Fox

Hey guys, what's your take on MS's new player? Seems like it has some cool gimmicks to offer. It's priced around the same 250.00 mark that the Zen Vision:M is currently at.

I would definitely be interested in this if they can make the 60gb version affordable- I have a 40GB creative unit I bought almost three years ago for only 200 dollars, and the video seems like more of a novelty since it doesn't seem to support Xvid...

I'll have to keep an eye on this one, it seems like it could actually be cool.

wootmachine9000

I just came across that today. I was reading this review. Personally I think it sounds pretty cool, assuming like you said that they make it affordable.

40sondacurb

It doesn't have playforsure, don't buy it. It's basicaly everything you hate about the Ipod but made by MS.

Fox

PlaysForSure was a joke- it was MS's old DRM. All my music's in MP3 format anyway, which should work fine. Especially considering if the WiFi works the way it should (and doesn't put DRM restrictions on mp3 files), then swapping music with no restrictions shouldn't be hard at all.

40sondacurb

Well then all power to you. I'd rather get a Zen though because then you at least have the option of using a subscription service.

sinclair_tm

ipod rocks!

-token mac guy ;)~

Fox

If by 'rocks' you mean not having a user-replaceable battery in a 250 dollar, impossible-to-open and scratchprone unit (which sucks), then I guess it does rock. A lot.

sinclair_tm

hey now, mine still does not have a single scratch on the display. and you can replace the battery, there are kits all over.

is the ipod perfect? nope, but then, i have yet to see a perfect portable media player.

ebackhus

Laptops are good portable media players.

I'm still searching for a 20+GB player that supports all formats and all bitrates (variable included) and doesn't play video. Something about watching video on a teeny screen bothers me as someone who's already nearsighted from years of graphic design.

karusho

My phone has the sound quality of a Zen. I think I'll use it instead of an mp3 player.

This one's interesting: http://www.computerworld.com/action/...icleId=9003718

Joefireline

My view on portable media players:
I see no reason to have a colour screen, or anything which can play videos, and you don't need more that 4GB for music. If I am going to watch a video, I want it on a 14" at least screen, in good quality, not some tiny 2" thing, in rubbish quality.
I have a Sony MP3 player, in which I love, it is just perfect for me. 2GB, tiny, 30hours battery life, super fast charge(3 minutes charge = 3 hours battery), easy navigation, good looking, and well designed, good sound quality, and good earphones with it.
When it comes to portable media for movies, my laptop.

wootmachine9000

Definitely. My eyes are terrible enough as it is, I don't want to do more damage by squinting at a tiny little screen watching a movie. I never have understood why they gave mp3 players video capabilites. I have an ipod (it was a gift, if I had chosen I would have gotten something with decent storage and a fast charging time, such as the sony mentioned above) and all I use it for is music, squinting at the games makes my eyes hurt as it is.

karusho

iPod Video isn't a video-playing iPod. It's an iPod that can play videos. But seriously, 2 hour battery life? Most movies I've heard of are 90-120 minutes.

DumberDrummer

I saw an Ipod video (30 gig) for 200 dollars today in my university bookstore. I was incredibly pissed, cause I just spent 300 on my Zen.

Oh well, my zen does Xvid, so :P

Fox

Who doesn't need more than 4GB for music? I have a 25GB collection

Watching videos on players like the iPod video and the Zen Vision:M really isn't bad, but I don't see the use in it- nobody over 18 has enough downtime to watch an entire movie on-the-go unless they commute by train or spend a lot of time in waiting rooms...

Joefireline

I don't mean how big your collection is, I mean that you only need 4GB of space, as you should really listen to it more that 1 hour at a time, 4GB is gonna last you at least 30hours, unless you have them at really high bit rates pointlessly, and stupid formats.
Do you have like ever song going or something? I only have 2.6GB, and that is quite a lot of songs, and I have loads more songs than all my friends, they all have like 256MB MP3 players and don't use all that up...

40sondacurb

Better sound quality is never pointless unless you have some crappy speakers.

Joefireline

The bit rate on a MP3 player doesn't effect the sound quality enough for you to notice, infact, it is better to have lower bit rates on MP3 players, as it will give you longer battery life.
It is better to just have something with has really good sound quality, and really good speakers, and a lower bit rated songs.

40sondacurb

Maybe if you're using ear bud, but I use real headphones and I can tell that I'm not hearing the best sound possible at a lower bit rate. But I may be wrong and the quality of the source may be my problem, I need to experiment more.

Joefireline

Hmm... Yes I use ear phones, but also I use a 2.1 set speakers with it, I find it easier than playing from my laptop..., I actully find I get the same sound quality with lower bit rates, and uses a lot less space, and less battery life, and it is the same with playing from my laptop, I notice no differance.
How much of a differance do you notice?