Help me choose a HDD MP3 player

[Sluggo]

I am tired of small MP3 players, I am ready for the big expensive model. What to choose?

I looked at the following today:

iPod: great sleek design, expensive accessories, questionable battery life

iRiver 20gig: OK design, has some stuff built-in voice and FM looks to be OK battery life

Creative Zen: Bulky design, seems heavy.

I do plan on putting just about every CD we own on one, as well as a good music service to buy individual songs. iPod and iTunes seem to be a seamless integration, how do the other players fare with pay per d/l music services?

I also want unlimited burns to CD with what I d/l and want to mix what I rip off our CDs.

What combination of player and service is best?

 

[imported_Strang]

I *just* got a Dell Digital Jukebox (as in I got it Friday), so I can't really review it yet, but you might also want to check it out. I got a refurb 20gb for $218 through Dell's outlet store. It's a little bit bigger than an iPod (and almost twice as heavy), but it also has 16-22 hour battery life (depending on what review you go by) and just got an add-on that'll act as an FM tuner.

 

[imported_Ziggy]

I-river IHp 120 dammnit!!!!!

 

[gentobu]

I've had my 2nd gen 10GB iPod for about a year now with no problems.

 

[loup garou]

Rio Karma: Great battery life (15 hours), support for many formats (ogg, flac, wma, mp3), small, inexpensive, included dock with network connectivity, great sound quality, unparallelled user interface.

I rip my own music so I have no experience with online music services.

 

[Sluggo]

I was thinking that the Dell was about the size and weight of the Creative which seemed a bit bulky and heavy compared to the other two.

 

[tk149]

#*&amp;$#($&amp;* <stupid Cntrl-T wiped my original post>
Creative Nomad Zen Xtra 40 GB for $214.61

iRiver - The best. Sound, features, extra-cool remote. Expensive as the iPod. Higher learning curve than the iPod, but with tons more features. Way out of my price range, so I didn't look too closely.

iPod - THE standard for HD MP3 players. "Stylish." You can use the back as a mirror...too bad it scratches easily. Expensive, with expensive accessories. Very easy to learn to use, with excellent controls. Cannot edit playlists on the fly while listening to another playlist (at least I've seen this complaint posted). Also can play some games, has a Contacts list, possibly a Calendar and other stuff. I didn't really pay much attention to that. Reputedly the lowest battery life of the models I researched (it only has a 2 MB buffer). Apple claims 8-12 hours, although one reviewer consistently got 6 hours. Plus it'll cost you $80 (IIRC) to replace the rechargeable battery when it dies.

Dell JukeBox - only comes in 15 and 20 GB versions. Solid for a good price. Someone posted a user review in OT recently. It has an 8 MB buffer, and a supposed 16 hour battery life. I've come very close to buying one several times in the last few weeks. I didn't see much about battery problems with the JB, but the case is sealed.

Creative - I bought the 40 GB version. 0.13 ounces heavier than a 40GB iPod (which itself is larger and heavier than the other iPods). 0.3" x 0.6" x 0.24" larger than the 40 GB iPod. Supposedly has superior sound over the iPod. Battery life is claimed to be 14 hours. The battery is easily user replaceable....but you still have to order one from Creative.

 

[mpitts]

iPod.

 

[TitanDiddly]

iPod. I hate Apple, but even through my spite, I have to say that nothing else measures up. Nothing.

 

[nageov3t]

Originally posted by: gentobu
I've had my 2nd gen 10GB iPod for about a year now with no problems.

same here.

 

[slackerinabox]

The CoWon iAudio m3 looks very cool.. Smaller than an ipod!!!


Cnet review - http://reviews.cnet.com/Cowon_iAudio_M3/4505-6490_7-30842848.html?tag=pdtl-list (they give it a "very good" 8.7 out of 10)

 

[loup garou]

Originally posted by: freedomsbeat212
The CoWon iAudio m3 looks very cool.. Smaller than an ipod!!!


