Finding the best affordable MP3 portable player takes time and research to do properly. There are numerous questions that you should ask yourself that can help you do this easily.
First and foremost, is the size small enough to fit in a pocket with space to spare? Answering this question is the best way to determine whether or not the portable player is right for you. Some systems, like the Creative Nomad, will not fit into a pocket. It is too big and bulky.
However, a sleeker system, such as the Sandisk Cruzer line, can be thrown easily into a pocket and taken wherever you want. A good guideline to use is the height, width and length measurements given to most players. Anything over 3 inches in any one dimension may be too big to fit into your pocket easily.
The second concern you should keep in mind is about weight. While a small sized player can fit in pockets or purses easily, you need to make certain that it is not too heavy for you to wear around your neck or on an armband. Small and low weight players are highly beneficial, especially for athletes.
Finally, you should be concerned about the type of data storage the system uses. Systems using hard drive data storage tend to be larger and weigh more than the flash memory systems. If size is a large consideration, you will want a flash player. While hard drive based systems do give more space, the flash players will never skip.
If you take the time to identify and eliminate each of these concerns, you will be able to select the MP3 player that work best for you and your family.