Isn't there another MP3 player

[OU4LIFE]

besides the Ipod out there that's worth a damn?

I mean, I know all the cool kids have an Ipod, but there has to be something as good or better out there.

Whatchu got?

[Boarder]

Just get an iPod. Then you'll be cool. That was simple.

[JohnnyMack]

http://blogs.salon.com/0001991/IMGtoWEB/boombox.jpg

[DCSooner]

I have a Sony.


Walkman. It plays hella tapes fool.

[OU4LIFE]

It's not possible for me to be cool.

but thanks for trying.

[Beef]

I have an iPod, but I'm still not cool.

[Beano's Fourth Chin]

http://google4-cnet.com.com/4002-10889_9-6212687.html?part=google4-cnet&subj=297577&tag=297577

http://www.smart-review.com/portable-mp3-players.html?source=google

http://www.pcmag.com/products/?sid=1612&customquery=true&ispostback=true&query=sectionhierarchylist%3A1612%2Bproductspecsin dex%3A%22Player%20Type%20Hard%20Disk%20attr%22%26&sortby=%2darticledate

http://www.google.com

[OU4LIFE]

http://google4-cnet.com.com/4002-10889_9-6212687.html?part=google4-cnet&subj=297577&tag=297577

http://www.smart-review.com/portable-mp3-players.html?source=google

http://www.pcmag.com/products/?sid=1612&customquery=true&ispostback=true&query=sectionhierarchylist%3A1612%2Bproductspecsin dex%3A%22Player%20Type%20Hard%20Disk%20attr%22%26&sortby=%2darticledate

http://www.google.com

um, yeah...that google link didn't go anywhere, genious.

[Howzit]

I have a 1 Gig IRiver ($200). Not bad, easy to use. I got it from BestBuy and got the $30 extended warranty. I have used it (the warranty) 3 times in the last 2 years to get a new player for various mechanical reasons.

[JohnnyMack]

easy to use.

Yeah, sounds like it.

:rolleyes:

[Beano's Fourth Chin]

um, yeah...that google link didn't go anywhere, genious.

Sorry, here's (http://www.google.com/search?q=bite+me&sourceid=mozilla-search&start=0&start=0&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official) the link you want.

[Howzit]

Yeah, sounds like it.
:rolleyes:

You use more rolleyes than my 14 year old daughter.

[Mjcpr]

You use more rolleyes than my 14 year old daughter.
How YOU doin' ?

[OU4LIFE]

Sorry, here's (http://www.google.com/search?q=bite+me&sourceid=mozilla-search&start=0&start=0&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official) the link you want.


that's better, genious.

[thenotman]

I have a Dell DJ - 20 gig. I like it. I can synch to Napster, Rapsody and MSN with it and very soon the Yahoo service will be unlimited for $5 a month. I'd make sure the iPod could synch to that before I bought.

[Beano's Fourth Chin]

that's better, genious.

Oh, here's one more: link (http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=genious)

[OU4LIFE]

exactly, genious.

[Beano's Fourth Chin]

shut up

[OU4LIFE]

sorry, I meant jeanyus.

[JohnnyMack]

You use more rolleyes than my 14 year old daughter.

Whatever.

:rolleyes:



:texan:

[crawfish]

I've got an IRiver. Insanely easy to use, and I haven't had the problems that Howzit has.

It's probably because he sweats green elf goo.

[Howzit]

crawfsh,
Mine have all been mechanical problems. The power button stopped working once, the little volume/ff/rew toggle gave out once, and something else non green elf goo related.

How long have you had yours? I've wondered if I'm just too hard on them or it's the manufacture...

[crawfish]

crawfsh,
Mine have all been mechanical problems. The power button stopped working once, the little volume/ff/rew toggle gave out once, and something else non green elf goo related.

How long have you had yours? I've wondered if I'm just too hard on them or it's the manufacture...

About two years. However, it's only a 512MB, so I'm looking to upgrade soon.

I've got my eye on an iPod, because I want to pretend I'm cool. Also, because the iRiver doesn't support the Audible.com format...

