It my daughters Bday in 6 weeks and started thinking about a gift. She'll be twelve-teen so I was thinking mp3 player. I went onto ebay for a look around and relized I know nothing about personal mp3 players.
What do I want? and what options to look for? How much should I spend?
Forget the iPod'* I work for a living.

Thanks in advance

I have over the past few years now owned two mp3 players, both by Rio audio (formally Diamond Rio). My first one was a Rio 600, which has since been replaced by other models, my one complaint against it was the quality of the headphones and that was an easy fix. When that one got too small (it held like 7 songs, it was a really tiny player), I bought off ebay a Rio Chiba. My chiba has 256 mb (right now I have a mix of MP3s and WMAs for a total of 70 songs) and has a slot for extra memory cards (SD format, like the little square ones for digital cameras and such). I love this player, it even has a FM tuner that works fairly well. I paid $130.00 dollars for it, but could have paid $100 had I been more patient. Rio also makes larger and smaller players for many budget and memory requirements. I personally would recomend this brand, but having never bought another brand or delt with Rio'* customer service.

Rio'* website if you want to look at their selection : http://www.digitalnetworksna.com (then click on the Rio button)

If you have any questions about the ones I mentioned, feel free to ask. I'm sure everyone has their favorits...this is mine .

I guess one thing to look at would be how many songs they can store. More the merrier. :P

I enjoy my CD MP3 Player......seeing I have over 2500 albums in MP3 format now!
I can put about 80 to 120 songs plus on a disc depending on the bit rate...
or about 10 albums plus

thats my personal preference.....

Get her a sony Tape Walkman!

The Rio is good value and has ease of operation, Thank you princess J.
I started looking at lots of different configurations and also like the idea of fm through the car stereo.
The creative labs nomad has lots of options?

Pdad, don't rule out the 'morph' between the MP3 and the MP3 CD player. Sony Mini-disc. Holds alot of songs for FAR cheaper in media costs than the traditional versions. And it'* compact.

I loved mine up until the day I got my PDA That replaced it. But I still have it. I use it in the car on long trips with a cassette adapter.