Dell discontinues hard drive audio players
By Ryan Block 
posted Feb 5th 2006 12:14PM
posted Feb 5th 2006 12:14PM
We've long since noticed
Dell's lineup of hard drive-based portable audio players have vanished from their site, but this they officially
commented on the death of the drive-based segment of their Dell Pocket DJ (Digital Jukebox) line and made it official
that those devices were phased out over the last two months. Apparently the DJ Ditty is doing just fine though, and they
hinted at being a flash player-only shop from here on in. Can't says as we're surprised, but we're still always
disappointed to see another iPod competitor drop off the map.[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
>Not the Sansa (at least the E-Series). IT makes Baby Jebus cry with its slow UI and slower reaction times.
I bought a couple of Sansa M-series flash players for folks for Christmas and really liked them. Very affordable, and they've got a screen, solid Plays-For-Sure support, FM radio w/presets and a really easy install disk. No UI or speed problems. And it takes AAA batteries (rechargeable or otherwise) so you're never scrambling for a charger. I'd prefer a color screen, but the C-series remedies that. Last I knew, Rhapsody was offering a rebate on 'em too.
WOW...some of you need to take some business classes PRONTO. You're comparing the MARKET CAPS and P/E ratios of AAPL and DELL to see who could buy who??
Morons...
Why would anyone want a dell mp3 player anyway!
There is no easy segue into my idea for the Ultimate Travel Gadget™, all of this just got me to thinking what I would like. I’m the prime audience here so I should know. I’m tech-savvy so I don’t need something that is so easy it actually makes me dumber. I travel extensively for both business and pleasure so I need ultimate portability with the most functionality. Plus — I’m a guy, so I need to be entertained every waking second, and couldn’t give two shits if the device “accesorized” well or not. Here’s my idea for the Ultimate Gadget:
* Tri-band Cell Service with GPRS
* Blackberry Service
* PDA
* MP3 Player (capable of Windows PlaysForSure)
* FM, XM and Sirius Radio (yep all three)
* GPS with full-color mapping and directions
* Voice Recording
* 4.0 MP Camera
* Video
* IPTV, EVDO…hell why not HDTV
* 802.11a/b/g/n and Bluetooth
* Swappable 50GB of solid-state storage
* FM Broadcasting
* Swappable Battery with a 24+ Hr min lifespan
* Recharge time of 1 Hour maximum
* Programmable IR (to control my TV, TiVo, Home Stereo, etc)
* Retractable USB Cable
* Weighs less than 7oz.
* Open-Source Device Software, Firmware Drivers, and Desktop Software
So there you have it — invent THAT Apple. That’s me “Thinking Different.” Surely, I’m not the first person to imagine such a magnificent gizmo, but I have yet to see anyone even say they’d like to try to create one of these. I’m patenting that name — Ultimate Gadget™. Not as clever as “iPod” but everyone will know what the hell it is.
So bide your time, Apple…just as the Lisa/Macintosh/IIe fell into the abyss, so shall your precious iPod rue the day it took 83% of the marketshare…and it will be at the hands of my Ultimate Gadget™ (patent pending)
You forgot about the frickin' laser beams...
DUDE YOUR GOT A SHITY DELL.........
I HAD ABOUT 15 OF THOSE IN THE 1ST 3 MONTHS...... AND THEY KEPT BREAKING ON ME. between the customer service not speaking good english and their shipping. I wont miss it at all i own a fifth gen ipod black and white. I love it and i cant wait until april when the new ipod comes out..........
DUDE YOUR GOT A SHITY DELL.........
I HAD ABOUT 15 OF THOSE IN THE 1ST 3 MONTHS...... AND THEY KEPT BREAKING ON ME. between the customer service not speaking good english and their shipping. I wont miss it at all i own a fifth gen ipod black and white. I love it and i cant wait until april when the new ipod comes out..........
I've had a dell dj 30 gen2 for about a year, use it in work almost daily, in the car 1/2 hr each way and have no problems with it. the worst part is the crappy musicmatch software which can be replaced with redchair softwares version. it cost me 254.00 delivered. i think it's a good product.
