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Hardware Discussion group

MrXero	Date: April 23, 2002 @ 2:47 PM Tonight Apr 23, Join me at 7 pm Central time (that's 5 for you West Coast Kids, and 8 PM for the East Coast) right here in this thread for a hardware discussion group. Ask anything about hardware... Site news Player info anything and I'll try to answer it!
Your-Mom	Date: April 23, 2002 @ 3:38 PM Cool!
backmann	Date: April 23, 2002 @ 3:40 PM That's GMT... ?
RyanS	Date: April 23, 2002 @ 4:21 PM Damn, something that will be happening my time hehe
MrXero	Date: April 23, 2002 @ 7:17 PM Central time rules
MrXero	Date: April 23, 2002 @ 7:17 PM we're startign in an hour
Fozzie	Date: April 23, 2002 @ 7:41 PM irc would be more fun.
MrXero	Date: April 23, 2002 @ 7:55 PM yeah but in here I can keep a better record of the questions asked
MrXero	Date: April 23, 2002 @ 8:02 PM Ok we're starting so here we go... When I first started coming here to Dmusic I was all about the hardware. CW's, Ian's among a bunch of other people's reviews are what got me and a I know a few other people to come to this site. So what I mostly want to know is... How can we make Dmusic Hardware better? The webmasters haven't had much time to redo the Hardware section but I have a feeling that in the very near future we'll have a brand spanking new hardware section with a lot more features. I've already suggested a user review section so that you and me alike can get more reviews on this site, cause yeah I know my 1 review every 3-6 weeks is definately not enough to sustain this section. But that isn't all this Discussion group is about. I've been keeping up with a lot of hardware companies and finding new stuff out. This is a hardware free forum night. So alright, let's go.
MrXero	Date: April 23, 2002 @ 8:08 PM And I can't get to IRC from this computer.
MrXero	Date: April 23, 2002 @ 8:14 PM quiet night...
Cryxan	Date: April 23, 2002 @ 8:21 PM I'm a bit new to the mp3 player market, so sorry if this is dumb... Are there portable players that also play regular CD's? I realize that size becomes an issue...
smelv1n	Date: April 23, 2002 @ 8:24 PM yo yo yo, have you heard of the crappy Research mp3/cd player? my friend bought one for 99 bucks CND, so it's probably really crappy, uuuh, yea?
smelv1n	Date: April 23, 2002 @ 8:24 PM i like the crazy discussion?
Cryxan	Date: April 23, 2002 @ 8:26 PM You know what I'm very sorry. I really should do some basic research before asking stupid general questions like that.
simoncowells...	Date: April 23, 2002 @ 8:28 PM ya know I dont even own one so I cant say any thing other than I like that you can store shit loads of songs in a small space!
Cryxan	Date: April 23, 2002 @ 8:29 PM Actually if someone could delete my posts in this thread I'd appreciate it.
MrXero	Date: April 23, 2002 @ 8:32 PM Cryxan. Yes in fact all portable CD/mp3 players play Standard CDs SlimX by iRiver is considered the best right now. Sony just released a sweet one for 99 bucks called the D-CJ500
MrXero	Date: April 23, 2002 @ 8:33 PM There are no stupid questions not everyone is a geek like me.
MrXero	Date: April 23, 2002 @ 8:35 PM http://www.dataplay.com) You can store Nearly as much (roughly 500 minutes of mp3) music as a blank CD on a disc about the size of a quarter!" id="8489">Yeah I'm sure a lot of you have read about Dataplay...( http://www.dataplay.com) You can store Nearly as much (roughly 500 minutes of mp3) music as a blank CD on a disc about the size of a quarter!
MrXero	Date: April 23, 2002 @ 8:36 PM What's the Crappy Research player? What's their real name?
