hdd mp3 players other than ipods?

[benjamit]

can someone list me the major names for hdd drive based mp3 players other than the ipod

i have a second gen ipod but its for my spouse and so hands off for me

 

[ViRGE]

Off the top of my head, the only other companies I can think of that produce a small-scale(read: not using laptop HD's) MP3 player are Creative(Zen series) and Archos.

 

[de8212]

I'm interested in this too. I think iriver has one coming out also. Is there any good sites with in depth reviews of these type of mp3 player?

 

[PraetorianGuards]

Death, there are a couple out there. I remember seeing something on Cnet where they reviewed a couple different models. Can't find the link...but I think you can just search around the MP3 player section there. Also, I heard that Creative is coming out with a 60GB version of the Zen which will be about $400. Bigger than the iPod, but jeez that's a lot of space.

 

[addragyn]

Zen and Archos use 2.5" drives.

iPod uses a 1.8" drive.

 

[wfbberzerker]

Originally posted by: addragyn
Zen and Archos use 2.5" drives.

iPod uses a 1.8" drive.

also the creative jukebox (not zen) also has a hard drive, iirc, but its as big as a cd player.

 

[addragyn]

My quick take.

Archos - Focus on crammingasmanyfeaturesaspossibleintoonedevice. Overfeautured with mediocore design and horrid quality. I had a friend go through 3 of these in as many weeks. I know there is an opensource firmware effort that is supposedly very good. Lot's of features if you want to mess with it.

iPod - Definitely the most polished of the three. Also the priciest. The iPod is well designed and well engineered. Details that make a quality product more expensive and that aren't hyped in marketing are present, i.e. 32MB buffer v. Zen's 16MB, 1.8" HD v. 2.5". Large screen, excellent UI, and excellent build quality. Nasty Windows software. A cut above the competition, just works well.

Zen - Focus is lower price and capacity. Things like EAX

and Creative pushing capacity reflect the audience it's aimed at. Jog navigation, laggy UI, small screen, and inability to mount as a standard external HD show a lack of attention to detail. Horrid software. Creative raised the bar for the low cost, HD players with this one.

YMMV

 

[addragyn]

It is kind of ridiculous that every one of these devices has aftermarket software or hacked firmware made/sold for it.

Pics

iPod riding Zen

new iPod compard to previous model


They're all relatively pricey considering you can almost get a complete PC for the same amount of $$. If you're into an iPod and want to save a bit of money look on eBay. I've seen iPods selling for phenomenal discounts, because people who need the lastest are dumping them for the newest model.

5GB on eBay Starting around $200 for BIN.

10GB on eBay Starting around $225 for BIN.

20GB on eBay A few @ $325 really starting @ $350 for most.

Very good deal on the last two compard to the new models.

 

[Sid59]

slashdot.org has a story on it .. Article

Creative is going to be releasing an upgraded Nomad Zen at the end of the month that is not only larger than the iPod, but cheaper too. At $400 for 60G ($100 less than the 30G iPod), the new Zen will sport more features

 

[MyName]

E Digital makes
the Odyssey 1000 and Treó 15

 

[DannyBoy]

Originally posted by: wfbberzerker

Originally posted by: addragyn
Zen and Archos use 2.5" drives.

iPod uses a 1.8" drive.

also the creative jukebox (not zen) also has a hard drive, iirc, but its as big as a cd player.

>Would that be the Creative Nomad & Nomad2 Jukeboxes?

 

[Katana]

You might want to check out dap review, in the galleries section they have a bunch of pictures of the new players. RCA has a new player that should be released this summer, it looks really nice and will be cheap. Phillips, Iriver, Samsung, Neuros, and many others also have new hdd based players that should be out real soon.

 

[rastakirk]

I recently cancelled my order with Dell for the Ipod 30 Gb model. I contacted Apple and inquired what it would cost to change out the battery and he said it would be $159.00 plus the owner must pay shipping both ways, which amounts to another $40 making a grand total of $200 to change the battery approximately every 2-3 years. You can purchase a battery from Ipod Battery for $59 but it requires some disassembly which could damage the unit. The unit would be perfect with a piggyback battery unit.

 

[Wiktor]

iRiver iHP

These aren't released yet, but this is what I would get if I ever bought a HDD player.

 

[DurocShark]

eDigital's MXP 100 with FM tuning capabilities, and an external IDE connector would be perfect... BUT it's still gotta be under $100 w/o memory.

Right. Like that's gonna happen. Sigh.

 

[Farley2k]

I really wish the older, now uncool CL players would become cheaper. Really the Jukebox (as big as a cd player) is still well over $150. Why don't they drop the price of a piece of hardware they obviously don't produce anymore!?

 

[benjamit]

Originally posted by: Farley2k
I really wish the older, now uncool CL players would become cheaper. Really the Jukebox (as big as a cd player) is still well over $150. Why don't they drop the price of a piece of hardware they obviously don't produce anymore!?

it a matter of demand

 

[beer]

Are the Creative Labs NOMAD Jukebox Zen (USB 2.0) Nomads a new version or something? They come in both 20 and 60 GB sizes, and also in USB 2.0 How long have these been around (in other words, are they a new version?)

 

[beer]

^

 

[randomlinh]

the zen is freakin huge. I first saw finally about a month ago... no wonder the ipod is so popular. but again, it's way to expensive :/

 

[EdipisReks]

Originally posted by: Wiktor
iRiver iHP

These aren't released yet, but this is what I would get if I ever bought a HDD player.

that looks sweet.

 

[Wiktor]

iHP 100

iRiver just released it, looking good - magnesium body, finally not plastic (standard got iRiver players).
But it's expensive, so I've heard.

The outstanding features are:
- FM tuner (like all iriver's), radio recording
- voice recording (with adjustable quality)
- remote with an advanced LCD display (large display on the player)
- optical line-in/out
- great battery life (16hr), built in battery
- upgradable firmware, with iRiver this acyually means something - they used to add a lot of new features for other players (new equlizer, USB drive support)

What is missing:
- OGG support (but there's a good chance it will be added via firmware update)
- a docking station (like iPod's)
- multi-color display
- larger drives (than 10GB, but probebly will be realesed)

 

[BennyD]

i have a question

if i bought an ipod (old 5gb one) would it work from a firewire card or need an onboard one?

 

[XBoxLPU]

Xplayer is good Ipod software for Windows or at least I have heard

 

[randomlinh]

ipod will work on the firewire card yes. onboard/card... it's all the same (it's 6pin vs 4pin you might want to worry about. the new ipods on the 4pin won't charge. not sure how the old ones work)


as for ogg support as a con... does ANYTHING have ogg support (in terms of portable mp3 players)? and who needs multicolor display... it'd eat the batteries like a mad man