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Video-enabled X2 offers challenge to Apple's iPod

updated 03:50 pm EST, Wed December 8, 2004

Challenge to Apple\'s iPod

John C. Dvorak says that Apple's iPod may face , a video-enabled digital music device from Taiwan-based MSI that also offers slideshows, an FM radio/recorder, voice recording, and more: "With a range of X2 branded MP3 players. The company is matching prices with the Apple hard disk offerings but adding a video component. This is something Apple has been reluctant to do and others who have tried have not achieved the price points of the X2 brand handheld hard-disk-based MP3/MPEG4 combo player.I have used the new MEGA view $399 device and I'm impressed. I'm not easily impressed, either. This device, which does everything the Apple iPod does, also allows you to use its PVR (personal video recorder) capabilities to record and play video."

by MacNN Staff

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fr0d
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Dec 2003

0

12/08, 03:58pm | report spam | close Reply |
Yeah right

He just doesn't get it does he?

adamschneider
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Dec 1999

0

12/08, 03:58pm | report spam | close Reply |
pictures?

Let's see it. Pictures?

Eug Wanker
Posting Junkie

Joined: Jun 2003

0

12/08, 04:10pm | report spam | close Reply |
"He just doesn't get it

"He just doesn't get it does he?"

Heheh, I was going to post the same thing. For someone who writes about technology, it's amazing how much of this stuff he simply just doesn't "get".

TimmyDee51
Mac Elite

Joined: Mar 2000

0

12/08, 04:11pm | report spam | close Reply |
Easily impressed?

"I'm not easily impressed, either."

Really? I remember this statement from an article he wrote about the Acer's Ferrari themed laptop.

"One impressive piece of execution is that when you fire the machine up it plays a WAV file of a Ferrari race car revving its engine. That alone is worth the relatively low $1,899 price of admission. "

http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,1523503,00.asp

Why do people still pay him to sling this bullsh**?

jimothy
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Sep 2000

0

12/08, 04:22pm | report spam | close Reply |
Ferrari laptop

Actually, it was an even more clueless induhvidual, Rob Enderle, who fell in love with the vroom-vroom of Acer's Ferrari-themed laptop (as your link shows).

Regardless, don't these pundits ever get sick of constantly prophesying the next "iPod killer" and constantly being wrong? As far as doing "everything the Apple iPod does": Oh really? Does it play music from the leading online music store? Does it sync seamlessly with iTunes? Does it feature an intuitive design that millions of people prefer?

mpbritt
Junior Member

Joined: Feb 2001

0

12/08, 04:53pm | report spam | close Reply |
Ugh. Not for me.

Speaking strictly for myself, this is the stupidest idea for a multimedia device I've ever seen.

What is it with these Windows apologists and their fascination with video on tiny screens? It's simply unfathomable to me.

slboett
Grizzled Veteran

Joined: May 1999

0

12/08, 04:57pm | report spam | close Reply |
For now...

It's the leader?
WHAT is he smoking?
Leader of what?
How many sold?
How many users?
WTF?

SB

techtrucker
Senior User

Joined: Feb 2003

0

12/08, 04:58pm | report spam | close Reply |
Dvorak? Really?

I can't believe anyone bothers to publish any of his drivel, he lost pretty much everyone's respect many years ago...last time I agreed with anything he wrote was back when I was into OS/2...

gambit23
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Nov 2004

0

12/08, 05:05pm | report spam | close Reply |
Here we go again.

What I don't understand is how these people can get jobs writing about stuff they don't know about! Okay, last time:

It's the user experience, stupid!

I don't care if you give me a device that plays music through FM, plays MP3s, is compatible with all music services, does my laundry while it's cooking and cleaning, gets me 80 miles to the gallon, and allows me to occasionally go to the moon if the dumb thing doesn't have an intuitive and brilliantly simple way to interact with it.

All these companies think that the only way to beat the iPod is to throw tons of features into their own offerings, and none of them realize that the only way to out-iPod the iPod is by making one that provides a better user experience while at the same time being brilliantly simple.

Now that I've let everyone know Apple's "secret", I hope some other companies read this and give me tons of money for spilling the beans.

slur
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Oct 1999

0

12/08, 06:03pm | report spam | close Reply |
Taiwan-based MSI

... And with the "Taiwan-based MSI" name behind it you know you'll be getting great support and quality design!

Gorloth
Registered User

Joined: Nov 2001

0

12/08, 06:08pm | report spam | close Reply |
He's like a

He's like Ebenezer Scrooge thsat just never get the message. The only thing that Dvorak impresses me with is his silence.

