Toshiba drops a bomb: Gigabeat V in the US

Well, well, well -- it seems that Toshiba's been up to more in the portable media space lately than just helping Microsoft out with the Zune manufacturing. In fact, ole Tosh has been working on a DTV-less version of its Japanese OneSeg-capable 30GB V30T; shake off the TV tuner, and you've got America's own MEV30K. This model borrows many of its features from the popular S series -- including Microsoft's Portable Media Center software, WMV9, WMV10, and PlaysForSure video playback, plus support for MP3, WMA, WMA lossless, WAV, and Windows DRM 9 / 10 audio files -- but, like the V30T, tosses what will probably be some well-received spec bumps into the mix. Besides the addition of a built-in speaker, the main changes here involve screen size and battery life: the V30K sports a 3.5-inch TFT LCD (compared to the 2.5-incher on the S, though both share the same QVGA resolution) and promises up to 8 hours of video or 25 hours of audio playback on a full charge (as opposed to the meager 2.5 and 12 hour lifespans for video and audio, respectively, on the S). We're sure that there are more than few people interested in this stamina-filled $400 Gigabeat, so the good news is that pre-ordering begins today through Crutchfield and Amazon, though a nationwide rollout is not expected until sometime in October. Let the iPod comparisons commence!

[chip @ Sep 1st 2006 6:45PM]

Oooh me likey. The thing I like the most: built in speaker. Even if it's tinny and quiet, it'll be better than nothing. That's one thing I liked about my PSP over my iPod. Also the battery life is damn impressive!

[ElectroGeek @ Sep 1st 2006 6:46PM]

Sweet device. At that $400 price point it should compete well in this market segment. I have seen other media players coming out which are priced much higher with less features.

[George @ Sep 1st 2006 6:53PM]

I honestly dont care about video. And unless you go on long flights,road trips etc.. i think your pathetic if you use these things for video. All its doing is causing people to escape society and just like cell phones it stops people from actually talking to each other. When i worked at the family business and people came in on a cell phone, purchased something still on a cell phone and left still on a phone without saying more than a word or two i thought there big di*k heads. but anyway enough ranting, i am only talking about the people who dont travel and use these things to watch movies and shows often.

[scott @ Sep 1st 2006 6:56PM]

no aac, no thanks.

[Markus Winter @ Sep 1st 2006 7:03PM]

Nope - not impressed.

[Wonderkid @ Sep 1st 2006 7:12PM]

Pointless! Buy a Sony Ericsson P990i (Shipping soon) and you can use it as a phone, download movies over WiFi, play games, take pictures, text, e-mail, surf the web, hit a mugger over the head and loads more. And you won't have to pay too much if you get a good contract in Euroland. I've never ever seen anyone with a portable video player - ever! (If Apple do one, with their 6G iPod, at least it will probably do something else far more useful than just video.)

[dave @ Sep 1st 2006 7:16PM]

30gb is a joke. Call me when they have at least 100gb.

[Deezee @ Sep 1st 2006 7:44PM]

Impressed.

[Alric @ Sep 1st 2006 8:06PM]

Still not really widescreen?!

[Evan @ Sep 1st 2006 8:08PM]

I think people are giving this product a hard time. With this and the upcoming Zen W, it's clear that (were about to enter holiday shopping season) and the 2nd generation of video players is upon us. I think it's support for so many formats is impressive, as is it's battery life. I also agree with other comments about video in general, but the feature is just that, a feature. Don't poo-poo the product for a feature most (think) they want.

[supersocialist @ Sep 1st 2006 9:26PM]

Mobile video is very handy when you're stuck outside the fitting room while your girl tries on clothes, waiting to pick somebody up from work, waiting between classes, etc, etc. I'd rather be playing on an emulator but the principle is the same. The problem isn't mobile video, mobile gaming, mobile internet, or mobile phones--the problem is rudeness.

[strike @ Sep 1st 2006 10:06PM]

that device really sucks for leftys

[joe @ Sep 1st 2006 10:59PM]

some one beat that thing with an ugly stick...hard..

It's mom is crying...she doesn't understand why the other media devices laugh...

[E @ Sep 1st 2006 11:07PM]

George

Maybe those people are just avoiding *you* and your crappy attitude.

[Mike C @ Sep 2nd 2006 2:13AM]

If you will recall the original Gigabeat S specs were something like five hours video and we ended up with about half of that so...four-ish?

[Eric @ Sep 2nd 2006 6:54AM]

Is it me, or have i seen that design on a previous Sony Walkman before?
Sony 1 - Toshiba 0

[Suman @ Sep 2nd 2006 11:35AM]

Very interesting, plays most of the file formats, I would buy too...

[hchute @ Sep 2nd 2006 12:48PM]

Toshiba dropped a bomb all right.

Looks huge compared to the leaked Zune images. The screen is 3-1/2" compared to Zune's 3-inch, but even taking that into account, the bulk of this new model looks to be a real setback. With its feature-set though, not a direct competitor with Zune.

http://www.Zunerama.com

[James @ Sep 3rd 2006 9:19AM]

Gigabeat S has up to 60gb, so not better there. Battery life sounds better but who really knows yet. The biggest issue...there are NO freakin' accessories with the S, so is Toshiba going to commit to having at least a docking station?

[patrick mish @ Sep 3rd 2006 12:18PM]

There's at least one accessory for the S; a neoprene armband case by Medge (http://buymedge.com) that fits the 30 and 60GB models. Looks sweet but could definitely use a dock too.

[William @ Sep 13th 2006 8:21AM]

Not very impressed...

[David @ Sep 21st 2006 8:22PM]

Toshiba first needs to put out some accessories for the S (dock, speaker, etc.). At the moment, Toshiba only offers leather cases!!! I sent them an email in this regard and we shouldn't expect other accessories to come out. Their lack of desire to produce accessories makes me wonder about their commitment to the Gigabeat product line, especially if they are manufacturing the MSFT's Zune.

[Brett @ Jan 7th 2008 11:02AM]

I own a toshiba gigabeat s series(30 gig hard drive) and I would recomend one a gigabeat to anyone who is in the market for such a device. I've had it for nearly a year and have had no problems with it. A friend of mine bought an Ipod of similar specs around the same time, at a much higher I might add!!! After having endless problems with the Ipod, and several returns later, she threw it and bought a gigabeat. She said she wished she had of bought a gigabeat in the first place!!!! Forget the Ipods and other garbage, buy a gigabeat!!! The best you can get!

[Brett @ Jan 7th 2008 11:08AM]

I have a 30 Gig s series and have over 18 hours of high quality video plus over 4 gigs of music and still have 19 gigs of space left to play with!!!

[Brett @ Jan 7th 2008 11:14AM]

Ipod already have an equivelent of the gigabeat.(higher price though!!) Have done for ages.