[Taxman71]

I have the 512MB IRiver and have used it almost daily for 4 months (jogging and mowing included) and it is great. I got mine for $150, but have seen it for around $120 since. It uses a single AA battery (rather than IPod's rechargeable), has an FM radio (essential IMO), voice recording, FM recording and a "line-in" feature that allows you to record from almost any source (i.e.-cassette or phono) that you can listen to on the player and then download on to your hard drive (thus, conversion to MP3). Highly recommended.

[OU4LIFE]

thanks, dang....that info was almost useful.

[RacerX]

thanks, dang....that info was almost useful.
The IRiver part or the jogging part?

[Sooner_Bob]

So are MP3 players actually seen by the computer as players or external drives?

[crawfish]

The IRiver part or the jogging part?

Definitely not the jogging part.

[ou4me]

So are MP3 players actually seen by the computer as players or external drives?

Depends on the player. Some of the newer hard drive based players let you specify an amount of space to use as a removable drive. I've got the Creative Zen Micro. It's an outstanding player. It's really better in most respects than the iPod. Just doesn't have the "cool factor", if you consider following the crowd to be cool. ;) It has an FM radio and can record from FM. It allows multiple formats and sync programs/services. Also has a removable battery, which will save you the $100 replacement fee of a dead iPod battery.

But that's just me...

[goodonya]

I have had a Samsung YP-MT6Z with 1-Gb for 6 months. It is extremely small but has a readable 4-line lcd screen and an FM radio. XP treats it as another drive via USB. I've got about 260 mp3 tunes on it now. Battery life is exceptional.

[Taxman71]

The IRiver part or the jogging part?

And by jogging, I meant trying to look cool at the gym while the spandex ladies do their thing.

[BeetDigger]

So are MP3 players actually seen by the computer as players or external drives?


Mine is seen as a drive. Really, it looks very similar to the zip drives on the computer. I can't remember which MP3 player I have. It is a 128 Mb one by some cheapo company and I just use it when I work out. It holds about 32 wmv files, which is much longer than I work out. I paid $40 or so for it. Maybe $30. I can't remember. It has a slot for a memory card so that I can double the capacity.

[Boarder]

Actually, for mowing, jogging, and such, I was thinking about getting one of the $89 Lyras or something tiny like that. I don't need 2 weeks of music to mow.

[thenotman]

Anyone hear Yahoo will offer a subscription service for $4.99 a month - Thats a pretty good deal.

[BeetDigger]

Actually, for mowing, jogging, and such, I was thinking about getting one of the $89 Lyras or something tiny like that. I don't need 2 weeks of music to mow.


Fry's sells some for about $30 or so. If it takes more than 15 songs to mow your lawn, then you have too much lawn.

[BajaOklahoma]

No Frys. Bad, bad place.

[Sooner_Bob]

Thanks guys . . . I would really prefer to buy one that is seen as an external drive rather than a player. Something that supports multiple formats as well. I've got a ton of MP3s, WMAs and a few Ogg files.


The zen micro (http://www.creative.com/products/product.asp?category=213&subcategory=214&product=10795) looks pretty sweet. I like the built-in FM tuner.

[Taxman71]

Actually, for mowing, jogging, and such, I was thinking about getting one of the $89 Lyras or something tiny like that. I don't need 2 weeks of music to mow.

I think it is handy to have that much storage because you can create separate folders for different kinds of tunes. For example, I have a metal folder for lifting weights, rap folder for running, misc. rock for whatever and some country for mowing (it just seems right). Thus, I don't have to replace songs that often...which I did daily with my first MP3 player (IRock 32MB).

[Beano's Fourth Chin]

most of the hard drive based players will be seen as an external drive as well as synch up as an mp3 player.

One of the cool things about iPod is that there are so many out there that it's kinda built its own little cottage industry. If you look at a lot of the new car stereos, they're iPod compatible in that you can plug in the iPod and it will let you control the iPod through the stereo. Which is cool.

There are also jillions of iPod accessories out there now, more than is available for all the others put together.

I've also read that the iPod shuffle actually has the best audio quality of any mp3 player. This doesn't matter to me because I don't have that kind of ear.

But in the end, I end up throwing the player in the old fanny pack and put the ear phones on and from that point on, they're all pretty much identical.

[Sooner_Bob]

But in the end, I end up throwing the player in the old fanny pack and put the ear phones on and from that point on, they're all pretty much identical.


