MP3 players: iPod, iRiver H120, Rio Karma, Dell DJ

[randomlinh]

Originally posted by: Gurck

Originally posted by: Goosemaster

Originally posted by: yukichigai

Originally posted by: misle
This morning, I was really thinking about getting a new 4G iPod 20GB, but after reading reviews and this thread, the iRiver H120 has moved into the lead. The Ogg support helps along with all the extra and I won't have to use iTunes on my PC. (I use iTunes at work on my Mac, but at home I much prefer Winamp.)

I got fed up with iTunes. I like the theory behind it, but it installs processes that run at startup. Processes you can't end from the Task Manager. If it was something important I'd be okay, but why does iTunes automatically install an iPodHelper process when I don't have one? Bleah.

I saw it was going the way of Quicktime. I think I'll get an iRiver. Note to self: scour Hot Deals for good deal on iRiver.

Originally posted by: yukichigai

Originally posted by: daddy-o
Are the iPod and iRiver the only MP3 players that can be managed without software? I've had a few other MP3 players, and I really can't stand being limited to some after-thought applications that are downright awful.

I love the idea of an MP3 player acting like another hard drive, and I don't understand why all the companies don't do this.

I seem to recall Windows operation of the iPod requires an "iPod Helper" application running in the background.

That has got to be the worst reason for not buying an ipod that I have ever heard.

I think it's an excellent reason. You're spending $250-$400 or more for what is basically a portable hard drive with an mp3 decoder, phono jack, and a few bells and whistles - why not be able to use it as a hard drive?

Further, I can't see supporting the company behind Quicktime. Even further, the only reason most people like the pod so much is because they're suggestible and everyone else has one. It's not good looking and the battery life sucks. Other players have more features. It's not fully a plug & play hdd. It's expensive as hell.

And that is why there is competition. Just cause you don't think it's good looking, doesn't mean the rest of us ipod owners think that And not everyone has the same logic. I have no desire to use my mp3 player as a portable HD. If i needed a portable HD, i'd need like 120GB, cause I'd be doing backups. But that's me.

And not everyone else has one... a lot of people do, but the price pretty much shuns mostly everyone I know off, regardless of how much I try to convince them on the ipod.. no one I know cares much about size either.

For the original poster, the Zen is probably the best bet if he doesn't care about size.

 

[spacelord]

Aren't iPods generally more money for less features and battery life? makes sense to me.

I like my Rio Karma.

 

[randomlinh]

Originally posted by: spacelord
Aren't iPods generally more money for less features and battery life? makes sense to me.

I like my Rio Karma.

you're paying for style and a superior menu system. battery life isn't 14hrs, no, so if you need it for some super long trip, then maybe it's not for you. I'm at a place to charge it every night.

 

[misle]

Hey, someone brought this thread back up!

I ended up purchasing an iRiver H120. I've been very happy with my choice. A friend of mine got a 4g iPod at the same time, so we've been comparing and contrasting. I think I made the right decision for me.

Sound quality is great, it's very easy to use, battery lasts forever.

 

[loup garou]

Originally posted by: lnguyen

Originally posted by: spacelord
Aren't iPods generally more money for less features and battery life? makes sense to me.

I like my Rio Karma.

you're paying for style and a superior menu system. battery life isn't 14hrs, no, so if you need it for some super long trip, then maybe it's not for you. I'm at a place to charge it every night.

Have you used a Karma before? I've used iPods a lot along with my Karma, and I know it's personal preference, but I find the Karma interface much, much better than the iPod's. The iPod's interface is good though. I agree on the style though, the Karma isn't too pretty. 😉

 

[randomlinh]

Originally posted by: werk

Originally posted by: lnguyen

Originally posted by: spacelord
Aren't iPods generally more money for less features and battery life? makes sense to me.

I like my Rio Karma.

you're paying for style and a superior menu system. battery life isn't 14hrs, no, so if you need it for some super long trip, then maybe it's not for you. I'm at a place to charge it every night.

Have you used a Karma before? I've used iPods a lot along with my Karma, and I know it's personal preference, but I find the Karma interface much, much better than the iPod's. The iPod's interface is good though. I agree on the style though, the Karma isn't too pretty. 😉

I've run over it quick, but personal preference kicks in with the ipod for me 🙂 well, technically the ipod mini.. after using it for so long, i found the ipod even klunky 😛 that shoudl give you an idea of my viewpoint on these things.

glad the user is happy w/ his iriver. Just a note, dont' drop it an expect it to survive a concrete slab.. i know someone who did this and was mad the HD got disconnected 😕

 

[vi edit]

Originally posted by: werk
I almost forgot to recommend the JetAudio iAudio M3, it's smaller than the iPod, with way more features and great battery life. I'd grab one immediately if my gf wouldn't kill me as she gave me my Karma for Christmas last year. Personally, I like all the controls on the remote. It would be even sweeter if the remote was Bluetooth and you could stash the player in your backpack/bag/pocket and change songs, etc wirelessly...drool...

