OT: mp3 player recommendations [Text View]

gweempose

12-18-06, 01:58 PM

My sister-in-law is heading out of town in a few days, and she wants to buy an mp3 player for her trip. She was going to buy an iPod, but I told her that it may not be the best choice for her since she already has so many mp3's. I have never owned an iPod, but it is my understanding that you can't transfer normal mp3's to it. You can only purchase music from iTunes, or rip your own CD's into Apple's proprietary format. Is this correct? If so, what would be her best choice for a player? She doesn't really care about video capabilities. She just wants a good sounding player with a decent amount of storage (2GB+).

madSkeelz

12-18-06, 02:13 PM

The iPod absolutely plays MP3s. The iTunes Store does not *sell* un-DRM'd MP3s.

iTunes rips to MP3 [or AAC, or AIFF, or WAV] and very easily manages the music on the iPod. [iTunes on Windows can even handle un-DRM'd WMA media.]

The only proprietary thing about the iPod is *purchased* content from the iTunes Store.

gweempose

12-18-06, 02:30 PM

The iPod absolutely plays MP3s. The iTunes Store does not *sell* un-DRM'd MP3s.Let me make sure that I fully understand what you are saying. If you have a ton of "un-DRM'd" mp3s already on your PC, there is nothing preventing you from transferring them to your iPod and then listening to them. If this is the case, it definitely puts the iPod back in the running.

madSkeelz

12-18-06, 02:34 PM

Nothing at all. In fact, at launch [and for the first couple of years] all the iPod played was MP3s.

The 2GB nano is probably exactly what she wants. [You should get one too!] ;)

[Don't overlook the 4GB or 8GB nano... you'd be surprised how quickly that fills up once you start ripping your collection.]

icecow

12-18-06, 03:02 PM

Second on the Nano. I've never had one but always wanted one.

Bigjohns

12-18-06, 06:56 PM

Sandisk Sansa.
Hands Down.

Does not require WM10 DRM, works in File Mode. Plays MP3 / WMA, etc. Best flash player for the $ ever.

john
PS - 30% or more of all IPODS end up in service being fixed for some reason (lockups, hard disk, bad flashram, etc.). They truly ARE the best selling POS ever.

gweempose

12-18-06, 07:26 PM

Thanks guys! Based on your advice, she went out and purchased a 4GB silver Nano. I think she got a pretty good deal too. She bought it at Tweeter for $149. I'm pretty sure they had it priced wrong, because I haven't seen it that cheap even on the web. Luckily for her, their computers were down when she bought it, so they had to write up the ticket by hand. :)

gweempose

12-18-06, 07:40 PM

Bigjohns

12-18-06, 11:08 PM

gweempose

12-18-06, 11:30 PM

She could have had the 8gb Sansa for that...
http://www.staples.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/StaplesProductDisplay?prodCatType=1&storeId=10001&catalogId=10051&langId=-1&productId=158169&cmArea=SEARCHI mentioned the Sansa to her, but she was reluctant to go that route since she had never heard of it before. This is just one more case where Apple has brainwashed the public into thinking it's the only viable option.

chris5977

12-18-06, 11:38 PM

Bigjohns

12-18-06, 11:44 PM

LOL
Yep.

Bet the NANO has SANDISK flashram inside it.... no, scratch that. Too many defective ones. Probably some third rate chinese flash ...

the other huge upside, of course, to sansa is that it works with EVERY music service, not just Itunes...

Bigjohns

12-18-06, 11:46 PM

The iPod is the best for one reason: INFASTRUCTURE.

There are a vast array of accessories designed for the iPod that are not available with other players. Heck, a lot of new cars come with with an iPod connector that marries the player to the car stereo.
such crap.

My wifes brand new car has an "ipod" jack. Plug the headphone from a creative player into it, and bingo.

John

paudemge

12-18-06, 11:52 PM

So with the iPod, you can just hook it up via usb and drop and drag MP3 files?

Bigjohns

12-19-06, 12:04 AM

So with the iPod, you can just hook it up via usb and drop and drag MP3 files?

No, you have to use ITUNES.

Or Media MOnkey

WIth the Sansa, you can use it in either WM10 mode ("plays4Sure") to get subscription content from Rhapsody / Yahoo / Napster, etc., or you can use it in file mode and drag/drop/synch with Media Monkey, etc. the content you have already purchased on your computer (and the content that you ripped from disks you own..., etc.) including internet recovered album art, etc.

icecow

12-19-06, 12:45 AM

sounds great.

have you figured out a good car stereo? I've seen some that take thumb drives.

still waiting for the day there will be 802.11n wireless car stereos with laptop HD or sumthin.

Bigjohns

12-19-06, 01:25 AM

I have one that takes thumb drives. So I don't have a "ipod". My wife has a creative Zen Microphoto, and her chrysler has a jack that you can plug it into.

My car - plug in a 1gb flash drive with WMA-vbr files, and away you go!

paudemge

12-19-06, 03:35 AM

Snarler

12-19-06, 08:58 AM

LMAO!!!

My sister-in-law just got off the phone with Tweeter. They called her up because they realized their mistake. She decided to keep it anyway and authorized them to charge the extra $50 to her credit card. :)

Um, did she buy the product in a store and take it home with her and then they called her up some point after that to ask her for more money?

madSkeelz

12-19-06, 09:13 AM

Nobody wants a Zune?! WTF?

Slack

12-19-06, 10:26 AM

I wanna know when the hell I am going to be able to get the super sexy iRiver S10, from a retailer on this continent,

Ebay from Japan is all I could find last time I looked.

kurhurdler

12-19-06, 12:29 PM

My sister-in-law just got off the phone with Tweeter. They called her up because they realized their mistake. She decided to keep it anyway and authorized them to charge the extra $50 to her credit card. :)
I'm afraid I don't understand why she would agree to pay more... for nothing more. Am I missing something?

RamblinWreck

12-19-06, 01:45 PM

I wanna know when the hell I am going to be able to get the super sexy iRiver S10, from a retailer on this continent,

Ebay from Japan is all I could find last time I looked.

Speaking of Iriver, I purchased a 2 GB Iriver Clix from Amazon for my wife. I would swear that I saw a thread on how to down load Replay mpegs (and other such stuff) and play them on the Iriver. But I searched and could not find it.

Not trying to hijack this thread, but I would be greatful for any pointers that you guys could give me. I searched long and hard in this forum, but I could not find anything.

Thanks,

RW

gweempose

12-19-06, 04:59 PM

I'm afraid I don't understand why she would agree to pay more... for nothing more. Am I missing something?In her mind, they made an honest mistake, and she didn't feel the need to penalize them for it. Had the computers been up and running when she made her purchase, she never would have gotten out the store with it at that price. The salesperson also was really cool to her. He price matched a pair of Sennheiser headphones against a store that didn't have them in stock and he held the last pair for her. If they lowered the price on the Nano by $50, the salesperson wouldn't have made squat.