Exactly. The hardest decision is figuring out which songs to upload.

[KC//CRIMSON]

I've got one of these, and so far I haven't had any problems.

http://www.ecrater.com/product.php?pid=19158

[BeetDigger]

Thanks guys . . . I would really prefer to buy one that is seen as an external drive rather than a player. Something that supports multiple formats as well. I've got a ton of MP3s, WMAs and a few Ogg files.


The zen micro (http://www.creative.com/products/product.asp?category=213&subcategory=214&product=10795) looks pretty sweet. I like the built-in FM tuner.


For mine, I just went to my music files and dragged and dropped the files in that I wanted. Mine doesn't organize the music or anything like that, it just plays the songs in order, which for some reason I cannot rearrange.

As for which one to buy, I think you need to consider the use. For working out or doing yard work, then a small one is better in my opinion. The Zen looks kind of big and bulky. Now if you want to take music in your car or use it as a stereo at home, then the Zen or one of the other high capacity units with organization features would be the ticket. I would just recommend that you consider what you are going to use it for.

[Sooner_Bob]

Yep . . . my DVD player can play WMA and MP3 files so if I'm not playing them on my PC I can burn them to a CD or DVD and play them.

I can't play them in either vehicle so it'd be cool to have something for the road.

I'm hoping to get a bike and start riding so it'd be nice to have something to listen to then as well.

[Boarder]

I think it is handy to have that much storage because you can create separate folders for different kinds of tunes. For example, I have a metal folder for lifting weights, rap folder for running, misc. rock for whatever and some country for mowing (it just seems right). Thus, I don't have to replace songs that often...which I did daily with my first MP3 player (IRock 32MB).
I have a 40g iPod I use for the car so I'm with you there, but for short jobs, I qouldn't mind haveing something smaller.

[Taxman71]

I have a 40g iPod I use for the car so I'm with you there, but for short jobs, I qouldn't mind haveing something smaller.

No doubt, the iPod is the way to go if you want a portable hard drive or jukebox-sized storage. Those things just don't fit on an armband very well during heavy activity.

[Boarder]

[Poser Gym voice]Yeah, besides, my guns are too big to get an arm band around.

[SicEmBaylor]

Damned straight there is an alternative

http://www.portablegear.nl/images/productfotos-groot/philips-hdd120-01.gif

Welcome to the 20 gig Philips HD 120. I love it, but the firmware and upload software SUCK. It's also prone to occasional lock ups, but that's rare and easily solved by a reset.

Good times for Sic 'Em

[Sooner_Bob]

That looks pretty sweet as well . . .

[SicEmBaylor]

I got it for 200.00 bucks at Best Buy. It had been opened but never used. I guess whoever had it opened it and didn't like it (probably a gift or something). Anyway, I couldn't beat a 20 gig player for 200.00 so I grabbed it up.

[OU4LIFE]

There are also jillions of iPod accessories out there now



after two and a half days of exhaustive research, I have found that there are actually 674 iPod accessories available.

You sir, are a liar....genious.

[Beano's Fourth Chin]

Oh, I was counting each accessory individually. And since I have a battery pack that takes 4 AA Batteries, I was counting ALL the AA batteries in existence as potential accessories.

Here's a link to a bunch of new MP3 players that aren't iPods.

http://www.mp3newswire.net/stories/5002/summermp3.html

[KC//CRIMSON]

In related news.....

http://www.vh1.com/news/articles/1503384/20050602/index.jhtml?headlines=true

[critical_phil]

Depends on the player. Some of the newer hard drive based players let you specify an amount of space to use as a removable drive. I've got the Creative Zen Micro. It's an outstanding player. It's really better in most respects than the iPod. Just doesn't have the "cool factor", if you consider following the crowd to be cool. ;) It has an FM radio and can record from FM. It allows multiple formats and sync programs/services. Also has a removable battery, which will save you the $100 replacement fee of a dead iPod battery.

But that's just me...

mrs. critical got me a zen micro yesterday for my birthday.


not much to report on yet, except that the box looks nice...... i'll put my ben harper and ian moore on there tomorrow..

[Beano's Fourth Chin]

The zen micros are getting pretty good reviews from what I understand.

Be sure to get the new firmware (if it's not on there) it will allow you to use the device as an external drive.

