Toshiba Gigabeat S exposed!
By Paul Miller 
posted Jun 8th 2006 12:36PM
posted Jun 8th 2006 12:36PM
posted Jun 8th 2006 12:36PM
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I always find it amusing when people goto lengths to tell everyone how much they hate a product. If you don't like the ipod, fine, get something else. And just because a lot of people like the ipod doesn't make them sheep. But quit wasting so much time and engery on something so trivial.
Toshiba burnt a bridge when they slashed the S's battery from 20-hour audio and 6-hour video to a measely 12-hour audio and 2.5-hour video. Even with a supposedly "easily replaceable" battery and Media Center functions, the Zen Vision: M has better battery life, a larger screen, and more features (of course, it doesn't have a 60GB option).
By the way, the first poster is entirely correct :)
even naked this thing cant hold a candle to the ipod. put your back clothes on, ya hippie!
i always play a little game when i read the comments on mp3 player postings....how many posts before the mentioning of the market leader. this one astounded me.
It's a good player, get over it. Anything But Ipod isn't about hating the iPod, it's about presenting the public with worthwhile alternatives. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that. The iPod isn't the holy grail of MP3 players, there are a lot of features lacking. It does one thing very well, and that's play MP3's. It doesn't play video well, or allow voice in without attachments, or even get radio, so let's not pretend it's the PERFECT device. It simply isn't.
I have the Creative Zen PMC. I love being able to take my media anywhere for free ( I don't have to pay for my TV shows from Itunes), but I never liked the 20 GB HD. Plus it is a handful, it is not light at all; however the battery life is amazing. I can watch six to eight hours of video before a recharge and the screen is great as long as you are not in direct sunlight.
Toshiba's 60 GB player is not impressive with battery life, butthe HD space allows you alot of storage for all the media you could watch listen to at one time. I should be able to take all 22 GB of my music library, my tv shows, pictures, and home videos with me and have room left over. Compared to the Iriver and Samsung players the Toshiba has enough features to really get me thinking about trading my Iriver H340 and Creative PMC for this one device.
I stay out of the Ipod vs everyone else debate. I know what I want from my personal tech and I know what I like. That is all that matters in the end.
I think most objective thinkers realize that the main thing the ipod has going for it are its looks. It gets consistently beat spec and feature-wise by its competetion (aside: is it really competetion if they can't compete?). It is a nice design, but I've never been sold on the iPod/iTunes monogamous relationship and pay per song paradigm. The "Big Love" Mp3 subscription is catching on..
The thing with the iPod is, it just works. I can easily navigate it with one hand. I've tried lots of other MP3 player designs since I used to sell them at the store I worked at. The only one I ever thought came close (interface-wise) was the Rio Carbon. That scroll wheel with the click action and the single 'back' button was great. The Creative Zen Micro (that's the little HD one right?) is a royal pain in the ass to navigate with it's awkward button layout and flat touch pad.
I never in a million years would have paid $299 for an MP3 player, until I got a free iPod. Now that I've used one for over a year, it's great. I wouldn't hesitate to buy another for $299, provided it has significant improvements..not sure the 5G is enough of a step up at this point.
This is a nice player. Well featured, and a welcome alternative to the ipod. Note that I did not say it's an ipod killer, or Steve Jobs is Hitler, or other inflamatory nonsense.
I plan on picking one of these up. I have read many reviews on similar products. I waited on this one, and many others have as well. Read the CNET review. Of course anything is better than what I am upgrading from (a Dell 20GB DJ)
Cool... Gotta respect the Gigabeat. I have been a fan of this line for a long time now - my Gigabeat F10 and I are fairly inseparatable, and it is starting to make work more enjoyable. About 20ish hours with out plugging it in - great sound, good navigation, and best of all - it's not an IPod *grin*.
I am not much of a fan of these 'video' version of mp3 players, but will be back at Toshiba's door when my baby dies.
Another very overlooked, good mp3 player line comes from Archos (www.archos.com)
Very good, inexpensive, mp3 players that do their job, play mp3's, and not much more.
I sold my ipod video a few months ago when I heard/saw this player was coming out. I run media center (connected to my xbox 360) and taking all of that content with me is the main reason Im getting this player. The UI should be as functional as the ipod (according to the reviews... ive been impressed with the first gen pmp devices but they were far too bulky... this isnt)
In my case this device will be superior to the ipod but most people dont run media center so the pmp wont be as useful.