To tell you the truth, I was a bit surprised that the store actually called her up. I would have thought that in the interest of customer service they would have simply ate the $50 and let it be. That being said, I'm proud of my sister-in-law for not acting like a bitch. As soon as she told me how much she paid for the Nano, I told her that there was a 90% chance it was mispriced. Consequently, she was half expecting a phone call from them. Most people would have gone ballistic, but she handled the situation correctly in my opinion. It sort of reminds me of the ReplayTV fiasco a few years back. I recall people bitterly fighting on these boards about right vs. wrong. Ethics is a tricky thing, however, as there are always multiple ways to view a given situation. At the end of the day, you're the one who has to live with yourself, and your actions must reflect your ideology.

kurhurdler

12-19-06, 06:25 PM

In her mind, they made an honest mistake, and she didn't feel the need to penalize them for it. Had the computers been up and running when she made her purchase, she never would have gotten out the store with it at that price. The salesperson also was really cool to her. He price matched a pair of Sennheiser headphones against a store that didn't have them in stock and he held the last pair for her. If they lowered the price on the Nano by $50, the salesperson wouldn't have made squat.

To tell you the truth, I was a bit surprised that the store actually called her up. I would have thought that in the interest of customer service they would have simply ate the $50 and let it be. That being said, I'm proud of my sister-in-law for not acting like a bitch. As soon as she told me how much she paid for the Nano, I told her that there was a 90% chance it was mispriced. Consequently, she was half expecting a phone call from them. Most people would have gone ballistic, but she handled the situation correctly in my opinion. It sort of reminds me of the ReplayTV fiasco a few years back. I recall people bitterly fighting on these boards about right vs. wrong. Ethics is a tricky thing, however, as there are always multiple ways to view a given situation. At the end of the day, you're the one who has to live with yourself, and your actions must reflect your ideology.

I certainly don't hold anything against you or your sister for your viewpoint. Erring on politeness and fairness is always a good thing. My viewpoint probably makes me look like a real jerk to some people.

However, I personally don't exclude stores from consumer rights simply because their computer system goes down. A transaction should be final unless there is some kind of stated policy like a "low price guarantee" clearly posted. I guess this particular case was more like a high-price-guarantee. If they threatened to just charge the additional amount to her credit card, I'd call that fraud. IMO, they could always close their doors when the computer goes down.

On a somewhat related topic, it's a pet peeve of mine that people expect you to excuse slow/crummy service because they've said "the computers are slow today" or the "my computer is locked up". That's a lame excuse to me; they should have better redundancy/failsafes in place.

But, what do I know anyway?

R8ders2K

12-19-06, 08:46 PM

My son really wants an iPod, he has fallen for the media hype (plus he wants to load linux on it), i would almost rather get any other brand besides apple, we have had a several other mp3 players and could always just hook them up and drag and drop, except for our old creative nomad2 which required creatives own software.

Check out iPodLinux Project (http://ipodlinux.org/) for more info, then you can get your son one of the older 1st, 2nd, or 3rd generation iPods.

Snarler

12-19-06, 09:19 PM

In her mind, they made an honest mistake, and she didn't feel the need to penalize them for it. Had the computers been up and running when she made her purchase, she never would have gotten out the store with it at that price. The salesperson also was really cool to her. He price matched a pair of Sennheiser headphones against a store that didn't have them in stock and he held the last pair for her. If they lowered the price on the Nano by $50, the salesperson wouldn't have made squat.

To tell you the truth, I was a bit surprised that the store actually called her up. I would have thought that in the interest of customer service they would have simply ate the $50 and let it be. That being said, I'm proud of my sister-in-law for not acting like a bitch. As soon as she told me how much she paid for the Nano, I told her that there was a 90% chance it was mispriced. Consequently, she was half expecting a phone call from them. Most people would have gone ballistic, but she handled the situation correctly in my opinion. It sort of reminds me of the ReplayTV fiasco a few years back. I recall people bitterly fighting on these boards about right vs. wrong. Ethics is a tricky thing, however, as there are always multiple ways to view a given situation. At the end of the day, you're the one who has to live with yourself, and your actions must reflect your ideology.

And yet, apparantly knowing it was a mistake when making the purchase, she decided to do it, secretly hoping she would get to keep the difference in price. Seems to me that someone who really wanted to view this from an ethical point of view would never have made the purchase in the first place. :D

Ace987

12-19-06, 09:45 PM

And yet, apparantly knowing it was a mistake when making the purchase, she decided to do it, secretly hoping she would get to keep the difference in price. Seems to me that someone who really wanted to view this from an ethical point of view would never have made the purchase in the first place. :D From what I read, it didn't sound at all like she knew the price at the time she purchased the item. It's far from those folks (some who lurk on this forum) who actively seeked out Replays with the green sticker at the new lower price knowing there was a pricing error and screaming bloody murder when denied service.

I suppose she could of called the store later to verify it was the correct price, but as far as I'm concerned (like it matters), she did the right thing.

zimdba

12-19-06, 10:58 PM

I wanna know when the hell I am going to be able to get the super sexy iRiver S10, from a retailer on this continent,

Ebay from Japan is all I could find last time I looked.

I loved my iRiver H20, until my daughter started to use it to hit things with.

Now I have a 60GB Ipod v5. I don't like it, but I couldn't take it back once I realized I didn't. Itunes is, eh, an inconvenience.

For the record, all of my music is MP3. I've purchased nothing from iTunes ever and it all plays fine.

icecow

12-19-06, 11:59 PM

I haven't used rockbox in over a year, but it looks like it's still active.

rockbox.org

Rockbox is an open source replacement firmware for mp3 players. It runs on a number of different models:

Archos: Jukebox 5000, 6000, Studio, Recorder, FM Recorder, Recorder V2 and Ondio
iriver: H100, H300 and H10 series
Apple: iPod 4th gen (grayscale and color), 5th/5.5th gen (Video - 30GB and 60GB models only), 1st gen Nano and Mini 1st/2nd gen (Nano 2nd gen and 80GB Video 5.5th gen are not supported)
iAudio: X5 (including X5V and X5L)
Additional models are in development

Ace987

12-20-06, 12:36 AM

OK, I give, what's the real advantage of using 3rd party firmware on an MP3 player?

icecow

12-20-06, 12:59 AM

They play .ogg!

seriously, I used rockbox on an archos and found the menus to be convienent and intelligent. One of the features was it would pause the music when you turned off the car (sensed the ac power) and resumed when you turned the car back on. If you didn't comeback it turned off. It had many great features and conveniences that the stock software did not have. Heck I could play little games on my low-medium res screen, not that I really care about that.

chris5977

12-20-06, 10:13 AM

such crap.

My wifes brand new car has an "ipod" jack. Plug the headphone from a creative player into it, and bingo.

John

No, sir, YOU are the one that is full of crap.

I was talking about the actual iPod connector that recharges the iPod and allows your radio to control the IPod. That is a lot more convenient than a simple 1/8" stereo jack. If you want seamless car integration, an iPod is the way to go.

http://www.apple.com/ipod/carintegration.html

madSkeelz

12-20-06, 10:27 AM

The problem is, you're both right. Some cars have the actual iPod Dock Connector and feature fan-tastic integration. Some just have a 1/8" mini-plug and market it as "iPod compatible."

