Discman Or Mdplayer ?
LockNLoaded
Join Date: 2002-09-05 Member: 1282Members
Join Date: 2002-09-05 Member: 1282Members
in Off-Topic
<div class="IPBDescription">If u had a choice (and all the cash)</div> As the title says, if budget is not an issue, would you rather get a discman or a MD player?
If you choose a discman- why? and which brand and model will you go for? Likewise, which MD player will you be getting?
I have plenty of CDs, so my initial thought was a discman- until i realized that a MD can store more as well as a smaller unit size as well.
Any recommendations?
If you choose a discman- why? and which brand and model will you go for? Likewise, which MD player will you be getting?
I have plenty of CDs, so my initial thought was a discman- until i realized that a MD can store more as well as a smaller unit size as well.
Any recommendations?
Comments
other than that I have no idea, I don't even have a portable cd player
edit: or a stationary one for that matter, except my computer
Same here. I'd never buy and MD-player... those things are too expensive for the functions they have. If you want a LOT of music, go for an Discman that can play MP3-CDs. But since discmans are quite large I chose to buy a small 256MB uSB MP3-Stick and I'm quite happy with it.
think about how many CDs you have to lug around vs the compactness of MDs, which hold just as much music... and easily re-recordable (though you just need to make sure your MD player is also a recorder, most are nowadays).
I have an mp3 player now, but damn these things are expensive >.>
They're actually developing some sort of super-MD player with new MDs that'll hold a gigantic amount of music, data, whatever you want, or something like that.. forget where I read it, though. ^^; Sounded really nifty.
If the question was "what portable music-playing device should I buy?", I'd definitely recommend the trusty ol' MP3 player. Sure, they're more expensive, but you're getting loads more music plus it would (usually) be more reliable in higher-impact sports and activities (ie: running).
Creatives are good I heard, the PikaOne Groovecase is a value one, and stay away from Omysis.
I just recently bought an mp3 jukebox (iPod 20 gig) which is indeed really good, but also very expensive.
[on topic]
I find that the mp3 cd players have just as good if not better skip protection then the mp3 ones specially in mp3 read mode. Granted the mp3 players do not hold as much as a CD (cough 128/256 are assumed norms, and cds are generally 700mb). But then again just my two cents.
Until I realised the model I was planning on getting was about as expensive as a 20gb iPod with the educational discount.
So I'm gonna go for the iPod.
[on topic]
I find that the mp3 cd players have just as good if not better skip protection then the mp3 ones specially in mp3 read mode. Granted the mp3 players do not hold as much as a CD (cough 128/256 are assumed norms, and cds are generally 700mb). But then again just my two cents. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
I can agree with that. I've been on a school bus, and I also was physically shaking my MP3 CD player (Rio Volt) extremely violently. Ive never been able to make it skip.
^^
If you want something for your money, go with a minidisc player. You will get better quality than a CD player, more music and faster write (the new minidisc writers have now the ability to just click and drag the music from your computer).
And for those saying that the mp3 players are superior or 'the future', let me tell you from my own experience that they are far from that. An mp3 player is simply a small disk with the ability to store and play music files, while an MD will allow you to record music from anywhere in real time or mp3s (and other files) from your computer, with much better quality, less battery consumption (at least my new MD writer/player has an amazing stamina with one single AA battery - a LOT more than the CD player or any mp3 I've had in my hands), and much much more space. Forget those mp3 players with ooh and aah space on the disc. You can carry a few of the little MDs with you and have more music with better quality.
But of course, that is only my opinion. <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo-->
EDIT: Typo.
<!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->I replied to such a topic a while ago and my point stands. I have a CD player (old one though, not mp3/CD-RW/CD-R compatible) and 3 minidisc players.
If you want something for your money, go with a minidisc player. You will get better quality than a CD player, more music and faster write (the new minidisc writers have now the ability to just click and drag the music from your computer).
