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[Willco]

I've decided not to go with the the iPod, despite the fact that it's going to be a grueling task converting my iTunes library to WMA. Oh well. I'm not real knowledgable on the WMA/MP3 players, so I was wondering what y'all thought of these...

(by the way, I couldn't find those swank iRiver models some have been posting here!)

Archos 20 GB GMini 120 MP3/WMA Player

vs.

Creative 30 GB NOMAD Jukebox Zen Xtra MP3 Player

vs.

Rio 20 GB Karma MP3 Player

 

[Fifty]

Creative Zen Nomad.

 

[Manics]

Please re-think your position and buy and iPod.

 

[Willco]

This is also on sale at Best Buy this week...

Samsung Digital Audio Player with 20.0GB* Hard Drive

Thoughts, suggestions?

 

[The Fronde]

I've had the Nomad since December and can tell you that it's a very solid player at a reasonable price. Sorry I can't be more helpful, since I've no experience with the others, just wanted to throw my two cents in for what they're worth.

 

[DJ Demon J]

Willco: Although I still suggest a new iPod, the Samsung player is the next best thing I've seen. My hands-on experience with a friends' Samsung player makes it almost as sexy as the iPod, and it has an FM tuner. It actually weighs less than an iPod too.

 

[B'z-chan]

The Creative Zen, has 8 EQ's, removable batteries, and a pretty good battery life. Not to mention the best audio sound you can get out of a portable at the low price of only 197.99 at Fry's. Its good enough. Ipods are good too though..... But honestly if your looking for something cheap and good Zen Extra is awsome.

 

[Willco]

I'm so conflicted! Samsung or Creative? ... Damn you, Salazar!

And another SEXY BEAST has entered the fray...

CREATIVE ZEN TOUCH 20 GB

... What's the popular opinion on this?

 

[teepo]

if that samsung delivers in the audio department... then i might consider buying one.

 

[xsarien]

If those are your final choices, go with a Zen or Zen Touch.

 

[SteveMeister]

Out of curiosity, why not iPod?

 

[Willco]

If those are your final choices, go with a Zen or Zen Touch.

... what's wrong with the Samsung?

 

[B'z-chan]

I'm so conflicted! Samsung or Creative? ... Damn you, Salazar!

And another SEXY BEAST has entered the fray...

CREATIVE ZEN TOUCH 20 GB

... What's the popular opinion on this?

Better control and easier playback options than the Zen Extra. Its pretty small, but a little bulkier than Zen Extra at least to me. But its a lot more user friendly and is very similar to the zen extra. I would get the Zen touch if you can find it for cheap instead of the Zen Extra.

Audio is the problem on the samsung and the others. The amount of power for your headphones are limited in the other devices. But with the creative products the processing has enough power left over for some awsome sounding bass and trebble which is sometimes nonexistant in other mp3 players

 

[Manics]

Out of curiosity, why not iPod?

My guess is price.

 

[Willco]

Out of curiosity, why not iPod?

It's for a lot of reasons. Price, availability, almost everyone of my friend's telling me not to get one due to manufacturing woes, etc.

I feel like karma is not on the side of the iPod here.

The only reason to get the iPod is so I don't have to burn my iTunes library to disc and then download them back to whatever WMA program is necessary, but I'm not sure if it's worth it or not.

 

[Great King Bowser]

Add iRiver H140/120 into the fray.

 

[xsarien]

It's for a lot of reasons. Price, availability, almost everyone of my friend's telling me not to get one due to manufacturing woes, etc.

I feel like karma is not on the side of the iPod here.

The only reason to get the iPod is so I don't have to burn my iTunes library to disc and then download them back to whatever WMA program is necessary, but I'm not sure if it's worth it or not.

Manufacturing woes? First I've heard about it. Hell, the only "manufacturing woe" that's ever stricken the iPod is Apple not being able to make them fast enough.

 

[bionic77]

It's for a lot of reasons. Price, availability, almost everyone of my friend's telling me not to get one due to manufacturing woes, etc.

I feel like karma is not on the side of the iPod here.

The only reason to get the iPod is so I don't have to burn my iTunes library to disc and then download them back to whatever WMA program is necessary, but I'm not sure if it's worth it or not.

If you have already gotten used to using iTunes I suggest just paying the few extra bucks and getting an Ipod. The only really good things about the Ipod are its size and ease of use, the hardware has never been what makes it so popular. The main attraction will always be iTunes.

P.S. Spiderman prefer the Ipod.

