Freestyler
Member
The only reason us Mac fans don't want a bigger market share is security. Nobody ever bothers to create viruses for only 3% of the world.
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Iriver owns the Ipod in every way imaginable
- Thread starter norinrad21
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True. But you know what I mean. People want their stuff to speak of their individuality and the white earbuds are getting a bit too familiar. The iPod range will need to diversify and I think Apple is pacing it perfectly with the Mini range and now the iPodPhoto and the U2 iPod.
Freestyler
Member
If I wanted to look individual, I'd wear a pink shirt, which I do. If I wanted to carry a tune in my pocket, or 10,000, I'd wear an iPod. Which I do.
Freestyler said:
You're a confused and delusional specimen, aren't you? The classic 'sales figures = quality' line, pulling your unbiased facts about the MP3 player market directly from Apple (could they be inclined to slant the figures somewhat?) and ad hominem attacks do not make your point any stronger.
And I say this as someone who doesn't own either, but would currently buy an iRiver over an iPod because in my opinion it's the superior product (lower price, more functionality, better codec support). There goes that 'justifying buying an inferior product' argument.
Freestyler
Member
I would like to think that market trends are a clear indication of what consumers want. Obviously for the iPod to be selling millions of units and for demand to still be outweighing supply in many regions, the product is what the masses want. Surely something that appeals to and satisfies the needs of the majority of consumers is a superior product to something that doesn't?
There's a bit of a difference between blind short-lived hype, and long-term year-on-year success though. The iPod has been building for a while now, and much of that comes from word of mouth, and people introducing it to their friends. Once someone uses one, they want one.
And forget functionality, codecs etc., hands-on use is what should govern your choice of music-player. Cos ease-of-use of both software & hardware is very important with something you are going to be using so much. Listening to music should be as painless as possible.
And every other player I've seen and used falls short on that.
And forget functionality, codecs etc., hands-on use is what should govern your choice of music-player. Cos ease-of-use of both software & hardware is very important with something you are going to be using so much. Listening to music should be as painless as possible.
And every other player I've seen and used falls short on that.
Freestyler
Member
iapetus said:
Indeed, they're all great products.
AlphaSnake
...and that, kids, was the first time I sucked a dick for crack
I use them. They're fine. I don't get all pretentious and whiny about shit like headphones. It's all the same crap that sticks into my ears anyways.
Agent Icebeezy
Welcome beautful toddler, Madison Elizabeth, to the horde!
IAWTT - The iPod sucks. I have an Archos av480. I love the thing. 80GB. It's hotness. I can make a video of it running if anyone is interested in seeing how it is
I can't stand the included earbuds.
I'm no audiophile. While I can tell that the sound-quality of the included buds stink, it doesn't really bother me all that much. I just hate how they don't fit in your ear and I REALLY hate that buds are of the Y-cord kind. If I'm running or ever need to take out my earbuds, I gotta hold them in my hand or something - I much prefer the behind-the-neck earbuds.
Anyway, iPod vs iRiver? Who cares. We've been through this before with MD vs MP3.
The iPod really is an icon now. That means people want to buy it simply because it's an iPod.
Is it deserved? Maybe. But I think we can all agree that iPod simplistic design is pretty rocking and its user-interface, as well as its iTunes connectivity, is pretty good...
I'm no audiophile. While I can tell that the sound-quality of the included buds stink, it doesn't really bother me all that much. I just hate how they don't fit in your ear and I REALLY hate that buds are of the Y-cord kind. If I'm running or ever need to take out my earbuds, I gotta hold them in my hand or something - I much prefer the behind-the-neck earbuds.
Anyway, iPod vs iRiver? Who cares. We've been through this before with MD vs MP3.
The iPod really is an icon now. That means people want to buy it simply because it's an iPod.
Is it deserved? Maybe. But I think we can all agree that iPod simplistic design is pretty rocking and its user-interface, as well as its iTunes connectivity, is pretty good...
Ollie Pooch
In a perfect world, we'd all be homersexual
i'm not sucked in by the 'sales = quality' thing - my ipod's battery fluctuates between about 2 hours and 5 hours at at the best of times, much less than apple's stated figure (which was about 8 hours IIRC). it randomly skips some songs, sometimes turns off in the middle of playing, and the newer software updates just amke it worse - i've been using 2.01 and updated to 2.2 which made the battery go flat in about 2 hours, it randomly froze and wouldn't play cerrtain tracks.. hideous. if i upgrade it i'll definitely consider another brand.
carbonbased
Member
My free iPod hasn't even arrived yet, and I've already bought an amazing pair of portable Sennheiser cans to take advantage of it. The included earbuds are supposed to be horrendous.
