MP3 Player

[Hypoxiaicon]

Umm yeh... Im going halfs with my dad to get a MP3 Player... Maybe.

He already has a Creative Zen Touch 20GB and its pretty good. Except the part where I have to rip 1,500 + Albums :no:

Anyway, The main Choices are the following that i've narrowed it down to.

Space isnt a HUGE Issue.. I dont even have More then 3.5GB of music on my Computer & unlike him I wont be using it as a mass storage device for all his CD's. Just for songs that I can swap around after a few days etc.

Creative! Zen Touch 20GB - http://uk.europe.creative.com/products/pro...4&product=10274

(Y) 20GB, upto 24 Hour Battery Life

(N) Rather Bulky really

?189-?200

Creative! Zen Micro 5GB - http://uk.europe.creative.com/products/pro...4&product=10795

?179-?189

Apple iPOD Mini 4GB - http://www.apple.com/uk/ipodmini/(Y) Stylish, Fashionable, Desirable(N) Fashion Accessary, Only 4GB, Kinda Boxy, EXPENSIVE

?179-?189

Probably not possible as its so expensive... But the 4th could be a iPOD 20GB.

How would the iPOD 20GB Compare to the above 3? (Except the obvious Capacity Difference)

http://www.apple.com/uk/ipod/

?239-?249

Thank:)Ultima :)

Edited December 31, 2004 by hypoxiaicon

[Si Veteran]

Moved to Mobile Devices & poll updated

[b0m8er]

Zen Micro - it looks better. As for disk space - 5 Gb is more than enough for me!

[Packet1009]

i know this isnt in your list but have you looked at the iriver range of products?

especially in that price bracket...

[goheels681]

I got the iPod mini for Christmas and I love it. It may be a little expensive, but the quality is worth it. I'd only suggest using it if you use iTunes on a regular basis. It's the easiest way to transfer music, and (in my opinion) the best interface. But, if you don't, feel free to go with something else.

[scuzlbut07]

how can u honestly say that the zen touch is bulky? 4" x 2" x .75" isnt big...

[Xtreme $niper]

how can u honestly say that the zen touch is bulky? 4" x 2" x .75" isnt big...

585205762[/snapback]

Compared to other players, it is a tad on the thick side, but it doesnt really matter that much.

[Hypoxiaicon]

how can u honestly say that the zen touch is bulky? 4" x 2" x .75" isnt big...

585205762[/snapback]

Compared to the Zen Micro I played with & then used my Dads Zen Touch it felt heavy and bulky...

Its Not HUGE by any means. I just means it a tad bulky compared to the Mirco.

[.KICK]

I really wouldnt recommend any of those compared to the iRiver products but I would go with the Zen Touch over the iPod because I find Ipods overpriced for what they are :/

[Monkeh]

Have you considered the Rio Carbon? IMO, it's the best 5GB player. It uses a CompactFlash (II) card for storage (photographers buy it just to yank out the CF card lol), so it's suitable for any kind of exercise, whereas the HD based micro or mini isn't. (edit: this is what I've read, can't confirm it yet. Does anyone know if a CF(II) card is solid-state or based on HD technology?)

There's no point of getting a large capacity player if you don't have the music to fill it. Unless you plan on reaching 8-10GB in the next year, a 20GB player is just extra weight.

iPod mini? I think the mere fact that you have the Zen Micro in your selection should rule out the iPod mini.

If you're willing to wait, iRiver's H10 is supposed to come out soon (along with other players if announced at CES).

All the current players lack some important features (to me at least), so if you're willing to wait, the 2005 line-up *might* fix these issues.

Edited December 31, 2004 by Monkeh

[boomn]

Have you considered the Rio Carbon? IMO, it's the best 5GB player. It uses a CompactFlash (II) card for storage (photographers buy it just to yank out the CF card lol), so it's suitable for any kind of exercise, whereas the HD based micro or mini isn't. (edit: this is what I've read, can't confirm it yet. Does anyone know if a CF(II) card is solid-state or based on HD technology?)

585206001[/snapback]

Its hard drive based

[Xtreme $niper]

I really wouldnt recommend any of those compared to the iRiver products but I would go with the Zen Touch over the iPod because I find Ipods overpriced for what they are :/

585205977[/snapback]

As far as I'm concerned, iRiver died when H120 was discontinued. I wont be recommending any HD players from them to anyone until they bring something new out. Flash? fine, their flash players are okay.

