Tip #4499 - iPod Alternatives
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Q:
I really wanted to get my grandson an iPod for Christmas, but they
were just too expensive. Now, his birthday is coming up and while
I'd like to get him one, I don't want to spend all that money. Are
there any alternative music players for children that he might like
just as well? If so, please tell me all about them!
A:
You wouldn't believe how many e-mails and phone
calls I've gotten in the last few weeks about this very same thing!
It seems like all of you parents and grandparents want your children
and grandchildren to have the very latest in a media player, but when
it really comes down to it, they're just too expensive! You shouldn't
have to spend that much money on your youngins. So, in light of saving
you all a little dough, I've got three alternative media players for
you today that have the potential to make you very happy. Let's check
'em out!
1.) Sansa
Shaker - The first one comes from the SanDisk company and
it is an MP3 player that is designed specifically for children. The
Sansa Shaker comes with an SD memory card filled with pre-loaded music,
but you can download your child's favorite music to it as well. It
also comes with a pair of earbuds for your child to use, but if they're
even too young for that, they can listen to their music with the Shaker's
built-in speaker. It even has a second jack so that you can listen
with them as well! The Sansa Shaker runs off of a AAA battery, which
allows for at least 10 hours of playback. But don't worry, your child
will not be able to access the battery area by themselves. That part
is meant for grown-ups only!
The Sansa Shaker
comes in both blue and pink, so it's perfect for either a little boy
or girl. Now, like I said, it is completely designed for young children.
With the Sansa Shaker, your child can have complete control over their
music with the easy to use fast forward, rewind and volume controls.
So, why is it called the Shaker, you ask? Well, if your child wants
to change their music selection, all they have to do is shake the
player and it will be done! They can even make some pretty cool sound
effects with just a little shake. The Sansa Shaker is very lightweight,
it comes with a USB cable for either a PC or Mac and it even comes
with stickers your child can use to personalize their player. The
Sansa Shaker goes for approximately $29 for the 512 MB size or $49
for the 1 GB style. Either way, it's much cheaper than an iPod and
it's kid friendly!
2.) Transformer
MP3 Player - As you can probably tell, this MP3 player was
designed with the popular movie The Transformers in mind.
It was designed by both Takara Tomy and the SoundWave company. This
media player starts out looking like a normal portable audio player,
but it can be transformed into the action figure of Decepticon. It
comes complete with two weapons and four hands, just like the movie.
What kid doesn't love that?! The Transformer MP3 player comes with
a 1 GB mini-SD memory card, which goes into the action figure's chest.
It runs on one AAA battery for approximately six hours and it gives
off an audio frequency range of 60Hz. It also comes with earphones,
so your child can enjoy their music all on their own!
The Transformer
MP3 player comes in either blue or white and it goes for $129.99.
For even more Transformers fun, you can get Frenzy and Rumble
as earphones for $37.99 or Convoy as an iPod docking station with
speakers for $109.99. Yes, they're a little more pricey, but if your
child or grandchild loves The Transformers, you can't beat
it!
3.) Disney
MP3 Players - These next media players come from none other
than Disney! They have designed several MP3 players that are perfect
for young children. For the girls, there is the Princess Flower model,
along with a Cheetah Girls style and for the boys, there's a Pirates
of the Caribbean version. There are even Hanna Montana
and High School Musical players available as well. There
really is something for everyone!
All of these MP3
players come with built-in rechargeable batteries that can last up
to 10 hours at a time. They are compatible with both PCs and Macs
and they work with MP3, WMA, Disney Mix Clips and data files. They
are made with both plastic and metal, but they are very lightweight
and small in size. All of them come with audio jacks, lanyards, earbuds
and a USB port for a computer hookup. The prices vary depending on
the model you get and how much memory the player holds. A lot of the
256 MB styles have been marked down to $29.99, while some of the 512
MB versions are $49.99. All of that just depends on what you decide
to buy!
Now, I know none
of these are anything like an iPod, but they're definitely more kid
friendly, they're less expensive and let's face it, they're just more
fun! I truly believe if you give your child or grandchild one of these
MP3 players, they will love it just as much and you'll save yourself
some hassle as well. What could be better than that?!
~ Erin
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