Help me choose a Portable Music Player

[tkin]

Well guys I wanted to buy a PMP for my cousin, since that's been taken care of, I wanna buy one for myself.

My budget is 6k, will extend to 8k if the product is worth the difference.

NO IPOD, I won't buy an ipod even if they gave it free to me because I need a PMP with drag and drop support(IPOD lacks it, I hate itunes), it must have least 4GB capacity, expandable memory is welcome but not essential, video support is also welcomed but is not a must need.

I selected a few, comment on that and improvise please.


1.http://www.sony.co.in/product/nwz-e4.../nwz-e436f_bme @ 5k


2.http://www.sony.co.in/product/nwz-a726 @ 8k(a bit too much)


3.http://www.sony.co.in/product/nwz-b143f @ 4k(no video support)


How's ZUNE?

[desiibond]

Cowon D2+ would be my first choice.

If you know anyone in USA, try to get ipod touch 8Gb which is now availble for 199$

[tkin]

Originally Posted by desiibond

Cowon D2+ would be my first choice.

If you know anyone in USA, try to get ipod touch 8Gb which is now availble for 199$

What's the price of Cowon D2+?

I know iPods are great but I won't buy it, need drag and drop support(must have) which iPods lack and I hate the whole "itunes must be installed to transfer music" thing.

[desiibond]

^^

cowon D2+ costs around 8k afaik for 4Gb model.

for ipods:

there are lot of alternatives like winamp, mediamonkey and some linux based media players that have plugins to manage ipod.

seriously speaking, you should really try ipod touch once. It has evolved a lot and is nothingl ike the shitty nano or shuffle

[tkin]

Originally Posted by desiibond

^^

cowon D2+ costs around 8k afaik for 4Gb model.

for ipods:

there are lot of alternatives like winamp, mediamonkey and some linux based media players that have plugins to manage ipod.

seriously speaking, you should really try ipod touch once. It has evolved a lot and is nothingl ike the shitty nano or shuffle

I used ipod touch, one my friends in college has one, nice but I want to connect my media player to the PC, see it appear as a USB drive, use drag/drop, sync with just any media player out there.

Some feedback site says that D2+ has faulty firmware(still not fixed) such that ID3 tags are not properly displayed, any idea on SONY models?

Sony Erickson phones rock in sound quality AFAIK, any idea about walkman?

PS- I own a walkman CD player, audio quality is really good.

[comp@ddict]

There is one from Creative Zen I guesss, have a look at that.

[desiibond]

Originally Posted by tkin

I used ipod touch, one my friends in college has one, nice but I want to connect my media player to the PC, see it appear as a USB drive, use drag/drop, sync with just any media player out there.

Some feedback site says that D2+ has faulty firmware(still not fixed) such that ID3 tags are not properly displayed, any idea on SONY models?

Sony Erickson phones rock in sound quality AFAIK, any idea about walkman?

PS- I own a walkman CD player, audio quality is really good.

hmm. I am using cowon D2+ firmware on Cowon D2 and I haven't faced any such problem. The issue with id3 tags used to happen when I was using D2's firmware too. but when I use the player in MTP mode (sync music using WMP or jetaudio or mm), I haven't faced any issues.

It's easier to drag and drop music onto devices but I do feel that syncing using a s/w like WMP or jetaudio is much more comfortable and better for player.

anywyays, Sony has released a new S series player in Japan I think and is not yet available worldwide. wait for it.

[tkin]

Originally Posted by comp@ddict

There is one from Creative Zen I guesss, have a look at that.

What's the model and price?
-----------------------------------------
Posted again:
-----------------------------------------

Originally Posted by desiibond

hmm. I am using cowon D2+ firmware on Cowon D2 and I haven't faced any such problem. The issue with id3 tags used to happen when I was using D2's firmware too. but when I use the player in MTP mode (sync music using WMP or jetaudio or mm), I haven't faced any issues.

It's easier to drag and drop music onto devices but I do feel that syncing using a s/w like WMP or jetaudio is much more comfortable and better for player.

anywyays, Sony has released a new S series player in Japan I think and is not yet available worldwide. wait for it.

