Reply With QuoteI haven't shopped for MP3 players for a year or so, but I recall the iriver and creative zen players being among the best, and iPods really haven't changed much over the past year, aside from token video capability.Originally Posted by Cowdisease
CHOKESLAM
But if 360, and it's software is any indication, things could be changing.
Eat a bag of dicks.
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I haven't shopped for MP3 players for a year or so, but I recall the iriver and creative zen players being among the best, and iPods really haven't changed much over the past year, aside from token video capability.
Unashamed Sink Urinator.
Nope, MVNO stands for, "Mobile Virtual Network Operators" essentually a "virtual" cell phone company that uses some else's network, but they handle all the billing and customer service.
MVNOs in the US are Boost(uses Nextel), Virgin and ESPN Mobile (uses sprint) and Amp'd (Uses Verizon)
“The very existence of flame-throwers proves that some time, somewhere, someone said to themselves, you know, I want to set those people over there on fire, but I'm just not close enough to get the job done.” -George Carlin
Drive By
Wildcat to the information rescue!
Berserk
Wow. I haven't been to their websites in months. That is annoying.
It's like Steve Jobs hired a random forum troll that's anti-microsoft and made him the head of advertising.
I have a Zen Xtra. Zen > iPod. The only flaw it had was terrible software, but it has been since updated so you can just drag and drop your files onto the player like an external hard drive (which is what it is.)
....not a button masher
My parents just got a new Dell system. It cost alot less than an Apple product would have, and no they don't need fancy video-editing crap. It works great for what they use it for. It took 15 minutes to uninstall the pre-installed garbage. I cleaned it up, docked my Archos - installed Firefox, K-Lite codec pack and a few other apps, and threw some tunes and a movie or two on it. Unfortunately Apple, your portable media device wouldn't have allowed that, at least not as easily. It also, like most of your products - costs more.
On the flipside I'm sure Dell's tech support blows but they have me for that. And if they had the Apple (not that they would) they'd be on their own. I do hear more people with PC's nowadays talking about wanting a Mac, but it's the price that ends up keeping most of them with a PC.
Latest "possible" mock-up for Microsoft Project Argo - shamelessly stolen from the latest Engadget update. The device will be Xbox branded, and somehow be used in conjunction with the 360. Not sure if 360 ownership is mandatory, or maybe just for this one model.
The comments are high-larious, there's really no pleasing iPod fanboys. It's either "nothing like an iPod" or they are "completely ripping it off". It's just one of many designs, and no one's really sure whether that's a wheel or functions as a d-pad. What's certain is if they pull it off right, it'll likely be the biggest competition the iPod has seen, and that's good for everybody.
I'd really like to see MS push Apple to give the iPod the ability to dock as an external HD (and share at least MP3's). It's unlikely this will happen as Microsoft probably won't like the open-ness of the idea, but they can have their DRM and eat it too if they really wanted to. GIVE PEOPLE CHOICE.
It'd kinda be like Firefox eventually forcing IE to add some sort of pop-up killer. Except MS is huge compared to Mozilla. This is their opportunity to shine, and bring some real innovation. Or it could be bloated and un-user friendly, like Sony's efforts in this market.
Last edited by sphere79; 10 Jul 2006 at 09:47 PM.
is cuter than you
It's not easy to put music and movies onto an iPod?
Macs come with 90 days of phone tech support, which can be extended to three years (along with three years of full coverage otherwise) for not that much money.And if they had the Apple (not that they would) they'd be on their own.
[quote]I do hear more people with PC's nowadays talking about wanting a Mac, but it's the price that ends up keeping most of them with a PC.[/qoute]
What Dell system did you parents get?
As many successes as MS has, they have an equal amount of utter failures. MS just doesn't "get it" most of the time, but they do supposedly have J Allard behind this thing, which might be the best chance it'll have. Otherwise, MS knows jack crap about consumer electronics (versus nerd electronics.)What's certain is if they pull it off right, it'll likely be the biggest competition the iPod has seen, and that's good for everybody.
My iPod is currently docked with my computer as an external hard drive just fine. As for sharing music off of it - you won't see it from Apple, and you won't see it from Microsoft. Be realistic. It isn't because they (both theys) don't want to, but because they have far too much pressure on them from the RIAA and the like.I'd really like to see MS push Apple to give the iPod the ability to dock as an external HD (and share at least MP3's). It's unlikely this will happen as Microsoft probably won't like the open-ness of the idea, but they can have their DRM and eat it too if they really wanted to. GIVE PEOPLE CHOICE.
WARNING: This post may contain violent and disturbing images.
....not a button masher
Not without installing iTunes. Other players dock in seconds and need no software or drivers. Some will even share content without a computer. Plus, an iPod isn't going to play the higher-res Divx/Xvid files that alot of my video is encoded in.
Not exactly sure - it was one of their cheaper models. I think it started at $399/$450 but was closer to $500 after the flat-panel LCD 17" upgrade. I know it doesn't match pound for pound with the iMac but none of that matters at all to my parents. It surfs the net quickly and does the other incidental things basic users want well enough. There's no way they'd have dropped $1300 on a Mac, or even $600+monitor for a Mac mini. A PC is foreign enough to them, a Mac might as well be Mars.
Agreed. Like I said, this is their chance to shine.
If they market it right they could actually be seen as the un-corporate option. Fighting the RIAA is not out of the question, if anything Microsoft is one that could take them on. Hell, XM by comparison is far smaller and they are going head to head with the RIAA as we speak. Plenty of "other" MP3 players dock, share, trade - some even with eachother and no PC needed. None of them have to worry about the RIAA. If it's simply the amount of devices that's gonna make the RIAA suddenly take notice (or potential marketshare / company affiliation) that somehow doesn't seem right. As long as it has the OPTION of purchased DRM content I think they'll be happy.
I know it's a stretch but since Microsoft doesn't actually own any large media companies I hold out hope that MAYBE they'll do the right thing for the consumer. Sounds impossible, I know. But from a sales standpoint it may be one of their best bets against the iPod.
Let it share, support alot of codecs and THAT could be their angle.
Let me dream, alright?
Actuarian
Meh it's 'easy' but really really clunky. You have to use iTunes and Apple goes out of its way to obscfate everything, which is just stupid. More 'open' music players just allow you to transfer files directly back and forth from a computer.
I have to agree with Hubb^H^H^H^HHWSNBN here -- I have an iPod (someone got it for me as a gift) and I feel dirty about it. I just do not think that MS is going to throw anything at us that both works better and is less restrictive. (For all the hate the iPod gets, most of the alternative DMPs have /really/ shitty interfaces). However, I do use an alternate firmware (called RockBox) which drops the iTunes requirement and adds a bunch of stuff (more file formats, direct read/write access, etc.). It also coexists cleanly with the default iPod software, so if you need to boot to that for whatever reason, you can do that too.
-Dippy
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