[soonerboomer93]

I have a 256mb Iriver for 3 years i think. It works fine for me. It's not seen as an external drive, but there is an optional update that will allow it to be seen as one.

[OU4LIFE]

I got an RCA Lyra for my birthday.

I like it. it holds about 85 songs. 4 ours is more than enough for me. and it's a wee player....about the size of a zippo.

[crawfish]

I just upgraded to a Rio Ce110, 2.5GB. Cost me $150. So far, I have to say it RMEO.

[critical_phil]

The zen micros are getting pretty good reviews from what I understand.

Be sure to get the new firmware (if it's not on there) it will allow you to use the device as an external drive.

beano, i have no idear what that means.

if i plug it in my USB port, my McPuter should recognize it automatically????




also, any of you hillbillies do the new Yahoo Music service yet. it's like $60/yr.

[OUAndy1807]

anyone here ever use one of the large iRiver jukeboxes? I've heard good things about them, and they seems pretty sweet, but there are a crapload of options nowadays.

[Beano's Fourth Chin]

beano, i have no idear what that means.

if i plug it in my USB port, my McPuter should recognize it automatically????




also, any of you hillbillies do the new Yahoo Music service yet. it's like $60/yr.

It should. At least that's what the review I read said. Initially, I think they were forced to be used only with the software that came with it, but with the upgrade, it wasn't necessary or something like that.

In any event, it would be nice to have an additional portable drive if it's not full of music.

[critical_phil]

thanks for the tip.



the chances of me getting it back from my teenage daughters are slim and none anyway......

[soonerboomer93]

the new ipod nano looks interesting

very slim

[Norm In Norman]

They had an 512mb MP3 player at Toys-R-Us that I could get for $50 ("50%" off). Of course I go there and the only one they had left is some sort of lavender color, so I said no way.

Besides the color though, it was pretty neat. It had an SD slot for extra storage (I already have a 512mb sd card) and would run 16 hours an 1 AAA battery. It also took voice memos and had an FM tuner.

Besides having a possible ton more storage, is there any reason to have an I-Pod over something like this? The 512mb shuffle is $99 and doesn't have a screen or an expansion slot - so why would I get one of those over a different brand that is cheaper? And I don't need itunes or anything, I just want something that I can drag files to. In fact, I don't want itunes.

Anyone have an alternate mp3 player they like?

[soonerbrat]

i had an MD recorder that i liked.

[soonerbrat]

you can have it for $50

accessories and disks included.

[Norm In Norman]

Does it play MP3s, and how much storage?

[soonerbrat]

yes, it plays MP3's. each disk holds about 35 songs..i have about 15 pre loaded with miscellaneous stuff and a couple of blank ones....it also plays the radio and it has an armband carrying case

[Norm In Norman]

It's definitely something to look into.

Speaking of ipod, check this out:
http://www.samsclub.com/eclub/main_shopping.jsp?BV_UseBVCookie=yes&n=0&mt=a&coe=0&oidPath=0:-23542:-23589:-24290:-40383:912719

40 gigs, plays mp3s AND mpeg4 movies (or at least a cheaper one with the same name does).

[Beano's Fourth Chin]

They had an 512mb MP3 player at Toys-R-Us that I could get for $50 ("50%" off). Of course I go there and the only one they had left is some sort of lavender color, so I said no way.

This one looks similar:

http://about.pricegrabber.com/search_techspecs_full.php/masterid=6608429

It will sate your vanity a bit more, but your frugality will take a bit of a hit.

[soonerbrat]

nice

[Beano's Fourth Chin]

I was just looking at Walgreens website checking on my kid's prescription and saw this on the front page;

http://walgreens.com/store/product.jsp?CATID=301580&navAction=jump&navCount=1&skuid=sku1702815&id=prod1702828&ban=bil_hpb_CATID=301580/zen%20nano/zen%20nano%20mp3%20player

[Norm In Norman]

This one looks similar:

http://about.pricegrabber.com/search_techspecs_full.php/masterid=6608429

It will sate your vanity a bit more, but your frugality will take a bit of a hit.
Yeah, but I couldn't use my SD card with it. For some irrational reason, using my 512mb sd card is important to me. They took my wife's palm pilot back, so I don't have anything to use the SD card with.

