The Nextar MP3 player is simple enough for beginners!
Written: Sep 17 '07
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Pros: Low cost, built in USB 2.0, no software required!
Cons: Only 512MB...others are available up to 4GB.
The Bottom Line: Easy to use, cheap, and light...a perfect first MP3 player!
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| ltrain's Full Review: Nextar MA834-5P (512 MB) MP3 Player |
It's the classic story: you want an MP3 player but you don't want to spend every night for two weeks learning how to use it. You need something that will work with your existing song library and will be loaded in time for tomorrow's workout. There is one sure fire option that's going to keep you from needing a Master's Degree in iPod...the Nextar 512MB MP3 player.
Just how big is it?
None of us want a heavy, bulky item hanging on us when we go for the morning jog. This MP3 player is slightly lighter than my cell phone, a Razr V3M, and roughly the height of a cigarette at 4 inches tall. It's nearly twice as thick as the Razr because it's a full inch thick. Width isn't a problem, only an inch in that direction also...picture three cigarettes side by side.
Anyone else see the irony in my describing my workout partner in terms of how many cigarettes in size it is? Guess what I did before I started working out seriously....
What comes with it?
I hate hunting down accessories. When I bought this it came with everything I need:
Built in USB 2.0 interface
USB 2.0 female to male connector to make it easier to access USB ports on the back of your tower.
Brief instruction manual that is essentially a getting started quick guide.
Detailed instruction manual
MiniCD containing both manuals
Ear buds
No software included, and none needed (see below).
Where will I get songs?
There are a number of legal ways to get songs to play on your Nextar MP3 player. You can purchase them from sites like Napster.com or the iTunes store that is so popular among iPod and iPhone owners. Additionally, you can purchase directly from many artists web sites.
My favorite method of getting songs is to buy CDs I like and "rip" them onto my computer and transferring them onto the MP3 player. This is a simple process that requires about 10 minutes per disc. Included with the MP3 player is a small instruction manual for performing this procedure that covers four scenarios for various versions of Windows and covers the process in about 4 very basic steps for each scenario.
This 512MB player will hold around 90 songs when I load it with CD quality MP3s. You can tinker with file format/quality and get on more or less based on your tastes and the lengths of the songs.
Why call it an MP3 player?
Mostly just because the name is popular. The player will actually play files that are .MP1, .MP2, .MP3, .WMA, and .WAV which covers nearly all the audio formats that you are likely to encounter.
...and it's a voice recorder
As I said in my review of my Mustek camera, everything I've bought in the last five years doubles as a voice recorder. The quality of this one is about the same as the others...it comes out sounding not unlike those old cassette tapes people would make in the little bitty tape recorders. No spectacular audio quality but plenty good enough for a reminder to do something at work.
An aside: do something at work? Yeah right, more like sit and stare out the window while I listen to my MP3 player! :)
How does it interact with Windows Vista?
I'm running a Dell Dimension E521 with Windows Vista 32 bit. For me to work with the MP3 player I simply pop the end off like a lipstick tube cap and reveal the USB 2.0 connection. Slip this into the USB port on the front of my tower and *bada boom, bada bing* Windows recognizes it as if it were a removable hard drive (aka zip drive, key chain drive, etc).
Once it's plugged in you simply drag and drop files or folders to the MP3 player as if it were another directory. You don't even have to "stop the device" to remove it, just pull it out of the USB port after you've closed the explorer window...the software is designed to support that.
Loaded with songs, now what?
In simple terms, press the dime sized play button (the only button so you can find it in the dark!) and go. If you want to use the more advanced features such as repeat one, repeat all, random, browse mode, or karoake mode you'll have to look at the easily read LCD screen (about a 1/4 inch tall) and use the lever on the bottom to guide you through the menus. The instruction manual explains all this very clearly.
Things you'll need that aren't included
A single AAA battery to power the unit.
If you're going to move you are going to want a case to put this in. It's OK to hold in your hand while you lightly jog but most users are really going to want it secured in an armband or something during the workout.
Consider an upgraded pair of earbuds...the 'freebie' set aren't all that comfortable.
Audio quality
If you've read this far without wondering about this topic I'm ashamed of you. You wouldn't want a low output system would you? Of course not. This system is limited only by the ear buds you choose...it's got enough volume to make nearly any reasonable person happy without distorting or sounding less than CD quality.
Skip to my lou
You can hop, skip, and jump to conclusions but this MP3 player isn't going to miss a beat. It's ready for a workout but it doesn't feel like it would like to be dropped...I'm guessing but I think pavement would be hard on it. Good thing I keep mine in a case!
Pretty in pink
Yeah, I know the color isn't very masculine. Fact is, the local store had this on sale for a great price ($25) so I bought it for my wife. She didn't use it and let me keep the one I'd bought for myself a while back at work and this one at home so I slipped it into a black case and took off with it...nobody is gonna notice if you don't tell them!
Overall:
I enjoy this player as well as any other. At the price I picked it up I'd put it on the Christmas list for a family member or I'd grab one for myself so I didn't have to risk leaving my only player in a desk drawer at work/home/school.
Other reviews:
If you think this was helpful please consider these:
Creative Tech's ZEN Nano player
Motorola H500 Bluetooth vs. Motorola Razr V3m
Windows Vista vs. Motorola Phone Tools
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 25.00
Recommended for: Beginners - Easy Enough for Tech Newbies
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Epinions.com ID:
ltrain
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 in Kids & Family |
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Location: Right place, right time!
Reviews written: 516
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About Me:
There's only football season and waiting for football season. I can't wait for football!
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