I have a Dodge Caliber on order that features "iPod compatibility" but I know that it's really just a headphone jack.

Bigjohns

12-20-06, 10:36 AM

No, sir, YOU are the one that is full of crap.
Perhaps...

I was talking about the actual iPod connector that recharges the iPod
Of course you're aware that driving 30 minutes, shutting off the car, doing it again and again does more to F-UP the battery than recharge it, right?
and allows your radio to control the IPod. That is a lot more convenient than a simple 1/8" stereo jack. If you want seamless car integration, an iPod is the way to go.

http://www.apple.com/ipod/carintegration.html
Actually, if you want seamless - try THIS (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7689129&st=insignia+auto+usb&lp=2&type=product&cp=1&id=1141762608953)

Not only will that play your IPOD and control it via the USB cable, but you can pull the SD card out of your phone and play those tunes, or plug in a USB Thumbdrive and play those too...

Clay Schneider

12-20-06, 05:28 PM

"Of course you're aware that driving 30 minutes, shutting off the car, doing it again and again does more to F-UP the battery than recharge it, right?"

It's a lithium ion battery that likes to stay topped-off -- not deep discharged -- and if plugged in when near full, it doesn't even bother to start to charge -- which is not a fixed length cycle in the first place. Beyond that, all the charging smarts are in the ipod itself, so it still behaves properly on the cheapest external supply -- even to the point of handling not just a default 5v usb source, but 5-30v.

davester2

12-20-06, 08:08 PM

I find it amusing that there are so many folks who are "anti-iPod". The reason the iPod is so popular is that it has the best integration of hardware and software. Nothing else even comes close, except perhaps the zune which is a blatant ripoff of the iPod system. Sure, some of the other players have more "features" for a tiny little bit less cash, but most of them require that you fiddle with awful software, manage music files on your computer using file management software, and deal with cantankerous online music stores. Who gives a rats ass about those using those other music stores anyway...they are nothing more than iTunes Music Store ripoffs . The iPod makes it all easy, doesn't exact penalties for putting your MP3 files into iTunes, and has a great interface to boot. I can understand why the geeks who like to fiddle with things and don't like apple would go for something like Creative or Sansa, but there's a good reason those players didn't succeed, even though they were first to market...bad UI, bad software integration, bad DRM.

Ace987

12-20-06, 09:34 PM

I was talking to someone about using iTunes, nevering using it before myself. Is it true that you can't burn music you purchase from them to a CD? I can do that with Napster, without any hacks, upgrades, ect., using their software Just curious if that's really true. If it's the case, there one GREAT reason not to use iTunes.

madSkeelz

12-20-06, 09:40 PM

Yes, you can burn purchased music to a CD.

gweempose

12-21-06, 12:01 AM

Yes, you can burn purchased music to a CD.What's the catch? How do they prevent you from making multiple copies of the CD and sharing it with friends?

chris5977

12-21-06, 12:34 AM

iTunes allows you to burn purchased music to a CDR 10 times.

Clay Schneider

12-21-06, 12:57 AM

Of course you can burn itunes purchases to CD -- using itunes itself -- no hacks, no additional software necessary. Stories to the contrary representing just yet another bit of fud spread by those who apparently sold their apple stock early...

Badmouth ipod/itunes all you want, but there isn't a better integrated and supported implementation out there. Add to that the amount of aftermarket hardware [and software] available for ipod and it's easy to see why apple has a majority share of the market. It's not an accident, it's not just clever advertising -- the product actually delivers, and that sells more product.

[and no, I'm not a mac hugger, and yes, I started with rockbox on archos.]

Bigjohns

12-21-06, 01:12 AM

collin

12-21-06, 01:53 AM

Glad you like your POD, Clay. I work at Best Buy (part time now) and can tell you that we see more broken ipods (percentage, mind you) than anything else. No broken Irivers... just 3-5 Ipods per day. Lithium Ion or not, people charging them from their laptop USB ports, when the laptop goes into suspend after 30 minutes, is FRYING those batteries. 2 year old IPODS on their 3rd battery, and / or 2nd hard drive... with no external damage (so they've not been dropped...)

It is clever marketing, and dreadful DRM. At least with the other players you have a choice of places to buy music online... Not with the 'pod. Itunes, or go buy the CD and rip it.

Now, Windoz DRM is no better... but at least with a MFT (file mode) player, you get your CHOICE...

Just my 2cents.

with 70+% market share, maybe its not that surprising that you see mostly iPods coming back for repairs. plus, its a high value item that people would want fixed. most of the other players are cheap enought that they aren't worth fixing...people just buy another one. also, perhaps the other players just don't get used enough to incur the wear-out type damages that you cite.

not sure what you are comparing the DRM to for it to be "dreadful" but iTunes actually provided the first reasonable rights managed scheme. as for choice in music stores, choice matters less when your default choice is top in its class and sets the standard for usability, reasonable pricing, and balanced DRM rights.

i understand the need to be contrarian, but as others have stated, there are quite real reasons why iPod has dominated the market. yes, clever marketing has played a part, but it really is the only device that delivers the total package of an exceptional device, easy music management, reasonable legal downloads, etc.

Bigjohns

12-21-06, 07:57 AM

Collin -

Note, I said "as a percentage". That means I know IPOD outsells, but relative to that volume, a larger number come back. The new NANOs are prone to lockups - I reset 4 yesterday in a 4 hour shift.

JohnnyArcade

12-21-06, 08:30 AM

Just can't lurk anymore. iPods we've owned:

5gb 1G, 20g 2g, 30gb 3G, 40gb 4g, 4gb mini 1G, 6gb mini 2G, 30gb 5G, 60gb 5G.

Aside from being flung across asphalt in one case, never had a single failure. They have trickled on to other parties at this point, I believe the 30gb 3G was sold off - but AFAIK the rest are all still pumping out the jams. I have about 5,000 songs in iTunes, which I back up occasionally. I don't buy iTunes tracks too often but own between 25-50 from various promotions etc. Most are ripped from my bins of CDs.

On the other hand, iRiver players I've owned: H120, H300.

H120 Hard Drive failed - was beyond the warranty. H300 is still running fine. Anyone who finds managing the files on an iRiver "easier" than iTunes is on a different plain than I am. I have been known to create playlists in iTunes while intoxicated, definitely not the case with the iRivers.

Speaking of Playlists, show me a way to create a "Smart" playlist on any other player that will only have tracks with: [ Added in the last 60 days, > 3 Stars (I rated them), Not played in the last 1 day, Not spoken word ] - and updates on the fly as I listen?

So fewer failures from the much larger sample group.

madSkeelz

12-21-06, 08:31 AM

It is clever marketing, and dreadful DRM. At least with the other players you have a choice of places to buy music online... Not with the 'pod. Itunes, or go buy the CD and rip it.

