Which is the Best MP3 Player ?

[gluck]

This is what I need-
Compact
Good Sound Quality
HardDrive Based
Car Hookup
Good Price Value


Heard- Ipod is kool but expensive, iriver has the better sound quality.
Has anyone heard of gigabeat or something from Toshiba ?

 

[loup garou]

I love my gigabeat f20. The Room software sucks, though. Best color LCD I've ever seen on ANY portable device. Great battery life, great size, extremely stylish (I have the black--it's like the anti-iPod ). Sound quality is good, but I miss my Karma's parametric EQ. UI is great, PlusTouch is a very cool and intuitive control, IMO. FM tuner/video support would be nice, but I have no need for them and think in a device this size, video support is just a bragging point.

Rio Karma is still the champ for sound quality and price.

 

[Dimmu]

I have an iPod, and I couldn't be more happy with it. The service is great. My iPod wouldn't turn on one day, so they gave me a brand new one. Happy is me. Desipte what other people say, I believe the iPod is worth the little bit of extra cash.

 

[keeleysam]

iPod

 

[Schadenfroh]

iRiver

 

[intogamer]

ipod-they have colour screens now

 

[Excelsior]

iAudio X5.

/thread.

 

[loup garou]

Originally posted by: Excelsior
iAudio X5.

/thread.

No ID3 database. No buy, IMO.

 

[loup garou]

Originally posted by: Dimmu
I have an iPod, and I couldn't be more happy with it. The service is great. My iPod wouldn't turn on one day, so they gave me a brand new one. Happy is me. Desipte what other people say, I believe the iPod is worth the little bit of extra cash.

Originally posted by: keeleysam
iPod

I love these responses. Why? Why iPod? Why is it "worth the little bit of extra cash?" Very rarely do you get any sort of explanation. Just "iPod" or "obligatory iPod response."

 

[Excelsior]

Originally posted by: werk

Originally posted by: Excelsior
iAudio X5.

/thread.

No ID3 database. No buy, IMO.

Uh...you aren't the OP though. And sure..that may keep you from buying it, but myself and some others prefer a directory based system.

 

[mosco]

I posted this about the gigabeat today in another thread today and I will post it here:

Does anyone here use the gigabeat with a PlayForSure service? The included sofware wont transfer licensed music over to the player, and it gives a message saying to use WMP10. The problem is, WMP10 can't see the device. I have the PC connection set to "Windows Media Player 10" and the one that lets you choose when you connect and I get nothing. It always says "gigabeat room" when connecting to the computer even though its not in that mode. The same thing is happening with a co-worker with the 20 gig version. I have the 10gig version to play with. He said when he tried to register for toshiba support, the submit of the form gave him an error. So we can't even find out if there is a firmware upgrade.

I have version 2.020US of the firmware.

BTW, I am not a fan of this device. Yeah the screen is nice, but the controls are pretty bad. The plus sign thing control thing isn't even smooth. When you run your finger over the controls, you can feel the plastic on your finger. Whats up with the center button? They tried too much to be like the ipod and failed.

Also, their software is a joke. Its some of the crappied software I have ever seen. Not only is ugly, but its not very functional. Syncing speed sucks(mp3s, not the playforsure tracks). No where as fast as an ipod. I am glad I didn't buy this.

I could go on, but when I started I didn't come on here to say it sucks, I came on here to get help with my playforsure problem.

I got this device for free from work for testing and I am glad I wasn't the one the spent the money on it. werk is right though, the screen is really nice. I don't however feel that it has the complete package. The ipod might not have the best battery life but if you compare the ease of use and functionality of the software, I think the ipod wins.

 

[Excelsior]

Originally posted by: werk

Originally posted by: Dimmu
I have an iPod, and I couldn't be more happy with it. The service is great. My iPod wouldn't turn on one day, so they gave me a brand new one. Happy is me. Desipte what other people say, I believe the iPod is worth the little bit of extra cash.

Originally posted by: keeleysam
iPod

I love these responses. Why? Why iPod? Why is it "worth the little bit of extra cash?" Very rarely do you get any sort of explanation. Just "iPod" or "obligatory iPod response."

Oh..just imagine if Gurck was here.

 

[0roo0roo]

ipod

as for sound quality, most jokers who diss the ipod aren't realitic. as if most people carry around 300 dollar headphones with separate amplifier costing another 300, or a 5000 dollar audiophile speaker system with their ipods while listening to lossless audio formats.
the alpine car hookup is best, it has the interface, not just the line in kind of thing. costs 100bux though

 

[Auryg]

I'd vote for creative's series. Sound quality is absolutely superb, the touch has 24 hours of battery life, and the micro has so many features you don't even know what to do with it.

The x5 is pretty freaking cool too though

 

[loup garou]

Originally posted by: mosco
I posted this about the gigabeat today in another thread today and I will post it here:

Does anyone here use the gigabeat with a PlayForSure service? The included sofware wont transfer licensed music over to the player, and it gives a message saying to use WMP10. The problem is, WMP10 can't see the device. I have the PC connection set to "Windows Media Player 10" and the one that lets you choose when you connect and I get nothing. It always says "gigabeat room" when connecting to the computer even though its not in that mode. The same thing is happening with a co-worker with the 20 gig version. I have the 10gig version to play with. He said when he tried to register for toshiba support, the submit of the form gave him an error. So we can't even find out if there is a firmware upgrade.

