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Better MP3 Players than the IPod

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? by the_patient
I suggest that before anyone succumbs to the hype concerning iPods this season [actually it's probably too late, but what the hey] you take a look at Creative and their line of MP3'ers.

http://www.pricerunner.co.uk/sound-and-vision/personal-audio/mp3-players/details?saved_products=0%2C193993%2C194720&c_194720=194720

I bought a Creative Zen Jukebox for £150 roughly [give or take a few pennies] and it arrived within two days. Points to consider-

1. it is cheaper than the iPod Mini
2. it has greater capacity than the iPod Mini by a huge gap
3. it has a great battery life than the majority of the iPod range
4. the baterry is replacable by the end0user, whereas Apple charge a fortune for you send your iPod back to be re-batteried

I really do reccomend this MP3 player, and I've had it for around 2 days to know that it is of better value than my friend's iPod Mini. The only swing in the iPod's favour is that the Creative Zen Jukebox is slightly bigger and heavier, however I can comfortably fit it in my pocket and walk about, forgetting its even there.

So why is everyone still buying iPods when this baby is on offer?
the_patient | 15 Dec '04, 19:43 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Re: Better MP3 Players than the IPod

There are a lot of nice looking MP3 players out now which kick the iPod's arse, and are cheaper too. Sony came so close with their Walkman but it's overpriced and uses their proprietry format (apparently the next version will support MP3s etc. though). But there are loads of others - some ugly and crap, others very nice indeed.

Personally I hate the ubiquity of the iPod, and the fact that everyone goes on about how cool it is, but how can it be cool when every other fucker's got one? Not to mention all the flaws with it...
martbean | 15 Dec '04, 20:54 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Re: Better MP3 Players than the IPod

there are none.

there are many pretenders, but only 1 iKing.
John_Brainlove | 15 Dec '04, 21:34 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Re: Better MP3 Players than the IPod

* it looks good
* the decoder in the iPod is second to none
* it has the widest thrid-party support and accessory base
* iTunes and the built-in AutoSync kick the shit out of the offerings from Creative, Archos et al
* it has the most intuitive display, control and databasing system
* it has the lowest signal to noise ratio of any player on the market

I love my iPod and after everything I've tested on an aesthetic, output and usage level, it still wins hands down. It more than justifies being about £20-50 more expensive and I wouldn't swap it for anything.

Love from stinky mcturdface
crablin | 16 Dec '04, 13:24 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Re: Better MP3 Players than the IPod

No. I refuse to accept that anything is better than my lovely, lovely iPod.

*strokes its shiny, shiny casing in a disturbingly paternal fashion*
loveless | 16 Dec '04, 13:54 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Re: Better MP3 Players than the IPod

Yeah, you wouldn't be saying such mean, slanderous things if you had an ipod.
Wiggles | 16 Dec '04, 13:59 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Re: Better MP3 Players than the IPod

are you working on commission for Creative? i thought you were about to use the phrase 'And that's not all...!' for a second there.

some points to consider:

-the iPod mini is shit. it's kind of one-sided to compare your 2-day old mp3 player to it because it's not really that representative of the real ipod in terms of value for money and capacity.

-i have no idea what the zen jukebox software is like, but it'd have to be pretty impressive and bug-free to match up to iTunes. it syncs like a dream and lets you navigate around 10,000 tunes with ease.

-the battery problem has been acknowledged, sure. but i'd hardly call what roughly equates to £50 of repair a fortune. hell, i'm an art student and i can afford that for something as good as the iPod. get a job, layabout! :)
carrotrope | 16 Dec '04, 14:49 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Re: Better MP3 Players than the IPod

Actually, they should be paying me.

I just thought the real appeal of the Zen Jukebox was the features you get for a lower price than even a bog standard iPod Mini. iTunes is a great piece of software, yes, but the Zen Explorer aint bad too.

Its more for people like me i guess; challenged of savings.
the_patient | 16 Dec '04, 16:25 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Re: Better MP3 Players than the IPod

I've got a zen (full sized one). It's easy to use, looks nice, lasts for bloody ages without a recharge and the software works fine.

the only thing I don't like about it compared to my ld minidisc is you can't record vinyl onto it easily. You have to either record onto your computer hard drive or make a cd first (easy for me as I have an audio-only cd writer that hooks up to my stereo, but still a pain)

Does anyone know if there are any mp3 players that do direct encoding (as in, I plug it into my stereo and it tapes the vinyl without faffing around with the computer, like mds do)?
the_indie_music_scene | 17 Dec '04, 16:56 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Re: Better MP3 Players than the IPod

Why is it that everyone I know with an iPod complains about it freezing?
And why is it, that what something you put your pocket looks like, that is so important? Plus I think it looks like a fucking ugly piece of GAP-made plastic and metal, but that's another story... and mac's are gay cus they only have one mouse button and you can't right click to save mp3s.
sean | 16 Dec '04, 16:34 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Re: Better MP3 Players than the IPod

... or you are gay for not knowing how to use a mac. control click, or hold down the mouse button - both will produce the desired effect.
it's important because the limits of listening to music on the move have been removed. that's massive for me - every time i leave the house i put my earphones in. i have been walking around with pockets full of minidiscs and cd's for years - changing cd's whilst walking down the street is no fun at all... now its all there in one little package, anything i want to listen to, any time i want it. for a music geek like me, its a fuckin minor revolution.
John_Brainlove | 16 Dec '04, 16:41 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Re: Better MP3 Players than the IPod

and what's this freezing thing? I have an iSkin on mine to stop it from getting scratched, like a rubber cover thing. it was pretty expensive after all.
John_Brainlove | 16 Dec '04, 16:43 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Re: Better MP3 Players than the IPod

"...and mac's are gay cus..."

Oh Sean, where did it all go wrong?
crablin | 17 Dec '04, 15:04 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Re: Better MP3 Players than the IPod

http://c-90.nm.ru/index.htm
cadd | 18 Dec '04, 14:21 | Send note | Report this | Reply