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mp3 player comparison (iPod, Zen, Zen NX, Archos, Odyssey, iRiver)
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| physe |
| quote: | Originally posted by b1_
- Annoying copyright protection that blocks any attempt to transfer your music from one computer to another (player recognises only one computer for music file transfer). There are ways around this, although I'm not sure how easy they are, and you shouldn't have to jump through copyright hoops anyway (in Apple's defense perhaps this is an anti-lawsuit stratagy what with all the RIAA crap goin' on in America at the moment; then again it's more likely to be a lame attempt to get more people using their music download site).
- No line in/out (line out from the docking cradle? Not sure; post if you know).
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First of all I have a 30GB iPod and a Mac computer and the dock does indeed have a line out.
As for the copyright protection I know I have had problems with transferring files from my iPod to my buddy BryZe's PC. I'm also not sure if it may be because my iPod is formatted for Mac? He was mentioning something to me just yesterday that he was able to take his 15GB iPod and transfer files off of it to a coworker's PC. He was mentioning something about the mp3s being hidden files or something but it seemed to work for him. Again it may have worked becuase his iPod is formatted for a PC I don't know. If you have questions feel free to PM him and if you can't get a hold of him just PM me and I'll bug him about it. He can give you a complete explanation on how to do the file transfers.
I hope this answers these two questions.
In reguards to the music download site, I think it's a great idea. I'd have no problem purchasing music that way if it were offered in Canada and they had the songs I want. I'm hoping that music service improves in the future.
Also about the dock, the only advantage I see with it is the line out. You can charge the iPod without the dock because you just plug the firewire directly into the iPod.
About the software for the PC, it's a valid point that it doesn't interface as well as with the Macs but Apple designed both the iPod and iTunes so they should work perfectly together right. I am quite sure that when iTunes gets released for the PC this problem will be solved as well. BryZe posted a link in another thread somewhere about the PC version of iTunes but I can't remember where it is. =p
Scrolling through songs is no problem either. It can be done, it accelerates and it is quite simple to do. That's all I'm going to say about that.
I have had no problems with the battery life yet but the only time I can see it being a problem is on long car or plane trips. What is needed for the car is an adaptor to plug into the ciarette lighter but I haven't seen any yet and am anxiously awaiting it's release. For plane rides I honestly can't think of a solution.
One other thing, the 30GB model is slightly larger than the 10 and 15 GB models. The height and width are the same but it is slightly deeper.
Sorry I've tried to keep this post as organized as possible but there are things I need to keep adding. I've already edited this post about five ro six times. =)
Hope this helps,
Cheers. |
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| webmeister |
All I can add to this is that I bought the Creative Zen 10gig model last October, and I absolutely love it!
Normally when I've spent a good deal of money on something I have second thoughts, or spend the next few weeks thinking "hmm I shouldn't have done that" -- but this is like the only expensive thing I've ever bought where I don't think like that!!
I've never had any problems with it, the software has crashed twice (not too bad when you consider that I've used it probably 2-3 hours a day, every day for the last 10 months). The battery life is good, I get about 8-9 hours out of it before it needs a charge, but I just plug it in to the wall and keep listening :D
I haven't used any of the other MP3 players so I can't really compare them, but yeah I've had basically no problems with the Zen and would totally recommend it :cool: |
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| b1_ |
| quote: | Originally posted by physe
As for the copyright protection I know I have had problems with transferring files from my iPod to my buddy BryZe's PC. I'm also not sure if it may be because my iPod is formatted for Mac? He was mentioning something to me just yesterday that he was able to take his 15GB iPod and transfer files off of it to a coworker's PC. He was mentioning something about the mp3s being hidden files or something but it seemed to work for him. Again it may have worked becuase his iPod is formatted for a PC I don't know. If you have questions feel free to PM him and if you can't get a hold of him just PM me and I'll bug him about it. He can give you a complete explanation on how to do the file transfers.
