MP3 player for Christmas Options

[Mohammed Kingsto...]

My partner has asked me to buy them an MP3 play for Christmas and I am looking to spend around the hundred pound mark give or take 30 quid. What do you think is the best to go for out of these players which are all around the right price range?
SanDisk Sansa View - isn't out till after Christmas so it's a no go otherwise this would be included
iPod Nano 3rd generation - USB 2.0, 8.19 GB, , display
Creative Zen 8GB - USB 2.0, 8.19 GB, FM-tuner, display
Apple iPod Nano 8GB Black (2nd Generation) - USB 2.0, 8 GB, display
Sony NW-A3000 20GB Silver - USB 2.0, 20 GB, display
Jobo Giga One 40GB Silver - 40 GB, display

[Roxanna Maynard]

Hi Mohammed,

Out of the MP3 players you have mentioned I would probably go for the Creative Zen. It comes with the biggest colour screen - perfect for watching movies and video clips, an FM radio to listen to local beats and it matches the memory size of some of the other players with less functions.

I would probably put sony in a close second, but there is only one retailer on the site selling it for under £100. It has a good size memory - room for all your favorite songs. Though the Jobo does have the biggest memory - the reviews I have read about it haven't been brilliant.

Let us know what you decide to go for.

[Mohammed Kingsto...]

I have been looking round at even more players and think I am going to go for the Creative Zen Vision M 30GB (http://www.pricerunner.co.uk/pl/11-545288/MP3-Players/Creative-Zen-Vision-M-30GB-Black-Compare-Prices). The cheapest price on PriceRunner is at around the £150 mark, which is a bit more than I wanted to spend. However it's had loads of really good expert reviews, a good memory size and can play loads of different file types: MP3, WMA (inc MS PD DRM), WAV ,JPEG, BMP6, GIF6, TIFF6, DivX™ 4 & 55, XviD5, MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG4-SP, WMV9.

My only problem is that the shop selling it at the low price don't have any in stock and I am not sure they will have before Christmas, and I definitely can't afford to go up to a £200 price tag at which there MP3 players are available at.

So I either need to have a back up MP3 player or somewhere I can get the Creative at the right price?

[Roxanna Maynard]

I have seen a few going for as little £120 if you don't mind going for refurbished model or if you didn't mind going for a green Creative Zen Vision M 30GB for £150 which are in stock at www.e-xcessories.com.

The cheapest black on I have seen that is in stock is from a retailer on Amazon - chrisun_2000 for £186.99 - http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/offer-listing/B...96854720&sr=8-1

[Will E. Ham]

If it's not in stock now, I doubt it will be back in before Christmas.

As a back up you could get a Apple iPod Video 30GB Black for £129 or an Archos 604 30GB Black for £140

[Mohammed Kingsto...]

I got the Creative Zen Vision M 30GB for £135.93 excluding VAT (£168.82 including VAT and first class recorded delivery). Though it's a little more than I wanted to spend initially; I think it was the best choice and I am sure they are going to love it.

Thanks for all your advice,

[Mohammed Kingsto...]

So I order the MP3 player from more4computers.com and they cancel my order a week before Christmas not telling me an reason why and not even sending me an e-mail to say they have canceled it. I had to look on the website myself and find out as I was trying to look on what day it was delivered. Anyone know where I can get one from - preferably in a shop as I don't think I have time for shipping?