If a user runs an MP3 Player to do just that....play MP3s whilst working at their machine there's no need or use for oversized-over complicated visual distraction from actual WORK.

If the one role of the MP3 player is to be the WORK itself then fine.

Windowblinds on the other hand doesn't interfere or distract from the functional workspace...in fact the z-order pinning [in particular] is an enhancement to the work space.

If it's about editing audio files I personally have 'Audacity'.

My comment re 'bling' in a MP3 PLAYER is entirely justifiable.

That is why the operating system is called windows. The player can be minimalized so how does that interfere with anything? Not only can it be minimalized it can also be resized or put into mini mode. Your comment is not justifiable, only justifiable to you but many would agree and disagree so I call stalemate unless you wish to keep debating this which I have no problem with. 

The point is...if all you are doing is playing music on your computer while doing shit...you don't need graphics bouncing around to the music...you don't need level meters...wave form displays...it's all useless bling...aka junk.

All you will need is what are called 'transport buttons' and just maybe a volume if you can't find the one already in the systray.

I said I use Winamp 2.9x ... because I have no need for bling.

Whatever floats your boat doesn't necessarily do so for me....;)

Well I guess we will just have to agree to disagree. That bling is not totally useless, it does provide some degree of diagnostics but even if it did not I still like the looks of it. If someone just wants something to play mp3's they can choose xion, it does the trick but I find it boring. The other issue which is more important is sound. I have used just about every media player a person can download and I find foobar2000 to be the best sounding player period. Not sure I know why but must have to do with plugins.

I bet I've actually skinned players you haven't even heard of...;)

Quoting Jafo, reply 80

I bet I've actually skinned players you haven't even heard of...

Probably, You are old enough to be my daddy after all,

And obviously you're too young to be here.

Obviously?

ob·vi·ous·ly
ˈäbvēəslē/Submit
adverb
in a way that is easily perceived or understood; clearly.
"she was obviously sick"
synonyms: clearly, evidently, plainly, patently, visibly, discernibly, manifestly, noticeably; unmistakably, undeniably, incontrovertibly, demonstrably, unquestionably, indubitably, undoubtedly, without doubt, doubtless; of course, naturally, needless to say, it goes without saying
"they were obviously thrilled to hear your good news"

lol. OK you got me on that one. Let me rephrase, What is obvious about my age? 

The it should stand to reason that someone could to too old to be here.  

That'll be me....[and Koop]...;)

Well I'm 66 closing in of 67.  

Well i just turned *mumble mumble* a while ago. I can't wait until my *mumble mumble*th birthday

Winamp my second choice for media player

I came across some nice foobar2000 skins. Maybe even Jafo will like these, (probably not) Everything moves and lights up just like the real thing.

Pretty cool 

You're making me want to dig out my turntable and plug it into ... something ... that makes noise. 

Quoting DaveRI, reply 93

Pretty cool 

You're making me want to dig out my turntable and plug it into ... something ... that makes noise. 

Go for it. I just sold my nice table and all of my vinyl. I was tired of the cleaning. Now I just play flac files through a dac and have great sound. Much easier too because all my music files are on hard drives and a burnt some to disc. 

It appears vinyl is making a comeback.  It seems there are a lot of people less than enthusiastic with compressed and/or digital formats...;)

Quoting Jafo, reply 95

It appears vinyl is making a comeback.  It seems there are a lot of people less than enthusiastic with compressed and/or digital formats...

That is why I play only flac files through a dac. All my flac files are studio quality with a bit rate over 1000kbps and many over 2000kbps and played through a good quality digital to analog converter which gives me clean detailed sound. The difference between that and a mp3 file is day and night. Is it as good as a good vinyl recording? probably not but it is pretty damn close and you never have to wash a flac file or buy an expensive stylus.

I'm just getting started into my sixties. My music is either on my laptop or the music channels on cable or a little transistor radio. Although I did have a decent audio system, surround sound and all that and plan on building another...in time. Last one I had garnered complaints from the neighbors because it rattled windows. Lol

Remember "carpeted walls and ceilings"?    I saw that again 5 or 6 years ago at a wedding reception.  It does actually work to some degree, but "gee-whiz"...    'Course, if a person really wants to go for it....rock on.

Quoting Jafo, reply 95

It appears vinyl is making a comeback.  It seems there are a lot of people less than enthusiastic with compressed and/or digital formats...

Well that's good - that means at least somebody is paying attention 

That does seem to be the consensus.  Haven't really played with it myself.

Quoting DaveRI, reply 99

Quoting Jafo,

reply 95

It appears vinyl is making a comeback.  It seems there are a lot of people less than enthusiastic with compressed and/or digital formats...

Well that's good - that means at least somebody is paying attention 

Quoting JuniorCrooks,

reply 96

flac

That does seem to be the consensus.  Haven't really played with it myself.

Yes, Flac is deffinately more audiophile used. "FLAC stands for Free Lossless Audio Codec, an audio format similar to MP3, but lossless, meaning that audio is compressed in FLAC without any loss in quality"

The downside is the files are much larger so they take up a lot more hard drive space.

Uvah Rock On! but if you ever put another system together don't bother with surround sound. 2 channel is all you need and if you are on a budget I would recommend a decent quality t-amp. They are tiny and sound amazing and you can buy a new one for 70 bucks. Then add a decent set of bookshelf speakers and if you can afford it a dac and you will be surprised what sound you can get out of a small and cheap system. I have this similar setup on my desk for near field listening. I should make a youtube video to prove the doubters wrong.