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Mp3 player showdown!

Freaky Fender

Freaky Fender

May 27, 2001
4,749
7
Saunderstown, RI
#1
I'm thinking of getting a "Mothership" mp3 player for my birthday. It occured to me when I brought my CD collection on an airplane and it took me 10 minutes to get the binder back in.


I've obviously thought about getting an Ipod. There are 3 things that I'm iffy about.

1) Sound quality- I really don't want it to sound like it's stiff compressed mp3s.

2.) Battery Life-How long does the battery last? I read in other thread that depending on the way you charge it, it could be 2-3 years or 8-9 years.

3.) Itunes. I run linux. As whiney as it sounds, I wouldn't want to boot into windows just to load up the Ipod, but that can be pushed aside for function.

I don't want this to become "WTFOMGYOUSHUDTGETAIPODCUZITROX" or a "DONTGETIPODBECUZITSUXANDITSTOEXPENSIVE" thread. I'm open to pretty much all ideas, but I want function over form.
 
#2
WTFOMGYOUSHUDTGETAIPODCUZITROX!!1

One thing about Apple is that their stuff is designed very carefully, on the outside as well on the inside. If you are concerned about sound quality, the iPod Shuffle has had very good remarks about that.

Of course you want to replace the phones, the included phones aren't the best no matter which the player.
 
#4
For scrolling through thousands of songs quickly, the iPod has a very well thought out interface in the scroll/click wheel. Probably the best out there.

iTunes can kill Windows Media Player as soon as it incorporates video.

I use Creative Labs' app for my Muvo and even WMP beats it.
 
#5
Well I'm going to vote iRiver, because I have one and I can't fault it.

Sound quality - amazing, iRivers are known for having exceptional sound quality. I also find the EQ on my H340 to be extremely good, although I'm sure my Etymotic ER-6s help somewhat.

Battery life - I keep it topped up but have never had it run out on me, I don't even thing the battery has gone below half full.

Itunes - With XP the H340 comes up as another hard drive, no need to encode anything (can play mp3, wav, ogg files), no software to install. I presume it would be the same with Linux.
 
#9
iPod is probably the safest to use in the car. dunno if that's a big concern, but the interface/design of the iPod is ridiculously easy to operate, which is a big plus when it comes to use in the car.

I have used a zen in the car, and while I could handle it, it wasn't nearly as fluid or 'safe'.


YMMV
 
#10
I wish Apple would follow the Zen Micro lead and just start making the iPods with easily replaceable batteries. It seems so easy and so much better for the consumer than sending your iPod in and paying $99 to have it replaced with a refurbed model. It sounds more like something you'd do with a broken product than a run down battery. An easy replaceable battery would also allow you to take one along if you're traveling for a long time to swap it out if need be. When Zen first put the new micro (I think it's the Micro at least) out on the market they ran a promotion where it actually came with the second battery. Nice.

brad cook
 
#11
DigMe said:
I wish Apple would follow the Zen Micro lead and just start making the iPods with easily replaceable batteries. It seems so easy and so much better for the consumer than sending your iPod in and paying $99 to have it replaced with a refurbed model. It sounds more like something you'd do with a broken product than a run down battery. An easy replaceable battery would also allow you to take one along if you're traveling for a long time to swap it out if need be. When Zen first put the new micro (I think it's the Micro at least) out on the market they ran a promotion where it actually came with the second battery. Nice.

brad cook
Click to expand...

You don't have to send it to them. You can do it by yourself for like $30...
 
#13
DigMe said:
I wish Apple would follow the Zen Micro lead and just start making the iPods with easily replaceable batteries. It seems so easy and so much better for the consumer than sending your iPod in and paying $99 to have it replaced with a refurbed model. It sounds more like something you'd do with a broken product than a run down battery. An easy replaceable battery would also allow you to take one along if you're traveling for a long time to swap it out if need be. When Zen first put the new micro (I think it's the Micro at least) out on the market they ran a promotion where it actually came with the second battery. Nice.

brad cook
Click to expand...

Apple reduced the battery replacement cost to $59
 
#16
Petary791 said:
You don't have to send it to them. You can do it by yourself for like $30...
Click to expand...

Yes but doesn't that involve something like prying open your iPod with a screwdriver or something? Doesn't sound like a process that's going to leave your iPod looking the same..unless they've changed the access method.

I realize that there are other options but there's no good reason to not make the battery easily accessible other than to assure yourselves more profits at the expense of the consumer.

brad cook
 

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