Hard Disc Players-I Pods

Porty · Post by **Porty** » 21 Nov 2004, 20:40

Im thinking of getting one or the other. I know one can hook up a hard disc player to a hi-fi. Can you do the same with an I Pod? An I Pod has a firewire but how do you get Mp3's onto a Hard Disc player?

Is there a good resource to check this out?

Dadaist · Post by **Dadaist** » 21 Nov 2004, 20:58

Don't buy an iPod.

I have a Creative Zen Xtra 40GB player, although there are many other models - just don't buy an iPod as you're paying for the brand.

Here's my player :

http://www.nomadworld.com/products/Jukebox_ZenXtra/

An iPod is just a hard disc player too (same hard drive that you get in a laptop).

When you plug in the player to your computer (via USB or firewire or whatever) it appears as a new drive - exactly the same as the flash card in a digital camera.

You can use the mp3 player to store and transfer data too.

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 21 Nov 2004, 21:58

Buy an i-pod.

Porty · Post by **Porty** » 21 Nov 2004, 22:17

Will you two cut it out!!

Jamesie · Post by **Jamesie** » 21 Nov 2004, 22:32

I've heard I-Rivers are a lot better than I-Pod's. Can't recall exactly why, but many people have said this.

Charlie · Post by **Charlie** » 21 Nov 2004, 22:49

I have a rusty Creative thing:

http://www.nomadworld.com/products/Jukebox/

It's always been mince - the battery life, interface and start-up time are terrible. It is old though... so you wouldn't be buying one anyway.

I had a play with an iPod - much, much better. Not sure what the new Sony's like.

Chas · Post by **Chas** » 21 Nov 2004, 23:00

I-Pods are certainly cool looking but why would you really need to carry 10,000 songs with you? Think about it and look at gadgets like a USB MP3 player or Sony's HD-Mini Disc (that can hold 45 CD's on one - replaceable - disc). Personnaly, I never seem to get time to listen to more than one CD's worth on any trip to/from College so my MD is just dandy!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » 21 Nov 2004, 23:06

Rio 500. Had it for ages, loved it, hardly ever use it nowadays though. Wouldn't know what to recommend now. Think iPod was probably out on its own for a few months but the competition has closed the gap. I spend ages deciding on this kind of purchase and peruse lots of user forums, magazines etc. I want the best within my budget and this isn't necessarily the most hyped or the most popular. Sure you won't go wrong with any of the suggestions so far.

CatzVP · Post by **CatzVP** » 22 Nov 2004, 00:02

Creative Zen Review

http://reviews-zdnet.com.com/Creative_N ... 71466.html

IPod Review

http://reviews-zdnet.com.com/Apple_iPod ... 33917.html

Both are good, but the Zen, even though it has a slightly lower review mark is 33% cheaper and is basically the same (Good Buy).... and thats coming from an IPod user

Bobs Rio uses Smartmedia (memory) and not HD but is still good for a memory based storage device

Porty · Post by **Porty** » 22 Nov 2004, 00:04

Thanks for the input folks its much appreciated.

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 22 Nov 2004, 10:22

For the benefit of any one else thinking about such a purchase I'd like to mention that Apple's latest i-pod range is designed to tackle the battery problem (though the reviewer still gave the older range 9/10) .
Apple's build quality is v.g. and, I have read, has superior compression software, giving better sound.
I know Porty is anti-Mac though, so won't be putting any cash their way