Posted: 1/20/2005 7:44:39 AM EDT
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Looking for an MP3 player. I was checking out the Dell ones, the 20GB and the 5GB. Anyone know anything about them? I think I'm staying away from iPod, they are way too overpriced in my opinion. I want to buy a product, not a brand name. Any recommendations? |
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I know you said "no iPod" but I have to tell you. I got an iPod (20gb) model two days ago. Awesome. The click dial is so intuitive, and the sound they pump from the earbuds is second ONLY to a nice set of Koss' I have at home. The sound is phenominal. I wouldn't overlook the iPod. I waited a while but I was sucked in. (cue people chiming in only to bash Apple) |
+1 there's nothing out there better than a ipod. I have the 40gb version, it holds over 13.8 days worth of music, and that's only 1/2 capacity. |
| I am not one to jump on the "trendy" bandwagon either. I purchased an iPod and I love it. It holds tons of music and doubles as a portable hard drive. It can boot up Macs if so desired, I use it to haul large video files between work and home. They are pricy, but worth a look. It is possible that you could get a discount if you buy from the Apple store and claim that you "are a student". |
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ANy of you using the IPOD with a PC only? Not to hikack your thread FLY-NAVY - but I have been looking very hard for an MP3 player also. I have been doing homework for about a week now and everything leads me bak to the Ipod also. BUT - I have a hugh library all on my PC and use Window Media Player to paly it. How much work will it be to use an IPOD with my PC? Thanks |
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I'm going to run against the mainstream here. I got a 1GB iAudio4. It runs on a aaa cell alkaline battery. This means no rechargeables to buy. It also means no shipping your unit back to the mfg. when the built-in Lithium Ion fails. If you want an iPod style player, I recommend the creative labs Zen, or better yet, Zen micro. It has a user-removable rechargeable battery and replacements are around $40.00 I like the iAudio b/c it is about the size of a cigarette lighter. It comes with a case and an armband. Its most serious fialing is the crappy earbuds it comes with. I simply picked up some Sony earbuds at the local shopko for $15 and I was in business. The iAudio is a flash player. The advantage of this is that you can be very active while using it and not worry about damaging the internal moving parts (read: hard drive) because there are none. This means you can take it running, lifting, etc. I wouldn't recommend swimming with it, however The iAudio also works as a flash hard drive...you can transfer data from pc to pc this way. It has a built in FM tuner and microphone. It encodes directly to MP3 so you can record directly from FM or use the iAudio like a dictation machine to record MP3s. I wish I had this in school. I would have encoded all the lectures directly to MP3 and then listened to them while running or doing other things. Obviously it only holds 1GB instead of 40 or 20 but the last time I changed my player playlist, I loaded about 220 songs....that's plenty for my purposes. The other thing I really like about this player is that you don't need proprietary software....just hook it up and access it like a drive. Oops, one another disadvantage...slower transfer rates. The iAudio U2 is basically the same concept except it will transfer data at USB 2.0 speeds as opposed to 1.1. The reason I did not go with the slightly slimmer and faster transferring U2 is the fact that it has a built-in rechargeable battery that will need to be replaced by the mfg and some future date. If I get a chance, I'll post a couple pics of my player. eta: check out www.cnet.com for reviews. and remember, DO NOT EAT IPOD SHUFFLE www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=1&f=5&t=313951 Try the iMplant: www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=1&f=5&t=315014 |
iPod costs more because it's an Apple. However, I do keep seeing all sorts of good stuff about iPod. I'm just concerned about the price. I don't use Macs. I hate them. I have zero use for a Macintosh. That being said, how does the iPod interface with a PC? Seemless? |
Look at the Dell - I'm sure it's a matter of downloading iTunes for the PC and plugging it in. I had to install one bit of software (on my Mac) for the machine to see the iPod but after that, smooth sailing. Just remember to Eject the iPod before you unplug it. ; ) I'm really looking forward to my drive down to SC later this year now. I have the tape adaptor (I heard the FM broadcaster doesn't always work as advertised... hardwired is better IMHO) and just need one of those cupholder cradles for it and I'm good to go 
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I use my IPOD strictly w/ my PC. I hook it up via USB 2.0 and I can sync up 23GB worth of files in matter of minutes. |
Take a look at Apple's website... Should be able to find out more there. I would think Apple would make it easy as possible (as easy as it is to connect to a Mac, which is dirt-simple) so hopefully attract people over the "Dark side" and buy a Mac- but that is neither here nor there. Take a look. If your city has an Apple store, go and give one a listen. I think you'll be hooked. The iPod (as built by either Dell or Apple) is a great product. |
FLAC is a lossless compression format. The hard drive thing isn't that big of a deal ... mine has been running 10-12 hours per day, every day, for over a year, without problem. I just mentioned it because when I was reasearching this buy a year ago I saw a lot of people in forums complaining about hard drive lock ups. The user interface on the karma is good too. I even prefer it over the ipod. The only thing the ipod does that I wish teh karma would do is create "on the fly" playlists. I've played with an iRiver IH340 a bit too because I want the ability to record using some external microphones. The H340 looks cool, has a lot of great features (fm tuner, built in microphone, mic in jack, color screen, can display pictures), but I just couldn't get used to the user interface. Too clunky compared to the rio and ipod. Also, it lacks gapless playback. So I ended up returning it. If rio would make a 40-60 gig version of the karma that had a recording feature I'd be very happy. |
You've obviously never heard a custom set of Etymotic earphones. |
I read that in the voice of Mr. Howell from Gilligan's Island. No, I've never used any of those- those cost more than the iPod and some accessories!!! The iPod's earbuds are phenominal. Second only to my big Koss'. I know audiophiles will say with revulsion "Ugghhhh, KOSS... I guess they'll do, if you're an ignorant savage...." but they sound great to me. 
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If you are looking at an IPOD LOOK AT THIS FIRST: iriver H320. Got mine at best buy for $266 which is about the same as the ipod. It has a 20gig hard drive, FM tuner, can record your voice or record off the radio, color display, useable as an external hard drive, stores pics and videos, EQ, comes with a small case with clip to use it while active, etc. This thing is WAY better than the IPOD for pretty much the same price. Read some reviews online if you want, its a VERY nice player.
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These pictures kinda suck..outta focus and overexposed...oh well, it's all I had on hand. In the last picture, the iAudio is in the case that it comes with as well as the crappy, uncomfortable earbuds. The case has a belt loop on the back so you can wear it on a belt or on the adjustable bungee-type arm band... I like the armband for running... that way there's nothing bouncing around in my pocket the whole time.   
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My best buy had them on clearance for $229 ... I had been suggesting this one when people ask about mp3 players, but that was just based on handling a friends for about 20 minutes. I bought one myself (the H340 ... 40 gig version) and I tell you, I just hate the user interface on these things. For example, I think the only way to set it up to "random play" all of the files on the player is to make a playlist of them on your PC using winamp or some other player and then load that playlist and set it to shuffle. Pain in the ass. I did like the recording feature very much though ... the built in mic sounded great for recording speech, and I was able to plug in a good mic I have and get some decent quality recordings of acoustic guitar playing. They also go cheap on the accessories. It comes with earbuds, a belt clip case (you can't access the controlls when the unit is in the case), software, and some cables. No dock, no "remote control". The extra items they sell on their website. So if you want the dock and the remote, you'll have to shell out another $60 to get them. (and they were out of stock last I checked). |