Then I'll wait for it, syncing is nice and I do tend to do it, but Drag and Drop is needed because sometimes I get a CD and want to directly rip the contents to the player, also helps when I want to transfer a large music folder directly to the player.

[desiibond]

http://reviews.cnet.com/mp3-players/...-33770111.html

8Gb for 109$. avaialble now in USA

[tkin]

Originally Posted by desiibond

http://reviews.cnet.com/mp3-players/...-33770111.html

8Gb for 109$. avaialble now in USA

Any idea about when its coming to India? Sony India website is a total trash.

Looks really good though.

[desiibond]

^^no idea about launch date dude. also, it's dead cheat. 8GB for $109

[tkin]

Originally Posted by desiibond

^^no idea about launch date dude. also, it's dead cheat. 8GB for $109

Yeah, also 129$ for 16GB, 6.5k FTW.

Its available in USA, UK and JPN, but not here, even the old X series isn't launched here, such a waste.

[desiibond]

^^see if you can get it through KMD in techenclave. that guy charges some 60 rupees per dollar and you can give him link to the product in amazon or any online store in USA and he will let you know how much to pay and the product will be delivered to you.

[tkin]

Originally Posted by desiibond

^^see if you can get it through KMD in techenclave. that guy charges some 60 rupees per dollar and you can give him link to the product in amazon or any online store in USA and he will let you know how much to pay and the product will be delivered to you.

I know of him, but the warranty isn't available here, with PMPs that's not a good option, guess need to wait a month or so.

[comp@ddict]

Yup,. KMD is very good. And if u can get more ppl to buy it together, the price reduces further....per piece...

[tkin]

Originally Posted by comp@ddict

Yup,. KMD is very good. And if u can get more ppl to buy it together, the price reduces further....per piece...

Yeah, but warranty?

[comp@ddict]

Well, the service centres here will also serve warranty(if there is one here).

[damngoodman999]

Only service center provide INDIA marketed products !! also that KMD dude charges Rs65 for a dollar ! thats high

Tkin - dont get Sony walkman music player - Try to get MICROSOFT ZUNE its around 7.5K nice pmp & music player , i ll get the new prices

[tkin]

Originally Posted by damngoodman999

Only service center provide INDIA marketed products !! also that KMD dude charges Rs65 for a dollar ! thats high

Tkin - dont get Sony walkman music player - Try to get MICROSOFT ZUNE its around 7.5K nice pmp & music player , i ll get the new prices

Zune isn't officially launched in India, so no warranty+high price in some delhi showrooms as a few indian tech forums report. Sony is well known for audio quality all over, after the launch of S540 they actually overtook apple(ipod) in terms of marketshare in japan(http://www.electronista.com/articles...in.four.years/). This S540 looks sexy, 130$ for 16 GB with stereo external speakers and other features. Gonna try Sony world this week, I'll wait a month if I have to but I want it.

http://dvice.com/archives/2009/08/sony-walkman-s5.php

But I am still open to other suggestions, and if anyone has any news about S540 do reply here.

[damngoodman999]

^^ But its sold in ebay , actually my friend who is mumbai he bought zune i ll ask him were did he bought ?? then get Cowon D2 , the sound quality is amazing D2 has good battery also - ONLY sound quality EVEN apple Ipod nano cannot stand against D2

[desiibond]

KMD will ship the failed product to USA, get it serviced and ship it back to you but the shipping charges should be taken care by the product owner.

[acewin]

microsoft zune,
cowon D2
creative Zen these are your best choices.
I have seen zen, it has a massive screen(), and its screen is good for playing videos.

[tkin]

Here's my experience with SONY India(kolkata, official distro),.

Today I went to a dozen shops in Chandni as well as some Electronics shop like Capitol Electronics excluding Sony World.

They contacted Sony dealers all across kolkata(including the official one) and guess what?

They only keep some of the stuff that the Sony website(www.sony.co.in) lists, F***ing Sony india only has some completely outdated and ridiculously expensive stuff at their disposal, like an OLD 4GB Walkman for 8k and an 8GB one for 9.5k when in USA, Japan, UK, Singapore(basically all over the world) Sony released some brand new S Series models last month which cost 100$ for 8GB and 130$ for 16GB.


