Stop Buying iPods!

Adam

Ladies and gents, having not seen sight nor sound of this on boards yet (though you can guarantee someone will dig up a link now to spite me) I bring you the Gmini 400!

As you can see it holds many advantages over the standard iPod and even the photo version of the iPod, but for a similar price to the iPod!

Verdict?

Regards,

ftg

nesf

But my iPod is an integral part of my identity.

That is far too ugly and non-minimalist to be an expression of my uniqueness and independence!

Pfft.

1huge1

ipod:too expensive
gmini:to ugly and i dont want all these videos and picture options thats what my phone is for

answer creative micro 5gb or the 20gb creative zen model

grimloch

Looks quite nice. Must look at a few reviews for it.

FX Meister

So should I buy an iPod then?

Ozzy

Just don't get a H320.. its like a goddamn brick

grimloch

If I buy one, as it stands it'll be based on how nice and comfy it feels in my pocket.

h10 is where its at.

Pacifico

1234z is the best! get that!

Ozzy

The 1234z is ok but it doesn't have a willy warmer


Take style over function every time...

Eve e

I used to have a Creative MuVo, but it broke after going for a swim in the washing machine. Quite like my ipod its fallen/ been dropped loads of times, is covered in dents but still going strong. Like the ergonomic feel of it too (the guy who designed it based the scroll wheel on using your thumb when texting.) Only draw back sound not perfect and low battery life.

Creamy Goodness

Have to admit in my opinion function overcome looks.

for god sake like it's going to be in your pocket/bag etc. who gives a **** what it looks like.

Ozzy

That's what I thought originally Cremo. Although, the ugly clunky bitch that is the iRiver has shown me the error of my ways.

Yeah you could put it in your pocket, but they don't even give you a remote.. That's my fault, I guess. Maybe I should've done more research but **** it
It makes a great paperweight.

Creamy Goodness

well i have the h140 the old iriver discontinued model which uses a remote but i don't use it.

I carry my player in my pocket and have ease of access to it, maybe it's cause i have big pockets but suits me fine.

I can see where you are coming from though.

Victor

I don't care what you buy, but please read the manual before you ask "How do I put my CDs in my iPod"-type questions.

Hugh Hefner

I've got a 10GB iPod. I bought it second hand on eBay. It's 3rd Generation so when people see it there like, "What's with your iPod?!" Plus I got it before the big '04 Christmas iPod fad of last year so you can't accuse me of being part of the fad. I really like it and it's fine as long as I remember to recharge it.

Looks do matter!

bounty_hunter

Stop buying anything except iRivers!

astec123

I've got a 10GB iPod. I bought it second hand on eBay. It's 3rd Generation so when people see it there like, "What's with your iPod?!" Plus I got it before the big '04 Christmas iPod fad of last year so you can't accuse me of being part of the fad. I really like it and it's fine as long as I remember to recharge it.

Looks do matter!

Actually xmas 03 was the ipod "fads" beginnings, just so long as people dont buy them and look at the competition
iRiver
Cowon
multichanel labs
creative etc

Blisterman

The Ipods a lot faster to scroll through songs than any other player Ive tried. My Creative Zen takes ages to scroll through the 600 artists on my MP3 Player.

Hobbes

Not sure about the gmini but I Got an IPAQ 3715 with 1GB SD card. Currently it can.
- Play music
- Remote control.
- Surf the web/mail at home (wifi)
- Play games
- Take pictures (1.2MP)
- record video.
- play movies.
- stream media from your PC
- Stream audio/video from the net and play it.

I also got a GPS and have it as a routefinder. As well as a few other things. Only slightly more expensive then the gmini.

FX Meister

I am considering buying an iPod at the moment. I just got a new car stereo and the option to have the iPod conected to it is a big draw for me. 40GB of music in the car. no more changing cd's. I'd rather buy something other than an iPod but I don't have the option.

Wertz

FX Meister wrote:

I am considering buying an iPod at the moment. I just got a new car stereo and the option to have the iPod conected to it is a big draw for me. 40GB of music in the car. no more changing cd's. I'd rather buy something other than an iPod but I don't have the option.

So why does it have to be an iPod? Is there some reason why you can't just connect any other make of hdd player to it? Line-in sockets aren't usually that fussy...

Blisterman

Maybe his car has one of those slots which only fits an Ipod.

Sidane

The iRiver H320/H340 may look like a brick but it craps all over the iPod and in many ways is the equal of that Gmini. Colour screen, music, video, photo, radio etc. I wouldn't swap mine for another player out there.