MrXero	Date: April 23, 2002 @ 8:39 PM http://www.cnn.com/2002/TECH/ptech/04/20/really.compact.discs.ap/ " id="8491">Here's more on Dataplay iRiver will be coming out with one soon... Guess who got promised a tester unit http://www.cnn.com/2002/TECH/ptech/04/20/really.compact.discs.ap/
MrXero	Date: April 23, 2002 @ 8:45 PM http://mediaviewer.ign.com/ignMediaPage.jsp?media_id=1471404&article _id=355269&channel_id=192&page_title=iRiver+to+Announce+DataPlay +Portable&adtag=network%3Dign%26size%3D468x60%26channel%3Dgear%26sit e%3Dgear_hub%26channel%3Dnews%26type%3Dpartner " id="8492">There's a nice picture of it: http://mediaviewer.ign.com/ignMediaPage.jsp?media_id=1471404&article _id=355269&channel_id=192&page_title=iRiver+to+Announce+DataPlay +Portable&adtag=network%3Dign%26size%3D468x60%26channel%3Dgear%26sit e%3Dgear_hub%26channel%3Dnews%26type%3Dpartner
MrXero	Date: April 23, 2002 @ 8:46 PM Oh and I was told from Chris today that it won't be green but infact a pearl white color. Sweet!!!
Cryxan	Date: April 23, 2002 @ 8:51 PM Ok now color I can jump in on. Remember the times when appliances were black? Wasn't that nice? Cameras, walkmans (walkmen?) radios, phones etc. Now everything's in a color. It might be cute on some things, but items that will travel a lot really need to be scratch and dirt resistant first and foremost.
MrXero	Date: April 23, 2002 @ 8:52 PM yeah black electronics are sweet. Recently though I think silver has become more mainstream on portable players.
MrXero	Date: April 23, 2002 @ 8:53 PM I'd prefer most of my toys black too. I imagine a lot of these dataplay...er... players will be multi-colored though.
mtbatol	Date: April 23, 2002 @ 8:58 PM dataplay, yuck!!! doesn't matter how small the discs are, you'll still have to change them. The concept seems a little interesting to me, but HD is the way to go . Just gimmie a 160 gig player aaaaaaaanyday
Cryxan	Date: April 23, 2002 @ 8:58 PM Yes, silver is acceptable (almost) except that not all silver is the same. I have a digital camera, 35 mm camra and CD player that are all siver, but each has a different tint. I'm not a fashion freak or anything, but it is nice when things match. With black, it's either flat or glossy. Oh well. I think it's iMac's fault. They started it.
MrXero	Date: April 23, 2002 @ 9:11 PM Yes so true... DAMN YOU APPLE!!! But then they go out and make the smoovest HD player available the iPod... It's sexier than me!!! Yeah HD is a good way to go mtbatol but I don't know I'm really intriqued with Dataplay. They're just so small! I mean that iRiver model will be about the size of a pocket watch and still hold 500mb of data!!! Yeah so it's not SDMI complient but that's what CDs are for, backing up your mp3s
Frawgster	Date: April 23, 2002 @ 9:12 PM A user review section would be fantabulastic It's a good idea to get opinions not only from the reviewer (Joe, or whoever else will be doing it), but also from users...from normal Joe and Jane Schmoes. Dataplay...blegh...pointless. Consumers say "WE WANT DIGITAL MUSIC! WE WANT MP3!" and the industry says "Ok, we'll give you these discs the size of a quarter instead...how's that?" They just don't get it!
MrXero	Date: April 23, 2002 @ 9:19 PM BUT... Dataplay Still will hold mp3s though frawg... They will have write once technology though. But how long do you think it will take for someone to crack that?
mtbatol	Date: April 23, 2002 @ 9:20 PM well, for around 10 bucks a pop i would like to archive stuff on these dataplay thingies at least but it seems that the main aim is that they're SDMI compliant (can't believe damn bill is gonna try to shove the glitchy technology down our throats) and cut down on us pirates doing evil doings such as stealing files and pillaging the villages.. arrrrrrrrrrrrrr!
MrXero	Date: April 23, 2002 @ 9:22 PM CD-RWs didn't exist till about 5-6 years ago (well at least they didn't exist to me) And it'll only take a short time before some mod-nut backward engineers the thing, finds how to send BACK to the PC and thus the SDMI compliancy is dead?