I've had a gen 1 DJ20g for over 2 1/2 years, use it daily and have had very few problems with it. (Note: I use dudebox as an interface because the Dell and MM interfaces were both awful.) My point is that at the time, the DJs had the distinct advantage of a much longer battery life than the ipods that were out at that time. That apple has improved their product while Dell did not (2nd gen DJs were a useless move) kind of says a lot about who thought what about the market. No, I won't be buying an ipod soon (for idealogical reasons), but obviously, Dell has lost my $$ as well.
I think more software and more MP3 players that are mac friendly... ipod is way over priced.
I gave my Dell DJ to my daughter when I bought an iPod. Yesterday the HD went. I bought an extended warranty for $50 and called Dell. Today a new 2nd G 20GB Juke Box was delivered. It is smaller and sleeker than the older version. Sounds great, get another year of warranty on it. They must have these units somewhere. They want the bad one back. Happy to see the replacement. If this one lasts as long as the first, then she will be ready for my iPod.
Mike
How does one get a Dell DJ30 fixed. My will not load up and tells me the batt is dead but I know it is not. I cannot even turn it on now. I love this thing when it works. Dell does not want to know anything as they don't sell em anymore and will not provide service for these units. Tells me to take it to a local Tech. Yeah right1
Does anyone know if there are device drivers for the Dell DJ30 to work with Windows Vista?
I have a Generation 1 Dell DJ that crapped out on me after 3 years of loyal service.
RIP Dell DJ
you will be missed dearly :(
lol jk
They were great daps, hope they come out w/ some new flash based ones.
More blood on iPod's clickwheel, as MDN would say.
Well, finally gave up waiting on the next Dell DJ and moved up from a Gen 1 Dell DJ to the Creative Vision:M two weeks ago. Figured Dell would announce something right after I made the plunge. Didn't quite expect this kind of announcement, though.
Going to miss the thumb scroll.
Who?
lol.
those things were ugly anyways.
I always thought the Dell DAPs were the nicest alternatives to iPods. *sigh*
Now all we need is for microsoft to hurry up and finish their ipod killer. Hopefully they will have it out before before the holiday rush so there are enough for everyone :). Thats the one I'm waiting for.
Apple vanquishes another competitor. Look for this trend to continue.
#4 you have to be kidding me. The dell had crap-tastic controlls, lackluster functionality, and less style then a childrens lunchbox! Its no place near an alternative to the iPod. Ive taken poops with better design and more functionality..... I mean really!
I was never impressed with Dell's audio players because they basically tried to apply the "Dell PC" approach to digital audio players... turn it into a commodity, and try to win a price war with the competition.
They put out a product that was good enough, but cheaper, and brought little actually innovation to the table... no thought about software... they just rebranded MusicMatch's... basically they tried to play the game just like they do with PCs, but realized after a few years that DAPs don't work the same way as cheap commodity PCs.
Good riddance.
#4 you have to be kidding me. The dell had crap-tastic controlls, lackluster functionality, and less style then a childrens lunchbox! Its no place near an alternative to the iPod. Ive taken poops with better design and more functionality..... I mean really!
Now that Michael has killed the profitability of selling PC;s, for his company and everybody else, and his strategy to move into other consumer fields is now faltering.
Don't you think its time he did the "right thing" and just close up shop and hand out the equity to all the share holders?
I had an original DJ that I had to return 3 times. What a POS.
Dissappointed? Yeah right you bunch of Jobs worshipping fanboys!
Dave, you appear to be repeating yourself, but I do have to agree with your message.
Now you guys put this up. I sent you a link that indicated this like a month ago.
I told you so.
Micheal has killed the profitability of selling pc's! Really, I thought he just sold a product at the price the populace wanted. Right, he killed it. Just like Apple killed all their potential competitors.
Right.
What about that portable XM device they're working on... ;)
I never liked their line up anyway, the design and functionality was so prehistoric compared to its competitors.
Next time i see someone on the train with it, ill give them a glimpse of sympathy :/
Like the Dell DJ or not, this was simply a business decision. Dell simply could not have been making any money on this device.
