Ipod, zen I completely confused

lemur option

With new age technology coming out every day and music getting worse by the day ( who bought call on me no really fess up you tasteless ****s) I thought it was about time I got an ipod or zen to keep all the best music with me. I recently came into a bit of money but couldn't decide which one was better so I urge you fellow ctyiers help me in my epic quest to find out which is best Ipod or Zen or is there an even better model I'm completely ignorant of.


PS do any of them work with windows 98SE ?

as a zen owner myslef i'd definitely reccomend it over the ipod. But to be perfectly honest neither are the best player.value etc etc. Do a search for iriver in these froums and you will find hundreds of threads dedicated to you buying an Iriver.

Matthewthebig

I'm a Zen person too. I think it is far supeior. Ipod will not work with anything less than 2000 but ME won't work

Raphael

ME never works.

Personally I have a Pocki. USB mass storage, voice recording, mp3, SD card port, everything really. Only 256mb, and no file structure though. Still, handy enough

Matthewthebig

I have ME its a pile of ****

snuffles

You know the whole myth about iPods being that after their battery dies completely you can't replace it and you have to get a whole new iPod? Is that true, and if so, do zens have the same problem?

RE*AC*TOR

No, the Zen NX Xtra has a replaceable battery. Zen-man myself. Can't fault it, great machine. The only real advantage the ipod has is size.

Hugh Hefner

You can't replace the battery in an iPod but you don't have to buy another. The first time your battery goes you send it away and they send you back a new one. The next time it happens you have to pay $99 to get it replaced. But in the long run $99 is less than than it would cost to power the iPod for the same amount of time with normal batteries.

Matthewthebig

The Zen Touch which is the new one doesn't have removable battery. Which is a drag. However you can get a new one but to change it you void the warranty.

Also you can change the ipod battery you just have to put something thin between the shiny bit and the front and if you move it around you pop of the cover and then you can order a replacement of the internet. it also only goes quickly if its not charged the way it is meant to though.

StupidLikeAFox

All these are rechargeable right? How long does it take for the battery to go?

Goodshape

Go for the 'other' option. Like the iRiver iHP-140, for instence.

Packed with nifty features and not too expensive, plus battery life is about 16 hours. It may not look as 'slick' (although personally I hate the iPod/Zen look) but its none to big and weighs feck all.

It's also shows up as an extra harddrive in any machine you plug into - no need for horrible restrictive software... just copy+paste your mp3s.

You should check http://www.advancedmp3players.co.uk/ before deciding on anything.


.....actually, last time I was in Dixons there were some muppets in looking at the 4GB iPod 'Mini', which cost about e250... right beside it was the 20gb iRiver for e299. Thats twice the battery life and FIVE TIMES the capacity for an extra 50 squids. Don't be a sucker to marketing - don't buy an iPod.

Matthewthebig

The Zen has a battery life of 24 hours, but this is misleading as this implies music cant be stored in more than 128kps, have sound at zero, battery working at max capicity and cannot be used at all ie turning on light pressing button.

Crash

iRivers well worth it. better than Zen and less about "omfg i'm flashy" than the iPod (which is a good player but not as good as everyone says)

Matthewthebig

I personnally don't like the iRiver a guy in my year has it and i just don't like the way it works.

PurpleFistMixer

Okay, that site is really annoying me now because I had the iRiver one for a minute and now have totally lost it, so I've given up and will rely on shaky memory.
From what I can hazily remember flicking over the specs, nodding and pretending I understood it, the iRiver gave me no reason to prefer it over any other ones... not firewire enabled, no USB charging, possibly other things... and it's less pretty. *nods knowledgeably*

Dermo

Get the iRiver iHP140 it ****ing kicks ass, and I know my mp3 players, I've had about 6 so far, and these beats all, seriously.
It's cheaper than an iPod
It has a remote control which the Zen's don't
It looks funky
you don't need extra software to run it as a usb hard drive like the zens
it has a radio tuner
it has the most options for sound control
oh and it plays music as well

get it, trust me
you can get it for about 330 or so on the net, but it's400 in peats if you want it straight away

and the 20gb (suitable for most people) is only 300

elegy

go for the iriver its by far the best
the ipod is over-rated

Roar

My ipod is like my ex girlfriend - nice to look at and fun to use for a while, but, ultimately, you'll feel like bashing your head off the wall after a couple of months of use

cormie

Yes,

iRiver IHP-140 is the best you can get, feature, price and everything else wise.