[Norm In Norman]

I was just looking at Walgreens website checking on my kid's prescription and saw this on the front page;

http://walgreens.com/store/product.jsp?CATID=301580&navAction=jump&navCount=1&skuid=sku1702815&id=prod1702828&ban=bil_hpb_CATID=301580/zen%20nano/zen%20nano%20mp3%20player
Well obviously Walgreens was the first place I stopped. The checkout person looked at me funny or something though and I got mad at him, so I decided not to get one from there.

[Beano's Fourth Chin]

Yeah, but I couldn't use my SD card with it. For some irrational reason, using my 512mb sd card is important to me. They took my wife's palm pilot back, so I don't have anything to use the SD card with.

Ah, I skipped that part of the requirements. You can probably buy a cheap palm for a hundred bucks and then play games on it too. You have pTunes don't you?


quick searching of palm website:
http://www.palm.com/us/products/handhelds/zire31/

$129 is the cheapest they have with expansion slot and headphone jack. That's too expensive compared to your 50 bukc one.

[Norm In Norman]

Yeah, it's more of a passing fancy than a need. My sense of cheapness usually outweighs like ... everything.

[Norm In Norman]

Here is a similar one with all of the same features:

http://www.samsclub.com/eclub/main_shopping.jsp?BV_UseBVCookie=yes&n=0&mt=a&coe=0&oidPath=0:-23542:-23589:-44061:-44065:-44080:965254

But Sansa? Although I'll admit the one I looked at was like a Craig or something. There are several with this EXACT same feature set. I bet they all use the same chip.

[Norm In Norman]

Target (online at least) seems to have by far the largest selection of MP3 players. Of course they are more expensive too. it's funny, all the stores say "SOLD OUT" on most of their MP3 players.

[crawfish]

Wal-Hell carries the RIO 2.5GB player for $130 bucks. Best deal for that amount of storage space I've seen, and it's a great device.

[Beano's Fourth Chin]

I don't like WalMart. Their stores aren't well lit enough.

[soonerbrat]

and they don't have enough stuff.

[soonerboomer93]

i just bought a new iRiver,

1gb, on sale for 149 from best buy.

the only thing i don't like is the head phone jack placement

[OU4LIFE]

http://www.wisbar.org/AM/images/wl/2003/07/merge.jpg

[C&CDean]

Do you know that I have never had an mp3 or an ipod in my hand? Ever. I've never touched one. I've never taken 1 second to look at one. Do you have to steal music somewhere and load it on them, or do you buy little tiny disks? When you jog do they skip like CDs do? I'm thinking of losing the Walkman this year and going digital baby. Somebody help a brother out.

[Norm In Norman]

MP3 is a file format, so you probably can't hold it in your hand.

And no, it will never skip unless your batteries are loose or you break it.

[Norm In Norman]

Oh, and you can convert all of your CDs into mp3s (1 mp3 per track is generally how it's done) on your computer then transfer them to your mp3 player. You can also buy and download mp3s for (generally) a dollar off the internet.

Or you can steal mp3s off the internet for free.

[sooner_born_1960]

Or you can share mp3s off the internet for free.
fixed.

[IB4OU2]

don't you have to pay itunes or somebody like a dollar a song? My wife got our daughter a video ipod for christmas and I'm paying her way through school......:mad:

[C&CDean]

So there's no mp3 player? Or is that what an ipod is? Do I put my CDs into the computer and save them somehow and then transfer them onto something, or do you somehow copy them onto a "mp3" thingamabobby?

I'm starting to get a headache here.

[Norm In Norman]

Yessir, you can pay itunes $1 per song to download one of their songs. It's probably a little trickier to get an itune to play on a "not ipod" though.

You pay itunes through a credit card (I think).

[sooner_born_1960]

Dean, you just rip all your Beatles CD's into .mp3 files. Then copy those files to your .mp3 player.

[Norm In Norman]

So there's no mp3 player? Or is that what an ipod is? Do I put my CDs into the computer and save them somehow and then transfer them onto something, or do you somehow copy them onto a "mp3" thingamabobby?

I'm starting to get a headache here.
Well, you've basically got it. There are mp3 players (of which ipod is one), but an mp3 is a file format. You save each song from your CD into a seperate mp3. Then you transfer the mp3s to your mp3 player.

