Yes, it's a 'which' thread...MP3/4 players
Discussion
Right, I'm in the market for a new MP3 player. In used to be anti ipod, but now not quite so much, but still a bit wary of itunes and the way it works (although, have only seen it in small doses, so may be wrong about it).
However, I'd like to be able to put movies and tv stuff onto it too and view that (ideal for train and plane journeys) and it also needs to have decent battery life. Storage space wise I'm not too fussy.
Do any of the PH collective have any good recommendations for me? I've no clue about budget, if I see the right thing that I like I'm not too fussed.
Thanks very much.
However, I'd like to be able to put movies and tv stuff onto it too and view that (ideal for train and plane journeys) and it also needs to have decent battery life. Storage space wise I'm not too fussy.
Do any of the PH collective have any good recommendations for me? I've no clue about budget, if I see the right thing that I like I'm not too fussed.
Thanks very much.
Racefan_uk said:
thehawk said:
Has to be an iPod Touch.
Why? I'm afraid the reason I put the question on here was to get more info than just 'has to be'Give me reasons why please!
And the other main advantage is the availability of software and sheer amount of accessories for them, no other make even comes close. Converters are readily available to convert DVDs, YouTube or pretty much any other format.
You can pretty much use any format or quality of music files, video is easily converted and I actually find iTunes to be brilliant, mainly because I use a lot of podcasts and TV series.
If you don't like iTunes then there are alternatives. Songbird seems very good.
I went for a 160GB Archos 605 to replace my 3G iPod. iPod Touch was, at the time, only 16GB which was a bit of a joke really, that doesn't even carry my CD library. I don't like trying to determine what mood I'll be in and choosing what to put on there beforehand so I like to have it all with me (I commute), but I seem to be in the minority on that view
32GB version might be better, but once you start loading it with music, films and TV then 32GB starts to look small.
Downsides with the Archos are you have to spend more money to unlock some codecs and the web browser, but with the dock (more cost, but comes with a handy remote) it doubles as a PVR too.
The Cowans are also quite good.
32GB version might be better, but once you start loading it with music, films and TV then 32GB starts to look small.
Downsides with the Archos are you have to spend more money to unlock some codecs and the web browser, but with the dock (more cost, but comes with a handy remote) it doubles as a PVR too.
The Cowans are also quite good.
thehawk said:
NiceCupOfTea said:
My brother & dad both have Zunes which look very impressive.
But seriously, they are a bit of a joke in the industry.
Played with one for half an hour. Just copy the files on like an ordinary hard disc. Sound quality seems great, lovely form factor and interface, nice screen.
A whole lot less fiddly than an iPod.
Why are they a "joke"? Is it just "hate it because it's MS, never mind whether it's any good"?
bobthemonkey said:
The Zune specific software was riddled with faults, a bug in the hardware shut down every zune (of that generation) for a 24hour period, and absolutly nobody buys them.
Linky? My brother's had his for a year or so, used it a lot, and absolutely no problems with it!Racefan you need to give a few clues to what you ACTUALLY want otherwise you are jsut going to get a load of "this is what I like" recommendations rather than what you need.
Large screen? Large capacity? Physical size (remember Archos arent small), extra features? poseability value? Value for money?
People like them all for different reasons.
I personally use an 80Gb classic and have had no problems with it or iTunes and all my music and films are tagged and kept in perfect order.
Large screen? Large capacity? Physical size (remember Archos arent small), extra features? poseability value? Value for money?
People like them all for different reasons.
I personally use an 80Gb classic and have had no problems with it or iTunes and all my music and films are tagged and kept in perfect order.
)The_Jackal said:
Racefan you need to give a few clues to what you ACTUALLY want otherwise you are jsut going to get a load of "this is what I like" recommendations rather than what you need.
Large screen? Large capacity? Physical size (remember Archos arent small), extra features? poseability value? Value for money?
People like them all for different reasons.
I personally use an 80Gb classic and have had no problems with it or iTunes and all my music and films are tagged and kept in perfect order.