Couldn't be arsed to read this thread, but someone way back mentioned the iRiver being unappealing aesthetically. I've always thought the iPods looked ugly as fuck and never miss a chance to mention that. Just have never seen anything even remotely stylish about that rounded rectangle, it always reminded me of the corded remote on our VHS machine when I was a kid. Bleh.
The iriver isn't winning any beauty awards from me either. The only portable music devices I've ever considered sexy were the latter Sony MD units. Damn those are sleek.
The iriver isn't winning any beauty awards from me either. The only portable music devices I've ever considered sexy were the latter Sony MD units. Damn those are sleek.
Winged Creature
Member
Oh yea Iriver and most other mp3 players sound better then the ipod, you guys say that playing mp3 is a main factor, then i guess sound quality should be one too, and ipod is sub par in that category
I got myself an iRiver CD MP3 player a few years back, and I'm very happy with it. When I buy a hard drive unit, it will be an iRiver... I know the company is reliable, produces good products, and continues to provide firmware updates for -years- after a device's release.
The iPod is a very good product, and the iRiver HD units are very good as well. Too bad iRiver won't get the market recognition -- they are the folks who produced a good chunk of the Rio MP3 devices before deciding to market their players by themselves.
As best as I've been able to tell from my personal product testing of iPods and iRiver devices, I really prefer the iRiver unit -- however, it isn't as "simple" a device. Many more functions. This doesn't mean it is inferior, mind you, it just means that it may not seem as simplistically "elegant" as the iPod.
A side note: I really don't see how this is at ALL comparable to the minidisc player situation... the iPod (and all hard drive based systems) is a stand alone unit. You don't build up a -library- using specialized media for the iPod, which means that you can easily switch to a new player at any point. If decent mass market priced hard drive units pop up, I can't see the iPod maintaining its marketshare.
The iPod is a very good product, and the iRiver HD units are very good as well. Too bad iRiver won't get the market recognition -- they are the folks who produced a good chunk of the Rio MP3 devices before deciding to market their players by themselves.
As best as I've been able to tell from my personal product testing of iPods and iRiver devices, I really prefer the iRiver unit -- however, it isn't as "simple" a device. Many more functions. This doesn't mean it is inferior, mind you, it just means that it may not seem as simplistically "elegant" as the iPod.
A side note: I really don't see how this is at ALL comparable to the minidisc player situation... the iPod (and all hard drive based systems) is a stand alone unit. You don't build up a -library- using specialized media for the iPod, which means that you can easily switch to a new player at any point. If decent mass market priced hard drive units pop up, I can't see the iPod maintaining its marketshare.
Where most iPod competitors fail is with the user interface. If there's one thing the folks at Apple know well, it's good UI design (of course, they're not immune to dumb ideas, but on average, they do pretty well).
For instance, consider the scroll wheel. How else can you quickly scroll through thousands of titles and still easily pick out the one you want to play? You can both scroll quickly and also slowly with precision, without having to wait for the UI to do what you want.
I'm not an iPod owner, but I've spent some time checking out various music players. I've seen lots of bad UIs, and given what I've seen of the iPod, I'm not surpised that it's doing well, selling 2 million units in the past year (a 500% increase over the previous year).
For instance, consider the scroll wheel. How else can you quickly scroll through thousands of titles and still easily pick out the one you want to play? You can both scroll quickly and also slowly with precision, without having to wait for the UI to do what you want.
I'm not an iPod owner, but I've spent some time checking out various music players. I've seen lots of bad UIs, and given what I've seen of the iPod, I'm not surpised that it's doing well, selling 2 million units in the past year (a 500% increase over the previous year).
Freestyler
Member
It was two million iPods sold in the last quarter, not the last year 
Minotauro said:
I'd imagine most people do. If you're not going to use them, it almost defeats the purpose. The iRiver is an undeniably "better" music player in its functionality and options, so if you're not going to make it apparent you're using an iPod.. then why use one? The headphones have worked fine for me personally.