Or as I said, you can download just the mp3s of the songs you like.

[IB4OU2]

Yessir, you can pay itunes $1 per song to download one of their songs. It's probably a little trickier to get an itune to play on a "not ipod" though.

You pay itunes through a credit card (I think).

Yea, she bought 50 dollars in Itunes gift certificates for her too. Downloading 50 songs will take what 10-15 minutes?

[Norm In Norman]

To complicate matters, which means dean shouldn't read this, really there are several music file formats, not just mp3. Like WMA or Ogg Vorbis or whatever Itune's format is (AAC?). but I think most people refer to them all as mp3s.

[C&CDean]

Well, you've basically got it. There are mp3 players (of which ipod is one), but an mp3 is a file format. You save each song from your CD into a seperate mp3. Then you transfer the mp3s to your mp3 player.

Or as I said, you can download just the mp3s of the songs you like.

And how does one "save each song from a CD into a separate mp3?" Is there software somewhere that you have to load onto your computer? Is it already there in WindowsXP? Where the hell is "mp3?"

How about I just pay you to come over and do this **** for me?

[sooner_born_1960]

Dean, surely one of your kids knows all about it.

[C&CDean]

Dean, surely one of your kids knows all about it.

Yeah, but the younger ones are teenagers. They don't talk to me.

[Norm In Norman]

There is stuff built into WindowsXP to do it, or you can download better programs to do it. The stuff in WindowsXP "rips" it to WMA by default. Other ones don't. I think WindowsMediaPlayer will rip a CD, although I've never bothered to try it so I couldn't tell you how.

[sooner_born_1960]

Talk or find a new address.

[OU4LIFE]

Dean, you should just be able to put your CD in your computer, then open it and drag the songs to your desktop. Then all you have to do is use the software that come with the player to add them to the player.

[Howzit]

Dean, if you have Windows Media Player, the newer versions have a "Rip" option. It will copy the selected songs ont to your hard drive in a format that is readable on an mp3 player (at least on my iRiver).


Rip from a CD to your PC
Download from the PC to your player.My iRiver has management software that takes you through getting it from your PC to the player.

Not sure if anyone mentioned it already, but another consideration is flash memory vs. hard drive on your player. An iPod has a hard drive, which is why it holds more music. Most of the other players I saw mentioned here have flash memory, like a meory stick or card in a digital camera.

Oops, Norm already hit on this. I type slooooooowwwwww. Like OU4LIFE thinks.

[Norm In Norman]

Here's some free mp3s to download:

http://www.winamp.com/music/

[sooner_born_1960]

I didn't see Hank Williams name on any of those.

[Howzit]

Also, on the iTunes, you can either out them on a credit card, or you can buy iTunes gift cards with a pre-set amount. If anyone is looking for gift ideas for kids or folks with an iPod, this is a pretty good one.

Unfortunately, not all songs are able to be purchased individually. I have seen some that require you buy the entire CD.

[C&CDean]

So, is there an itunes website or something?

[Howzit]

www.itunes.com

[C&CDean]

Great. It's locked here at work.

[critical_phil]

also, any of you hillbillies do the new Yahoo Music service yet. it's like $60/yr.


anyone?


http://www.80s.com/saveferris/images/class/teacher1.jpg

[Norm In Norman]

OK, I think we have a winner:

http://reviews.cnet.com/Creative_Zen_Vision_M_30GB_green/4505-6490_7-31632697.html?tag=viddet

2.5" color screen
Plays several audio and video formats
Can use it as a USB pnp storage device

And it looks like it fixes a few things that IPOD user have complained about. Of course, it's made by aggies...

[Beano's Fourth Chin]

for those of you that have the video iPod and a replayTV. I found a cool program that converts the mpeg-2 file to mpeg-4 in the right resolution to put on the iPod.

it's called Videora iPod converter. Videora makes several converter programs. I would assume it would work with the creative zen thing too.

If you use it in conjunction with dvddecrypter (if you downloaded it before they got run out of business) you can use it to rip dvds to the iPod. I was able to put a bunch of princess sing along songs on there for car trips, etc.

