Step 1- Determine your computer's capability.
Most of the newest players require Windows 98SE or later, Macintosh OS 9 or OS X. Also, nearly all MP3 players offer USB connectivity for speedy file transfer and easy setup.

Step 2- Choose the features and accessories.
Recorders- Some players are also recorders, capable of capturing voice snippets, audio from other sources, like a CD player, or even radio broadcasts.

LCD Display- An LCD display, another useful feature, lets you view track information. They vary in color, size and shape.

Accessories- Most MP3 players come with headphones of some type. Most usually include a neck strap, arm strap or belt clip, USB or firewire cables to connect to your computer, and some sort of charging device (if it has rechargeable batteries).

Step 3- Choose your music media software.
Some PCs include music management software for handling downloaded audio files and CD tracks. Conveniently, most players come with a program of this type as well. If you're going to rely on the application that comes with your portable, you should select a player and software package carefully. Software usually has a set of hardware requirements, specifying which platform (PC or Mac), which kind of operating system, how much memory it will need and how much hard drive space it will need to operate.