Probably best to get in Dixons for only €370. If you were to get an IPOD and try to match the IHP-140 (capacity, remote, radio, ext battery pack etc) you will probably spend about €600 and still have a product that is worse. This is true in every way. iRiver all the way.

snuffles

From constant stealing of my friends' iPods, I know I like the weight and feel of it and the way it works. The only thing that would worry me is the battery issue, because I listen to over three hours of music a day on my discman (and the only reason that isn't longer is that it doesn't fit in my pocket) and the poor thing can no longer hold its charge for more than one album. I've only had it for nearly a year as well. If the iPod is going to give up that quickly on me, it so isn't worth.

elegy

the ipod battery lasts up to an extreme maximum of 500 charges
you can get insurance or some plan or other for it but thats like an extra £100

cormie

iRiver IHP-140-
16hrs battery life, you can buy a new battery that gives 29 hours but you don't really need to because you can get an external battery pack for about €5 and just use rechargable AA batteries. The same type of battery pack for iPod is about €40. I've had IHP for months and months and I've run out of battery once for some stupid reason. I listen to much more than 3 hours of music a day also.

jono087

Hey anyone know wether i should get an ipod mini or an original ipod,. I want it thin as possible but i don't know if the size will make up for lack of storage...

cormie

iRiver IHP-140.

Don't get an iPod. They are a rip off and inferior to iRiver IHP series. Take my advice.

bandana

If anyone's interested in the smaller systems with less storage space, you do not want an ipod mini. There's an equivalent iRiver system I think, somebody's probably mentioned it, and also C Labs are releasing a Zen Micro model at the end of the month-we wont get it in shops around here till at least next year but it'l be available off the internet timed just for christmas

It's got 5gig as opposed to the ipod mini's 4, doesn't have games as far as I know but does have radio-and you can record 10 hours of radio programs or just record stuff in general; lectures type o' fing. Replaceable battery, comes with two Address book, calendar, to do list, alarm. I don't know whether to load stuff onto it needs any specific program.
And of course it's just damn prettier :cool: 10 diff colours, vertical touch strip instead of circular, and funny blue lights here's the purple one on amazon.

Price-181euros at this exchange rate

lemur option

cormie wrote:

iRiver IHP-140-
16hrs battery life, you can buy a new battery that gives 29 hours but you don't really need to because you can get an external battery pack for about €5 and just use rechargable AA batteries. The same type of battery pack for iPod is about €40. I've had IHP for months and months and I've run out of battery once for some stupid reason. I listen to much more than 3 hours of music a day also.

I thnk after having read all your replies that Iriver is the way to go but constsantly using AA would be hastle does the battery recharge qiukly?, how long would it last? can I use an adapter to mooch of the house electricity or does it really last that long? and why are the IHP 140 and the IHP 340 priced the same when the 340 is in colour and so much better?

Finally why if there is such an uproar about Iriver has everyone voted Ipod?

bandana

Because even around here people act like lemmings ocasionally!

If you need me I'll be in the anger dome.

elephamt king

personally im not a big fan of mp3 players.
i prefer minidiscs.
i recently bought a sony Hi-MD player and its ****in great.
i can store 12 albums (with great sound quality) on a regular 80 minute disc and 45 albums on a 1gb disc.
which is **** all compared to the iPod and similiar but it has the little things such as :
it runs on a rechargeable AA battery so if it should run out you can always pop in a normal one until you get to charge it.

it has removable storage so you can listen to a friends music just by swopping minidisc.

a remote control

they start at €300.

cormie

€300 is quite dear for that. Plus the 1GB discs are expensive. I worked it out before that for it to have 40GB of storage it would cost quite allot. Plus 1gb of storage = 80 albums means the album quality is not good. 80 albums should take up about 4gb for decent quality.

You can listen to a friends music by connecting iRiver to their PC and putting music on your IHP. Then you have it forever.

Also, with the H3XX series you can hook up say the IHP-1XX to the 3XX and take music from it, no PC needed.



Lemur Option,
the IHP doesnt run on AA batteries. I was just telling you about an EXTERNAL battery pack for €5 that runs on AA batteries. the IHP uses an internal non removable (without voiding warranty that is) battery that wont suck up house electricity at all. And yes it will last 16 hours under the right circumstances.


The H1XX and the H3XX are not priced the same.
The only place I have seen them priced the same is in Harvey Normans where the 20GB H3XX was €499 and so was the 40GB H1XX.

You will get the H140 for about €370 in Dixons and about €345 online from www.mx2.co.uk

You will get H340 for about €460 from www.mx2.co.uk and about €415 (not including delivery) from www.3dsolutions.co.uk


People have voted iPod because iPod is much more popular and people don't want to feel bad about not researching before spending over €400 on a product when they could have got a much better product for less. iRiver is the best you can get. Believe me on this one.

Piste

What about zen? Cheaper than an iPod, even with the same space and it looks good too.

