Cheap Mobile Mp3 Player

In today's era of digital music, owning a CD player or tape-deck does not cut it anymore. For many, purchasing an iPod or Zune is quite an investment. There are plenty of less expensive solutions, however. These mp3 players might not have the immediately recognizable brand name, but they can play music just as well as their $300 plus cousins.

Choose your features

When buying an electronics device, the biggest question to ask yourself is "how much of this am I ever going to use?" Sure, many people love the convenience of applications and HD video playback, but are these features absolutely necessary for you? If you just want an mp3 player for music and podcasts, head to your local Best Buy or other electronics store, and check out their selection of actual mp3 players. These mp3 players do not have the giant OLED screens or the built-in web browsers, but they do not have the steep price-tag, either.

It is not always about the latest model

If you do not absolutely have to have the latest models, you can check out sites like Amazon for previous year's models of your favorite mp3 player. An iPod Nano from 2006 is just as good at playing mp3s as one from 2011, but you can find a refurbished model for considerably less than you would spend on the newest one.

Take away the brand name and save a bundle

As much as the big-name companies do not want you to think so, a lot of that hefty price-tag is actually just going to pay for the brand name. Purchase an mp3 player from one of the lesser-known brands like Coby, and get similar features for a fraction of the price.

If you want to save money and still have your favorite tunes on the road, there are quite a few corners you can cut to get the best value at a great price.

A Nano from 2006 is just as good at playing mp3s as one from 2011

by Jennifer Curtis, Electronics writer