But you *don't* have a choice of music stores.

iPod == iTunes Music Store
Zune == Zune Marketplace
Everyone else == PlaysForSure

[I'm ignoring eMusic because they're a special case, and because their wares work on all three platforms.]

Yeah, Creative and Sansa players work at "any" PlaysForSure store, but it's not like any of those PlaysForSure stores are wildly different from each other. And, of course, the real question is how interested MSFT is in keeping PlaysForSure going, now that they're investing so heavily in the Zune platform.

Your criticism of iPod not working with "file mode" management is misplaced. That's just Apple hiding the ugly bits from their user. iTunes replaces using Windows Explorer/Mac OS Finder for file mode. iTunes [the app, not the store] allows you to put any audio or video file on the iPod.

little_blaine

12-21-06, 09:00 AM

I don't own an ipod and don't plan on getting one in the near future (my phone and ipaq serve my portable music/video needs for now) - Regardless, I recall an ars technica article about the ipod nano durability, where they did a load of torture tests including throwing it out of a car at 50 mph and then running it over with a car, and the thing kept working! Link. (http://arstechnica.com/reviews/hardware/nano.ars/3)

I can't imagine that you could do similar stuff to a hard-drive model, but still pretty impressive.

JohnnyArcade

12-21-06, 09:18 AM

I want to add this, much more level headed piece of advice for anyone considering an iPod/Zune/iRiver/Sansa.

It's good to get a little advice from these forums, but don't base your decision solely on the opinion of some random dude who is a lover/hater of the product. Aside from the problem with the vocal minority usually out-posting the happy majority - there's no real reason to trust us. There are definitely different strokes for different folks, so pick one up, play with it, ideally talk to someone in the real world who has one. If you find a good return policy, maybe take one for a test drive.

The iPod's popularity reminds me of the "Harbucks" episode of South Park. Though there may be a large marketing machine behind a thing, sometimes the product is actually popular because it doesn't taste like @$s.

Clay Schneider

12-21-06, 09:46 AM

"dreadful DRM" ??? What DRM? If you rip your music as MP3, there is zero DRM -- in itunes or on the ipod. You don't even have to use itunes to maintain the music on your ipod -- there are any number of freeware programs that will do it for you -- including self contained ones that can be run right off an ipod connected to a pc -- with no need to install anything on the pc.

If you choose [yes, choose, as you are not forced, since you can use MP3 from anywhere] to buy from itunes, yes, the download is in a protected format -- but if you burn that album to a CD, it's a plain old audio CD -- and that CD can go anywhere -- equivalent enough to a store-bought CD to be correctly identified by the various CDDB services.

Sure, there's a lot of benefit to players that support simple drag and drop -- that's why I stayed with Archos for years. But there is also a lot to say for automatic update of audio and video podcasts [including my own auto-downloaded and converted replay shows every night (hey, an on-topic coment), ready to pocket for the next day's commute, as well as my full week-end audio recordings of favorite NPR shows and daily recording of World Cafe] -- automatic functionality that works with itunes/ipod out of the box.

Bottom line, it would at least be nice if we stayed to facts and not an un-ending stream of FUD -- like imaginary usb ports that regularly fry ipods [uh, don't you think that would have shown up plastered all over the web if it were true?].

Twill B

12-21-06, 09:54 AM

There is a plugin for Winamp that allows drag and drop from the Winamp library to the iPod. I use this method to transfer songs to my iPod instead of iTunes. iTunes is too bloated.

Here's the link:
http://www.mlipod.com/

antnjen

12-21-06, 10:01 AM

I love the reasoning:

iPods are the most popular/have the greatest market share. Therefore, it is the best portable player out there.

With that logic, we easily conclude that Tivo is the superior DVR. :rolleyes:

My son's getting an iPod for Christmas, and I just picked up a Zen from Buy.com because it was insanely cheap ($10 for the 512MB - I don't have a large music collection, so I don't need a 32TB device - just enough room to drown out the airplane engines). In about 2 months, I should have enough experience with both devices to judge.

Clay Schneider

12-21-06, 10:24 AM

I love the reasoning:

iPods are the most popular/have the greatest market share. Therefore, it is the best portable player out there.

Kind of how the country is run....

Bigjohns

12-21-06, 10:31 AM

QFloray

12-22-06, 01:04 PM

iPods are great. If you like being a puppet.

Live Free or Die.

Clay Schneider

12-23-06, 11:47 AM

iPods are great. If you like being a puppet.

Live Free or Die.

A trivial purchase decison that can make you feel that way about yourself. So sad.

BrianPaul

12-26-06, 09:54 AM

antnjen

12-26-06, 10:27 AM

Check out the Creative ZEN Nano. I just picked one up for $10 (512MB) after rebates and Google Checkout coupon at buy.com. I think the Google coupon expires today.

- A

RamblinWreck

12-26-06, 04:31 PM

Check out the Creative ZEN Nano. I just picked one up for $10 (512MB) after rebates and Google Checkout coupon at buy.com. I think the Google coupon expires today.

- A

Could you provide a link ?? The only 512 MB creative Zen Nano I could find cost $59.99 and they were also out of stock. Link is below

Thanks,

RW

http://www.buy.com/prod/Creative_Zen_Nano_Plus_512MB_MP3_Player_FM_Tuner_Voice_Recor der_Line/q/loc/111/202466272.html

antnjen

12-27-06, 12:15 PM

Could you provide a link ?? The only 512 MB creative Zen Nano I could find cost $59.99 and they were also out of stock. Link is below

Thanks,

RW

http://www.buy.com/prod/Creative_Zen_Nano_Plus_512MB_MP3_Player_FM_Tuner_Voice_Recor der_Line/q/loc/111/202466272.html

That's the one. But, it had a $30 rebate and $20 Google Checkout coupon (or vice versa), and free shipping. It might have been only for the red or white versions also.

Buy.com had insane deals all month long leading up to Christmas. Most of the deals had rebates and Google Checkout involved, but definitely worth doing.

There is a blue 1GB version (with FM tuner) on Buy.com today for $48.57 (including rebates and free shipping):

Creative Labs 1GB Zen Nano Plus MP3 Player FM Tuner (http://www.buy.com/prod/Creative_Labs_1GB_Zen_Nano_Plus_MP3_Player_FM_Tuner/q/loc/101/201741346.html)

I played with my Nano yesterday. It is nothing fancy, basically a USB drive that can play MP3 and WMA files. But, I'm no audiophile. I just need something to drown out the airplane engines. And, for $10, I couldn't go wrong.

- A

PS: Go Jackets!

RamblinWreck

12-28-06, 12:07 AM

- A

PS: Go Jackets!

antnjen - Thanks for the information. I saw the 1 GB for $49, but I am trying to get my wife's Iriver Clix up and running. I wanted the zen for myself.

BTW, the Clix appears pretty nice. There's software out there that converts video files to the Clix format. Some details are at:

http://www.misticriver.net/showthread.php?p=528559&posted=1#post528559

Did you go to Tech ? And what about Reggie Ball ?? Bummer, but maybe Taylor Bennett can come through.