Cnet review - http://reviews.cnet.com/Cowon_iAudio_M3/4505-6490_7-30842848.html?tag=pdtl-list (they give it a "very good" 8.7 out of 10)

Holy crap that thing looks awesome. Respectable battery life as well for something so slim. I'm seriously impressed. If RedChairSoft comes out with software for it and the price is reasonable, I may be tempted to switch from my Karma!

 

[halik]

Originally posted by: Strangone
I *just* got a Dell Digital Jukebox (as in I got it Friday), so I can't really review it yet, but you might also want to check it out. I got a refurb 20gb for $218 through Dell's outlet store. It's a little bit bigger than an iPod (and almost twice as heavy), but it also has 16-22 hour battery life (depending on what review you go by) and just got an add-on that'll act as an FM tuner.

I actually just got one of those also. I've sold my zen Xtra and about a week later i saw that dell deal and could pass it up. I'd go for the dell for sure, its lot more compact and ergonomic. Plus the menus are slightly more straightforward. (when you select to play an artist, it will go to the now playing screen etc.). Battery life is amazing, i used to have to charge the zen every other day. This thing keeps going and going and going....

I personally couldnt make my self drop the cash needed to get an ipod. Dell does everything i need for cheaper and the difference between it and the ipod is rather marginal. The only noticable thing is that the dell is slightly heavier. Sizewise i would say its nearly identical to 2nd gen ipod

 

[randomlinh]

i would say the dell is still a bit bigger.. it bulges a little. my vote goes for the ipod on size, style and interface. But every little .1 in counts for me, so it may not to you.

as far as the dell, I didn't like the scroll wheel. the ipod touch wheel has spoiled me rotten. But it's no where near as bad as the iriver joystick thing... I'm sorry, but that has got to be the biggest POS design in a long while. as far as creative goes.. well, that thing is pretty much a brick IMO... not worth it for a portable mp3 player.


as far as the iAudio thing that was linked.... why is the lcd only on the "remote".... that is stupid. I sometimes don't want to have to bother with the remote.

 

[HiTek21]

I so badly want to buy a HDD based Mp3 Player but the battery is what makes me not get it. I don't like the idea of me not being able to replace the battery (easily). I dont want to spend as much as I spent on the player to get the battery replaced.

 

[Cobalt]

Once I got to learn to use it (takes maybe an hour if your slow like me ) I'd have to say the iRiver iHP-120 is absolutely one of the best. It's cheaper than the 20gb iPod (it's actually about $20 more than the 15gb iPod) and comes with a very handy remote, a case, earbuds, a built in FM tuner, built in voice recorder (don't know how often you'll use it but, hey wth? ). The battery life is wonderful, just don't forget to leave it plugged in when your upgrading the Firmware on it, it sucks down battery life like an alcoholic takes a few beers :beer: Great mp3 player. The only real drawback right now is you can't use purchase music from places like iTunes. However, according to iRiver, a new update should be coming out soon to allow you to use them. GL with your buy.

 

[biostud]

I just ordered a Muvo2 4Gb with FM remote.

It doesn't have the high capacity, but it's small and light.

 

[Babbles]

What do you all think of THIS GUY?

I have been thinking about getting a MP3 player for a while, and I would like a FM tuner (an AM would be awesome, but have never seen one on a MP3 player). I would prefer a smaller size as opposed to volume of music. I would use this for going to the gym, lawn work and the such; therefore, a smaller size would be nice.

 

[Gurck]

I did a lot of research and decided the one I wanted was the Iriver 40gb one. However, I could be as rich as Bill Gates and I *still* wouldn't pay $450 for a usb hard drive with an mp3 decoder, a screen, and a remote :\ It's vitally important to me, however, to have one recognized as a universal mass storage device; ie. one that acts as a hard drive and which is recognized by multiple OS's without installing the proprietary software common to Creative &amp; Dell models, among others. If that doesn't matter to you however, you can probably save a good deal of money on a different make/model.

werk - or anyone else with a rio karma - is it as delicate as I've read? From what I keep reading any little movement can make it skip, and the hard drive is either extremely fragile or just not well-protected, which can lead to a shortened product life. Also, is it a universal mass storage device, or must you install their proprietary software to access it via pc?