I am deciding between an iPod 20gb or an iRiver HP320 (the new one with the color screen)... the guy at the store told me that the iRiver makes it real hard to scroll through songs, and I've got a lot of songs, so this is pretty important, more so than like OGG support, or an FM tuner, etc. What should I get?
Winged Creature
Member
Iriver all the way, you can just do so much more with it
Particle Physicist
between a quark and a baryon
djtiesto said:
go to the store and test out each player.
quadriplegicjon said:
IAWTP. Although I would prefer the iRiver for some of its features (OGG support alone is a big thing for me) it all comes down to personal preference at the end of the day, and if the UI is a big part of that for you, then you need to try the UIs yourself.
Freestyler
Member
djtiesto said:
I say get the iPod, it has so many accessories to allow it to connect to that new car of yours
ArcadeStickMonk
Member
I almost bought this, really.
The iRivers are loaded with shit I'll never use, but that LCD remote is fantastic.
However, the UI ain't near as slick as the iPod that I did buy, and it has an AC adaptor.
That's pretty much what killed off the entire iRiver line for me, the power supply. I'm not going to swap out alkalines for their flash players, and I'm not going to use 2 cords to update and power my HD player. Firewire all the damn way.
The iRivers are loaded with shit I'll never use, but that LCD remote is fantastic.
However, the UI ain't near as slick as the iPod that I did buy, and it has an AC adaptor.
That's pretty much what killed off the entire iRiver line for me, the power supply. I'm not going to swap out alkalines for their flash players, and I'm not going to use 2 cords to update and power my HD player. Firewire all the damn way.
Quadrophenic
Member
isnt there a website doing free mp3 players (including iRiver) now too?
Winged Creature
Member
You guys are boasting about how easy an ipod is to use, well iriver isnt hard to use, your all acting like the iriver is like brain surgery. When it comes down to it more for less is the winner, Iriver wins there. Also the sound quality on the ipod is nothing spectacular, the iriver and most other HDD mp3 players do a much better job, why do u think ipod doesnt show there SNR, its quite obvious.
Freestyler
Member
Nerevar said:
Uh, XP is currently the best OS available for general home consumer use. What was your point again?
Oh let me guess, 'Windoze sux0rz man, u ne3d 2 get Linux!'.
By the way, does anybody on this board have an H320/H340? Could you give some comments about it?
Rumors are that video and wav will be supported in the next firmware upgrade, while an LCD remote is also coming?
(Can anybody translate this? http://company.iriver.co.kr/notice/view.asp?Page=1&SrchItem=&SrchString=&idx=654 )
Rumors are that video and wav will be supported in the next firmware upgrade, while an LCD remote is also coming?
(Can anybody translate this? http://company.iriver.co.kr/notice/view.asp?Page=1&SrchItem=&SrchString=&idx=654 )
wav is supposed to be added in the next f/w update. don't hold your breath on the video support, but it should be possible. iirc the lcd remote from the h120/140 works with the 320/340 but it's not packaged with it for some reason
the misticriver forums have what you need
www.misticriver.net
the misticriver forums have what you need
www.misticriver.net
fart said:
Cool beans. So I guess an H300-specific remote is coming. while iriver is getting people's hopes up with a mention of video.
By the way, with the H300 series coming out, is there a reason to pay 300 bucks for H100 series?
Not that I'm going to do something like that... but it just seems weird that they have not dropped the price.
Agent Icebeezy
Welcome beautful toddler, Madison Elizabeth, to the horde!
roman2k said:I would be interested...
even though I have an iPod
Ok, small vid right now coming up, I'm working on it
demon said:
I do. It also fits in my pocket better than any of the other players which is my main requirement.
I've owned the iRiver and the Zen as well, none of them suck, none of them offer anything significantly better than others in terms of MP3 playback - all the iPod haterz are busy arguiing over 1 dollar out of a million and coming across as dickheads in the process. You really cant go wrong with any of the major HD mp3 players imo.
Agent Icebeezy said:
Actually I'd like to see a photo of you with each one in your pocket. Your mp3 player could be as powerful as my laptop but if it doesnt fit in my smedium jeans pocket then it may as well be a piece of runny poop for all the good it will do me, for example, my Zen NX 30 dumped on my iPod from a great height in terms of sound quality, but it served no purpose as it didnt fit comfortably in my pocket:
My 3g iPod next to my Zen NX - and Zen owners wonder why I laugh when they try and argue that the Zen is only a few mill bigger and it doesn't make much difference.
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