The Gmini does look nice though I'll admit

Thumper Long

was never a great fan of the sony stuff but the new nwhd5 20gb (€299) is so small and light and the battery life is excellentif marketed right could be an ipod killer and there is also a new limited edition with a 30gb hdd (€349), they are the irish retail prices but seem to be only slightly cheaper online as the vaio markup on sony gear is minimal, well worth a look since they now take standard mp3 and not just fcuking atrac

Spec

Network function
High speed data transfer YES
USB connection YES
Selectable data compression (ATRAC3 / ATRAC3plus) YES
Data conversion from MP3 / WMA / WAV to ATRAC3 or ATRAC3plus YES
CDDB automatic music information transferring YES
Music information editting on PC YES
Network WALKMAN control on PC YES

Data compression
ATRAC3 66 kbps YES
ATRAC3 105 kbps YES
ATRAC3 132 kbps YES
ATRAC3plus 48 kbps YES
ATRAC3plus 64 kbps YES
Atrac3plus 256 kbps YES

Playback & display
ATRAC3 playback YES
ATRAC3plus playback YES
Group function operation YES
Repeat YES
Shuffle YES
Digital sound preset YES
Dot matrix LCD display on main unit YES
LCD back-lit NO
AVLS YES
Hold YES

General data
Battery life ATRAC3 playback (h) 40
Battery life ATRAC3plus playback (h) 40
Weight (g) 135

Supplied accessories
Headphones YES
USB cable YES
Rechargeable battery YES
AC adaptor YES
Carrying pouch YES
SonicStage version 2.0 YES

Dimensions
Width (mm) 89.3
Height (mm) 55.9
Depth (mm) 14.5

Tar.Aldarion

no i just cant stop buying them

Goldstein

Gmini 400 Battery Life: (just playing music)
Up to 10 hours based on 64Kbps WMA
(So even less at a realistic bitrate)

flogen

stop telling me what to buy!

Spunog UIE

BAD CONSUMER, very BAD consumer, SIT THE **** DOWN

Captain Trips

I have a SOny NW E507. It is ****ing beautiful, has 1GB and a 50 hr battery life.

Hobbes

Wertz wrote:

So why does it have to be an iPod? Is there some reason why you can't just connect any other make of hdd player to it? Line-in sockets aren't usually that fussy...

Actually you can get a radio transmitter (something like couple of feet range) plug it into your device of choice and have it come out on the radio.

Gilgamesh

Cremo wrote:

for god sake like it's going to be in your pocket/bag etc. who gives a **** what it looks like.

did you tell that to your last girlfriend or is it still considered a chat up line?

Lump

I'm just gonna wait till I upgrade, Nokia are bringing out a Phone, qith a 2 Mega Pixel Camera, video for 10 minutes and a 3000 song capacity mp3 player, with external control....


At least it'll save me carrying around lots of gadgets.

John

MorningStar

Hobbes wrote:

Not sure about the gmini but I Got an IPAQ 3715 with 1GB SD card. Currently it can.
- Play music
- Remote control.
- Surf the web/mail at home (wifi)
- Play games
- Take pictures (1.2MP)
- record video.
- play movies.
- stream media from your PC
- Stream audio/video from the net and play it.

I also got a GPS and have it as a routefinder. As well as a few other things. Only slightly more expensive then the gmini.

This is a good idea with the one huge flaw being that the memory is so small. The point of new MP3 players seems to be you have your whole collection or a large portion with you all the time. You can also get daily web pages loaded onto it too which I love. Kind of makes the PDA phones the best overall device.

The player suggested at the start is OK for limited music types (but better than the ipod) but the screen is tiny and not very good either. You would never watch anything on it and you can't really make out pictures. Guy in work has one.

thelordofcheese

Victor wrote:

I don't care what you buy, but please read the manual before you ask "How do I put my CDs in my iPod"-type questions.

and while we are wishing for things i hope people stop asking questions like "whats the differance between an ipod and an Mp3 player". i know not everyone is technically literate and all, but sweet jebus it's like asking whats the difference between a Ford and a car....

RicardoSmith

Most MP3 players are missing one feature or another. I think I really want a convergence device, MP3/Camera/PDA/Phone and all the size of a shuffle.

FX Meister

Wertz wrote:

So why does it have to be an iPod? Is there some reason why you can't just connect any other make of hdd player to it? Line-in sockets aren't usually that fussy...

Because the IP Bus is designed for an Ipod, I don't want one of those cheap ass line in jobs. I want to be able to fully access my songs from my stereo as well as having the track details on the display.

Wertz

FX Meister wrote:

Because the IP Bus is designed for an Ipod, I don't want one of those cheap ass line in jobs. I want to be able to fully access my songs from my stereo as well as having the track details on the display.

Ah.

The Sony suggested above has a similarly compliant in-car unit, though I'm not sure if it's been released here yet.

Sorely tempted to go for the NW-HD5h myself...until I saw the Toshiba Gigabeat 40gb for the same price, with a colour screen and no DRM bullsh*t. Decisions, decisions...

Sarn

RicardoSmith wrote:

Most MP3 players are missing one feature or another. I think I really want a convergence device, MP3/Camera/PDA/Phone and all the size of a shuffle.

I agree entirely, there's the nokia 6230i, the SE k750i (have one) or the upcoming nokia n91 or SE W800. As I'm not a heavy music user the option to switch between the radio and my own music, plus taking decent photos without carrying multiple devices is ideal.

donalin

i bought a second hand first generation 5gb ipod in 03' I win!