Frawgster	Date: April 23, 2002 @ 9:24 PM Allow me to rephrase...Dataplay for MP3 storage...good idea, IF, and ONLY IF (IFF) it's 100% unrestricted. The second the makers of Dataplay start restricting our use of the technology, that's when it gets flushed down the toilet. Now, Dataplay to replace standard CDs, that's what I was referring to in my earlier post. THAT is a disaster. :)" id="8506">Joe: Yeah...I ummm, realized that like, 3 seconds after I hit "Post" Allow me to rephrase...Dataplay for MP3 storage...good idea, IF, and ONLY IF (IFF) it's 100% unrestricted. The second the makers of Dataplay start restricting our use of the technology, that's when it gets flushed down the toilet. Now, Dataplay to replace standard CDs, that's what I was referring to in my earlier post. THAT is a disaster.
Cryxan	Date: April 23, 2002 @ 9:25 PM As part of the user reviews, it would be nice if in addition to comments, people could grade certain aspects of the item being reviewed, like they do on CNET, where you give a 1 - 5 rating on features, performance, ease of use, and interface. Although it does sound a bit high maintanance.
mtbatol	Date: April 23, 2002 @ 9:27 PM well, i'll do it... i think
MrXero	Date: April 23, 2002 @ 9:27 PM I think DPD (DataPlay Disc... I'm coining the Phrase NOW) will be hacked within the next year or two and a non-SDMI compliant player that's produced by a couple of kids in Korea will be sold online causing another CD copying typed uproar!
MrXero	Date: April 23, 2002 @ 9:30 PM Yes I've talked to Simon about the Star rating deal and I believe that we will be implementing it. In fact users will have a similar layout to the template that I use to write my reviews on, if not the exact same one in the future.
smelv1n	Date: April 23, 2002 @ 9:31 PM holy shit, those dataplay things look cooool
mtbatol	Date: April 23, 2002 @ 9:33 PM Well, if this dataplay standard becomes as popular as lets say, DVD then it'll be hacked. The only way dataplay won't get hacked is if it isn't popular to gain interest in the first place (although the size and storage is almost guaranteed to generate some type of interest). I wouldn't be surprised if it goes the way of the Beta and 8 inch floopy assuming security measures are standard & strict (hack or no hack).
smelv1n	Date: April 23, 2002 @ 9:34 PM only because they're tiny. tiny little cds. little tiny cds. tinny tinny cds.
smelv1n	Date: April 23, 2002 @ 9:34 PM hehehe, stupid tin
smelv1n	Date: April 23, 2002 @ 9:35 PM the research player i talked about is called "Research mp3/cd player" i dunno, some noname company i guess i'm not sure..
Frawgster	Date: April 23, 2002 @ 9:36 PM Beta...now there's a word I haven't heard in a while...strangely, the quality of Beta was supposedly better than that of VHS But yeah, don't wanna veer off to that tangent. Good point mt. If it doesn't 'hit', it could go the way of say, minidiscs, which are somewhat popular, but nowhere near their CD counterpart. Now if it takes of like DVD did, it WILL be hacked, and quickly too.
MrXero	Date: April 23, 2002 @ 9:41 PM I also see DPD-RWs in the future. I mean look at DVDs it took 5 years but now their are DVD-R, -RW, +RW being sold to the retailers. Being that Dataplay is based off of (at least I think it is, I could be wrong) DVD laser technology it wouldn't be hard to have that. As far as DPD replacing CD, I gave that some thought today and I don't forsee that for at least 10-15 years. They tried that with MiniDisc a couple of years ago and it failed miserably.
