iRiver vs iPod I need help deciding

[EineBeBoP]

So I'm looking into a Hard drive mp3 player.
My top 2 choices are the iPod (20 gb) and the iRiver (20 gb) (http://www.iriveramerica.com/products/iHP-120.asp).

Main reason I want one is i'm going to europe for about a month this summer, and I dont wanna carry around my CDs. (they could get broken/lost/scratched/heavy/etc.) A mp3 player is the perfect solution it seems, im just not sure which.
Battery time is also an important factor. about 6-8 hrs on an ipod, with around 16 hrs with the iriver. I wont be able to plug these in everywhere, and who knows how long ill be listening to it. I DONT want it running out of batteries on me.

I don't care too much about looks, they're same size, close in dimentions (River is a bit heavier), sound quality is close enough that i prolly wont hear any major differance.

Price dosent really matter, but i dont wanna pay more than $400 (i've found iriver for 315 so ignore the price quoted on its site)

I want suggestions, reviews (if you have one of these)

I've used Corrosion's iPod several times and love it, but it dosent have all the features I want (FM radio, good control, audio in/out) Is the iPod good enough that i should give these up for it?

I hear controls take a bit to get usted to on the iriver, but thats no big deal. I love experimenting with new toys.

A big plus for the iRiver is that its viewed as an external HD to your computer (Windows only plz, I hear it sucks with macs [but whp cares?]) and you drag/drop instead of using a 3rd party program like with ipod.

Lemme know what you think please.

[Octavian]

iPod sucks as far as I know, iRiver just sounds like a complete clone of it.

[Squeeky]

Just get a fucking mp3 cd player you jiglets

[Octavian]

Jiglet* I don't want either of them, it's Eine's problem.

[BigFreak]

I really like my iPod...and it has games and stuff...so might help ease the long journey :p

[Jaged]

Buy my 30 gig ipod! Its barely used. Most of its life was spent in an iSkin case that I would send you for free.

Edit: Detail on the ipod are available here.
http://www.planetside-universe.com/forums/showthread.php?t=20117

[Squeeky]

How much Jaged? Hook teh squeekar up?

[Dharkbayne]

Save your iMoney for a fucking iCDPlayer. It'll save you about 200 bucks.

[Octavian]

Damn, everything starts with an "i" now, what has this world come to?

[Onizuka-GTO]

I own a ipod (40GB) its great. =D

But i must admit it has a short battery life. =(

Only last 5hrs (6 if your careful)

I think the new version of the ipod might be getting better batteries but im not sure, regardless i still like the ipod but it does make it impratical taking the ipod anywhere that a mains power socket isn't available on long hauls, like Airflights or coach rides.
In hind-sight i think you should get one with more battery life if you only concern about the music bit, but if you want a sazzy all rounder you should get ipod if your not thinking of travelling out of a powered grid sector, and you want to show it off and not develop a six-pack from lugging it about in your handbag. :rolleyes:

P.S: You can use the ipod for a external HD too.

[Biohazzard56]

Thats cause you have the 40 GB model, ive tried both mp3 players (my friend has an iRiver) and can say that the iPod is 100% better. Get the 15 or even the 10GB model its very hard to fill up. The battery life is good if you dont get the bigger models such as the 40 GB.

[mechaman]

http://www1.us.dell.com/content/products/productdetails.aspx/dj_15?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs

[Indecisive]

Lets put it this way. What does the Ipod have that the Iriver does not.

DIEAPPLEANDITUNES.

[UncleDynamite]

I'd go for the iRiver, but I'm pretty impressed with the Dell DJ 20. It doesn't hold as much as the iPod, but I've heard that it has excellent sound quality and a very, very long battery life.

[Setari]

the only real mac program i use is iRates. now in v.6 (i believe) Now with More Ratings!!!1

:::

[EineBeBoP]

Dell sucks, and is pretty much not an option.

and iRiver cant be a clone of the iPod becuase it does more. *note the FM tuner, big thing for me*


Plays over 600 hours of digital music*
Up to 16 hours of battery life
Supports MP3, WMA, ASF, WAV and OGG music files
Ultra-fast USB 2.0 transfers (up to 40 times faster than USB 1.0)
Integrated FM tuner
Backlit remote control with 4-line display
Built-in voice recorder
Intuitive music navigation
Real-time MP3 encoding (no PC required)
20GB of internal storage
Store or transfer files of any type
Extra-large, 8-line, backlit LCD
Rechargeable Lithium Polymer battery
Optical input and output
Upgradeable to future formats and features


Category Item
Specifications

Audio
No. of Channels S/N Ratio STEREO (L+R)
Frequency Range 20Hz ~ 20KHz
Headphone output 20mW(L) + 20mW(R) : 16 ohm at Max. Volume
Frequency Characteristics +/- 2dB (Lineout)

FM Tuner
Frequency Range87.5MHz ~ 108MHz
S/N Ratio 50dB 50dB Headphone/Earphone Cord Antenna
Receiver Type Headphone/Earphone Cord Antenna

File type
Bit Rate
Tag MPEG 1/2/2.5 Layer 3, WMA, ASF, WAV, OGG: 32kbps � 500kbps, 44.1KHz
Supports 32Kbps ~ 320Kbps
ID3 V1 Tag, ID3 V2 2.0, ID3 V2 3.0
Power Supply
AC Adaptor DC 5.0V, 2A
Battery Built-in rechargeable lithium polymer(1300mAh)
General
Dimensions60(W) X 19(D) X 105(H)mm
Weight Approx. 160g (battery included)
Operational Temperature Approx. 0�C ~ 40�C
Playback hours MP3/WMA/ASF Approx. 16 hours



now as for CDs,

Main reason I want one is i'm going to europe for about a month this summer, and I dont wanna carry around my CDs. (they could get broken/lost/scratched/heavy/etc.)
therefore no CD players.