I got one of these two days ago and have been spending all my time at work at my desk transferring my cd collection to it. I have loaded about 200 cds thus far onto it as well as a few movies ripped from dvds just to test the video out. I, like many people, have been waiting for some time now for a 60gig alternative to the 5G ipod. I read about this and had it next day aired to me and am very satisfied. It is also nice to hear that the battery is easy to replace because I have a feeling I will have to do that before I retire it for my next gadget.
From what Ive seen, this thing is better than the iPod in every way...whats there not to like? Crazy iPod people...
Why do they have to take apart every cool electronic that comes out? Makes me sad :(
I must say, the recent barrage of gutted objects is getting a bit boring. Green boards, black chips, bits of solder...it isn't interesting after a while.
NOW, exposed Chia Pet....that's a story.
I think this is the first combo, player and software, that is better than iPod and iTunes
PMC and WMP 11 just works. No magic to get it synced, just plug in your gigabeat via usb and WMP 11 will recognize it. The design/form factor of the player is also good. I like the fact that it is not as wide as the 5G iPod. It fits better in my hand.
The problem with many of the non-iPod's have been that they try to hard to be too much. They forget about the average Joe that just wants something that works.
FM tuner was never a deal breaker for me, but I'm already using it.
I've had my player for 3 days now and I'm loving it.
i prefer ipod than this toshiba with windows on it..
anything but windows..
ipod's click wheel is better than this bullshit scroller.
sure it is.
I received my Gigabeat S over a week ago now. The thing is awesome!
As with any MP3 player, I was a bit sceptical at first. I hated the idea of an iPod (while the iPod is decent, I can't stand iTunes), but was on the verge to purchasing one to fulfill my audio/video-on-the-go needs.
After researching for months, I finally decided on getting the Gigabeat S, and I was happy that I did. This thing does everything I needed and more. The screen is slightly bigger than the 5G, and weighs about the same.
The battery life isn't really all that bad. People are freaking out saying the battery life is horrible on it. I've yet to have an issue. Already, I've used the video aspect of it for nearly 6-hours straight (watching some movies on a long trip), and I still nearly had 1/3 of my battery life left. And audio? Pfft. The poor player out-lasted me, scoring up nearly 18 hours before shutting itself down. So I'm not all that sure where people are getting this assumption that Toshiba cut back on the battery life!
I only have two real issues with the Gigabeat S..
1) There's no cases for it (yet). The only close thing I've found is a silicone case out of the UK, but it's nearly $30 for that.
2) If Media Player is unable to find a album cover for your music, it gives it the crappy 'music-note' icon. Now, modifying Media Player to show the cover from a saved image works just fine, but it never syncs with the Gigabeat!!
I'm sure the two above issues will have a resolution soon, but overall, I'm very happy with my purchase!
Why all the bashing on iPod or windows...this sight is about cool gadgets....
I have this Toshiba Gigabeat S30 and a nano and a Video 60gb iPod and I love em all and have different uses for each!
There are no Ipod suported movie rental sights, so the Toshiba Gigabeat S30 is for that.
the 60GB iPod is for all my music!
the Nano is for work and my audio books....
Can't we all just get along...
Well, I don't care what anyone else says, but I bought the 60GB version of the Toshiba and I absolutely love it. Whether or not it's better is a matter of personal preference, but the option of 60GB sold me over the Creative Zen Vision:M.
The Apple cool, but I like the interface on the Gigabeat! Apple sure does have the market on accessories though!
Fyi...I found a very sweet jacket for the Gigabeat S (fits 30 and 60GB versions) from a company called M-edge (http://www.buymedge.com). Jacket comes with armband and beltclip for $20...very good deal considering what iPod stuff is going for.
I'm one step away from buying a 60gb Gigabeat S. I would just like to know if any of you has heard about any hardware problems with it. The thing is that practically every iPod owner I know has had some sort of problem with his device in less than a year. Please let me know if this is common in iPods or just very bad luck on the people I know. Well, this might be unfair to answer since the Gigabeat has not been out for a year yet(I think), but still, if anyone has heard of any hardware problems it would be good to know.
i bought a gigabeat s60 bout a month ago, best i've ever owned, all my previous ones sucked. i almost got a zune for chirstmas, but i didnt so in april, i bought a gigabeat s60 (wifi in zune sucks).