MrXero	Date: April 23, 2002 @ 9:45 PM So either way, it's a no lose sitch for us the average music "pirates" if it suxorz then it'll DIE LIKE A BASTARD if it gets popular then it's gonna get hacked and we win.
mtbatol	Date: April 23, 2002 @ 10:04 PM lol, yeah, but even if it does succeed I don't see it replacing cd's period. I see it complementing cd's at best but I'm still stuck on dvd burners taking over homes 2-5 years from now the same way cd burners are ruling us (if not more). Well first a clear cut standard will have to be established I guess from all of the DVD-RW, DVD-RAM, etc etc etc and prices I guess
MrXero	Date: April 23, 2002 @ 10:11 PM Yeah... Did you know there are portable DVD players out there that play mp3s??? I saw one at Best Buy over X-mas... funny how they haven't caught on. Well they are 500-600 bucks each though. But can you imagine when DVD-Rs are popular and you have a Portable DVD player that has a DVD full of mp3s? That's just sick. Well HD players still have more memory but you can't watch movies on them... yet
mtbatol	Date: April 23, 2002 @ 10:13 PM heh, key word... "yet" thinks of archos multimedia player
MrXero	Date: April 23, 2002 @ 10:18 PM yup... and I smile as well
MrXero	Date: April 23, 2002 @ 10:29 PM With that I'm ending tonight's session of the Hardware Discussion group. I've got HW to do. Feel free to leave any hardware suggestions and inquiries here and I'll check back periodically to answer.
Fozzie	Date: April 23, 2002 @ 11:22 PM hello
Frawgster	Date: April 23, 2002 @ 11:40 PM CLIMB MARIO! CLIMB!
backmann	Date: April 24, 2002 @ 12:00 AM Damn, i missed the whole thing
MrXero	Date: April 24, 2002 @ 12:24 AM don't worry we'll have another soon.
Fozzie	Date: April 24, 2002 @ 12:38 AM hey joe, i have a rave mp (one of the first ones) that i got free from emusic a while back. the software only works with windows 95 i think..maybe 98 too. but i use windows 2000 and they dont have any upgrades...so there is now now way for me to transfer songs to the player. Do you know of any way? I found this site which has a program that replaces the software that comes with the player. it lists the ravemp2300 but that is a newer one than what i have. i'll probably try it out tomorrow to see if it works out. if it doesnt i guess i'll just sell it on ebay.
MrXero	Date: April 24, 2002 @ 3:30 PM Heh I had that player it used the parallel port to upload... ugh... What was sweet about it was that it had a clock. That feature was the coolest. I sold mine on Ebay like 2 years ago though cause I "upgraded" to the mpTrip... bad decision. Oh well I've got better shat now =D
Fozzie	Date: April 24, 2002 @ 5:57 PM yes, the parallel port is nasty.. na na na naaaaaaaaasty!
MrXero	Date: April 24, 2002 @ 7:21 PM oh yeah... tell me if it doesn't work. I doubt it though since the 2300 used USB.
Fozzie	Date: April 24, 2002 @ 9:20 PM i am gonna try right about now.
Fozzie	Date: April 24, 2002 @ 10:18 PM is there a way to install the software on windows 2000? any way at all? cuz it wont let me.
Fozzie	Date: April 24, 2002 @ 10:27 PM no worky.
MrXero	Date: April 25, 2002 @ 12:43 AM hmm. That sucks so that player is pretty much useless unless you have windows 95 or 98 then eh? That's pretty much useless I'm glad i got rid of mine when I did.
mtbatol	Date: April 27, 2002 @ 2:19 AM http://www.nomadworld.com/ If price and somewhat bulky size is no issue then this Nomad3 player is pound for pound THE hottest player on the market whenever it comes out!! :D:D Hey Joe, got one of these strapped down for review? Better yet, send me one to review if you're not up for it :drool:" id="8792">http://www.nomadworld.com/ If price and somewhat bulky size is no issue then this Nomad3 player is pound for pound THE hottest player on the market whenever it comes out!! Hey Joe, got one of these strapped down for review? Better yet, send me one to review if you're not up for it
mtbatol	Date: April 27, 2002 @ 2:32 AM OMG!! this thing is also gonna have an opitional wireless remote??
