Cheapest MP3 Player?

[Chris Gohlke]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.i4u.com/article6303.html' target='_blank'>http://www.i4u.com/article6303.html</a><br /><br /></div>"This low-cost MP3 player has a card-reader for SD/MMC cards and an integrated USB plug. For $15 you need to bring your own storage for this mp3 player. This mp3 player is powered by an AAA battery, which gives you 10 hours of mp3 music playback. Features include On/Off button, Volume, Forward, Backward, Play/Pause control and LED indicator.<br />Earphones are included in the package."<br /><br /><img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/mp3-minisd-sd-cardreader-usb.jpg" /> <br /><br />I knew this was just a matter of time. Theoretically, at the right volumes, I don't see why you can't have an MP3 player so cheap that it could be given away in cereal boxes. Anybody seen anything cheaper than this one?

[Damion Chaplin]

I don't think it's fair to call something an MP3 player if it can't play MP3s out of the box. :?

[Chris Gohlke]

If you just think of the memory card as the media, then it is no different than a record player, cd player, etc.

[jlp]

Just search ebay for "USB MP3 player SD/MMC" and you'll find better devices all of them with displays which this one sorely lacks.

Some of these devices can be upgraded with cards up to 4GB, ie can hold up to ~1,000 songs; and if you couldn't see then it'd be as messy as or even worse than the ipod shuffle.

[Felix Torres]

Uh, guys; the key workd here is "cheapest"... ;-)

The good thing about market competition is that products tend to find their natural markets more often than not. Something like this is not even *intended* to stand up to a Sansa or a Clik. Although it probably matches up okay to a Shuffle.

Its all about the price.
And US$15 is about right for a stocking-stuffer or kids toy.
And with generic SD cards running $10-15 for 512MB to 1GB you're talking an out the door price of under $30.
I'm thinking a few multi-kid families could use something like this for the younger siblings of their DAP-owning tweens and teens.

Besides, its also a thumb drive/card reader. And those tend to run $10-20 without the audio playback.

Isn't this like complaining that the chess-playing dog is easy to beat? :twisted:

[Felix Torres]

That said:
The ebay exercise does flag a really interesting alternative that brings up the question: how low can they go?

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-SD-MMC-MP3-PLAYER-USB-MEMORY-CARD-to-1GB-2GB-SILVER_W0QQitemZ130017679359QQihZ003QQcategoryZ73839QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

US$10 *with* a display and WMA support.

Gotta wonder if its a scam...8O

[jlp]

That's not counting this ipod nano look-alike 2 GB (Samsung flash chip), FM, PMP player with a 1.8" color LCD. (http://cgi.ebay.com/HUGE-1-8-LCD-2GB-MP4-MP3-FM-VIDEO-PMP-PLAYER-BLACK-2G_W0QQitemZ130017989793QQihZ003QQcategoryZ73839QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)

for as low as US$23 :o (LESS than $10 for the 1GB version if you're the only better (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&amp;category=73839&amp;item=130014083536))

Shipment (from HK) is close to $30 tho, but that's AirMail.

However about $50 including shipping for a 2GB better-than-the$200-:eek:-ipod-nano it's quite a great deal.

Dunno the screen quality tho, but the merchant' 1,000+ Feedbacks @ 98.7% Positive is quite reassuring and I only read very positive feedbacks..

Their secrets?
- direct selling
- NO MULTI MILLION $$$$ AD CAMPAIGNS
- build on highly successfull devices
- some corners cut somewhere.

But for a quarter of the price including shipping from the other side of the planet, I'm almost tempted too :way to go:

(Where's the drooling emoticon??)