Raphael

...Did you even read the thread title, let alone the thread itself????

Piste

I skimmed through the thread yeah

cormie

Just Read This (Click Here)

StupidLikeAFox

http://www.advancedmp3players.co.uk/shop/product_info.php?currency=EUR&cPath=3&products_id=69
Heres the iRiver H120 for €325. With these extras
# H-120 20GB MP3 Jukebox
# Leather like Carry case with Belt Clip
# USB cable
# Backlit LCD remote control
# Installation CD
# Direct encoding cable
# Stereo earphones
# AC Mains Adapter / Charger
# External Microphone

I know my christmas present anyway!

cormie

Buddy, anther €20 will get you TWICE the capacity from www.mx2.co.uk!

Maybe remove the iRiver vote tab because most of the 1300 votes for other player probably were for iRiver.

cormie

Ok for those who haven't clicked my above link, this is what it lead to:

Here are the main reasons to choose iRiver as your hard drive based MP3 Player.

16 hours battery life
No need for software for PC (plug and play to any computer with USB)
An included wired LCD remote
Built in radio
Built in recorder (voice/line-optical in connection etc)
optical out (cleaner, crisper sound)

The cheapest place to get the iRiver IHP/H-140 is www.mx2.co.uk. It works out at about €340 for the 40GB player. Do not go for the 20GB as for €29 more, you get double the capacity.

Dixons are selling it for €370. This is could be worth the extra €30 incase you have any problems as you will be dealing with an actual shop based in Ireland.


You can buy an external battery pack for about €6 in Maplin Electronics (40 second walk from Jervis shopping Centre, Dublin) that takes 4 AA batteries. If each battery is 1.25v, then 4x1.25=5v. This will provide you with an extra few hours of life if you ever happen to run out of battery (unlikely). There are 2 available that work with the H-140. Product number L33AK and L32AK. I forget which is which but go for the 4 battery one to get longer life.


If you were to go for the most popular brand, the Apple iPod and try and match the features of the H-140. Here is what you should expect to pay.
40Gb iPod-€380
Voice Recorder-€40
External Battery Pack-€55
Remote-€40

So that works out at about €515 (probably more) to make it have some of the features the H-140 has. You will now also be faced with more bulk to carry around with you and a non LCD remote (600 albums, LCD is needed, take my word)

So you will be paying about €200 more, about 165% the price of the H-140 for a product that is about 70% as good.

You may also want to take into consideration (depending on usage) the fact that iPod earphones are an attraction for undesired attention as they know you have something worth at least €200 to them in your pocket.

Do not be influenced by advertising. The iRiver IHP-140 is the best Hard Drive based MP3 player you can get for that price. If it's music you're into then this is the best you can get.


To protect your iRiver, use an iSkin.
The cheapest source for iSkin for Ireland customers is www.misticriver.net

For a great set of earphones choose this set of Sony Fontopia in ear headphones. They deliver great sound for great value.


I don't know much about the H3XX series except that the best price is at www.3dsolutions.co.uk and that features like USB on the go mean you can hook up anything that doesn't require software to your H3XX (for example, a H1XX, digital camera etc) and transfer files to your H3XX.

It has a colour screen for viewing images/video
can record from radio

there will be an included LCD remote in the near future with H3XX series.

StupidLikeAFox

the other equivalent player is now 1337! Cool!

Anyway, i take it ya like the iRiver then cormie? Just a hunch...

Raphael

Yes Holligan, the iriver is quite leet indeed

Matthewthebig

Please do not use leet speak.

cormie

I found myself repeating the same things over and over so I decided to create a thread where all is explained so a simple link will provide the info:)

Leet?

Raphael

Now, Holligan was actually pointing out something humourous. The amount of people who voted for other was equal to 1337

Not sure if that was an edit though....

lemur option

thanks to everyone that voted and oh my god I've been away for a week and the numbers have exploded. How many of you voted twice and who changed my poll. I think we can all agree that other equals iriver so its the 40gb iriver im going for

See y'all soon
from
the lemur

PurpleFistMixer

Surely if people were voting for the iRiver they'd vote for that instead of "Other".... o.o

cormie

PurpleFistMixer wrote:

Surely if people were voting for the iRiver they'd vote for that instead of "Other".... o.o

iRiver was JUST added so those who wanted to vote iRiver voted "other" before "iRiver" was added.

StupidLikeAFox

cormie wrote:

Leet?

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=1337&r=f

koneko

The poll was fixed, stupids!

StupidLikeAFox

this is an outrage

PurpleFistMixer

I demand a recount!

cormie

iRiver is the best, no need for a poll, no need for a recount.

StupidLikeAFox

hmmmmm
2/1 odds cormie works for iriver.....
Now taking bets