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Are There MP3/CD Player Combinations?

Posted by Cliff on from the this-would-be-cool dept.

This is a two-fold question. Someone asked me a while ago if combination MP3/CD Players existed. I haven't heard of any, but that doesn't mean that they aren't out there. Now there are portable CD players and portable MP3 players, but has someone out there actually put the two together in a nice affordable unit? Who makes it? Where can I find them? How much do they cost? Here's a slightly related question from JDALaRose: "I'm interested in the opinions of fellow Slashdotters as regards which of the portable MP3 players are the best in terms of not being SDMI compliant, or at least not restrictively so. Thoughts?"

12 of 201 comments (clear)

  1. We all have been asking this i'm sure... by SgtPepper · · Score: 3

    Ever since I got my CD Burner, i wondered why no one has a CD/MP3 CD Player....once I hard Sony was considering it ( anyone got a link ), and after the Apex DVD player came out I /really/ started to wonder. Why hasn't this been done yet? Legal issues? Probably. Lack of sellablity? Hell no... here's a scary thought...Sony makes CD player...Sony Entertainment is a member of the MPAA....Sony does NOT make MP3 CD Players...coincedence? I think not...

    PS: I want a portable MP3 ZipDisk player...sure it's only 100 megs...but still...portable has hell...no?

    1. Re:We all have been asking this i'm sure... by Camelot · · Score: 3
      Sony makes CD player...Sony Entertainment is a member of the MPAA....Sony does NOT make MP3 CD Players

      Correct - Sony does not have an MP3/CD player, but they do have an MP3 player. See here.

      The biggest reason for the lack of MP3/CD players is probably because MP3 players not using a CD format can be much smaller (and they are much cooler, too). Of course, I want an MP3/CD player, too.

      I've been following the development of MP3/CD players for a while. At this point, two alternatives exist (Pine and Mambox - links to both can be found at http://hardware.mp3.com). I'm waiting for reviews before I commit myself to buying either of them.

  2. brujo by heretic · · Score: 3

    check out the brujo from Netdrives.

  3. Re:Why does slashdot ask questions already answere by SuperKendall · · Score: 3

    Although the title of the article did not make it clear, from reading the body of the article it seemed pretty clear he wants a portable MP3 CD/player... I'd like one too, but all of the ones mentioned so far seem to not be out just yet.

    I think an important feature of any of these players will be how easy the browsing interface is, and I sure hope I can add playlists to the CD's!!

    --
    "There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
  4. ahem. yes. by waterhouse · · Score: 3

    mambox

  5. MP3s in your car by segfault7375 · · Score: 3

    Yes, there is one for your car.. Check it out at http://www.carplayer.com. Here are some of the specs (pulled from thier site):

    1. Runs with any ATAPI device i.e. CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW or even DVD-ROM. (required)

    2. Full support for MPEG1, MPEG2 Audio Layer III, MP3 files (except 256+Kbits).

    3. Multiple CD file formats: ISO-9660, Joliet, Romeo and most others.

    4. Auto switch play mode between CD-DA (audio CD) or MP3 Disk.

    5. Supports CD-DA, CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW and DVD-ROM media.

    6. Can have up to 2200 files per cd.

    7. Accepts 63 play list numbers in user programmable memory and has Single, Shuffle, Repeat, 10 second scan and more.

    8. 31 Key Remote Control

    9. Output level for headphones, speakers, tape adapter (for car), and stereo amps.


    I didn't see a price on thier site, but you can be sure it isn't cheap. But then again, geek toys rarely are :o)



    segfault@bellatlantic.net

  6. Car/Home MP3 Player by zcdill · · Score: 3

    It's a little homebrew, but you cant beat the price:

    www.carmp3player.com

    I have one of these things, and it's quite possibly the best 150 bucks i've every spent. Plays mp3 cd's and audio cd's and comes with a remote control! Amazing. Not too fancy, not too aesthetic, but it's perfect for the geek with less 'discriminating' tastes (and a very empty wallet ;-)

    -bugbbq

  7. Re:mp3: my thoughts by Chris+Johnson · · Score: 4
    You've got a lot of nerve talking that way about the format I USE to distribute MY ORIGINAL MUSIC. Furrfu! "I see mp3 as illegal" indeed! And so what are you doing to support the people using the format for the free distribution of their own original work? How many mp3s do you have that are 100% totally legitimate and important help to the artists who otherwise would not have the clout to get their stuff on the shelf at wal-mart?

    Instead of talking nonsense like this you should start becoming part of the solution instead of part of the problem. Please go to my mp3.com site and then don't even necessarily hang around listening to my music- I mean, it's fine and people have been writing and saying they liked it but you should go ON from there, even skipping my stuff, and begin exploring and downloading some of the other artists there. There's an american Tuvan Throat-Singer (nominated for most unusual vocalist!), Steve Sklar, who plays with Big Sky. There's a rap act ("G-spot") who put together phenomenal backing tracks that groove like P-Funk. I've taught myself what Trance and Drum+Bass really are entirely from mp3.com acts and reading the message boards, it's an amazing resource. There's a huge amount of stuff out there and it's ALL legitimate uses of the format. Please stop misleading and start being part of the solution! It's really important! Thank you.

  8. Pine's upcoming player by Hrunting · · Score: 4

    Back in September, Pine announced their MP3/CD player (link). It seemed pretty cool at the time. I thouht it was a Slashdot story, in fact, that brought this to my attention. They listed a pretty reasonable price, too, $280, and you can pre-order it at Outpost.com.

  9. Why does slashdot ask questions already answered? by pkj · · Score: 5
    I mean, you guys post articles, but do you actually ever read them, or search slashdot itself to see what has already been posted?

    On jan 14, 2000, this article was posted about the Apex player. There have since been several followup articles posted about the legality of the Apex, and there are about a bazillion other web sites with info about it. Heck Circuit City now even advertises that this thing plays MP3s

    Even earilier than that, back on Sep 9, 1999, slashdot posted this story on the Pine unit. Now, the Pine unit has not hit the market yet, but it any many similar units can be found in the MP3 hardware section on mp3.com

    There are now probably about a half dozen other units similar to the Pine unit (their names and URLs have already been posted by people more eager than myself) but also like the Pine unit none of them have actually made it to the streets yet. Had the poster asked what was actually *available* or reviews of the available units, that would have been a different story entirely.

    I mean, it's bad enough when people post stupidly obvious questions to usenet or to mailing lists (questions that can be answered with a simple web search or by looking in very obvious locations) but when these things start getting posted as slashdot feature stories... sheesh...

    -p.

  10. A Comprehensive list by Carnage4Life · · Score: 5

    Terratec CD/MP3 Player

    Mambox portable MP3/CD Player

    Pine Technology (MP3 Audio): D'music SM-200C Portable MP3/Audio CD Player

    netDrives CD/MP3 player Brujo



  11. Pine Portable MP3/CD Player by arbitrary · · Score: 5

    Check it out ... http://www.theregister.co.uk/000227-000009.html Featured @ CeBIT -- looks promising -arbi.