RW

melduforx

12-28-06, 12:41 AM

Horrid DRM = Supports ONLY IPOD, and yes you can burn to CD but only as many times as we say you can (and we can change our mind whenever we want) and by the way, your burn to CD will be down-converted to a lower bitrate and quality, guaranteeing that when you re-rip it you'll have a lower quality copy.

By the way, I think ALL DRM is horrid. Treats honest people like criminals while doing very little to prevent piracy.

But that's the end of my 2 cents in this thread, because my intent was not to hijack it and devolve into an IPOD vs everyone discussion.

[snip]

Holy Jebus, it's just an MP3 player.

I started out like you, thinking the iPod was a load of crap. Then I tried one back in 2003 and found out what all the hype is about... they work damn well.

My iPods (yes, plural: a 3G I bought in 2003 which is hooked up to my car stereo with a Dension IceLink which allows you to control the iPod with the head unit buttons, a Mini, which has been sold, and my new Nano which I got for the Nike+ kit) have worked FLAWLESSLY for three years now. I did replace the battery in the oldest one, but that took all of ten minutes and fifteen dollars to do. Of all my friends that have owned iPods, I've never known one to have one break. Mine have been around the globe and I've never even cursed the things.

You can trash on iPods all you want, but the reason people want the things is because they have a reputation of being easy to use. Consumers are very picky, and if iPods were crap, they'd move on to the next better thing.

And as for DRM, yeah, let's treat everybody like an honest person. That worked pretty well in the late nineties with Napster and such. Everybody made sure not to download illegal MP3s, right? Apple's DRM is VERY lax. You can transfer your music to as many iPods as you want, you can burn your music (seven times per playlist), and you can listen to your music on five different computers. I've purchased well over six hundred tracks from the apple store and have never felt the need to rip the drm out of the songs. The burned CDs are not "down-converted" or "lower bitrate" -- they are simply a conversion from AAC to WAV. The problem is if you try to RE-import the burned CD back into iTunes (because you're doubling the compression artifacts).

But you don't even have to use DRM with the iPod if you don't want to. I also subscribe to eMusic, which is an AWESOME service if you like independent artists. For ten bucks a month I get forty MP3 downloads which I get to KEEP (unlike the music leasing services out there). They have NO DRM and the selection keeps me coming back month after month.

You could also rip CDs, but I usually choose to buy any albums I can't get on eMusic through iTunes because, well, it's just easier than going to the store. If my music is going to end up on my computer anyway, I might as well just eliminate one step.

Buy whatever MP3 player you want, but there's no need to be so fervently anti-iPod. Were you raped by an iPod or something?

icecow

12-28-06, 03:24 AM

DRM is having to play the shell game and watch yourself lose access to what you've paid for.

Would you like to pay this songcollection again?

If the record companys were trying to do anything other than re-charge people indefinately they'd have made a registry by now so if you pay for a song it stays paid for.

tlf9999

12-28-06, 06:43 AM

not sure how many of you ipod haters have tried it. I have owned ipods from the day they came out and throught the nano. and I think I understand why they are popular: they offer the best compromise between ease of use, performance, iTunes and infrastructure.

the user interface is simple, easy to undesrtand, and intuitive. even a fool can use it without reading the manual.

the performance is quite good too. people keep complaining about poor audio quality of ipod - and they are right. however, even the poor audio quality is good enough for a lot of consumers. and quite frankly if you care about audio quality they shouldn't be using an ipod.

the iTunes is the best to ipod. the purchase is so easy and so well integrated, it is almost addicting. iTunes will be the future of digital entertainment and is the future of Apple.

lastly, there are so many people with ipods and so many accessories for almost every situation. try that with other players.

It is true that there are many shortcomings of the ipod, and you are all correct in saying that the drm isn't terribly convenient - what drm is?, and the batteries are a disappointment - what batteries aren't? etc., etc..

what you forgot is that everything is about compromise and judging by the reaction of the consumers and the market, Apple made the best compromise.

it is just too bad that the best compromise for the mass isn't the best compromise for you. so rather than dwelling on how ipod isn't good enough for you, you may just move on and enjoy whatever player that is best for you.

antnjen

12-28-06, 09:59 AM

Did you go to Tech ? And what about Reggie Ball ?? Bummer, but maybe Taylor Bennett can come through.

RW

ICS '91

Yeah, Ball's out. I'm not sure that's a bad thing. It doesn't take a great quarterback to throw the ball up in the air for Calvin Johnson to pick it out of the sky, but Reggie still couldn't seem to do that well. It's a shame, though. Last game of his career, and he didn't care enough about it to tend to his studies. It' ironic: he'll never make it to the NFL, so he'll need to rely on his brain for an income. Yet, he chose to make academics secondary.

I'm more worried about Kenny Scott not playing. His absence will make Tech vulnerable.

- A

tlf9999

12-28-06, 11:04 AM

DRM is having to play the shell game and watch yourself lose access to what you've paid for.

doesn't that depend on what exactly you have paid for?

if you want to freely distribute a song to your friends or strangers, it is only fair that you own the copyright on that song - or you are stealing from its rightful owners. how many of us do you think can afford to spend a few cool million dollars to own copyright to <Beat It>?

What DRM does is to separate the usage rights (different kinds of usage rights too) from the ownership, and in that process making the songs more affordable to average folks like you and me.

you don't have to like the restrictions. You just need to tons of money to do that.

icecow

12-28-06, 04:55 PM

What DRM does is to separate the usage rights (different kinds of usage rights too) from the ownership, and in that process making the songs more affordable to average folks like you and me.

It is an issue difficult to explain in a country where the average folk is in debt $8000.

If an author makes a $1,000,000 from a song after getting 10% of the sales, where is the other 90% comming from? out of thin air? It's comming out of people's pockets. digital media (no scarcity), and personal property (scarce) are different, but for the infant minded that can't distinguish the two i ask: would you want the FDA to collect 90% of fast food purchases, bumping the price of a taco bell buritto from $0.99 to $9.90?

DRM has nothing to do with getting money to authors. It's about creating middlemen and getting the money to them.