MrXero	Date: April 27, 2002 @ 12:05 PM yeah it's got a few things I like... 1 problem Nomad said they don't have any to let my review currently... they'll prolly never get me one either... time to use my credit card at Best Buy again.
Your-Mom	Date: April 27, 2002 @ 12:26 PM The trusty credit credit. It just seem like it's almost free huh?
MrXero	Date: April 27, 2002 @ 3:42 PM feels like it... of course all I'd do is make like the Blair Witch Project and return it when I'm done using it.
MrXero	Date: April 27, 2002 @ 6:31 PM =D Shhh don't tell anyone.
MrXero	Date: April 27, 2002 @ 6:43 PM http://shop.store.yahoo.com/advantage123/sny-dej1000.html ugh look at this player it's a SlimX clone from Sony but it DOESN'T play mp3s... Blah..." id="8816">http://shop.store.yahoo.com/advantage123/sny-dej1000.html ugh look at this player it's a SlimX clone from Sony but it DOESN'T play mp3s... Blah...
mtbatol	Date: April 27, 2002 @ 11:03 PM lmmfao@ a regular portable cd player that doesn't play cd's for $200 Perhaps they would get away with it at lets say 3-5 years ago with this player but c'mon with the iRiver Slim-X and even sony's own mp3/cd player this is just.... retarded... but this is perhaps a typo since it isn't in sony's site. -~
MrXero	Date: April 27, 2002 @ 11:31 PM Well Panasonic has a SlimX clone for 150 or so as well. It looks even more like the slimX.
MrXero	Date: April 29, 2002 @ 2:39 PM Guess what I picked up a Rio Riot yesterdasy. Expect impressions soon.
mtbatol	Date: April 29, 2002 @ 4:56 PM Sweet!! The only reason why I didn't opt for one is because of the stupid SDMI compliancy which is pretty ty Even though I have eyes set on Nomad 3 I'm really curious about the sound quality since the amps on the rio cd/mp3 players are sort of clear but somewhat underpowered. Will ya compare the loudness & clarity of the sound on riot to that of lets say.. the ear deafening Treo 10?
Your-Mom	Date: April 30, 2002 @ 9:38 AM From what I have been hearing, the Nomad 3 has the best sound quality of any MP3 player. They are hyping the 98db signal to noise ratio. It also has a 100ma headphone amp. I can't wait to get my hands on one of these things.
mtbatol	Date: April 30, 2002 @ 11:19 AM heh, exactly your-mom Hence the reason I don't care about the complaints about the size of this thing (used to carryin/palming riovolt in my oversized hand(s)). I would gladly trade in the small size of my treo 10 for the the playlist support alone on the nomad 3 (even if it's on the fly, at least it can save them right?). The treo 10's sound is close to perfection if it weren't for the barely noticable hiss on it. All I hear on the Nomad reviews is good things about the sound. I could go on and on about this thing
Your-Mom	Date: April 30, 2002 @ 3:35 PM For those of you who are planning on buying the Rio Riot, I have some news for you. I have been hearing some rumors (some reliable, some not) that Sonicblue is planning on releasing a 2nd generation Riot sometime this summer. More than likely, it will only have a few added features. I do not know if the size/weight/shape will change much (I wish they would make it smaller), but they will probabaly add Firewire or USB 2.0, and maybe the option of larger hard drive capacities. Again, this is just rumors right now, but I would bet that SonicBlue, who happens to have the largest market share of MP3 players, will not just sit back while Creative, Apple, and eDigital role out new and improved versions of their products.
mtbatol	Date: April 30, 2002 @ 4:33 PM Ehh, perhaps they should get rid of the copyright protection on the newer player too
andrew13	Date: April 30, 2002 @ 6:17 PM have any of you herd of Project86 or underoath or how bout extol there all good band
mtbatol	Date: April 30, 2002 @ 8:48 PM ehhh¿ errr, ummmm.... uhhhh... gee..aah ummm.... wha ever ya say boss
MrXero	Date: May 1, 2002 @ 12:16 AM cool I like Local H, But this is about Hardware. So I like SlimX.