Pretty swank but a lot of bank.

And I'm a poet and didn't even know it!

 

[loup garou]

Originally posted by: vi_edit

Originally posted by: werk
I almost forgot to recommend the JetAudio iAudio M3, it's smaller than the iPod, with way more features and great battery life. I'd grab one immediately if my gf wouldn't kill me as she gave me my Karma for Christmas last year. Personally, I like all the controls on the remote. It would be even sweeter if the remote was Bluetooth and you could stash the player in your backpack/bag/pocket and change songs, etc wirelessly...drool...

Pretty swank but a lot of bank.

And I'm a poet and didn't even know it!

No kidding, it's pricey. :/

 

[CtK]

Originally posted by: werk

Originally posted by: vi_edit

Originally posted by: werk
I almost forgot to recommend the JetAudio iAudio M3, it's smaller than the iPod, with way more features and great battery life. I'd grab one immediately if my gf wouldn't kill me as she gave me my Karma for Christmas last year. Personally, I like all the controls on the remote. It would be even sweeter if the remote was Bluetooth and you could stash the player in your backpack/bag/pocket and change songs, etc wirelessly...drool...

Pretty swank but a lot of bank.

And I'm a poet and didn't even know it!

No kidding, it's pricey. :/

its $319 at newegg.com
not tat much more than the ipod

 

[RagingBITCH]

For HD based ones, I'd go with the iPod, with the DJ a close 2nd. For traditional flash memory based ones, the Creative.

 

[loup garou]

Originally posted by: CtK

Originally posted by: werk

Originally posted by: vi_edit

Originally posted by: werk
I almost forgot to recommend the JetAudio iAudio M3, it's smaller than the iPod, with way more features and great battery life. I'd grab one immediately if my gf wouldn't kill me as she gave me my Karma for Christmas last year. Personally, I like all the controls on the remote. It would be even sweeter if the remote was Bluetooth and you could stash the player in your backpack/bag/pocket and change songs, etc wirelessly...drool...

Pretty swank but a lot of bank.

And I'm a poet and didn't even know it!

No kidding, it's pricey. :/

its $319 at newegg.com
not tat much more than the ipod

argh...don't tempt me...they have the 40GB for $359 as well (not bad)!

 

[CtK]

Originally posted by: werk

Originally posted by: CtK

Originally posted by: werk

Originally posted by: vi_edit

Originally posted by: werk
I almost forgot to recommend the JetAudio iAudio M3, it's smaller than the iPod, with way more features and great battery life. I'd grab one immediately if my gf wouldn't kill me as she gave me my Karma for Christmas last year. Personally, I like all the controls on the remote. It would be even sweeter if the remote was Bluetooth and you could stash the player in your backpack/bag/pocket and change songs, etc wirelessly...drool...

Pretty swank but a lot of bank.

And I'm a poet and didn't even know it!

No kidding, it's pricey. :/

its $319 at newegg.com
not tat much more than the ipod

argh...don't tempt me...they have the 40GB for $359 as well (not bad)!

hehehe my bad

Check out the demo of this one!!
it has some pretty kewl features!!

 

[homestarmy]

Originally posted by: Gurck

Originally posted by: iamwiz82
Not everyone is an ultra-cheap bastard only concerned with price.

Nor am I, or I'd suggest the Dell or Creative models over the pricier iRiver. I prefer quality & features, most notably battery life and not having to use proprietary software to load songs and/or files onto it. When something has less features at a higher price however, it's hard to ignore the pricetag. I'd also have to disagree on the looks, if anything looks like it belongs to a ricer, it's the iPod.

I wish I could photoshop a big fart can and huge spoiler on an ipod or iriver right now... anyone care to help me out?

Maybe some 22" spinners too?

 

[homestarmy]

Can someone discuss audio recording via mic availability and quality on all of these models? I will be going to grad school and that would be a great excuse to get one!

 

[misle]

The iRiver has a built in recorder and mic and also comes with an external mic as well. I haven't played with the recording feature yet, so I don't know how good it is.