Moderator
Mac Elite

Joined: Jun 2001

0

12/08, 06:14pm | report spam | close Reply |
enough "tiny screen" bs

once and for all:

its not video on a tiny screen its a portable player that can use any TV/monitor for a display...the iPod body is just the remote....laugh at it now but you'll be in line when the next iPod rev has it.

tuscmat
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Mar 2004

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12/08, 06:18pm | report spam | close Reply |
Suggestion for Dvorak

Hey John, since you dislike the Ipod so much, how about designing something of your own? Never mind. Since you have the vision of a pincushion that's just not possible. Sorry about that.

benhur
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Jan 2001

0

12/08, 07:15pm | report spam | close Reply |
has a point though

Competition is a good thing. Even though it may be a piece of c*** the point is Apple's iPod are not keeping up with innovation. Most of the idiots in this post who are bashing the competion would be praising the iPod if it did the same thing: FM Radio/Recorder, Video, etc.

I'm an Apple fan, I love the company and don't use anything else. I've converted many family and friends from PC's to Mac but Mac users are some of the most hypocritical people out there. I'll probably get bashed from people out there but it must be said.

I understand the whole user experience thing but it's only a matter of time before other companies catch up. Either Apple keeps up or makes their products less expensive.

David Esrati
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Jun 1999

0

12/08, 07:27pm | report spam | close Reply |
Maybe MSI does get it

Let's see- I know a lot of people who would like an iPod to have an FM radio in it- and voice recording- and- hmmm- throw in a TIVO too....
If you added a TiVo menu option- this thing would be hot.
How many of you have TiVo- and then get on a plane-
and want to watch the last Apprentice-
Yes, Apple could do the interface better- and quality- but, they haven't yet. This may speed innovation up. Do you really think MSI is going to have the marketing star power Apple has? That's a hard market to beat.
When the first iPod came out- a lot of you couldn't figure out why you would want to spend $400 for an MP3 player- you will get the PVR thing soon-
this is the start of something-
throw a camera on it- and you have a camcorder-
throw a palm interface on it and you have a PDA too...
it's called convergence. Apple isn't always the innovator-

please go ahead and disagree- some of you voted for Bush too- c'est la vie.

bill_mcgonigle
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: May 2001

0

12/08, 11:21pm | report spam | close Reply |
20 years of sour grapes

"The Macintosh uses an experimental pointing device called a 'mouse.' There is no evidence that people want to use these things." (John C. Dvorak, SF Examiner, Feb. 1984.)

The X2 sounds like a nice product for a niche market. Most people don't need its functionality.

macbarry
Junior Member

Joined: Aug 2002

0

12/09, 11:12am | report spam | close Reply |
this device is the future

I am an Apple fanatic and I love my G1 ipod but after reading that article and checking out this device and it's capabilities Apple better be in development of an iPod video player / be prepared to drastically drop their prices or get ready for deja vu all over again regarding market share. Competition is cool and this device is a major competitor in my mind...

David Esrati
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Jun 1999

0

12/09, 01:26pm | report spam | close Reply |
Similar product by RCA

I just saw a similar product with the RCA brand on it. MSI might call it an X2- but what happens when Dell picks it up and rebrands it? (remember there is an HP iPod).
In the right brand environment- with the right support- this could be real competition.
Remember- even Apple doesn't really "Manufacture" the iPod- they contract it out to someone just like MSI.
Don't knock Dvorak just because what he said in the past- he may be onto something here.

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Video-enabled X2 offers challenge to Apple's iPod

updated 03:50 pm EST, Wed December 8, 2004

Challenge to Apple\'s iPod

Yeah right

pictures?

"He just doesn't get it

Easily impressed?

Ferrari laptop

Ugh. Not for me.

For now...

Dvorak? Really?

Here we go again.

Taiwan-based MSI

He's like a

enough "tiny screen" bs

Suggestion for Dvorak

has a point though

Maybe MSI does get it

20 years of sour grapes

this device is the future

Similar product by RCA

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Video-enabled X2 offers challenge to Apple's iPod

updated 03:50 pm EST, Wed December 8, 2004

Challenge to Apple\'s iPod

Related Articles

Recent Articles

Yeah right

pictures?

"He just doesn't get it

Easily impressed?

Ferrari laptop

Ugh. Not for me.

For now...

Dvorak? Really?

Here we go again.

Taiwan-based MSI

He's like a

enough "tiny screen" bs

Suggestion for Dvorak

has a point though

Maybe MSI does get it

20 years of sour grapes

this device is the future

Similar product by RCA

Login Here

Register for our weekly email newsletter:

Connect tools:

Subscribe

to our RSS

Follow us

on Twitter

10 Most Read

10 Most Discussed

MacNN Marketplace