[Norm In Norman]

I think the creative one has software that does this for you, but I can't figure too much from the online manual. It would be cool if it would play any size video. I've got quite a few xvid/divx videos.

[Norm In Norman]

oh, and I think I saw something about it working with TIVO2Go or something.

[Beano's Fourth Chin]

I think the creative one has software that does this for you, but I can't figure too much from the online manual. It would be cool if it would play any size video. I've got quite a few xvid/divx videos.

Yeah, I just read the reveiw for the zen. It comes ready to play mpeg2. The iPod is limited to mpeg4, quicktime and m4v files.


The only bad thing about playing any size video is that an hour of video on replaytv at lowest quality is 900megs. A dvd ripped directly would eat up too much space and would have to spin the disk constantly, as it wouldn't be able to play out of ram at all with that bitrate. The smaller files allow it to conserve battery power better, I would imagine.

[Beano's Fourth Chin]

oh, and I think I saw something about it working with TIVO2Go or something.

That's a great feature. It will still require conversion time, though. You're still looking at at least an hour cpu time per show.

[Howzit]

TOO BAD ABOUT THE PEEM MACHINE BEING BROKEDED!!!

[DCSooner]

The daughter is getting a PSP tonight. Should be fun!

[Howzit]

And a horse?

[DCSooner]

And a horse?

Ya. Maybe in a year. Heh.

[soonerbrat]

And a horse?




here's a horse I found..half off...

http://members.cox.net/soonerbrat/horse.gif

[Norm In Norman]

PM snobs.

[Norm In Norman]

Yeah, I just read the reveiw for the zen. It comes ready to play mpeg2. The iPod is limited to mpeg4, quicktime and m4v files.


The only bad thing about playing any size video is that an hour of video on replaytv at lowest quality is 900megs. A dvd ripped directly would eat up too much space and would have to spin the disk constantly, as it wouldn't be able to play out of ram at all with that bitrate. The smaller files allow it to conserve battery power better, I would imagine.
I'm talking size as in resolution. I've got some arrested development episodes in xvid format that are larger than DVD resolution and I'm wondering if they would work. And I'm wondering if my Family Guy episodes in xVid would work too.

[Beano's Fourth Chin]

I'm talking size as in resolution. I've got some arrested development episodes in xvid format that are larger than DVD resolution and I'm wondering if they would work. And I'm wondering if my Family Guy episodes in xVid would work too.

I downloaded some episodes of the office in xVid. You have to convert them to 320x240 to work on iPod. Creative seems to be a bit freer with what formats are accepted. If the bitrate isn't too high (which it isn't on those xvid files) There's probably a hack (or will be) that will allow you to play any resolution. Doing away with that conversion step would be way awesome.

[Beano's Fourth Chin]

The daughter is getting a PSP tonight. Should be fun!

Here's a free program for converting DVDs, Tivo, downloaded video of the numa numa guy etc. over to psp.

http://www.pspvideo9.com/

[Norm In Norman]

So I bump 4-life's thread and he doesn't even reply. Frickin' communist.

[OU4LIFE]

Beano said what I was going to say. Word for word.

bastard.

[mrowl]

there are rumors of a sirius Ipod... that would be such greatness.

[Norm In Norman]

I'm sorry, I don't speak Russian.

[Norm In Norman]

I guess that works for either of your posts.

[OU4LIFE]

Da

[49r]

There are a million iPod killers floating around. Some feature more capapcity, some feature more gizmos, and some feature lower price points. None of the iPod killers are actually doing any iPod killing because they’re too busy trying to be more iPodish than the iPod.
Even with the consistent lack of success the iPod wannabees have had, there are still plenty of companies willing to make iPod knockoffs. Some of the manufacturers labor under the delusion that the next iteration of their player will dethrone Apple. The more rational mp3 player producers are intent on scooping up the lion’s share of the crumbs left by the market dominating iPod. For all the bluster and imitation the competition has consistently failed to dent the iTunes/iPod stranglehold, few expect that to change. Why has every attempt failed so miserably? Because if you are truly desirous to do to the iPod what Windows did to the command line there’s only one company who can pull it off. Their name is Microsoft and it is only a matter of time until they make a serious effort.

http://www.applematters.com/index.php/section/comments/want_to_marginalize_the_ipod_ask_steve_jobs_how/