So basically speaking they do not have the S or the expensive X series in India, only some old 4/8GB models are available, you can refer the first post to see these antiques. And when I told them they simply said there's no such things as S/X series and also said 8GB/16GB can't be so cheap, it must cost 10k/15k respectively, WTF?? No one has any idea about the launch date so I will keep waiting, having no MP3 player is better than getting expensive antiques.

If anyone has any idea about Sony S/X series launch date or plans here please notify here, and also I won't buy iPods, suggest something else that has official support here(~8k).

BTW- The whole import thing is bad, sending stuff through KMD back for warranty will cost a lot and time, not interested. Does Sony India give traveling warranty?

[desiibond]

Check how much Samsung YP-T3 costs. When I last checked it was some 11k and price may have dropped.

Other players to check:

1) Create Zen X-Fi

[tkin]

Originally Posted by desiibond

Check how much Samsung YP-T3 costs. When I last checked it was some 11k and price may have dropped.

Other players to check:

1) Create Zen X-Fi

Price if X-Fi?? Performance??

Is it officially supported here??

Samsung YP-K3 looks a bit dull and performance and compatibility isn't upto sony/apple mark yet. Looked into it, not good enough.

[Arnab boss]

@thin...dude why don't u go and visit fancy market in kidderpore..'

It has got huge stocks of mp3 players with or without video.. Mainly all chinese stuff but if u r lucky then u may find apple or sony products there...'

I bought a apple 80gb video ipod with dock charger with stereo speakers @ 8k with a good headfone..'so just give a visit...'

[tkin]

Originally Posted by Arnab boss

@thin...dude why don't u go and visit fancy market in kidderpore..'

It has got huge stocks of mp3 players with or without video.. Mainly all chinese stuff but if u r lucky then u may find apple or sony products there...'

I bought a apple 80gb video ipod with dock charger with stereo speakers @ 8k with a good headphone..'so just give a visit...'

I once a bought a supposedly original SONY CD Walkman, just ran for 8months or so, cost me 1k, never going back.

So how long have you been running the iPod?

Currently looking into Creative, the Zen X-Fi 2 with touchscreen and microSD costs 180$(16GB), its also available in India, gonna visit some shops tomorrrow.

[Arnab boss]

Hey dude I know its crapy there and u always feel unsafe...'

Anyhow its all depends on luck and I bought it in march 2008 and its still running fine so its luck... Buddy...'

I have a lot of frnds there as I used to have a business of musical instruments over there...' so I know from where 2 find genuine one...'he he he...'

Some of my frnds frequently visit china and taiwan so if I need something I asked them...' they just bought me a nixon coolpix digitalcam frm there @ 8k which is priced @ 11k over here...'

[tkin]

Originally Posted by Arnab boss

Hey dude I know its crapy there and u always feel unsafe...'

Anyhow its all depends on luck and I bought it in march 2008 and its still running fine so its luck... Buddy...'

I have a lot of frnds there as I used to have a business of musical instruments over there...' so I know from where 2 find genuine one...'he he he...'

Some of my frnds frequently visit china and taiwan so if I need something I asked them...' they just bought me a nixon coolpix digitalcam frm there @ 8k which is priced @ 11k over here...'

Its mostly luck and some help and sources, like you have, anyway my cousin lived in Singapore a few months back, bought a Nokia 5800 through her(which eventually got stolen from me), but she's back to Delhi now, seems the only way is either wait for Sony or go for Creative.

[Arnab boss]

Ya creative and sony both r good in performance and quality...'

But today one of my frnd bought a philips mp3 and video player @6k...'
built quality is good with a 3.2 inch display but its not as good as sony...'

Hey dude u can also visit ac market or metro shopping there r a few stores who keep imported stuffs in electronics...'

Or if u r brave enough then take a chance in fancy market....! Ill help u this time let me ask my frnds abt this and if they hav or can bring it ill give u his mob no...' just give the model no and product info...'