Soo, my Zen Vision M died...

[mwmorph]

Totally my fault, I dropped it in water. Now I'm going to be on my 3rd Mp3/PMP(previous Rio Karma died because of common harddrive quit problem).

Whats the best new PMP? I havent been paying too much attention but which PMP has at least 30 gigs storage, support for a variety of video codecs (All my music is in MP3, I think i have like 1 album(0.4% or so) in WMA.) and has an attractive screen and design?

Is the Gigabeat S a good option or are the new Archos 404/604 a good deal? I'm looking for something different since Why not try something new if I'm shelling out so much $$ for it?

Cliffs:
I'm looking for
Attractive design
Good screen
Good video codec support
Under $300
Pocketable size

Thanks in advance.

 

[uhohs]

i'll take your broken vision m.

seriously though, did you let it dry for a few days before trying it again?

edit: if it really is broken, can i have it? i'd like to take it apart to tinker with.

 

[Ameesh]

the archos devices suck, if you use audible or want to use audible ever then get another zen vision (M or W)

if you dont care about audible support then the gigabeat s is a nice device.

 

[potato28]

Theres not really much choices... you could get another Zen Vision:M, an iPod Video, or a Zune?

 

[BrokenVisage]

I love my Vision W 30GB, only about $250 on Amazon.

 

[mwmorph]

Yeah, i took it apart to let it dry and disconnect the battery

When it dropped into the water, it was still on(dammit) and then the screen changed from now playing to all white. After 30 seconds or so the screen flickered a little bit and then went out. I dissembled it to dry and now the Hard drive spins up and it charges but the screen now shows absolutely nothing but black. I have to say though the ZVM seems better built than a Rio Karma. It has a much easier hardware layout to disassemble and the battery plugs in instead of being soldered on so the inevitable battery replacement will be quick and easy.

If only the ZVM had a easily removable battery, I may have been able to save it...

I don't use audible, no idea what it is. I do listen to a lot of music and watch a lot of movies though. In fact if I'm not in a situation where it would be inappropriate to be listening to music, I am always listening to music so not having a MP3 player is killing me right now.

I guess I could sent it in for "warranty" service since I've been keeping immaculate care of ti besides the stupid water drop, but I know Karma would come back to bite me in the arse sooner or later.

Originally posted by: uhohs
i'll take your broken vision m.

seriously though, did you let it dry for a few days before trying it again?

edit: if it really is broken, can i have it? i'd like to take it apart to tinker with.

If you want I could send you pictures of it disassembled but otherwise I'd like to keep onto the unit.

 

[mugs]

I :heart: my Zen Vision W. It's rather large so it's not ideal as an mp3 player, but it's great as a video player. Great screen. I didn't buy it to play music, so the size doesn't bother me.

Thanks to acemcmac for recommending it to me :thumbsup:

 

[mwmorph]

Does the Vision W have the interface lag i experienced with the Vision M? When navigating within a video, the interface would freeze for a second no the Vision M and that bothered me a lot. Also does dust get under the screen of the Vision W like it did on the Vision M and Rio Karma?

 

[CVSiN]

Originally posted by: Ameesh
the archos devices suck, if you use audible or want to use audible ever then get another zen vision (M or W)

if you dont care about audible support then the gigabeat s is a nice device.

Zen M or W still the leader out there..

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: mwmorph
Does the Vision W have the interface lag i experienced with the Vision M? When navigating within a video, the interface would freeze for a second no the Vision M and that bothered me a lot. Also does dust get under the screen of the Vision W like it did on the Vision M and Rio Karma?

I'm no expert on these things, but if you're describing what I think you're describing, yes the Vision W does that too. My assumption has always been that the video files are variable bit-rate, so it can't just skip a certain number of bits - it has to read through the file to skip to the correct point in the video and audio streams. I can hit the skip forward button several times, and it'll skip forward the correct amount even though the screen doesn't immediately reflect it. When you resume a file that you were previously watching, it'll black out for a few seconds while it finds its place again - same reason I assume.

 

[Synomenon]

I'd get another Zen Vision:M. You could get another 30GB now or wait until the slim 60GB M comes out (as slim as the 30GB version).

 

[mwmorph]

I'm not interested in another Vision M since the screen is so small. I am though interested in the Zen Vision and Vision W. The Vision has a conventional screen but at 640x480(!) pixels while the Vision W has a larger wide screen at just 480x272[]. Also the Vision is only $179 while the Vision W is bigger, bulkier and $245. Choices...

