Ipod Mini vs. This thing that looks uber.

[Wezas]

http://a671.g.akamai.net/7/671/175/2004110415/cache3.jcpenney.com/images/regular/0900631b80b379bdR.jpg

MP3/MP4 player (http://www3.jcpenney.com/jcp/Products.aspx?DeptID=10&CatID=23798&CatTyp=DEP&Ite mTyp=G&GrpTyp=PRD&ItemID=0a64ce5&ProdSeq=1&ProdCou nt=4&Dep=ELECTRONICS+%26amp%3b+MUSIC&RefPage=Searc hDepartment&ShowMenu=T&ShopBy=0&SearchString=perso nal+mp3&S4DeptID=10)

Now I realize this thing is bigger (bulkier) - but it also has 5x the storage of an ipod mini and allows you to do digital voice recordings and put mpeg4 videos on the 20gb HD.

Downside is bulkiness, 4 hour battery life (when strictly viewing video), and the fact that I know nothing about the company "US Modular"/"Joycoder"

Opinions?

[Edited on 12-3-2004 by Wezas]

[Numbers]

Strictly depends on what you want your portable device to do.

For example, that video thing... will you actually use it? It sounds neat and all, but is it realistic? Will you ever be walking around with this thing in your pocket, think to yourself "Hey, I'd really like to watch that video I put on there the other day," and whip it out to watch? If so, then go for it.

Voice recording is pointless, in my opinion. You can buy a pen-sized USB voice recorder for not too much.

If you just want a music player that's built just for music and does it with near perfection, go for the iPod. Although, I'd recommend a regular iPod instead of a mini. Mini's are ripoffs.

[Wezas]

Problem is - it's for my little brother. My mom wanted to get him an ipod mini because he has taken a liking to music that's actually decent (NIN, Linkin Park, etc). But I'm pretty sure that he'd love to be one of the first kids in school with this type of thing. Plus he likes Anime and crap like that.

I guess my question is more of - how legit do you think the video player is - and do you think it's too bulky to carry around?

[Numbers]

Well, depends how old your brother is.

If he's 14 or 15 or above, he may like it.

If he's younger, if you get it for him, it'll be broken within a month.

Also not sure how legit it is. Portable media players are still relatively new, and I think the leading company in that biz is Archos. I've never even heard of US Modular or Joycoder. You may want to read up on some reviews on consumer and tech websites.

And yeah, it does look too bulky to carry around in your pocket. If you get this for your bro, he'll most likely carry it in his backpack, where it will get scratched, thunked, tossed, and possibly stolen. And from the screenshot, the product doesn't really look all that sturdy.

[Edited on 12-3-2004 by 3704558]

[LordSagan]

I'd actually go with a 15 or 20gb iPod rather than the mini or that thing.

They are compact and light, easily portable, and hold a ton of music.

I've never heard of that device or that company, and I stay in touch with alot of the electronics coming out. I'd be leary of it until some of the major sites start reviewing it and telling folks what they are like, how well designed they are and what the lemon factor on them is.

As far as voice recording goes, you can get a Belkin adapter for the iPod for about 20 bucks that allows you do to voice recording on it. The MPEG features sound cool, but probably eat up space on the thing like mad, and I don't know how much you would actually use it. Then there's always the question of quality.

For a teenager, portability will be a huge issue. You simply cannot beat the portability of an iPod.

I bought my 15gig iPod for 200 bucks, factory refurbished, with a warrant from Apple that is the same as a brand new iPod. You can buy a 20 gig iPod from any retailer for 300 bucks, brand new.

The fact that this device is marked down to half price already makes me a little leary of the quality of it.

[hectomaner]

i'm a retard, didnt see the ipod MINI

[Edited on 12-3-2004 by hectomaner]

[LordSagan]

iPod 20gig from Best Buy - 299.99
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?id=1087341320060&skuId=6741653&type=pr oduct

You can get a 15gb refurbished directly from Apple, but I can't find the link at the moment to their refurbished store, and I'm getting glared out to get off my ass and go to lunch ;)

If you want more details on the best way to find a good refurbished 15gb one, IM me at Develance on AIM. I can give you some tips.

[Alarke]

Everything ive seen regarding those all in one things is they do everything decently, but they dont do any of the functions as well as they could. If he's using it to just screw around with, i suppose it wont matter, but make sure it's a simple upload onto the thing from your computer for MP3s instead of this long conversion process some require.

You can also spend 25 bucks and get a mic for your iPod that plugs into the top and do voice recordings, just for a thought.

[Wezas]

he's a 17 year old who's a total gamer. He's pretty good about figuring things out.

Just talked it over with mom. She's still undecided - and I made it worse by saying the regular Ipod is only $300 (she thought it was $500).

She definately thinks that he'd love something that would watch video - and size-wise it's only slightly larger then the Ipod:

Ipod:
4.1 x 2.4 x 0.6

Video one:
5.1 x 3.4 x 1.4


I suggested she buy the video one - and if my brother wanted an Ipod instead - she could give the video one to me. I even offered to pay for half of it. I doubt that'll happen either way.

[Drew2]

AS WE ALL KNOW, I HAVE A MINI.

I like it. I use it almost everyday, now.

And seriously. No one needs more than 4gb of portable music. You update it every week or so anyway when you find new songs, and assuming you fill up the 1000+ it can hold, you can just empty out the ones that you're tired of.

20gb is a waste and I highly doubt he'll use it all. Save yourself (or your mom) $50 and get the mini.

Also, the mini looks better. And pwnz.

[Drew2]

Oh and PS.

Two years ago, my friend bought something very, very similar to what you're buying.

And is in the process of trying to sell it because it's shit. And it took him a while to realize it.

[El Burro]

Are you really going to watch something on that though? It's tiny, I'd guess I'd get bored watching anything on it and move onto the good ole TV.

This would lead me to use whatever was best (quality) to listen to music with instead of something that does more only ok (quality).

[kheldarin]

"My mom wanted to get him an ipod mini because he has taken a liking to music that's actually decent (NIN, Linkin Park, etc)."

HAHAHAHA.

Okay, back to the problem. My sister has a Mini Ipod and it drains FAST. And storage wise, it's too much of a hassle to remove songs and put new ones back in. I'd rather just put new ones in. My 20gig Ipod has around 8gigs of music and rising.

Mini Ipod - trendy.