I have version 2.020US of the firmware.

BTW, I am not a fan of this device. Yeah the screen is nice, but the controls are pretty bad. The plus sign thing control thing isn't even smooth. When you run your finger over the controls, you can feel the plastic on your finger. Whats up with the center button? They tried too much to be like the ipod and failed.

Also, their software is a joke. Its some of the crappied software I have ever seen. Not only is ugly, but its not very functional. Syncing speed sucks(mp3s, not the playforsure tracks). No where as fast as an ipod. I am glad I didn't buy this.

I could go on, but when I started I didn't come on here to say it sucks, I came on here to get help with my playforsure problem.

I got this device for free from work for testing and I am glad I wasn't the one the spent the money on it. werk is right though, the screen is really nice. I don't however feel that it has the complete package. The ipod might not have the best battery life but if you compare the ease of use and functionality of the software, I think the ipod wins.

Where are you buying music from? Napster? Yahoo? I've never heard of this problem at myGigabeat.

Personally, I think the PlusTouch is excellent. It allows you to easily do absolutely everything on the player using one input. The "shortcuts" are the best part (slide left-right, right-left, up-down to get to different screens). What do you mean you "can feel the plastic?" The plus touch is made of plastic! What center button?

 

[icejunkie]

Originally posted by: werk

Originally posted by: Dimmu
I have an iPod, and I couldn't be more happy with it. The service is great. My iPod wouldn't turn on one day, so they gave me a brand new one. Happy is me. Desipte what other people say, I believe the iPod is worth the little bit of extra cash.

Originally posted by: keeleysam
iPod

I love these responses. Why? Why iPod? Why is it "worth the little bit of extra cash?" Very rarely do you get any sort of explanation. Just "iPod" or "obligatory iPod response."

what extra little bit of cash? iriver's 6gb costs $20 less than a 20gb ipod (notice the mini is *gasp* cheaper than the iriver)... besides that, ipods are priced exactly the same as the x5 or the h10... only the zen touch comes in at $50 less...

 

[vshah]

Originally posted by: Excelsior
iAudio X5.

/thread.

i have one, it rocks. ID3 will be added sometime in the near future.
Even so, it rocks.

 

[BatmanNate]

Originally posted by: Schadenfroh
iRiver

 

[gluck]

Its kinda mixed response here.
Ipod is killing the competition.. so where do I get one ? Costco ..

 

[LongAce]

I like my Ipod as well...

 

[mosco]

Originally posted by: werk
Where are you buying music from? Napster? Yahoo? I've never heard of this problem at myGigabeat.

Personally, I think the PlusTouch is excellent. It allows you to easily do absolutely everything on the player using one input. The "shortcuts" are the best part (slide left-right, right-left, up-down to get to different screens). What do you mean you "can feel the plastic?" The plus touch is made of plastic! What center button?

http://www.mygigabeat.com/forum/message...id=7D29DFB1-3048-2906-EA1DFB10B75509A7

thanks for the link. I found the problem. you have to use the cradle apparently to sync which is really lame. What if I am on the go? What if i am at work? The whole point of a cradle is to sit at a desk. Also, WMP can't sync photos or album art? Thats lame. No USB 2.0 when using WMP? So the slow transfer I was seeing with the toshiba software is even slower? That sucks.

When i say I can feel the plastic I mean that the Plus touch pad isn't flush the plastic casing. So when you drag your finger down it, it doesn't feel smooth. This was the case with both players we had. By center button, i mean pressing the center of plus touch for play.

Can this thing even be used as a hard drive?

 

[loup garou]

Originally posted by: mosco

Originally posted by: werk
Where are you buying music from? Napster? Yahoo? I've never heard of this problem at myGigabeat.

Personally, I think the PlusTouch is excellent. It allows you to easily do absolutely everything on the player using one input. The "shortcuts" are the best part (slide left-right, right-left, up-down to get to different screens). What do you mean you "can feel the plastic?" The plus touch is made of plastic! What center button?

http://www.mygigabeat.com/forum/message...id=7D29DFB1-3048-2906-EA1DFB10B75509A7

thanks for the link. I found the problem. you have to use the cradle apparently to sync which is really lame. What if I am on the go? What if i am at work? The whole point of a cradle is to sit at a desk. Also, WMP can't sync photos or album art? Thats lame. No USB 2.0 when using WMP? So the slow transfer I was seeing with the toshiba software is even slower? That sucks.

When i say I can feel the plastic I mean that the Plus touch pad isn't flush the plastic casing. So when you drag your finger down it, it doesn't feel smooth. This was the case with both players we had. By center button, i mean pressing the center of plus touch for play.

Can this thing even be used as a hard drive?

Uh...yes. When you plug it in, it shows up in explorer. My plus touch is perfectly flush. I've never heard any complaints similar to yours regarding the plus touch. How could WMP sync photos? It doesn't even have a photo browser.

 

[Kodiak]

iPod

 

[GhettoFob]

zen micro

 

[loup garou]

Originally posted by: LongAce
I like my Ipod as well...

Originally posted by: Kodiak
iPod

LOL, another 2 winners.