 

[AnyMal]

Originally posted by: mwmorph
I'm not interested in another Vision M since the screen is so small. I am though interested in the Zen Vision and Vision W. The Vision has a conventional screen but at 640x480(!) pixels while the Vision W has a larger wide screen at just 480x272[]. Also the Vision is only $179 while the Vision W is bigger, bulkier and $245. Choices...

Definitely go with Zen Vision :W over the former Vision. Do some searching and you'll find a lot of complaints about original Vision's poor screen performance. Plus :W model also has a CF slot which is great for unloading data (like pics from your camera) or just as an extra storage.

 

[potato28]

Originally posted by: AnyMal

Originally posted by: mwmorph
I'm not interested in another Vision M since the screen is so small. I am though interested in the Zen Vision and Vision W. The Vision has a conventional screen but at 640x480(!) pixels while the Vision W has a larger wide screen at just 480x272[]. Also the Vision is only $179 while the Vision W is bigger, bulkier and $245. Choices...

Definitely go with Zen Vision :W over the former Vision. Do some searching and you'll find a lot of complaints about original Vision's poor screen performance. Plus :W model also has a CF slot which is great for unloading data (like pics from your camera) or just as an extra storage.

Or for more storage...?

 

[XMan]

Originally posted by: BrokenVisage
I love my Vision W 30GB, only about $250 on Amazon.

QFT.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: potato28

Originally posted by: AnyMal

Originally posted by: mwmorph
I'm not interested in another Vision M since the screen is so small. I am though interested in the Zen Vision and Vision W. The Vision has a conventional screen but at 640x480(!) pixels while the Vision W has a larger wide screen at just 480x272[]. Also the Vision is only $179 while the Vision W is bigger, bulkier and $245. Choices...

Definitely go with Zen Vision :W over the former Vision. Do some searching and you'll find a lot of complaints about original Vision's poor screen performance. Plus :W model also has a CF slot which is great for unloading data (like pics from your camera) or just as an extra storage.

Or for more storage...?

I'm not sure if you can watch videos off a CF card on the Vision W, but don't quote me on that.

Don't even consider the Vision (non-W, non-M). My father-in-law has one that he got a few years ago, and we compared them. The screen on the Vision is terrible. The screen on the Vision W is beautiful, and can be viewed from 180 degrees on each axis. Seriously. It's hard to tell what's going on at an extreme angle, but there's no reduction in brightness at any angle.

 

[mwmorph]

Alright, I'm probably going to order a ZVW in the next 24 hours unless asomething else pops up. Anything anybody would like to add? Any other chices I should be looking at? Anything extra I should buy like s screen protector or case?

 

[MDE]

I really like my Zune

 

[Flammable]

ipod!

just kidding

iriver clix2

30fps for videos and just debuted last month i think.

 

[potato28]

Originally posted by: Flammable
ipod!

just kidding

iriver clix2

30fps for videos and just debuted last month i think.

Not a lot of space for movies... wouldn't you think?

 

[mwmorph]

Originally posted by: MDE
I really like my Zune

Well I need video support and a bigger screen, 2.5" is just no longer cutting ti for me and transcoding 5 seasons of Futurama, 3 seasons of family guy, 2 seasons of Dilbert, We Were Brothers miniseries and a bunch of movies to WMV9 will take forever.

Originally posted by: Flammable
ipod!

just kidding

iriver clix2

30fps for videos and just debuted last month i think.

I have nothing against an ipod, I just cant get around the style and ease of use over substance philosophy

Does the Clix 2 have at least 30 gigs of memory? Isn't the Clix a small flash player?

 

[Jawo]

I love my Archos AV500! It has a huge high resolution 4" screen, can play many formats and CAN RECORD TV!

 

[OREOSpeedwagon]

Cowon A2 *drool*

 

[potato28]

Originally posted by: mwmorph

Originally posted by: MDE
I really like my Zune

Well I need video support and a bigger screen, 2.5" is just no longer cutting ti for me and transcoding 5 seasons of Futurama, 3 seasons of family guy, 2 seasons of Dilbert, We Were Brothers miniseries and a bunch of movies to WMV9 will take forever.

Originally posted by: Flammable
ipod!

just kidding

iriver clix2

30fps for videos and just debuted last month i think.

I have nothing against an ipod, I just cant get around the style and ease of use over substance philosophy

Does the Clix 2 have at least 30 gigs of memory? Isn't the Clix a small flash player?

Clix 2 is a flash-based player... but it is nice . I say get a Zune or Vision W.

 

[Duddy]

Should'a got a Zune.