Before I pull the trigger on another iPod

[torpid]

Don't get a zen extra. You will be disappointed with the navigation controls. That stupid dial on the side is horrible. The zen touch is much better.

I own a karma and would not recommend it. Rio's support, originally below expectations like iRiver's, has turned into complete crap. They have more or less abandoned the Karma and are not likely to release any new firmware, not even the promised universal mass storage support.

Added: Their customer and tech support is outsourced and they seem to have been told to be abbrasive and not helpful. If you have to send in the unit, you can expect it to take at least a month before you get a replacement. Also, there are a lot of hard drive problems, although many appear to be software related and resolved by reformatting the drive and re-xfering the files.

For similar reasons, I wouldn't recommend the iRiver. If support and firmware are not important to you, iRiver is probably ok. Though the UI is pretty bad on them. Not as bad as the archos units I've tried, though.

I would choose between a creative unit and the ipod. But it would depend on if / how much creative has improved their interface. I only played with the touch briefly and did not evaluate the software as much as the buttons, which were really the major problem I had with the original ze. But, the original zen and before had some pretty nagging problems that might whittle away at you after 2000 hours of use.

 

[JulesMaximus]

You're going to shoot an iPod?

 

[Wizkid]

Originally posted by: vfouquereau
I am as confused as ever. Living in Canada really sucks. The prices are so inflated, it's annoying. A simple Zen Micro would cost me (after taxes) 402.60$ CAD...

NCIX has a good price on the Zen Touch: $313.20 + tax (7%) and shipping and you are under $350 CAD

or Zen Micro for $1 less.

 

[loic2003]

Originally posted by: Gurck

Originally posted by: loic2003
Don't worry about Gurck, he feels a need to personally insult anyone who owns an iPod for some reason. As you can see, everyone's pretty tired of him now.

This from someone whose argument for the ipod is that it's good because he doesn't like my dog? That headphones' sound quality may be judged by whether or not they use neodymium magnets? That headphone amplifiers require car batteries?

I called you on knowing siht about sound quality while claiming that you knew what you were blabbering about, not on liking the ipod. Sorry you're too sore about it to see the difference kiddo, next time if you don't know something don't comment on it. Attitude & posturing like that are typical of ipod users and young children; the logical conclusion is that there is a lot of overlap between the two.

Yet again, we're back to arguments #2 and #3, and the post includes the word proponent as well as claiming iPod users are children: a classic gurck nugget of wisdom.

So, when did I claim my opinion had anything to do with your dog? I was just mocking your dog- it has little to do with the iPod discussion other than displaying how you have a distinct lack of taste so your rants on how the iPod has a poor interface are somewhat nullified; dry your tears already!

Also, when did I claim headphone amps required car batteries? Link please. Or was it a lie? Thought so.

As for magnets. Neodymium is better than regular magnet material in so far that is offers increased strength and reduced size thus demonstrating how apple have considered the design of the earphones a lot more than the competition who throw in cheapo tripe or some other manufacturer's bottom of the range crap.

Your blind hatred of apple products and reasoning including "it's expensive" simply shows how you?re taking an unpopular opinion of an argument just for the sake of it; spewing uninformed, inaccurate arguments and not really learning about why the product is the way it is. It seems to me you come to the AT forums in order to start arguments for entertainment or personal gratification.

Here comes the reply "uuuh... but you're 15 and you use AOL and you laughed at my dog...." puuulease.... could you sound any more pre-pubescent? Also.... making things up? that's getting very weak now.

You bore me now. You provide no insight, you make things up ("quicktime resets your file associations" - yeah if you tell it to in the installation, otherwise it doesn't. Maybe 5 years ago it did, but things change.) you rant about how sound quality is the only factor that should influence a user's decision even though a minor (and to 99.99% of people, unnoticeable) increase in quality would result in sacrificing features, style, ease of use and compatibility, you ignore or dismiss anything that contradicts what you claim. It's tedious.

 

[mitchafi]

Originally posted by: RagingBITCH

Originally posted by: mitchafi
im a bit dissapointed that newegg still doesn't have the 20GB Zen Touch in stock. ETA for them is the 20th (today) but the site still shows them as out of stock.

Um, ETA = Estimated Time of Arrival. Receipt of goods depends on the supplier.

Yea I know what an ETA is. Doesn't stop me from being dissapointed!

 

[axnff]

Another option would be the iAudio M3 (14 hours) or M3L (35 hours). They are stylish, sound good, have great features (some of the best FM recording out there). Only drawback is that the only way to control it is the remote (no built-in screen). For more info, visit iAudioPhile.net forums.

Cowon (manufacturer) apparently has pretty good customer service, to boot, as well as frequent firmware updates...