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Better and cheaper options than the iPod?

updated 10:35 am EDT, Mon May 17, 2004

iPod alternatives


A PC Pro magazine review of MP3 players says that there are , according to the BBC: "This month's issue of PC Pro magazine looked at 18 portable MP3 players and concluded that there were several lesser-known brands that noticeably outperformed the iPod. 'The iPod is over-priced when compared with these competitors,' said Mr Ross. 'It also falls down on battery life, with some portable MP3 players lasting three times as long, while its lack of support for Windows Media files will upset many PC users.'"


by MacNN Staff

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  1. Monstermind

    Junior Member

    Joined: May 2000

    0
    05/17, 10:44am | report spam | Reply |

    Feh.

    The English drink warm beer. What do they know?

  1. OptimusG4

    Mac Elite

    Joined: Feb 2003

    0
    05/17, 10:49am | report spam | Reply |

    And their point?

    Seriously. Like we didn't know there are cheaper options out there. And the iPod isn't worthy because it doesn't support WMA? Please.

  1. Sebastian

    Junior Member

    Joined: Jul 2000

    0
    05/17, 10:49am | report spam | Reply |

    look at the recommends..

    when they're comparing equipment that is in the 128MB storage range to a 40GB iPod, you gotta wonder if the heat from their pc's is creating noxious fumes that are affecting judgement...

  1. Elektrix

    Dedicated MacNNer

    Joined: Sep 2001

    0
    05/17, 10:53am | report spam | Reply |

    Umm, what?

    Maybe I'm missing something, but after reading the article they don't even seem to go to any great lengths to explain WHY those players are actually better.

    From personal experience all I can say is that I've played around extensively with the Rio Nitrus, Rio Karma, and various iRiver MP3 players.....

    No doubt some of them may be cheaper and have some features the iPod doesn't......... but none of them have anything close to as good of an interface......... I would always pay a bit more for an iPod just to get the great interface for browsing and navigating music.

    Add to that the iTunes integration, which makes it a much more pleasant experience than the software you have to use with those other players, and it's no contest.

  1. Elektrix

    Dedicated MacNNer

    Joined: Sep 2001

    0
    05/17, 10:55am | report spam | Reply |

    Sorry...

    Re: my post above..... I was thinking the BBC was just reproducing the PC Pro article, but now I see they are just basically reporting on it.

    I would like to read the original PC Pro article, as I assume they must have at least given some reasons for why they considered their recommended players better.

    I am especially curious if they really thought they were better in terms of usability, software integration, etc.

  1. adammull

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Mar 2004

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    05/17, 11:02am | report spam | Reply |

    right....

    And I can buy a Corvette that goes faster than a Porsche too, but it won't put a smile on my face...

  1. Deal

    Mac Enthusiast

    Joined: Apr 2001

    0
    05/17, 11:21am | report spam | Reply |

    How about....

    How about third party options?

    I love my iTrip and there are so many other options for the iPod that these other so called brands can't even come close to competing.

  1. brennan

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Feb 2000

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    05/17, 11:23am | report spam | Reply |

    There's something to it

    The article makes exactly two qualifications to the 'better' claim. 'Cheaper' (which is certainly true) and 'doesn't support WMA', which is by design.

    In the long run, the iPod is designed to sell more Macs. They make it available to Windows users to demonstrate the superiority of the Apple user experience, so that people will switch. This is precisely why the iPod/iTunes don't have (and have no interest in having) support for WM. It's quite calculated. Journalists who complain about this are usually missing the point.

    They should crticise this as strategy rather than a tech shortcoming. Apple could add support for WM with no trouble at all, if they wanted it. Apparently the iPod hardware DOES support WM by default, and Apple have to go out of their way to 'break' it. (Sooner or later the iPod will be hacked to do exactly this).

    From an Mac user's point of view, Windows Media support is about as desirable as heroin addiction. It's a complete lifestyle with a whole load of restrictions. (You can say the same about the Mac experience, it's just a better 'hit'). However, if you've already converted your entire CD collection to WMA, you're not going to go on the streets looking for something else to get hooked on.

  1. TheBum

    Mac Enthusiast

    Joined: Sep 2001

    0
    05/17, 11:29am | report spam | Reply |

    Navigation

    Just try navigating through hundreds of songs with those little "up" and "down" buttons on the cheap players. As far as I'm concerned, the scroll wheel is the best thing to come along since sliced bread.

  1. chulitomio

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: May 2004

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    05/17, 11:35am | report spam | Reply |

    Tired

    I'm so tired of reading stuff like this - Apple's product is overpriced, there's better... then nothing concrete. No reasons why. Zero comparisons at all. I haven't seen any PC users buying iPods that were upset at no WMA, and now iTunes converts files to a decent format. One can only assume heavy drugs are involved when listing flash players as rivals or better value. The integration between iPod and iTunes will be tough to beat - especially since no one's even 23.4567% of the way there. Let's see, which other player, if you have a problem with it, can you go to the local iRiver Retail Store and have it replaced? Or have a question answered about it or the music player you use with it? But what will people take away from this article? Other players are as good as, if not better than the iPod. And once again, people will believe what they read, and some crappy #3 or lower product will sell better than iPods. Thank you for helping ruin things again with irresponsible, factless reporting.

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