 

[pops619]

Well, out of those three I have a Rio Karma (and strongly considered the Nomad Jukebox). I've had it for over a year now, and it's been great. I don't know what the pricing is like now, but when I got it it was pretty well valued compared to the other 20 GB players outt here (especially the iPod), it's got great battery life, and it's very easy to use. It's also the smallest of the three players you're considering, if size is an issue for you (it was for me). So this is my endorsement of the Karma.

 

[DaCocoBrova]

Audio is the problem on the samsung and the others. The amount of power for your headphones are limited in the other devices. But with the creative products the processing has enough power left over for some awsome sounding bass and trebble which is sometimes nonexistant in other mp3 players

How can this be determined by looking at specs? Seems like actually trying each one out is the only way to see what the SQ s like.

 

[Willco]

Manufacturing woes? First I've heard about it.

I've heard endless horror stories from almost all of my friends. I asked my friend Jose who was working yesterday morning at Target whether or not the store had any in stock, since he bought one last week, and begged me not to buy one.

That was pretty much the last straw.

 

[jobber]

Creative Zen Nomad.

IAWTP


I <3 mine

 

[Willco]

Add iRiver H140/120 into the fray.

I really can't find a brick and mortar store that sells 'em!

 

[Manics]

I asked my friend Jose who was working yesterday morning at Target whether or not the store had any in stock, since he bought one last week, and begged me not to buy one.

He knows you'll eventually have iPod envy after he tricks you into buying something else and he prances in front of you with his ipod.

 

[Fifty]

Have you checked the steel and girder stores?

Why can't you order it online?

edit: You know, maybe "Jose" just wants to be the only one with an ipod. I bought one, I love it, and every single person I've EVER talked to has loved theirs. I'd be shocked if No Way Jose didn't like it, but such is life.

 

[Chipopo]

Hey Federman, what are the prices of the devices in your original post?

 

[B'z-chan]

I really can't find a brick and mortar store that sells 'em!

bestbuy, circuitcity, and compusa can order them from their online store. At least they should be able too.

 

[Willco]

He knows you'll eventually have iPod envy after he tricks you into buying something else and he prances in front of you with his ipod.

I somehow doubt this...

Have you checked the steel and girder stores?

The ones closest to my home did not have iRiver products. I can go some of the bigger ones, but that's a lot of effort...

Why can't you order it online?

I don't do that with big ticket electronics.

edit: You know, maybe "Jose" just wants to be the only one with an ipod. I bought one, I love it, and every single person I've EVER talked to has loved theirs. I'd be shocked if No Way Jose didn't like it, but such is life.

Just so you know, he was one of several friends who warned me about the iPod and it's apparently flukey nature.

Hey Federman, what are the prices of the devices in your original post?

Everything listed ranges from $200-$250 and is at least 20 GB.

 

[Timbuktu]

Apple's just dropped the price quite dramatically for a lot of its products here in UK and Macworld SF's next week, so it might be worth seeing if Apple releases new models of iPod at the show.

 

[frolet]

I recently got the Zen 30 GB model. It's a little bulky, compared to an Ipod, but you can remove/replace the battery (so if it dies your not screwed like with the ipod). Plus its over $100 cheaper than a comparable Ipod.

 

[Fresh Prince]

Rio + Extended Warranty
That is all

 

[xsarien]

I've heard endless horror stories from almost all of my friends. I asked my friend Jose who was working yesterday morning at Target whether or not the store had any in stock, since he bought one last week, and begged me not to buy one.

That was pretty much the last straw.

Well, "horror stories" don't necessarily translate it into bonafide defects. The worst problem to ever plague an iPod - either amongst my friends, or more generally on Apple's support boards - stem from USB/Firewire issues that seem to be firmware related, or people mistakenly thinking that ME is the same as 2000. Apple's manufacturing, generally speaking, is rock-fucking-solid.

... what's wrong with the Samsung?

Nothing, I've just heard more about the Zen, and I like what I hear about it. I'm also not a big fan of co-branded products; it stinks of "We didn't have the cache and/or quality to get people to buy this on our own." If I weren't so wrapped up in iTunes, I'd probably own a Zen.

 

[Willco]

If Apple dropped the price of its 4th gen iPods by $50 before March, I'd buy one probably. But I definitely need a portable before I go to the Carribean.

 

[Chipopo]

So what are the plausible alternatives to iTunes if you decide to buck the iPod trend? Is Napster really much worse?

 

[GG-Duo]

i'm thinking about selling my iriver h120... but then i'm in canada..

 

[Saturnman]

Do you people really have 20 gig of MP3's? In almost a decade of downloading and making my own, I have less than 8 gigs.