Your-Mom	Date: May 1, 2002 @ 1:20 PM The Creative Nomad 3 is now available through their website!!!! I just ordered mine.
Your-Mom	Date: May 1, 2002 @ 1:26 PM http://www.americas.creative.com/promo/JB3/bat/" id="9027">http://www.americas.creative.com/promo/JB3/bat/
MrXero	Date: May 1, 2002 @ 2:42 PM cool then you can do the review
Fozzie	Date: May 1, 2002 @ 2:46 PM i just preordered the nomad 7
Your-Mom	Date: May 2, 2002 @ 10:38 AM Creative is also having a promotion deal when you purchase the Nomad 3. You can get a second battery 20% off. As most of you know, the second battery will keep the Nomad 3 running for up to 22 hours!!!
MrXero	Date: May 2, 2002 @ 2:10 PM That's pretty sweet. 22 hours of mp3 goodness!!!
princess-angry	Date: May 2, 2002 @ 6:56 PM yep mp3s rock!
mtbatol	Date: May 2, 2002 @ 7:02 PM e.dig after broke headphone jack made the first one unbearable. Should I ditch this one for 200 to go after Nomad 3 or just be content with the bare bones playback on here? :drool::drool:" id="9120">damn, got my Treo 10 back from e.dig after broke headphone jack made the first one unbearable. Should I ditch this one for 200 to go after Nomad 3 or just be content with the bare bones playback on here?
creativetim	Date: May 3, 2002 @ 12:57 AM Ask your mom.
MrXero	Date: May 3, 2002 @ 2:40 AM his mom or Your-Mom? I say go for a new one. F*ck having the old technology. I haven't used the Nomad JB yet so I'm not sure how good it is. But it sounds really sweet, even though it is HUGE IMO. But if it is indeed as sweet as it sounds I say go for it.
packers1	Date: May 3, 2002 @ 10:25 AM Next player for me will be the 10/20 GB with USB 2.0 & VOICE NAV. I just love the MXP-100 with voice and have been using it since november. I just wish it had more space. I have heard talk that IBM may releasing 3GB microdrive. Plus next year 6.5 GB will be out using pixie dust. MXP-100 does not skip no matter what you do to it. Plus latest firmware upgrade is really sweet. The MXP-100 is like a totally new player. Hard to use my xp3 because I am so spoiled using voice commands.
Your-Mom	Date: May 3, 2002 @ 11:15 AM It all depends on your needs. If all you need is playback capability, and you can fit all of your MP3s on a 10GB drive with room to spare, I would stick with the Treo 10. 10GB is more than enough for most people. Size is an issue too. If you value portability over features definitely stick with the Treo. It is a great player. But for some of us, features outweigh the size issue. The Nomad 3 is really not that big though. Yes, it looks huge compared to Ipod or the Treo, but I have seen pics of the Nomad 3 with a CD sitting on top of it for size reference, and it looks as if a CD would not even fit if it were a CD player. It is thicker than most CD players though. The features of the Nomad 3 make it the best player on the market right now (my opinion). It is the only player, that I know of, that has a 98db SNR. This player is supposed to blow all the competition out of the water with outstanding sound quality. With a 100ma headphone amp you are sure to get great volume levels without any distortion. Line-in/optical-in speaks for itself. The ability to rip any music source directly to the player is a must for me. And with all the CD copy protection that is emerging, you won't have to worry. I can just hook up my sony discman with optical-out, and slap in any copy protected disc I want and rip a perfect digital copy of it. 20GB might seem like overkill for some people, but remember that you can store data files on the NJ3 as well. Battery life up to 22 hours (with optional second battery), firwire/USB, and ...well you all know most of the features. One feature that I think that I will like is the Smart Volume. One thing that buggs me is having to adjust the volume for different tracks because of the various recording levels used during the ripping process. But you can turn on the Smart Volume function and all your tracks play at the same volume. That means you don't have to normalize all the MP3's you rip, and you don't have to worry about the tracks that you download online. There are also many accessories you can purchase too. I am excited about a wirel