[Hypoxiaicon]

Have you considered the Rio Carbon? IMO, it's the best 5GB player. It uses a CompactFlash (II) card for storage

All the current players lack some important features (to me at least), so if you're willing to wait, the 2005 line-up *might* fix these issues.

585206001[/snapback]

It looks ugly to me and I dont like CPII, I'd prefere a HD Player...

What is Planned for 2005 exactly?

I guess at the moment the Zen Micro is my best bet?

I really wouldnt recommend any of those compared to the iRiver products but I would go with the Zen Touch over the iPod because I find Ipods overpriced for what they are :/

585205977[/snapback]

Hmm I checked them out earlier... the only decent ones are the really expensive ones, the 10GB H110 I think looks crap and is nothing to shout about, sorry

[Monkeh]

It looks ugly to me and I dont like CPII, I'd prefere a HD Player...

What is Planned for 2005 exactly?

I guess at the moment the Zen Micro is my best bet?

Hmm I checked them out earlier... the only decent ones are the really expensive ones, the 10GB H110 I think looks crap and is nothing to shout about, sorry

585206270[/snapback]

What's planned? I don't know. Hopefully the companies learned something from their mistakes (holy crap Creative, why take off so many features that was present in the Zen Xtra for the Zen Touch and Micro???).

But yes, right now, the Zen Micro is your best bet.

@ N@t5: So a CF (II) IS a HD? not solid-state?

[mmm]

I was under the impression that CFII cards are microdrives (hard drives)

[InternalStorm]

Zen Touch looks very nice ;) almost like an iPod but ten times nicer. iPod sucks... who wants to buy off iTunes? *no flames my opinion only* lol

[Silverity]

I'd say Zen Micro or iPod mini...

[.KICK]

It looks ugly to me and I dont like CPII, I'd prefere a HD Player...

What is Planned for 2005 exactly?

I guess at the moment the Zen Micro is my best bet?

Hmm I checked them out earlier... the only decent ones are the really expensive ones, the 10GB H110 I think looks crap and is nothing to shout about, sorry

585206270[/snapback]

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B...9234890-7135666

You calling this crap and expensive :wacko:

[Hypoxiaicon]

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B...9234890-7135666

You calling this crap and expensive  :wacko:

585209831[/snapback]

My dad wont buy online though ;)

Ive not seen ONE iriver in a Store yet.

Was out with him again today, looked in about 12 shops.

Everyone has sold out of the Zen Touch, Zen Micro, iPod Mini, 20GB iPod, (Only 40GB's left because there so expensive ;))

Be nice to actually find a place that has some in stock!

Any stores that sell that Iriver? It looks good... Specs page or anything (Lazy day) :D

[.KICK]

My dad wont buy online though ;)

Ive not seen ONE iriver in a Store yet.

Was out with him again today, looked in about 12 shops.

Everyone has sold out of the Zen Touch, Zen Micro, iPod Mini, 20GB iPod, (Only 40GB's left because there so expensive ;))

Be nice to actually find a place that has some in stock!

Any stores that sell that Iriver? It looks good... Specs page or anything (Lazy day) :D

585209850[/snapback]

Features

# Plays up to 600 hours of digital music*

# 20GB of internal storage?

# Large, vivid color display

# Ultra-fast USB 2.0 transfers

# Supports secure transfers from Windows Media Player?**

# Rechargeable battery lasts up to 16hrs

# View JPEG or BMP images

# Built-in FM tuner

# Integrated voice recorder

# Record music from any audio source(no PC required)

# Supports MP3, WMA, ASF and OGG music files

# Store or transfer files of any type

# Enhanced 3D audio

Type

Category

Specification

HDD

Capacity

Size

File System

20GB

1.8"

FAT 32

PC

Operating System

Interface

Windows 98 SE/ME/2000/XP

2.0(DATA)/1.1(MEDIA)

Audio

Frequency

Headphone Output

Signal to Noise ratio

Frequency Characteristics

20Hz~20KHz

Left 20mW/Right 20mW(16Ω)

Right 12mW/Right 12mW(32Ω)

Left 90dB/Right 90dB(MP3)

