Need a new portable mp3 (media) player..

[TheVrolok]

I need something bigger than my iriver h320 20GB. I'd like some decent video playback as well and I've been thinking about the Archos 504 but the way archos seems to package absolutely nothing with their products and then charge heavily for the accessories seems a bit shady. I've read review that say you can't even charge it without buying an accessory - I'm assuming they mean charge it via AC rather than by the USB cable that comes with it. Regardless, I'm looking for suggestions. Something upwards of 60/80 GB in storage.

 

[tdawg]

I have a Zen Vision:W 30gb. I personally really enjoy the quality of video playback. Music navigation and playback options could be much better (I prefer my Sandisk Sansa for music), but for Music playback quality itself, Pictures and Videos, the Zen is great. Beautiful 4.3" widescreen and good battery life. Various video and audio formats are supported, which make this device very convenient.

They do make this in a 60gb model that's a little thicker. Not as many options as the Archos, but personally, I hate the navigation method of the Archos devices.

 

[TheVrolok]

Originally posted by: tdawg
I have a Zen Vision:W 30gb. I personally really enjoy the quality of video playback. Music navigation and playback options could be much better (I prefer my Sandisk Sansa for music), but for Music playback quality itself, Pictures and Videos, the Zen is great. Beautiful 4.3" widescreen and good battery life. Various video and audio formats are supported, which make this device very convenient.

They do make this in a 60gb model that's a little thicker. Not as many options as the Archos, but personally, I hate the navigation method of the Archos devices.

I've read reviews that say that Archos devices have a pretty awful interface. I was actually looking at the 60GB version of the Zen Vision.. hmm.. maybe I'll go in that direction. I feel that the Archos is a bit more than I need and really, I've lasted on a 20GB for years, and I only have ~30 GB of music as it stands now. 60 should be enough to last a bit.

 

[YoungGun21]

Creative Zen Vision M or W. Both are amazing. Don't know if the M comes in 60gb, but it could though.

 

[potato28]

Ahh! Don't throw out the Archos, it's still worth something to others!!! I'd suggest upgrading the hard drive and Rockboxing it. It would sound better than a newer player and would cost less, with longer battery life.

 

[TheVrolok]

Mmm.. I don't know if I can resist the Zen Vision W.. widescreen is just so much prettier.. but man, there's quite a price difference between the 60 GB W and the 60 GB M.

 

[TheVrolok]

Question for the Zen Vision M/W users. I read a review or two that stated the only way to transfer music to the player is through WMP/iTunes. Is that true? I can't just drag/drop? As a Linux user I'd like to steer clear of WMP/iTunes. I suppose I can build Amarok with MTP support or run WMP under Wine.. but the simpler, the better.

 

[tdawg]

No, you can just drag and drop into any of the media folders; I do it all the time for movies and sometimes for music. The best part is you can copy music and movie files from the device and onto any computer that will accept a USB connection.

 

[TheVrolok]

Originally posted by: tdawg
No, you can just drag and drop into any of the media folders; I do it all the time for movies and sometimes for music. The best part is you can copy music and movie files from the device and onto any computer that will accept a USB connection.

Wonderful. That might seal the deal for me and the Zen Vision M. The extra 100 bucks for widescreen just doesn't make it.

 

[YoungGun21]

My M came with Creative software for loading music and movies and other data.

 

[SKoprowski]

I went from an Iriver H320 to a Zune. I really enjoy the Zune.

 

[Xecuter]

Noooooo! Long live the h320 - I'm still rockin' on mine. Have you tried Rockbox? http://www.rockbox.org/

 

[bucwylde23]

Originally posted by: SKoprowski
I went from an Iriver H320 to a Zune. I really enjoy the Zune.

:thumbsup: I love my Zune also. I just wish it had a bigger hard drive..

 

[TheVrolok]

Originally posted by: Xecuter
Noooooo! Long live the h320 - I'm still rockin' on mine. Have you tried Rockbox? http://www.rockbox.org/

Yeah, I'm Rockboxing on mine and I still love it. The HDD just isn't big enough.

 

[AsianriceX]

Originally posted by: SKoprowski
I went from an Iriver H320 to a Zune. I really enjoy the Zune.

Same route I went, though I didn't go willingly.

My H320 gave me a white screen of death and wouldn't boot fully. I could hear a faint high pitched whine coming from it when it was plugged into the charger.

Further investigation revealed that the charging circuit was the source of the whine and got ridiculously hot. So hot, that the heat would transfer to the grounding shields of the usb ports and almost burned me when I touched them.

It was a sad day indeed

I do like the Zune, but I wish I didn't have to use its software for syncing since I use foobar as a player already. The Mass Storage Device property of the H320 was awesome.

 

[potato28]

Originally posted by: TheVrolok

Originally posted by: Xecuter
Noooooo! Long live the h320 - I'm still rockin' on mine. Have you tried Rockbox? http://www.rockbox.org/

Yeah, I'm Rockboxing on mine and I still love it. The HDD just isn't big enough.

Replace the HDD then. It's cheaper than a Zune, and with more storage space if you want an 80gb drive.

 

[TheVrolok]

Originally posted by: potato28

Originally posted by: TheVrolok

Originally posted by: Xecuter
Noooooo! Long live the h320 - I'm still rockin' on mine. Have you tried Rockbox? http://www.rockbox.org/

Yeah, I'm Rockboxing on mine and I still love it. The HDD just isn't big enough.

Replace the HDD then. It's cheaper than a Zune, and with more storage space if you want an 80gb drive.

The problem is finding a drive to replace. Need a single platter drive so I don't have to tear all the padding out of the player. I'd rather not try to squeeze an oversized drive in too tightly. Finding a 1.8" (toshiba) drive upwards of 60-80 GB that's single platter is hard enough, much less one that's cheaper than just buying a new player.