[Gigabein]

do some research on iPod's battery replacement policy, becuase of this (http://www.ipodsdirtysecret.com/). Apple might have changed how they do things.

[Onizuka]

Hrm okay, I own a 20 gig iPod and here's what I have to say:

First of all, I no nothing about the iRiver with the exception of what you've told us in this thread. From what you've said it looks good. I love my iPod. I NEVER listen to the radio, so that's not an issue for me. I recharge my iPod every night so again, short-term battery life is not an issue for me.

But from what I've seen, I think you should get the iRiver because:

1. You care about a radio
2. Much longer battery life which makes sense when traveling
3. Though playlists are harder to create, I think you can handle it lol
4. Voice memo campatibility! I dunno, maybe that'd be cool on a trip
5. Corrossion has an iPod...so get an iRiver...so you don't have the same thing as him and you two combined have both :p

Also, from your opening post, it seems like your leaning towards the iRiver (correct me if I'm wrong).

[Phaelon]

Man, i don't know what are you are talking about, but I have over 200 gigs of MP3's on my server. I could fill a 40 gig Ipod in a blink.

Ipod has a nice classy feel, iriver is just weird.

Ipod is a good choice.

[worldvengence]

<----- Nike (Phillips) MP3 CD Player...works like a charm...hahahahaha

[Triggar]

My roommate and I have the same flight instructor. My roommate has an iPod. My roommate brought the aforementioned iPod and brought it on a cross-country flight (about four hours in a single-engine Cessna).

My flight instructor then told me that there was no way that he'd ever do a cross-country without an iPod. WAY TO PRESSURE ME INTO GETTING ONE, DARRIN!

[Onizuka]

You have a flight instructor? You take flying lessons? OWNAGE!

I'd love to do that some day.

[Triggar]

Haha, yeah, you should get on IRC. Me, Bliz and Martyr are all pilots at an Aeronautical University :)

PWNAGE INDEED!

[Onizuka]

Haha, yeah, you should get on IRC. Me, Bliz and Martyr are all pilots at an Aeronautical University :)

PWNAGE INDEED!

:eek:

And yes, I'm not on IRC often, because, frankly, it's complete chaos.

But thats very cool, I've always wanted to fly.

[Sputty]

Apple sucks, reasons have been given in this thread. Get an iRiver

[Indecisive]

Damn, everything starts with an "i" now, what has this world come to?

Yes.

[Sputty]

iShut up the fuck, you iNoob

[a pink punk]

iPod sucks. you have to buy a new one after 18 mouths.

[Jaged]

They sell battery replacments now...

How much Jaged? Hook teh squeekar up?
Here you go: http://www.planetside-universe.com/forums/showthread.php?t=20117

[EineBeBoP]

Also, from your opening post, it seems like your leaning towards the iRiver (correct me if I'm wrong).

I am indeed. Enough so, that i just leaned myself right to the ordering page, and should have an iriver within a week. :D about $315 for it, but my rents are picking up the bill! (2 birthday gifts and a hanukkah gift they owe) + good grades, + Mowing the lawn today (which I still need to do).

Sry Jaged, you'll have to find someone else to buy your iPod. They're good little machines, and jaged's selling his for a steal. Only a few personal preferances I didn't get one myself.

[Kaikou]

My look on it? Get a sony mini disc player. Unless you have 20 gigs of music that you want on hand to listen to and 400 bucks, those iwhatevers are just a waste of money :p

The mini disc players can fit around....70 or so songs per disc, and they're easy to carry with you.

Edit: not to mention they take 1 AA battery that lasts for about 8 hours nonstop...

My main reason for not having an iPod/iRiver is that I don't have 20 gigs of music I want on hand to listen to. Hell I don't even have 20 gigs of music total. My entire music collection is about 5 gigs. It'd be cool to use those ipod/rivers as a mini hard drive that you can connect via USB 2 and have 20 gigs of storage space for any kind of file though...but the prices are somewhat ludicrous for 20 gigs of storage as I can buy a 200 gig hard drive for half the price :p

[EineBeBoP]

I already have an MP3 cd player, and its great! i love it, I just dont wanna carry around the CDs. They could get stolen/lost/scratched beyond use. (all have happened before [I miss my Incubus cd])

If this were a week in europe, I'd prolly agree. but 4 weeks is a long time and a lot can happen. I'll also be using this for years (i hope it makes it to and through college at least) so not such a big waste if I never have to replace it.

[Rbstr]

Don't get the dell, dell sucks, i hate dell, they should all get annurisms and die.

I donno about them the iriver sound like its got better value, and i personly think the Ipod is a bit overrated/pop culture thing.

[Kaikou]

you don't have to worry about scratching a mini disc because they're inside a plastic case like a floppy disc. A bit smaller than a floppy disc. I dunno, they're cheaper, and have just the right amount of space for songs. If I had 20 gigs of music I'd probably get one of the iRivers but . . . yeah I don't.

The day they make the mini MPEG player will be godlike. I'll be watching anime wherever I go. The closest thing they have like this is a laptop though :\ I actually saw some guy using a laptop to watch anime in a line at anime expo 2003. Was indeed amusing. I'll be getting a laptop for my birthday, so I'll probably be doing the same at anime expo 2004 :D

Speaking of AX2004, you should go eine, isn't *really* far from where you live, you're like, an hour north of LA right? well AX is about 45 minutes south of LA so it'd be around a 2 hour drive for you. We could meet and make fun of all the cosplayers!

http://www.animeexpo.org