View Full Version : 60GB, $399 nomad Zen.
marloe
04-30-2003, 05:14 PM
http://www.americas.creative.com/corporate/pressroom/releases/welcome.asp?ID=334&nav=2003
seems that after the release of the new 30 GB iPod, Creative Nomad has released one with more storage(60), Fm, radio, etc....competition???(they even mention it in this article)
I dunno...it's a bit heavier, 250 grams and not as cool looking...but it is usb2/firewire, etc..
I read a review of it... this was when it was $299 for a 20 GB version vs. $299 for a 5 GB iPod or $499 for a 20 GB iPod. The reviewer said that if you're only concerned with storing music, you may as well get the Zen, but it's not nearly as good (or as small). I've seen one in person - it's kinda cool, looks pretty scratch-resistant. But I think it would be tough to fit it in your pocket. And it requires proprietary software to connect it to a computer, you can't just hook it up and use it like an external hard drive like the iPod, you have to install the software first.
I guess it makes sense if you're on a budget AND you have more music than an iPod could hold. If I had 40 GB... I'd get a Zen. But I only have about 6 GB of music so a 10 or 15 GB iPod (maybe 15 GB just for the extra stuff you get, and it'll give me more overflow storage) would be better for me. Same price, less storage - but a much nicer user experience.
Hm... how many people have 16,000 mp3's? Just curious. I suspect the answer is no one (or maybe 1 or 2).
cygsid
04-30-2003, 05:50 PM
Originally posted by MCQ
Hm... how many people have 16,000 mp3's? Just curious. I suspect the answer is no one (or maybe 1 or 2).
so? what's your point?
Bill Gates once infamously said that no one would ever need more than 128 KBytes of RAM (or was it 256 KBytes).... :rolleyes:
Bioflavonoid
04-30-2003, 06:12 PM
Originally posted by cygsid
so? what's your point?
Bill Gates once infamously said that no one would ever need more than 128 KBytes of RAM (or was it 256 KBytes).... :rolleyes:
Well, I partly agree - but, that's completely different because in terms of the way people encode mp3's right now, not too many people have 60 GBs of music. Also, Bill was speaking about the future market, and this is the current market.
marloe
04-30-2003, 06:20 PM
60 GB of music is toooo much...i agree, although i know a ton of ppl with 15-20 GB of music, and like the ability to store their favorite other DATA files on the Portable devices..videos, work files, programs, etc
Amorph
04-30-2003, 06:45 PM
This is not future Apple hardware, so I'll punt it over to Digital Hub.
I believe Gates said that 640 kbytes would be enough.
Jared
04-30-2003, 07:35 PM
Originally posted by MCQ
Hm... how many people have 16,000 mp3's? Just curious. I suspect the answer is no one (or maybe 1 or 2).
I have exactly 119 GBs of music :D
Do you just copy CDs straight to your computer or something?
Jared
04-30-2003, 07:43 PM
Originally posted by Luca Rescigno
Do you just copy CDs straight to your computer or something?
Yes. I even have vinyl record copies of CDs I have...but I do not play either...just the stuff on my computer (except records that I do not have the CD of).
cygsid
04-30-2003, 08:56 PM
Originally posted by Bioflavonoid
Well, I partly agree - but, that's completely different because in terms of the way people encode mp3's right now, not too many people have 60 GBs of music. Also, Bill was speaking about the future market, and this is the current market.
60 GB might or might not be too much for just storing music, but that's beside the point of this thread. To me that sounded like an attempt to dismiss the Zen based on a blanket statement about people's supposed needs or lack thereof. The fact is the Zen offers twice the capacity of the most spacious iPod at 3/4 of the price. I am not saying that that makes the Zen a better proposition than the iPod. I am just saying attacking it on the grounds that nobody needs 60 GB of space for music is a misguided argument. :smokey:
sully
04-30-2003, 09:23 PM
i have 15gigs of mp3s :D
Matsu
04-30-2003, 09:56 PM
Can the zen function as a portable HDD? If it can, then to me, it's as good as an iPod, even better because the 2.5" drive should make for better HDD performance. But does it? If not, then that extra capacity is just too clumsy to use, forget it.
bunge
04-30-2003, 10:18 PM
Originally posted by Matsu
...even better because the 2.5" drive should make for better HDD performance.
That is unless the performance you're talking about is battery performance....
I just checked Creative Labs' website - they don't have Mac drivers for the Zen. According to a TechTV review (http://www.techtv.com/screensavers/print/0,23102,3405010,00.html) written in December of 2002, they were apparently working on them but they're not out yet. It requires two different pieces of software to move regular data and music over to the device, which is a big hit in my book. And the fact that it doesn't support Macs yet, and they may never support them, I don't think it's a viable choice for anyone here. Even if it did, it would be very clunky to have to use special software for it.
gardnerj
05-01-2003, 03:38 AM
when are mp3 player manufacturers going to introduce interchangable disks for this sort of thing. Disk technology is moving so fast we should just be able to buy a bigger disk when is becomes available and plug it in. Goes for laptop, tivos etc to.
