Re: [ARSCLIST] MP3 player for public

[Mike Richter <mrichter@xxxxxxx>]

Paul Tyler wrote:

> I don't know what it all means.  But I don't think it does me any good.

IMHO, what it means is that for the purpose one must select format and 
device together. I would suggest tabulating the advantages and 
disadvantages of the various formats for the purpose: quality, 
efficiency, likelihood of survival, etc. Review the parameters of the 
devices on the market against your needs: cost, durability, simplicity, 
resistance to theft, etc. Then determine the best match among the 
parameters for the task at hand. Throw in a consideration of the 
headphones to be used - efficiency and fidelity at least - before 
locking in on a player. (Some players will have only low power 
available, demanding that the phones be either low volume or low 
fidelity - or both.)

For example, the iPod nano has many features, one of which is the ease 
with which it can slip out of the facility's control. MP3 is a virtuous 
format, but since it is 32-bit (floating-point), a file is likely to be 
larger for a given quality than would be one in another format.

Mike
--
mrichter@xxxxxxx
http://www.mrichter.com/