"Since's Dell's market cap is larger than Apple, he should simply buy Apple."
That is perfectly feasible business wise, but Jobs would never sell. I am laughing just thinking about it. Can you imagine the weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth of all the Apple poseurs if Dell were to buy their company? I would pay good money just to see that.
People are weird. If Wal-Mart bought GAP, do you think any of the former customers would go into a Wal-Mart store to buy the same clothes?
Agree to NeoteriX. They used to be really nice alternatives to iPods.
It fluctuates on a daily basis, but the Apple market cap is just about the same as Dell's right now - even remember it being above for a few days.
Might wanna get your facts straight ;)
(Not that I think Apple can keep this up indefinitely mind you.)
Dell couldn't afford to buy Apple. Their market cap is only slightlly bigger. Dell would have to pay Apple a premium, and if that premium was only 10%(it probably would be higher) that would put Apple at the same price/ slighty more valuable than Dell. And that's assuming Dell managed to do this w/o it being public. Just the idea that Apple was being bought would probably make Apple's price spike which would cost Dell even more.
YES YES YES... you're next Creative!!! you are next!!!
Dell's DAPs were made and designed by Creative, no?
# 14--PC fanboy to you too
Regardless of whether you liked the product or not, having iPod competition is a good thing. Those of you cheering the death of Dell's product will soon be sneering at Apple if they have no motivation for innovating. For God's sake, we don't want to make a Microsoft out of them!
To everyone calling the DJ a poorly designed piece of engineering:
Let me see you create something better. I do not mean make a nice little photoshop design. I chanllenge you to make a real design with SolidWorks and run all the cost numbers. The DJ may not have done well, but engineering is not an easy task. So until you can contribute to the cause, dont criticize.
Apple seem to do just fine creating good products even where there's no competition. The mp3 player market wasn't exactly swimming with innovative good products before the iPod and they've not really changed it since the introduction of it - it's essentially the same.
Where they have beat the competition is in the software that lets you manage your music and in marketing and that's where the competition just don't get it. Dell is a prime example. Their presence or not in the market probably doesn't mean anything to Apple.
I agree with the poster above about the low profit PC market being Dell's own fault. It's resulted in Dull PCs with no innovation and smaller companies going bust because they can't compete on Dell's scale. For those companies that truly want to do something innovative or special, having to compete with the idiots who think a $499 Dell PC is a good deal must be disheartening. Dragging the market down to Dell's prices isn't good in the long term.
DELL could have just changed the color to WHITE and sales would skyrocket like ipod.
Long live my 15 gig Gen. 1!
Heavy? Yes. Bland? Yes. Functional? Of course. The interface was simple but it worked.
And any gadget that has survived the amount of 4 ft. falls my DJ15 has deserves some love.
Actually, the discontinuation of the Dell is probably better for iPod competition, because it focusses the choice on fewer manufacturers and means the competition is spread less thinly.
Dell, Creative, Toshiba, Sony, etc, can't *all* have an iPod killer. One product will have to rise to become the prime alternative.
Comparing with the game console market, if there were 20 different equally ranked games console alternatives to the PlayStation, then none of them would have any chance of dislodging it. However, with just three contenders, one of them (the Xbox) has a serious chance of doing it.
So, fewer iPod competitiors = more chance of iPod killer rising to surface.
@33.
"That's where they real money is"
Oh really? I'd rather think Dell canceled their line of HD audio players because it wasn't profitable, quite simply.
I loathe dell and everything they stand for...i wonder how many people owned a DJ that WERENT dell customers...
I like Apple but they will be lucky to ever get 10% of the market.
I don't like Dell, yet for some reason I got both generations of their MP3 player.
Besides the normal hard drive based BS they were fine pre-video MP3 players.
Toshiba, Creative and maybe Sony if they ever wake up, will carry on the WMA legacy.
Maybe Dell will up the specs of the DJ Ditty to 2 GB.
Startsnitching@yahoo.com if you want a used Dell DJ.
I'm selling mine for a flash based mp3 player.