?2dB

FM Radio

Channels

Frequency

Signal to Noise ratio  2 Channels

87.5 MHz ~ 108.0 MHz

50dB

Eaphone-

Cord Antenna

Antenna

File format

Bit Rate

Tag  Earphone-Cord Antenna

MPEG 1/2/2.5 Layer 3,

OGG, WMA, ASF, JPG, BMP

8Kbps ~ 320 Kbps

(OGG: 32Kbps ~ 500Kbps)

ID3 V1, ID3 V2 2.0, ID3 V2 3.0

Power Supply

AC Adapter

Battery  DC 5.0V, 2A

Lithium-Polymer Battery

General

Dimension

Weight

LCD

Operation Temperature  Approximately 62mm(W) x 103 mm(D) x 22mm(H)

Approximately 183g

TFT LCD with up to 260 thousand pixel colors

0?C ~ +40?C

Playback time

MP3  16 hours (44KHz/128Kbps/Volume 20/Normal EQ pixel)

All found here

http://www.iriveramerica.com/products/H320.aspx

Also why wont your Dad buy online ?

[Hypoxiaicon]

Cos hes old and stubborn lol

Are the irivers good then?

Wish they was a bit smaller...

[.KICK]

Cos hes old and stubborn lol

Are the irivers good then?

585209879[/snapback]

Damn yeah iRivers are great , with this iRiver you can record off the Radio ;)

Could he not write you a cheque and you buy it online if possible?

iRivers are tiny , they are very tiny in real life, I got an iHP-140 and its really small to what I thought it was

[Hypoxiaicon]

Damn yeah iRivers are great , with this iRiver you can record off the Radio ;)

585209881[/snapback]

You can do that with the Zen Micro....

The Colour screen is cool, but then it becomes more of a Multimedia devices, as opposed to a MP3 player, which what I want. I need all that extra.

I hate devices that try and do too much ;)

Looks good and is impressive...though :shifty:

[.KICK]

You can do that with the Zen Micro....

The Colour screen is cool, but then it becomes more of a Multimedia devices, as opposed to a MP3 player, which what I want. I need all that extra.

I hate devices that try and do too much ;)

Looks good and is impressive...though  :shifty:

585209890[/snapback]

Its astill basically an MP3 player device, the colour screen is a bonus, batterey still lasts 16 hours (more than the iPod) and can store photos if you wish but still an mp3 player which is its main point :)

[saxondale.]

iAudio M3

http://eng.iaudio.com/zeroboard/product_M3...enu=p&id=cw5000

210GBP

CNET Review:

8.7/10

We've been waiting for more than two and a half years for a high-capacity MP3 player smaller than the iPod, and finally, we're holding one in our hands. The $369 JetAudio iAudio M3 (with cradle, $349 without) is about 10 percent slimmer than the iPod, though the manufacturer took a few design shortcuts, namely, moving the screen, the controls, and the ports to external modules. If you can picture yourself using only an in-line remote--albeit one with a spacious screen--to control your MP3 player while it's stored out of sight, the M3 deserves serious consideration as an alternative to the iPod.

cnet has a good review on it:

http://reviews.cnet.com/JetAudio_iAudio_M3...7-30842848.html

Basic specs for JetAudio iAudio M3 (silver, 20GB, with cradle)

Product type-- Digital player / recorder / radio

PC interface(s) supported-- Hi-Speed USB

Flash memory installed-- 330 hour(s)

Digital storage-- Built-in 20 GB Hard disk drive

Digital formats supported-- ASF, MP3, WAV, WMA, Ogg Vorbis

Signal-to-noise ratio-- 95 dB

Weight-- 4.8 oz

Dimensions (W x D x H)-- 2.4 in x 0.6 in x 4.1 in

Battery technology-- Lithium ion

Mfr estimated battery life-- 14 hour(s)

Included accessories-- Carrying case, Connector coupler

Software type-- Drivers & Utilities

CD system-- None

Cassette system type-- None

Factory presets-- Pop, Jazz, Rock, Vocal, Normal, Classic

Tuner type-- Digital Radio tuner

MD system type-- None

Remote control-- Player remote control - Cable

Headphones type-- Binaural Ear-bud

Cable(s) included-- USB cable -, Audio cable -

Battery-- Lithium ion Rechargeable Player battery