American is becoming a playground for idiots (e.g. lotteries, $10-30 dvds), and the army of idiots are destroying the quality of the economy. All because of idiotic perceptions of fairness. In our society it is impolite to tell someone the company of the $30 charity coffee mug they bought is giving $0.60 to the charity.

bla bla bla
i'm wasting my time

SpaceCadet

12-28-06, 06:36 PM

iTunes will be the future of digital entertainment and is the future of Apple.iTunes is a terrible model and doomed to failure in the long run (at least, if a fraction of the masses manages to grow some brains). You're paying way too much for low-quality audio. Let's see--with iTunes, you pay $10,000 for 10,000 songs (the last time I paid any attention). Unless iTunes lets you re-download those songs with higher-quality encoding later, you're stuck. With subscription services, you pay around $10/month (prices vary) for unlimited access to millions of songs, and if higher-quality encoding becomes available, you can re-download any songs.
What DRM does is to separate the usage rights (different kinds of usage rights too) from the ownership, and in that process making the songs more affordable to average folks like you and me.What planet have you been living on? The whole DRM thing is outside the scope of this thread. but briefly: DRM is all about control and making huge amounts of money for certain corporations. It has nothing to do with compensating artists, and not only does it not decrease costs to the consumer, it increases them. Furthermore, it nearly eliminates innovation. The only reason your precious iPod even exists is that there didn't used to be DRM. DRM is being used as an excuse for certain corporations to control media markets and earn excessive profits via technology, when copyright infringement is a legal and sociological issue which could have been easily addressed via law enforcement. Massive intellectual property theft could have been prevented very early on during the personal computer revolution by prosecuting violators and sending them to prison. This was not done, and violations became widespread. DRM is about corporations using their own proprietary schemes to prevent competition from other corporations, and thereby control markets and prices. They have no incentive and no interest in fairly compensating authors or in decreasing prices to consumers.

tlf9999

12-28-06, 07:25 PM

If an author makes a $1,000,000 from a song after getting 10% of the sales, where is the other 90% comming from? out of thin air? It's comming out of people's pockets. digital media (no scarcity), and personal property (scarce) are different, but for the infant minded that can't distinguish the two i ask: would you want the FDA to collect 90% of fast food purchases, bumping the price of a taco bell buritto from $0.99 to $9.90?

I am not sure if I fully follow your logic but let's use the fast food example. when you buy a Big Mac for $4.56, you are buying the right to consume that juicy berger - usage rights.

What you did NOT buy with your $4.56 is a) the receipe, so it would be illegal for you to reproduce the Big Mac for resale; b) the brand name, so it would be illegal for you to brand your IceBurg as the Big Mac. and the ability to market any of the above to other potential buyers and to prevent McDonald's from marketing the Big Mac, among others. Those rights would have costed you far more than $4.56 you paid for the Big Mac.

the later rights belong to their IP owners.

The same with your purchase of a CD: your $10.99 bought you the right to listen to <Beat It>. You certainly did NOT buy the rights to (re)sell the content to others, to upload the music and to market the music - all those activities would be illegal on copyrighted content.

and as in the Big Mac example, all those rights would have cost you considerable sum.

what DRM does is to allow a) the separation of the usage rights from content ownership so that the usage can be priced far more affordably for the mass; and b) the distribution of the usage rights to the mass.

Think about how many songs you could afford if the ownership and usage rights are bundled? that <Beat It> single can easily cost you 10 - 20 million USD.

Think about how many Big Macs you can buy for your kids if each of them costs you a cool $1 billion?

Most of us would rather live in a world where entertainment content are transacted on usage rights only for the mass. and so far the free market has supported that.

tlf9999

12-28-06, 07:27 PM

iTunes is a terrible model and doomed to failure in the long run (at least, if a fraction of the masses manages to grow some brains).

is this the forum of unsubstantiated predictions?

rather than big words, please focus on facts, logic and sound reasoning and then we can have a meaningful discussion.

Because your predictions are every bit as useless as mine.

and I have a lot more of them than you do, :)

antnjen

12-28-06, 07:43 PM

...brand your IceBurg as the Big Mac...

T,

That is funny!!!!

- A

icecow

12-29-06, 02:35 AM

T,

That is funny!!!!

- A

T & A,
Iceburg. ha ha ha. not funny

P.S. stop looking at my arse

icecow

01-02-07, 12:00 PM

wake up and smell the roses; drink coffee

Home News Blogs Reviews Forums Magazine Spotlights
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News

Friday, 28 April 2006 Artists sue Sony for iTunes royalties
Jonny Evans

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sony Music stands accused of deliberately underpayment of artist royalties for digital music downloads in a new US class action filed yesterday.

The action was filed on behalf of the Allman Brothers Band and Cheap Trick by lawyers from Labaton Sucharow & Rudoff and Probstein & Weiner.

The bands allege on behalf of themselves and other class members that Sony Music is not paying its recording artists 50 per cent of the net licensing revenue received by Sony Music in connection with music licensed to Apple and other third party providers of digital downloads, as Sony Music is contractually obligated to do.

At issue is the way Sony accounts for such sales. Rather than paying artists approximately 30 cents of the 70 cents it receives for digital downloads (after deducting payments to music publishers), the suit alleges that Sony Music treats each download as a sale of a physical CD or cassette tape, only paying on 85 per cent of such "sales" (due to a fiction that there is breakage of product), deducting a further 20 per cent fee for container/packaging charges associated with the digital downloads (although there are none), and reducing its payments by a further 50 per cent "audiofile" deduction, yielding a payment to the Sony Music recording artists of approximately 4 1/2 cents per digital download.

The bands are claiming damages in the amount of millions of dollars.

"Sony Music is presently engaged in a widespread attempt to underpay its recording artists; with the technological advancements in the music industry, where many people download songs to their iPods and other portable devices, it is essential that artists receive the royalty income to which they are entitled," stated Brian Caplan, one the attorneys involved in the action.

http://www.macworld.co.uk/news/index.cfm?NewsID=14495

gbless77

01-03-07, 11:09 AM

tlf9999

01-03-07, 02:53 PM

wake up and smell the roses; drink coffee

interesting read. but how does it relate to this discussion?

antnjen

01-03-07, 05:33 PM

Ryan F

01-03-07, 05:58 PM

Hi. I'm new to the thread. If anyone has a Sandisk Sasa e200 I need help. I accidentely deleted a track my wife loves called "Next Time". It came free on the player, but I don't know the artist. Does anyone have this song on their player, and who sings it?
Thanks.

According to a list of included songs on the e200 over at the Anything But iPod forums, the track in question is by Stroke 9.

Here's the full list:

E200 Pre-Loaded Songs

Alias & Ehren - Cobbelstoned Waltz.mp3
Andrew Paul Woodworth - Starting To Turn.mp3
Chris Clouse - Mona Lisa.mp3-The Music.mp3
Felonious - The Music.mp3
Franc D'Ambrosio - Danny Boy.mp3
Gretchen Lieberum - You Closer.mp3
Heavyweight Dub Champion - Return Of The Champion.mp3
Kevin Carlberg - Morning After.mp3
Loquat - Swingset Chain.mp3
Los Pinguos - Fumaza.mp3
Recliner - Leaving Hollywood.mp3
Stroke 9 - Little Black Backpack.mp3
Stroke 9 - Next Time.mp3
The Caroline Movement - Highway Appeal.mp3
The Jones Gang - Angel.mp3
The Procession - Major & Minor.mp3
The Red Thread - Wax Museum.mp3
The Shanghai Restoration Project. Amos Winbush - Babylon of the Orient.mp3
The Slip - Even Rats.mp3
Umphreys McGee - Women Wine and Song.mp3

gbless77

01-05-07, 08:46 AM

OMG. you guys are awesome, thanks so much.

Snarler

01-07-07, 01:37 AM

interesting read. but how does it relate to this discussion?

