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Digital Audio Player

Skipping in Hard Drive-Based Players

SUMMARY: Hard drive-based digital audio players may skip. Here's why.

Currently, there are two main types of digital audio / portable MP3 players, those that are based on some sort of flash memory, and those based on miniature hard drives. Currently, most flash-based drives are smaller than their hard drive-based counterparts, and they are more expensive at the higher-end of music storage.

Although hard drive-based players that support gigabytes of music are cheaper than flash-based drives (you may not even be able to get flash-based players that store the same amount of songs as hard drive-based players), one problem with hard drive-based players is that they are more prone to skipping.

While many newer hard drive-based players support anti-skip technology (and if you buy such a device, you should get this feature), realize that hard drives contain mechanical parts. If you keep such a player in your pocket while you walk or jog, the internal hard drive may get jolted, causing read errors and breaks in your music. Flash memory-based players contain fewer mechanical parts and are usually much less prone to skipping or shock-based damage.

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The MalekTips website was created in 1998 by Andrew Malek of Envision Programming. The page's goal is to freely disperse computer-related tips, hints, and informative articles. Tips are organized to be easy to find, and are presented clearly, in easy-to-understand language. MalekTips also provides information and links to public-domain, open source, freeware, shareware, and commercial software available for download. < more >