Digital MP3 Player

I first bought a digital MP3 player several years ago when the devices were still pretty new to the consumer market. I wanted a convenient way to listen to be able to listen to audiobooks or music while on my morning walk every day. At that time, there were only a few different digital MP3 players to choose from, so it didn't take me long to compare features and prices, and to make a selection. Now, after all these years of fine service, my old device has finally given out on me, which means that it's time for me to buy a new digital MP3 player.
I hadn't really been keeping up with new portable music device trends, so I didn't know what to expect when I visited my local electronics store. Of course I had heard of the incredible popularity of the Apple iPod and I knew that this was currently the leading digital MP3 player on the market. I figured that I would see a lot of iPods on the electronics store shelves. What I wasn't prepared for was the sheer number of digital MP3 players that are available these days. I saw devices from companies like iRiver, Creative, Sony, Samsung, Toshiba, and many more that I can't even remember right now. I was blown away by the range of choices, styles, colors, song capacities, and prices. Obviously it was going to take me a lot longer to find the best digital MP3 player this time around.
I decided to hold off on my purchase until I had a chance to read some online digital MP3 player reviews. I wasn't a tech expert, so I had no idea which features were worth paying for at this point. Did I really need video capabilities on my digital MP3 player or could I do without? Was flash memory an absolute must in a digital MP3 player or could I get by without it? These were the questions that I wanted answered before I spent a couple hundred dollars on a new digital MP3 player.
Fortunately, there's no shortage of information about digital MP3 players on the Internet. I was able to find plenty of thoughtful reviews from both experts and regular consumers alike, which allowed me to determine which portable music device I should buy. As soon as I walked out of the store with my new digital MP3 player, I felt that I had made a very smart buy and had gotten a great deal. I just wish I could feel that confident about all my tech purchases!