Eugene
05-01-2003, 05:22 AM
Originally posted by gardnerj
when are mp3 player manufacturers going to introduce interchangable disks for this sort of thing. Disk technology is moving so fast we should just be able to buy a bigger disk when is becomes available and plug it in. Goes for laptop, tivos etc to.
Answer 1: They want you to buy new hardware.
Answer 2: Added complexity leads to added cost and reliability issues.
Answer 3: With compression getting better and HDDs rapidly getting more spacious, is there really a need?
Matsu
05-01-2003, 07:13 AM
There might be, a small cheap [fast] interchangeable disc could be a boon to mobile device makers, provided everyone from PDA, cell phone and camera makers gets on board. Dataplay looked like an interesting idea, but to really fly, such tech would need more storage, be cheap, as in no more than a dollar a disc (like blank CD's) and provide at least 1gb or RE-writeable storage. Should't be any larger than about 1.5" either.
By that time, HDD and compact flash may be so cheap that the need disappears. Ther is some work on a 1" blue laser disc that holds 1GB, but it may com along too late to matter. CF cards are still massively expensive, but since they're also emminently re-useable, it ain't so bad. Mini-HDD's (CF and 1.8" size) are going up in storage capacity all the time, but perhaps a few durability issues still prevade their all out production and use? The shock rating for many of the 1.8" drives seems to be very high, mebbe the decrease in mass, while making the parts more delicate, also reduces inertia, and the overall package, if sealed up correctly, less prone to mechanical failure do dropping. The surface of the platters themselves will only get more delicate, but this is true of all drives.
I wouldn't say that there's no need for a common media format, there is, but by the time any of them are potentially done, there may not be any more.
rickag
05-01-2003, 10:16 AM
Originally posted by gardnerj
when are mp3 player manufacturers going to introduce interchangable disks for this sort of thing. Disk technology is moving so fast we should just be able to buy a bigger disk when is becomes available and plug it in. Goes for laptop, tivos etc to.
Hmmmm, the ipod is firewire, right? How hard would it be for Apple to add the capability(re: drivers??) to connect 2 or more together and interface with both? Not exactly interchangable disks, but close enough maybe??? Wonder what software Apple has developed in-house for the ipod???
gardnerj
05-01-2003, 10:25 AM
ipod clustering.... now your talking
rickag
05-01-2003, 12:53 PM
Yes. Want a redundant RAID Array and listen to your favorite tunes, just cluster the ipods:lol:
klinux
05-01-2003, 12:55 PM
Originally posted by Luca Rescigno
I believe Gates said that 640 kbytes would be enough.
Widely debunked as urban myth.
I see... well, thanks for pointing that out.
BTW I heard about some guy who made a RAID out of zip drives... he just connected a pair of zip drives to his computer and was able to store a single 180 MB file on two disks.
SurfRat
05-02-2003, 01:00 AM
Is it just me, or does it seem incredibly strange that in the title of this article they say "...Versus Just 7,500 Songs in the Most Expensive Apple iPod"
What is this world coming to when an MP3 player is said to hold just 7500 songs...wow...
;)
Unbeliever
05-02-2003, 03:06 AM
i think Toshiba had Mp3 player with changable HDD, i`ll try to find some pics
Behold, the Toshiba Gigabeat!
http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/pc/docs/2002/0617/toshiba.jpg
Unfortunately, the HD upgrades are NOT economical - the 5 GB PC card hard drive is really expensive as it is. Like $300 or something. So that kind of kills the expandability because it's cheaper just to buy a newer, larger MP3 player. But maybe they've come down in price since they first came out.
BTW, it looks ugly in that picture but I don't think it's nearly as bad as it looks because that remote and the headphones are right next to it and they make it look cluttered. Try to look at just the device... it's actually pretty cool.
marloe
05-03-2003, 08:37 AM
Hmm. toshiba...that is mighty nice looking, but the 5Gb is not worth it. Maybe if it wass a 30 like the iPod it would compete..
I know Philips has a 15 GB beta version being tested now...looks mighty nice, black, glass, metal...called the HD100.
Originally posted by Luca Rescigno
Behold, the Toshiba Gigabeat!
http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/pc/docs/2002/0617/toshiba.jpg
Unfortunately, the HD upgrades are NOT economical - the 5 GB PC card hard drive is really expensive as it is. Like $300 or something. So that kind of kills the expandability because it's cheaper just to buy a newer, larger MP3 player. But maybe they've come down in price since they first came out.
BTW, it looks ugly in that picture but I don't think it's nearly as bad as it looks because that remote and the headphones are right next to it and they make it look cluttered. Try to look at just the device... it's actually pretty cool.
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