Because it pretty much stresses the point raised that DRM is not about separating usage rights and ownership but rather it is about gathering more money from the consumer. DRM takes away or severely restricts your ability to use the product the way you would like to, and I mean all the legal ways to consume it yourself. Personally, I prefer to be able to listen to music in several different ways (regular CD players, MP3 CD players, on various computers while I'm sitting there, streamed from one of them to a MediaMVP hooked into my main TV / Stereo system, cell phone MP3 player, etc.) I'm sure I'm breaking some point in the terms and conditions associated with the CD's I buy by having various MP3's lying around, but tough. I only listen to one copy at a time. If going into the purchase I had been informed I would need to buy multiple copies of the music to do what I had planned, I would not have bought any and would have done without. I hear over and over how flexible DRM is like what is used in iTunes, but I also hear things like "up to 5 computers." Phrases like that set off alarm bells because it means now I have to deal with things like, if I upgrade my computer and have to reinstall, either I'm gonna lose a computer from my set of 5, or there's some process I'm going to have to remember to follow which probably involved removing the old computer from the set somehow and adding the new one and hopefully removing the old one doesn't actually involve that computer because sometimes hard drives die and it might not be able to connect to whatever to remove itself, etc.

And the companies that control the DRM can (and have) modify the agreement as they see fit, so they might decide you can only listen to your music on 2 computers now instead of 5 unless you pay them more money. Or that track you bought as "unlimited" will now expire in a year. etc. Or even better, if the company decides to shut it down, you might lose all your music completely (ask someone who owned a Divx player about that.)

Oh, and every DRM I know of has been broken. Which means the people who really want to get around it can without any problem. Which means it's just a pain for us normal consumers who have to deal with it on a daily basis (remember code wheels to play computer games?)

I'd like to see a study done that wasn't funded by the RIAA or some such organization that analyzed numbers like:
-percentage of illegal copies of music tracks that are from physical duplication of media in mass quantities from copy shops in various foreign countries
-percentage of consumers that acquired illegal copies of music that would have purchased it if they had not acquired the illegal copy
-percentage of decline of music sales due to non-piracy factors such as a declining economy, lower quality of musical selection, lower quantity of musical selection (did you know the RIAA has released fewer titles, yet wonders why they sell fewer copies overall?)

And btw, I do not believe it is right to reproduce the music and give it or sell it to others.

icecow

01-07-07, 02:06 AM

What's the difference between the RIAA and a Crack Dealer?

The crack dealer doesn't try to tell you when and who you can smoke the crack with.

anidea

01-17-07, 12:33 PM

I was out looking at MP3 players. I just want something small because I'm going to use it when working out. It doesn't have to last for 20 hrs and I don't need to store hundreds of songs on it (I only want to put about 50 songs on it.

I saw the iPod shuffle and thought it fit my needs perfectly. I don't need menus or playlists... the shuffle is perfect for me. My question is, does anyone make an MP3 player that is small like the shuffle?
Does no one here like JetAudio?

I love my little iAudio U2 file player: http://www.jetaudio.com/ and http://www.iaudiophile.net/

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16855603808

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.asp?DEPA=0&type=&Description=iaudio&Submit=ENE&N=0&Ntk=all

And, adding to the pro/con ipod debate, I have an iaudio, an archos, and a video ipod. I use the Archos the most (carries most of my music collection and movies while travelling), the iAudio 2nd (fits in a pocket and carries what I want to listen to that day plus files for work like a thumbdrive), and rarely use the ipod. JMHO.

KenL

08-30-07, 08:04 PM

Sandisk Sansa.
Hands Down.

Does not require WM10 DRM, works in File Mode. Plays MP3 / WMA, etc. Best flash player for the $ ever.Man you weren't kidding! I got a Sansa e200 series just to use as a USB 2.0 jumpdrive, the price wasn't much more than fairly recent equiv memory capacity.

Music/Video support was really just an aside, but WOW it blows the ipod nano out of the water completely. So many things wrong with the ipods but the biggest thing for me is just the imposing all thumbs transport/navigation barrier. The Sansa e resolves all those issues and does everything intuitively with "hard button" feedback. Does ipod the way ipod should have done ipod. The cheap imitation is actually less of a *flimsy* gimmick than the original?? The Sansa comes natural for me in the areas where the pods are so foreign and frustrating.

I noticed this thread when it originally went down but stopped reading when the (apparently ever insecure) religious ipod zealots got off into that ubiquitous preachy izone. Geeze it's just a disposable utility player, even if it's priced otherwise. Not a religion. Much less a consuming obsession/lifestyle. Ellen Feiss (Benadryl) may be persuasive on the virtues of "thinking only the same" but she could never lure me willingly into that mindless podzoid coma. Much as the mocking TiVo clowns never managed to boop me (finally) out cold... so far anyway.

I'll definitely use the Sansa for music/video, a very casual thing. I'd consider loading Rockbox for the improved video support but at first glance looks like it may be more of an commitment than I have time for. The ReplayTV mpegs I converted look rather amazing... I can almost imagine actually watching on the Sansa. Or not. :cool:

Bigjohns

08-31-07, 11:27 PM

I love my sansa too..
Podzoid... That's a good one.:D

gweempose

09-01-07, 11:08 PM

It's always nice to see one of your threads get resurrected after so long. :cool: I originally started this thread because my sister-in-law was looking for an MP3 player. Ultimately, she decided on the 4GB Nano and has never looked back. It just so happens that I'm now in the market for an MP3 player myself (actually, DAP is probably the more appropriate term these days). I'm the type of guy that wouldn't buy an iPod simply because everyone else has one. That's precisely why I went the Replay route instead of the Tivo route way back when. Another reason I could never buy an iPod is that they are not compatible with Rhapsody. I happen to be a huge Rhapsody fan. In my opinion, subscription based services are the way of the future. The ability to transfer Rhapsody songs to a portable unit is very appealing to me. That's why I came this close to buying the Sansa e280R. Basically, it's just a regular e280 with special Rhapsody firmware. Fortunately, I didn't pull the trigger, because I recently discovered that iriver now offers a Rhapsody version of their highly regarded Gen 2 clix (http://iriveramerica.com/prod/ultra/clix/clix_r.aspx). I've played around with both the Sansa and the clix. They're both pretty awesome, but I think the clix is a little cooler. Unfortunately, they only have a 4GB version available at the moment. As soon as the 8GB version comes out, that baby is as good as mine. :)

icecow

09-02-07, 02:44 PM

Yeah, but the sansa or clix will never have the cavernous selection of high-end accesories that ipods have. They are all going on clearance too.

Bigjohns

09-02-07, 05:41 PM

But the Sansa comes with a transflash / microsd slot!!

icecow

09-03-07, 04:34 AM

I was being sarcastic, there's nothing highend about the ipod accesories crap

more info:http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1430/668294922_3a45ad9c5e_b.jpg

nded

09-03-07, 08:58 AM

I went a totally different direction when my daughter was in the market for an MP3 player. We ended up getting one of these Hello Kitty models:

http://imgred.com/http://www.akihabaranews.com/en/news_pics/12019/helloKitty3.jpg

I had one of my friends in Taiwan slip it into one of my business shipments. The paws are the buttons, and the earphones obviously are stabbed into kitty's brain. Also doubles as a USB storage device.

