MP3s / iPods - help needed please!

[nspur]

I have an Archos 605 which is by no means as sexy looking as an iPod but does exactly what I want. My model doesn't have a hard disk but takes SD cards which are now as cheap as chips. It does video, photos, almost all the music codecs and is WiFi enabled so can connect to any handy access point. The 4.25 inch screen is very good. If you buy a "battery dock" you get 2 usb ports so I can plug in a portable hdd. Definitely worth having a look at,

[Hotblack]

My boyfriend loves creative as a brand, but he doesn't like using their software either so just 'drags and drops' as well

Hmm! I wonder if they've changed things with the new player. I just 'drag and drop' as well but do it within the software.

[Hotblack]

Jen uses a Creative Zen, she loves it but has returned three for replacement after they suffered various failures.

I have heard of other people struggling with the quality of Creative stuff but I've never had a problem with mine.

[OneTen]

I use a 20GB Sony that a friend gave to me. The sound quality is superb but it lacks some of the features of an iPod (not that I know what) and the SonicStage software is poor.

Jen uses a Creative Zen, she loves it but has returned three for replacement after they suffered various failures. I can't get on with the menus on the Zen or the software, but Jen prefers it by a mile to my Sony.

Not very helpful.

[Benchista]

, those &$(&^$)%_*s at Apple keep trying to load Safari back on my machine every time they think I'm not paying attention properly.

errrrrrr...eh? Cant just just set it not to?

If you can, I can't see how - they keep trying. They do give me the choice, but not the choice to not have the thing offerred - I nearly installed it by mistake last week as I thought it was part of the iTunes update. Sneaky.

[OneTen]

Her latest one is operating without any issues, apart form the Toto album she insists on playing in the Land Rover.

[Hotblack]

Her latest one is operating without any issues, apart form the Toto album she insists on playing in the Land Rover.

[ermintrude]

, those &$(&^$)%_*s at Apple keep trying to load Safari back on my machine every time they think I'm not paying attention properly.

errrrrrr...eh? Cant just just set it not to?

If you can, I can't see how - they keep trying. They do give me the choice, but not the choice to not have the thing offerred - I nearly installed it by mistake last week as I thought it was part of the iTunes update. Sneaky.

Weird. I just wondered as its never happened to me. What does it do, and when?

[MickLL]

I hate creative software... it's crap, least it was 3 years ago when I had a creative Zen extra - 40Gb.. and I used to drag and drop my music onto it, rather than use the creative software stuff as it was really crap.

Just because you didn't get on with it doesn't mean it's crap. It just means you didn't get on with it. I find it rather good.

You beat me to it. Just got back from the gym (with my 'creative') and had decided to take issue with our latest lady doctor despite the fact that her doctorate is in 'geek' .

I'm using creative lite version 1.10.07 and it does everything that I ask.

I was easy to install,opens very fast when I connect the player, allows me to do everything I want (including ripping) without consulting the help file. It's never crashed frozen or hung up and, as far as I know, has never interfered with anything else on my machine. You might not like it - but crap it ain't!!.

BTW someone mentioned a travel adaptor as a useful accessory. I'd second that. Mine charges through a mini USB socket so I'm limited when I'm away although I find that I can charge it in the car using my Tom-Tom cable.

MickLL

[daft_biker]

You're right David, there probably is a better bitrate compromise for on the bus but even if it took half a dozen albums it would be plenty for me. I just stuck loads on because I could...I stick it on repeat and am lucky if I change album once a fortnight

[Benchista]

, those &$(&^$)%_*s at Apple keep trying to load Safari back on my machine every time they think I'm not paying attention properly.

errrrrrr...eh? Cant just just set it not to?

If you can, I can't see how - they keep trying. They do give me the choice, but not the choice to not have the thing offerred - I nearly installed it by mistake last week as I thought it was part of the iTunes update. Sneaky.

Weird. I just wondered as its never happened to me. What does it do, and when?

Well maybe it's only set up to do it for the Windows version. In what appears to be part of the install, a check box - already ticked - appears to download Safari. If you're paying attention, then there's no problem, you can untick it, but they're clearly counting on the fact that not everyone pays attention. It's the same as those sneaky bits of software that try to install the Google toolbar, and I don't like it.

[Boxy]

, those &$(&^$)%_*s at Apple keep trying to load Safari back on my machine every time they think I'm not paying attention properly.

errrrrrr...eh? Cant just just set it not to?

If you can, I can't see how - they keep trying. They do give me the choice, but not the choice to not have the thing offerred - I nearly installed it by mistake last week as I thought it was part of the iTunes update. Sneaky.

Weird. I just wondered as its never happened to me. What does it do, and when?

Happens to me too. I installed Quick Time and now get periodic "update" messages on my screen which include iTunes and Safari updates/downloads. If you don't deselect the ones you don't want then you get them all

[Boxy]

Thanks for all your help everyone. I've ordered one of these
Click here
Just lurve the colour!

[Donkey]

Yep that's the one I've got in Blue...8gb

The newer Sony Walkmans like the one you've ordered don't have to use the Nasty Sonic Stage you can simply Drag'n'Drop your Music files to the Player or use WMP where you can sync the player which you may find easier.

I brought this to replace my aging 1gb MP3 player and i love it apart from the relatively small 8gb size by today's standards, But i figure if i had 160gb I'd still winge.

I use iTunes for the Pod-casts which because they are free you can load em on the player without the usual "Your not gonna play that on there Mister" Message that pops up when you try to push your luck.

One thing to mention thou if your interested, I find that i have to Drag'n'drop a Pod-cast to my Desktop or similar and then Drag'n'Drop from there to the Sony, It doesn't want to play ball straight from iTunes to the Walkman.....Strange but that's Technology for ya

[Garry McNamara]

Nothing to do with this really as I know b all about it but I heard on the radio (or should I say wireless?) this morning that the British Phonographic (now that sounds quaint) Industry figures for last year revealed that 95% of music is still sold on CD.

So I am not alone then.