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Please let BryZe know about this thread. I would be interested to know exactly how hard it is to tranfer music and other files using the iPod. My understanding is that everything except music is easy to transfer; in fact I think it's a plug and transfer setup for non-music files as windows picks up the iPod as an external drive. And as you said all music files are hidden but you can un-hide them somehow (when you do this however the iPod resets the one computer to the new computer and so you must reconfigure it when you return to your original comp.
Webmeister, you're in Australia like myself so I would like to know where you purchased your Zen from and for how much? And does the Zen fit comfortably in your pocket or is it just a bit too bulky? Have you ever used it while cycling by chance, as that is what I need it for? |
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| physe |
| quote: | Originally posted by b1_
Please let BryZe know about this thread. I would be interested to know exactly how hard it is to tranfer music and other files using the iPod. My understanding is that everything except music is easy to transfer; in fact I think it's a plug and transfer setup for non-music files as windows picks up the iPod as an external drive. And as you said all music files are hidden but you can un-hide them somehow (when you do this however the iPod resets the one computer to the new computer and so you must reconfigure it when you return to your original comp.
Webmeister, you're in Australia like myself so I would like to know where you purchased your Zen from and for how much? And does the Zen fit comfortably in your pocket or is it just a bit too bulky? Have you ever used it while cycling by chance, as that is what I need it for? |
I've already let him know. =) |
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| dreamone |
hi!
i've got two Apple iPods. an old model and a new one. i was never that satisfied with any portable music listening device - i had md, cd, casette, etc ... but my iPods are simply great! if you have plenty of music, scrolling through the titles is comfortable because of the touchpad integrated. if you want to purchase one, the old model is great beacause it has more battaries. the new one is not that fat ... and if it occurs that the iPod is damaged - the apple service is the best on earth! or just reboot the system. simply by pressing two buttons. a great choice
10 points out of 10.
btw: i am a windows user |
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| webmeister |
| quote: | Originally posted by b1_
Webmeister, you're in Australia like myself so I would like to know where you purchased your Zen from and for how much? And does the Zen fit comfortably in your pocket or is it just a bit too bulky? Have you ever used it while cycling by chance, as that is what I need it for? |
I purchased the Zen from a Creative outlet in Sydney CBD, www.capitolcomputer.com.au I think is their web address...
It does fit in your pocket, though my pockets are quite large :D It is a bit bulky, but once you get used to it being there its fine...
I've never used it while cycling, though I do a lot of walking with it, and have used it jogging once or twice. Bear in mind though, that jogging or doing aerobics (or anything overly physical) while carrying the spinning hard drive of the Zen or any other MP3 player isn't really a good idea. If you're buying an mp3 player to listen to during a workout, I'd recommend you get one based around a flash memory or something, as there's no moving parts to get disturbed by you jumping around :D
Hope this helps :) |
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| BryZe |
Well I have found the iPod the best mp3 player of them all!!!!! I wont get into the pros and cons because we seem to have all of them but, I will talk about the file transfers.
The iPod is seen as an external hard drive on any other PC that doesnt have MusicMatch. So all you do is go into the control panel, folder options and then hit the view tab. Now just click show hidden folders and icons. ITS THAT EASY!!!!!!!!
The only other catch is that to get the music files you have to go into iPod Control/Music. I can transfer files, music and contacts between computers with no problems what so ever.
To answer the battery, memory and software issues that I have heard with other mp3 players, I wanted to test my iPod. I killed the batteries on my iPod by just letting it play on shuffle through the entire tracklist. It died after 8hours and 20minutes.
So I tired to play it when it was dead and of course...dead battery symbol. So I plugged it in and left it for about an hour to recharge and all I got was an Apple on the screen. So I thought great...I will have to load all my songs or the software crashed. All I did was rest it and it was fine.
Oh yeah and if anyone has any other questions then just PM me. |
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| rainbow_marble |
| mmmmmmm i want one :/ too bad i blow all my cash on vinyls |
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