All of her friends with "nanos" and other such common items are envious of her "cutest in the world" MP3 player.

Bigjohns

09-03-07, 10:50 AM

I was being sarcastic, there's nothing highend about the ipod accesories crap

more info:http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1430/668294922_3a45ad9c5e_b.jpg
Oh, Mr. Cow.... by now we know how to read your sardonic replies.... :rolleyes:

icecow

09-06-07, 12:23 AM

The ipod 'touch' is out (first I've heard of it).

http://www.apple.com/ipodtouch/

There you can see it and find a link of a video that shows all its features.

Bigjohns

09-06-07, 12:25 AM

The ipod 'touch' is out (first I've heard of it).

http://www.apple.com/ipodtouch/

There you can see it and find a link of a video that shows all its features.

I don't care if IT touches ME in those happy places..:eek:.. it's still an IPOD... BLEH!
And look at it... It's just an Iphone without the phone, web, etc...

icecow

09-06-07, 12:28 AM

I just saw this too. A cassette player that fits in a computer bay. $87 bucks though, darn.

http://imgred.com/http://www.geeks.com/imageshare/P/300x300/PLUSDECK2C-box.jpg

http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=PLUSDECK2C&cat=MP3&cpc=MP3bsc

I have about $90 credit there from a return. almost tempting.

icecow

09-06-07, 12:42 AM

Just saw, also at geeks.com, this mp3 watch:

http://imgred.com/http://www.geeks.com/imageshare/M/300x300/MP4-NXV-WATCH-512-2-unit.jpg

http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=MP4-NXV-WATCH-512-2&cat=MP3

orange?! that 100% kills it. Who in the he11 would back a product then make it orange????

icecow

09-06-07, 12:55 AM

they have it in black here, but I don't have credit there :(

http://www.evertek.com/viewpart.asp?auto=28736

It has an 1.5" oled screen and does video at 128 x 128 in color.

Would be great to put some Max Headroom video on there and have it loop awhile you walked around grocery stores not acknowleding it.

rm -rf *.*

09-06-07, 02:11 AM

I don't care if IT touches ME in those happy places..:eek:.. it's still an IPOD... BLEH!
And look at it... It's just an Iphone without the phone, web, etc...

You iPhobe.

icecow

09-07-07, 12:51 PM

Costco has a USB turntable for $100
http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11207411&search=turntable&Mo=1&cm_re=1_en-_-Top_Left_Nav-_-Top_search&lang=en-US&Nr=P_CatalogName:BC&Sp=S&N=0&whse=BC&Dx=mode+matchallpartial&Ntk=Text_Search&Dr=P_CatalogName:BC&Ne=4000000&D=turntable&Ntt=turntable&No=1&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&Nty=1&topnav=&s=1

http://imgred.com/http://content.costco.com/Images/Content/ProductLarge/190348LL.jpg

geeks.com has these vinal cdrs..

http://imgred.com/http://www.geeks.com/imageshare/5/300x300/52XCDRE3-box.jpg

Maybe I should move these posts over to the 'what parts did you build your htpc from' thread.

gweempose

09-08-07, 09:57 PM

The 8GB Sansa has just been reduced to $149.99. This thing just keeps getting cheaper and cheaper. As far as I'm concerned, it's practically free now! :) I assume the price drop can be attributed to Apple's recent announcements.

icecow

09-09-07, 01:48 AM

SanDisk SDMX4-8192 Sansa e280 8 GB MP3 Player (Black)

$128.88 FREE SHIPPING

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000HZ9CCA******nosim/?tag=fatwalletcom&linkCode=as1

icecow

09-09-07, 04:27 AM

I got a sansa express, 1 gig. Plugs in like a thumb drive, i like those.

http://imgred.com/http://images.tigerdirect.com/skuimages/large/S153-7006-main.jpg

It has a slot for a micro sd card. I have a 2 gig at liz's I got to drag over here.

I got her one too, putting a 1 gig chip in hers. She'll probably never use it.

bla blah

>It has a radio, records radio. That's nice.
>You drag mp3s over to it as if a thumbdrive (no middle software required)

One bad thing I've found is it only accesses songs by their id tags. YOU CAN'T PLAY FOLDERS :( That will lead to some let downs.

I got them for $33 each (by using a coupon with a sale (sale over, fyi))

gweempose

09-09-07, 04:31 PM

SanDisk SDMX4-8192 Sansa e280 8 GB MP3 Player (Black)

$128.88 FREE SHIPPING

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000HZ9CCA******nosim/?tag=fatwalletcom&linkCode=as1Thanks for the link, cow! Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to work. At any rate, I was actually referring to the Rhapsody version (http://store.rhapsody.com/pls/enetrixp/!stmenu_template.main?complex_id_in=1785571.1790505.1790505. 1790702.page&session_rsrc=070824EMALsanRU&session_pcode=rn&session_cpath=email) of the player (the e280R). I have no interest in the regular one. It looks like Best Buy is selling it for the same price of $129 (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8026254&type=product&id=1156607400598), although you'll have to pay tax on top of that.

icecow

09-09-07, 04:55 PM

office max has it for 129.99, and on fatwallet there's a post about getting $30 off $150 if ordered online.

office max has 2 gig sd cards for $20, 1 gig micro and mini sd cards for $14.99

icecow

09-11-07, 04:09 PM

Refurb sansa e250, $50, free shipping. (2 gig)

http://www.buy.com/prod/sandisk-sansa-e250-2gb-mp3-player-fm-tuner-fm-on-the-fly-recording/q/loc/111/205562657.html

milky way

09-11-07, 10:29 PM

Refurb sansa e250, $50, free shipping. (2 gig)

http://www.buy.com/prod/sandisk-sansa-e250-2gb-mp3-player-fm-tuner-fm-on-the-fly-recording/q/loc/111/205562657.html
You can update Sansa e200 series with Rockbox firmware. Get it from
http://www.rockbox.org/

KenL

09-11-07, 10:43 PM

You can update Sansa e200 series with Rockbox firmware. Get it from
http://www.rockbox.org/Which sansa e Rockbox firmware branch did you load and why that one?

And what is your favored preparation of Replay files for sansa e rockbox?

gweempose

09-11-07, 11:58 PM

Well, I couldn't take it any more. This afternoon I went out and bought the Sansa e280R from Best Buy. I was waiting for the 8GB clix2 to be available, but I got impatient. Plus, the iriver will cost a lot more. At $129.99, the Sansa seems like a real bargain.

I haven't played around with it that much yet, but it seems pretty cool so far. They really did a great job with the Rhapsody integration. I can't believe how easy it is get music on the player. One of the neatest things is the ability to transfer Rhapsody channels to the player. One click, and you have three hours of genre based music to listen to. If you like a particular song, it's easy to add it to your library. All in all, I'm very impressed! :)