- Player starts up ~10-15 seconds. - Sound quality sucks: various background noises, pressing buttons produces static. - Player doesn't support lossless codecs nor does it support anything outside of MP3/WMA. - Internationalization support is non-existent (non-US band/song names cannot be displayed).
I have also tried newer players - none of the problems was ever fixed. They might be cheaper - but they /cost/ their money up to the last penny.
Right now iPod and Walkman pretty much only choices for people who listen to demanding music (classics, jazz, alternative). Factoring in music management software - iPod remains only choice... :(
I owned an e260 also, it did suck, but this thing is using the same sound set-up as the Sansa Clip, and ABi says it sounds the same as the Clip, and that thing is one of the best sounding MP3 players around.
hmm. it only posted half my comment, interestingly.
anyway, it has loads of different codecs, it supports mpg video, has a file browser, games, and like 50 different language. but it doesn't have album art, as far as i know. and startup is 10 seconds or less.
by the way, sandisk players scratch like a bitch. after 3 months of normal use, no case, just in my pocket, it was so scuffed up the screen was slightly distorted.
That's what I use the Sansa right now for - toying with RockBox.
Hardly replacement for iPod - still it is well packed with functions. Supports everything what Sansa original firmware doesn't - including piles of codecs and i18n - and most importantly it does rest better than original.
But RockBox unfortunately (being software) cannot solve sound quality problems which are in H/W. Cheap hardware is cheap hardware.
An iPod is the only choice for people who listen to 'demanding' music?
You should do yourself a favour and find out about manufacturers like iRiver and Cowon, they stomp all over Apple in terms of functionality, codec support and sound quality - pretty much precisely the criteria a 'demanding' user would judge a player on.
And the biggest plus point, you're not saddled with iTunes.
Or to put it simply: I wasted too much money experimenting with /other/ players. High price of 2nd gen Nano 8GB didn't bothered me anymore since I knew what I'm paying for.
From all software used to manage and fill-up players, iTunes is pretty much one of the best. Do not get me started on Sony Connect or WMP...
Funny, my experience with WMP is way more positive than it ever was when I was using iTunes. But maybe I have different priorities than you do, as I can see iTunes working if you use it in a different way than I do.
Still, when I replace my old Creative Zen Micro, whenever that is, I think I'm going to bypass the iPod and go with something that plays nice with WMP, just because I like how it works.
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I own Sansa e260 and it sucks.
- Player starts up ~10-15 seconds.
- Sound quality sucks: various background noises, pressing buttons produces static.
- Player doesn't support lossless codecs nor does it support anything outside of MP3/WMA.
- Internationalization support is non-existent (non-US band/song names cannot be displayed).
I have also tried newer players - none of the problems was ever fixed. They might be cheaper - but they /cost/ their money up to the last penny.
Right now iPod and Walkman pretty much only choices for people who listen to demanding music (classics, jazz, alternative). Factoring in music management software - iPod remains only choice... :(
or iriver, creative, archos, etc, etc, etc.
i have a 250 also.
got it for 20$ refurbish.
background noise only noticeable with lowest volume.
I owned an e260 also, it did suck, but this thing is using the same sound set-up as the Sansa Clip, and ABi says it sounds the same as the Clip, and that thing is one of the best sounding MP3 players around.
ROCKBOX
http://www.rockbox.org
startup is like
hmm. it only posted half my comment, interestingly.
anyway, it has loads of different codecs, it supports mpg video, has a file browser, games, and like 50 different language. but it doesn't have album art, as far as i know.
and startup is 10 seconds or less.
by the way, sandisk players scratch like a bitch. after 3 months of normal use, no case, just in my pocket, it was so scuffed up the screen was slightly distorted.
> ROCKBOX
That's what I use the Sansa right now for - toying with RockBox.
Hardly replacement for iPod - still it is well packed with functions. Supports everything what Sansa original firmware doesn't - including piles of codecs and i18n - and most importantly it does rest better than original.
But RockBox unfortunately (being software) cannot solve sound quality problems which are in H/W. Cheap hardware is cheap hardware.
An iPod is the only choice for people who listen to 'demanding' music?
You should do yourself a favour and find out about manufacturers like iRiver and Cowon, they stomp all over Apple in terms of functionality, codec support and sound quality - pretty much precisely the criteria a 'demanding' user would judge a player on.
And the biggest plus point, you're not saddled with iTunes.
> iRiver and Cowon
True. Didn't even tried.
Horrific quality of Creative made me stop looking further into Asian producers. Talk about bad PR...
P.S. Though I know that quality of e.g. Samsung is pretty good. My 2yo phone with rudimentary MP3 player sounds pretty good.
Or to put it simply: I wasted too much money experimenting with /other/ players. High price of 2nd gen Nano 8GB didn't bothered me anymore since I knew what I'm paying for.
From all software used to manage and fill-up players, iTunes is pretty much one of the best. Do not get me started on Sony Connect or WMP...
Funny, my experience with WMP is way more positive than it ever was when I was using iTunes. But maybe I have different priorities than you do, as I can see iTunes working if you use it in a different way than I do.
Still, when I replace my old Creative Zen Micro, whenever that is, I think I'm going to bypass the iPod and go with something that plays nice with WMP, just because I like how it works.