Is iPod the only compatible MP3 player?

most mp3 players are NOT compatable with mac! (as a long time mac user, i was very dissappointed when i heard this too). But right now, you can get brand new ipod minis from pcmall and macmall for like $189 (dont know your budget), if it is not as affordable, you could try an ipod shuffle (starts at $99 (.5gb; 100 songs, not the biggest, and for $129 you can get the 1gb model (about 200 songs). the best bargain right now is the mini, which comes in 4gb model (used to be 6gb too, but sold out). the minis are very cheap because the nano just came out, but i bought a mini last summer and it is great!

happy hunting!

Ben, many mp3 players work with Macs but don't have automatic synchronization. The player would appear as a disk, and David's son would have to manually move songs on to and off of it, but it would certainly work.
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David-
First of all, welcome to Discussions and to the Mac world.

I'd say "go with the iPod." I'm not just being an Apple supporter.

As I said above, there are many mp3 players that you'd be able to hook up to the iBook without a problem, but managing music on one (especially at higher capacities) would be annoyingly difficult. Apple's iTunes software, which comes with the iBook, has great built-in support for iPods, so your son would have the easiest time with it. I haven't heard of other mp3 players out there that come with Mac synchronization software, but I might be missing them.

That brings me to another point. You said that you want to get him the most storage you can afford. There's much more to an mp3 player then that. iPods cost more mainly because they're easy to use and have that great sync ability. People just tend to be happier with them. And if he has already asked for one, he might be happier with an iPod of lesser capacity than a large player that would be more annoying to use in everyday life. There are many models of iPod, from the half-gig, $99, screenless Shuffle to the 60 GB, $399, video-playing iPod. I personally like one of the newest, the nano — It's unimaginably tiny.

I'm sorry if I sound like an Apple sales rep! I'm not; Apple's products are just easy to love.

Whatever your final decision, good luck.

I'm with Sidney on this one.

David,

I must also agree with the iPod. It will be such a relief to just be able to plug it in and go. Its compatable, not hard to set up, and its fun. I use my first one as a hard drive and my second one as a OS X bootable hard drive just in case one the road. I'm planning on getting the new Nano because I don't need more then a couple of hundred songs and pictures at once. I have converted many people to the iPods who later go to Macs because of it. Your son will really enjoy it.

I hope that helps,
Jon

PS My Dad got me one for Christmas in '03. Don't forget to laser inscribe it with something like Merry Christmas 2003 Love Dad. I will never stop using mine because of it.