 

[warabi-mochi]

Do you people really have 20 gig of MP3's? In almost a decade of downloading and making my own, I have less than 8 gigs.

Well, just counting the cds I own that I've been copying to the hard drive before moving since I don't feel like taking them all overseas, I'm at around 25 gigs of music, and only have around 3/4s of it finished. That's not even counting downloads, and music bought off iTunes.

 

[xsarien]

Do you people really have 20 gig of MP3's? In almost a decade of downloading and making my own, I have less than 8 gigs.

I've crossed the halfway mark on my 20GB iPod.

 

[Jdw40223]

But what if, like me, we ONLY have $100 to spend on an MP3 player??!? Anyone have a great player under $100 they would like to reccommend?? or am I just screwed. is it feasible....


ARGH! I hate not having a MP3 player. I feel soo VHS.

 

[Dilbert]

Do you people really have 20 gig of MP3's? In almost a decade of downloading and making my own, I have less than 8 gigs.

I've ripped slightly more than half my CD collection -- strike that, my "active" CD collection -- and my 20 GB iPod is already full. I've had to revert to manual sync.

 

[Saturnman]

But what if, like me, we ONLY have $100 to spend on an MP3 player??!? Anyone have a great player under $100 they would like to reccommend?? or am I just screwed. is it feasible....


ARGH! I hate not having a MP3 player. I feel soo VHS.

Get a Flash-based player. There are plenty for $100 or less.

 

[fart]

don't you live in LA? why can't you get to a bigger store? and why can't you order off the internet like a normal person?

 

[Jim Bowie]

Do you people really have 20 gig of MP3's? In almost a decade of downloading and making my own, I have less than 8 gigs.

I nearly have my 40 GB iPod filled with music.

 

[Willco]

don't you live in LA?

Completely wrong coast.

why can't you get to a bigger store?

Eh, I'm lazy.

and why can't you order off the internet like a normal person?

Instant gratification and returning instantly as well.

 

[Eminem]

get the nomad

and also, you can get a refurbished one straight from Creative on ebay for $150
Saves you about $50, and it is still coming straight from Creative Labs themselves. Good deal.

Do you people really have 20 gig of MP3's? In almost a decade of downloading and making my own, I have less than 8 gigs.

 

[Grimlock]

Whatever mp3 player ya get (and out of your current choices, I'd say Zen Xtra-the Zen Touch does not have a removable battery), I'd suggest you check out Red Chair's site for software to run your player-the list of features they have for all of their 'wares is pretty good, and gearIGN sings their praises. The major feature I've noticed is the software can convert audio files of one type stored on your PC into another type for your player.

Also, check your snail mail to see if you got any 10% off coupons from Best Buy for this weekend-they seem to be circulating again.

Also, 2 of my local BB's (Morrow and Tucker, GA) are clearing out both the iRiver H320 at $269 and the Samsung at $249. YMMV.

If it makes any difference, there's info on this iRiver fan-site about getting the H320 to play videos via a firmware upgrade.

Personally, if price wasn't such an object (which is why I suggested the Zen Xtra), I'd go with the iRiver H320 or (if you can find it at a local CompUSA-mine has it) the H120 (which has a better remote than the H320, but cannot play video files).

 

[dilbert627]

I'm so conflicted! Samsung or Creative? ... Damn you, Salazar!

And another SEXY BEAST has entered the fray...

CREATIVE ZEN TOUCH 20 GB

... What's the popular opinion on this?

I got one for Christmas. Very nice. I love it.

 

[Willco]

get the nomad

and also, you can get a refurbished one straight from Creative on ebay for $150
Saves you about $50, and it is still coming straight from Creative Labs themselves. Good deal.

... Where is this deal?

 

[The Interrobanger]

Willco, I was in your position last week and after doing a lot of research I decided to go with a 40GB Zen Xtra. I haven't got it yet (should be coming soon) but I can't wait, I'm the last one in my group of friends/family to get an MP3 player and the only one that went with something other than an iPod.

Do you people really have 20 gig of MP3's? In almost a decade of downloading and making my own, I have less than 8 gigs.

I've ripped my entire CD collection with a bunch of extra albums and singles and I'm hovering at around 20 gigs. Having extra space on my player motovates me to seek out new artists and genres to fill up the space, which is great.

 

[Eminem]

... Where is this deal?

damn, there doesn't seem to be any up now. wait a week or so and you should find one.

an example: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=5733964620&ssPageName=STRK:MEWN:IT

they have a ton of items listed, so i'm sure there should be up sooner rather than later...