 

[nitsuj3580]

another vote here for the Dell DJ. I also just bought the 20 gig model (got it last week) and am loving it. I use it on my commute to work, during work, home from work, in my car everytime I drive, in the gym, on runs, etc. Battery life has been great. Iamme has a very nice review in OT on the Dell (I know it convinced me )

My brother has a 3rd gen 40 gig Ipod so I was able to compare the two next to each other. The Dell is slightly heavier but to me, it's not a big deal as I wear cargo pants most of the time and could not tell the weight difference when one or the other was in my pocket.

Both sounded the same (my headphones aren't good though so that probably makes a difference) though the Dell has some equilizer settings which I don't know if the Ipod has or not.

Another thing the Dell could do that my brother's Ipod could not (or at least he doesn't know how to) is make a playlist on the device. He has to make his playlists on the computer where as I can queue up a bunch of songs on my Dell DJ and play them.

I love my Dell

 

[chibchakan]

iRiver iHP 120 20 GB MP3 Jukebox :thumbsup:

 

[vladbot]

I was thinking of getting a Dell jukebox, but C-Net reviewers said that the battery cannot be replaced and when the battery runs old you can't fix it. Apple, when the battery dies you have to send it into an authorized repair center to replace the battery. I don't know anything about the other HD players, but I am considering in buying the iPod.

 

[randomlinh]

the 3rd gen ipods have playlist on the go. you hold down select on the artist/album./song/whatever for like 3 secionds, and it adds it to the on the go playlist. how'd your brother miss that in the playlist menu

 

[loup garou]

Originally posted by: Gurck
I did a lot of research and decided the one I wanted was the Iriver 40gb one. However, I could be as rich as Bill Gates and I *still* wouldn't pay $450 for a usb hard drive with an mp3 decoder, a screen, and a remote :\ It's vitally important to me, however, to have one recognized as a universal mass storage device; ie. one that acts as a hard drive and which is recognized by multiple OS's without installing the proprietary software common to Creative &amp; Dell models, among others. If that doesn't matter to you however, you can probably save a good deal of money on a different make/model.

werk - or anyone else with a rio karma - is it as delicate as I've read? From what I keep reading any little movement can make it skip, and the hard drive is either extremely fragile or just not well-protected, which can lead to a shortened product life. Also, is it a universal mass storage device, or must you install their proprietary software to access it via pc?

I have had no problems with the Karma being "fragile." As a matter of fact, I've dropped it from 2-3 feet several times (the first time, the day I got it...you should've seen my face. :Q). I have had to reset it several times when it locked up while shutting down, but in the short time (couple of weeks) I used a friend's iPod, I also had to reset it. I've never heard my Karma skip nor have I ever heard of this happening. If anything, the iPod would be more prone to skipping because of its tiny cache. I've used the Karma every workday for 3-4 hours for the past ~6 months with no problems. The battery life is still a solid 12-14 hours between recharges. I would however recommend purchasing an exended warranty for any DAP bought now though, regardless of make and model, after reading how cheap you can get them for.

Using the ethernet dock, you can acess the device from any OS that is java compatible. It is not a mass storage device. You just plug it in to the network, set an ip on the Karma or receive one from a dhcp server, punch that ip into a web browser and download the java app for transferring music and files back and forth. Works great.

I also can't say enough good things about RedChair Soft's RioRad software for windows. It is awesome for syncing music, drag and dropping music or files in explorer (mimics mass storage functionality), transcoding music on the fly while transferring to the device, etc. No matter what DAP anyone chooses, I think they should give the the appropriate RedChair software a try.

 

[Paulson]

I love my ipod!