not need a high bitrate and lower bitrates will give you more storage capacity.
7. There isn't an equalizer.
If you wish to customize the sound of your music you need to have an equalizer which allows you to adjust individual sound spectrums.
8. Not getting a line input.
If you wish to record sources like cassette decks or TV shows you should get a player that allows you to connect these devices with a line input.
9. Not getting a big enough display screen.
Some players come with tiny or non-existent screens. It's hard to see what song is being played or to change the settings.
10. Not being firmware upgradeable.
MP3 players are driven by software and this software can have bugs – especially if the player was rushed to market. There should be a way to upgrade the player's operating system.
About The Author:
Ross audio enthusiast and author of the Audio How
To Section of the Selected Audio Review Guide
Lab-Created Diamonds – Simulated Diamonds And Manufactured Diamonds Review
There has been a great deal discussion about lab-created diamonds. Along with that talk, there is much misinformation and perplexity. The jewelry lover, who is interested in realizing the huge savings and aesthetic beauty that simulated diamonds offer, is often bewildered by the manufactured diamond industry jargon and available options. This article will categorically break it down in easy-to-understand terms so that anyone can make an intelligent decision when choosing a simulated diamond.
GEM MATERIALS: 99% of all lab-created diamonds sold worldwide are polycrystalline on a molecular level. The differences are fundamentally in the technical aspects of manufacturing, cutting, and polishing. Think of it this way—all coffeemakers are made of plastic, steel, and glass, the differences are how these materials are designed and implemented. Higher quality coffeemakers make a better tasting cup of coffee. Higher quality manufactured diamonds are in line with mined diamonds.
QUALITY VARIANCES: It seems like grade variations are made out to be a more complex lab-created diamond issue then it really is. Once boiled down, there are three primary grades of simulated diamonds—high, medium, and low. For the jewelry shopper it should be noted that the quality of setting goes hand-in-hand with the quality of the gemstone. Those that sell manufactured diamond jewelry off point-of-purchase displays in the costume jewelry sections of discount stores use low quality or scrap stones that are not gem quality, and have disco ball or murky look. Those that sell manufactured diamond jewelry on the TV shopping channels—which is generally with a sterling silver or a micro-thin layer of gold plated over silver (Vermeil [pronounced ver-may]) settings—use medium quality stones not of gem quality. Those that sell solid 14K gold or solid platinum settings, as a rule, use the highest gem-quality man made gemstones that replicate mined diamonds.
PRICING: Low grade stones are sold in bulk to costume jewelry makers and are often glued on electroplated settings. This jewelry is fine for children, where loss risk is high, and usually retails for less than $15 per item. You will find medium grade stones primarily in sterling silver jewelry that sells for under $100 per item, settings and stones. Medium grade simulated diamonds can be distinguished by the naked eye as not being mined diamonds. High grade gemstone quality lab-created diamonds, undistinguishable by the naked eye from mined diamonds, are found mounted on settings of solid 14K gold and platinum. This is considered to be fine jewelry, with the best quality gemstones selling for under $100 per carat for the gemstones alone. Manufactured diamonds that sell for over $100 a carat are not higher quality than those that sell for between $80 and $100 per carat.
RECOMMENDATIONS: If you are buying for someone that is likely to lose the jewelry, there is no reason to spend any more than you have to, and Wal-Mart will do just fine. On the clearance rack you can even pick up some jewelry for less than $5 per item. If you buy simulated diamonds set in sterling silver, expect decent stones, but they will fool few into thinking they are mined diamonds. Also, your fingers are likely to turn green or black in response to a chemical reaction, not with the silver per se, but with the nickel/copper alloys in sterling silver. With any plated settings, gemstones are low to medium grade, and the plating will eventually chip off, particularly around the edges. When that happens, the nickel/copper alloys will be exposed, the setting will look like it came out of a gum ball machine, and your finger will generally turn green or black. It is just a matter of common sense, if you want simulated diamonds with mined-diamond qualities, they must be set in 14K solid gold. Jewelers who offer lab-created diamonds are not going spend on money on gold and not mount the highest quality stones, which would defeat the purpose of creating fine diamond-like jewelry and alienate customers.
Robert Joseph is an expert jeweler and founding partner of Diamond Nexus Labs, a renowned online jewelry store that specializes in pristine affordable diamond simulants set in Solid 14K Gold.
Copyright © 2002-2005 Diamond Nexus Labs.
http://diamondnexuslabs.com/ All Rights Reserved.
Permission to reprint this article is granted if the article is reproduced in its entirety, without editing, including the bio information. Please include a hyperlink to http://diamondnexuslabs.com/ when using this article in newsletters or online.
To receive a FREE comparison chart on how Diamond Nexus Labs lab-created diamonds stack up against mined diamonds and register for a FREE no-obligation $50 Gift Certificate giveaway send E-mail to: freechart@diamondnexuslabs.com and just type Free Chart followed by your first name in the subject line.
Shop Online And Save Money
With our days having fewer hours than we need, online shopping has become a way of life and a time saver. Now you can stay at home, sit in front of the fire, poolside or near your favorite window, enjoying a good cup of coffee or your favorite beverage, and shop till you drop. You can take as much time and compare prices and quality without having tired legs and sore feet.
As gas prices escalate you can use your gas savings money for selecting an extra item or two that capture your fancy. Online shopping will save you time in your busy day. You don't have to rush to the store for that gift you forgot about, hassle with the kids that want to be in the toy department and certainly not with you in the clothes, jewelry and other departments.
We know a woman whose husband thinks it is Christmas all year round! She shops online and gets packages delivered to her door about four times a week. He comes home from work and has a ball opening the packages. For him, it's like Christmas 52 weeks a year!
Not only can you shop online, but you can fine printable grocery coupons that are not available anywhere else but online. Another positive to online shopping is online coupons which the companies display on many shopping sites. These coupons are discounts given to you for shopping at their online stores.
These are just some of the benefits of online shopping. You can read information and tips about online shopping published by the US Federal Trade Commission at http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/online/cybrsmrt.htm and the Better Business Bureau at http://www.bbbonline.org/OnlineShopTips/ . Enjoy online Shopping!
About The Author: Eric Madsen is the webmaster at http://www.glamorousshopper.com