As i put in my original post, I want it to put music onto and a handful of films or occasional TV prgramme if possible. I'm not after glorious feature, I have a laptop to surf the net on and download stuff for it, so that's not really a need.Large screen? Large capacity? Physical size (remember Archos arent small), extra features? poseability value? Value for money?
People like them all for different reasons.
I personally use an 80Gb classic and have had no problems with it or iTunes and all my music and films are tagged and kept in perfect order.
Poseability? not bothered by it, but it needs to appeal to me, which is what makes us all individuals
Value for money would be good, but like I said, I'd be willing to pay a decent amount as long as I liked it. Oh, and as long as it lasts a fair while. The one I have now is a very small 1GB Sony one which I've had for about four years, nothing wrong with it, but doesn't hold enough music and doesn't do video content.Racefan_uk said:
Poseability? not bothered by it, but it needs to appeal to me, which is what makes us all individuals Value for money would be good, but like I said, I'd be willing to pay a decent amount as long as I liked it. Oh, and as long as it lasts a fair while. The one I have now is a very small 1GB Sony one which I've had for about four years, nothing wrong with it, but doesn't hold enough music and doesn't do video content.
Tempted for an iPod Touch as well. Killer piece of kit. Value for money would be good, but like I said, I'd be willing to pay a decent amount as long as I liked it. Oh, and as long as it lasts a fair while. The one I have now is a very small 1GB Sony one which I've had for about four years, nothing wrong with it, but doesn't hold enough music and doesn't do video content.Met someone who has to support the Zune on a MS helpline the other day and he wasn't exactly wild about the Zune.
I have a creative zen vision m 30g. Bit of a brick BUT it does what i want it to. I dont have to muck around converting files when putting them on my zen. Plug into ANY computer and then just drag and drop any music or video or photo file you want onto it and if you feel the need seperate the hard drive and use it as an external hard drive too.
Its why i bought it. Battery lasts for ever (well ok not really but a pretty long time) whether video or music. It has a few glitches i am on my second one now as the first one crashed completely while on holiday a year or so ago but wasnt a biggie as it was replaced foc under warranty at dixons.
Sound quality is really good and as i say plays pretty much all standard video and audio formats. My present one has a firmware issue which means every now and again it will on its own rebuild itself (takes a couple of minutes) and works fine afterwards.Still wont replace it though.
Nothing as good as it around imho.
On the other hand had a 1gb ipod nano which failed spectacularly within no time at all simply refused to charge or play music.
Utter piece of rubbish.
Its why i bought it. Battery lasts for ever (well ok not really but a pretty long time) whether video or music. It has a few glitches i am on my second one now as the first one crashed completely while on holiday a year or so ago but wasnt a biggie as it was replaced foc under warranty at dixons.
Sound quality is really good and as i say plays pretty much all standard video and audio formats. My present one has a firmware issue which means every now and again it will on its own rebuild itself (takes a couple of minutes) and works fine afterwards.Still wont replace it though.
Nothing as good as it around imho.
On the other hand had a 1gb ipod nano which failed spectacularly within no time at all simply refused to charge or play music.
Utter piece of rubbish.
Edited by jimmyb on Sunday 1st March 11:43
tinman0 said:
Tempted for an iPod Touch as well. Killer piece of kit.
Archos supports more formats once you've forked out the few quid extra for the codecs. Speaking as a hardcore tech, it is the better all-round media player - if not just for the storage advantage. 32GB for a media player doesn't cut it these days.Now I'm being partial
Even with the Touch being a mini Unix machine, I'd still take an Archos over one. Your average user just doesn't care about the hackability, and nor do I. I just want something that works with some decent storage. iPod Classic has too small a screen to watch films. Archos is just as hackable if you want to void your warranty. Plus it's a PVR This market is now saturated, what works for one won't work for another. I went for storage and usability without worrying about the extra cost. The Touch is more about posing than features in my opinion - as is the iPhone.
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