And for those saying that the mp3 players are superior or 'the future', let me tell you from my own experience that they are far from that. An mp3 player is simply a small disk with the ability to store and play music files, while an MD will allow you to record music from anywhere in real time or mp3s (and other files) from your computer, with much better quality, less battery consumption (at least my new MD writer/player has an amazing stamina with one single AA battery - a LOT more than the CD player or any mp3 I've had in my hands), and much much more space. Forget those mp3 players with ooh and aah space on the disc. You can carry a few of the little MDs with you and have more music with better quality.
But of course, that is only my opinion. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Mmm 60 gig of 320kbps mp3's
Mmm sexy Firewire
the iPod has good controls, is small and light, has a dock and is overall very well done. Yet the price is REALLY high for what it does, and its competitors are often less expensive with the same functions. I only went with the iPod because of how good it seemed, with a very nice menu and with touch-sensible buttons. The screen is much larger and clearer than my previous archos (bought from my brother with the music for 100 euros) and the iPod has a very polished look its competitors can't offer. And it's smaller. But, I repeat once more, it's not for small budgets, either you're crazy (like me), want to give a real special gift (personalized) or are rich.
But iPods are really good <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo-->
Oh, and iPods are firewire unless you buy that additional USB 2 cable.
Mmm sexy Firewire<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
What, only 60gb? <!--emo&;)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/wink.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wink.gif' /><!--endemo-->
I'm designing an mp3 player for my car which will transmit the music over a user-selectable FM frequency, and the source for these mp3's is a hard drive. Any hard drive. 200gb, if you want. It's sort of a "I provide the device, you just provide any size hard drive" kind of design.
This is really more of a personal interest project. Got my electronics engineering a few years ago, and the stuff I do at work is pretty monotonous. Figured this'd be the best way to get some real experience with hard drive interfacing.
The first version will probably just run off a single spare 20gb drive I've got handy. Still, not bad for $30 in parts and six months of development time. <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->
Mmm sexy Firewire<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
What, only 60gb? <!--emo&;)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/wink.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wink.gif' /><!--endemo-->
I'm designing an mp3 player for my car which will transmit the music over a user-selectable FM frequency, and the source for these mp3's is a hard drive. Any hard drive. 200gb, if you want. It's sort of a "I provide the device, you just provide any size hard drive" kind of design.
This is really more of a personal interest project. Got my electronics engineering a few years ago, and the stuff I do at work is pretty monotonous. Figured this'd be the best way to get some real experience with hard drive interfacing.
The first version will probably just run off a single spare 20gb drive I've got handy. Still, not bad for $30 in parts and six months of development time. <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo--> <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Fit some TB drives in my jacket will ya. <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->
Edit: Argg, CK was first.
<!--QuoteBegin-me+three posts ago--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (me @ three posts ago)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->I'm designing an mp3 player for my car<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo-->
As a matter of fact, I think hard drive mp3 players for cars already exist.
I can hold about 25 songs...it's old though, so you can get much better ones now. My friend has a minidisc player, they're pretty good too, although I like my beat-up mp3 players no skipping...
I can drop it, and the head phones will pop out, and it'll be fine...unless the battery latch opens or the memory card pops out of the holder and I need to push it in a millimeter (Why isn't it playing my other 12 songs....oh wait, memory card is barely out of the slot...pffft).
CD players are for cars, mini-disc players are for lazy people who don't plan on doing lots of jogging/running/biking (unless they get a real good one with good non-skip protection) and mp3 players are for people that don't want to worry about skipping at all.
...now if only I could disable my mp3 players broken lcd screen (that...doesn't display anything, unless I put the volume below 3 of 30)...I only get 6-7 hours off 2 AA.
True, but hard drive mp3 players for cars generally cost $150+. I don't want to spend $150+ for an mp3 player when I can design and build it myself for $30+. <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo-->
Besides, mine can most likely be modified to work with smaller 2.5" laptop hard drives. While still a <i>little</i> bit bulky, it'd make it slightly more portable.
Except there'd be no fancy "rounded-edges, smooth lookin" plastic case for mine. It'd be the flat-out "exposed wires, unprotected leads, held together with duct tape" kind of thing. <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->
Hmmm, it seems my original post ended up veering this part of the off-topic topic into even <i>more</i> off-topicness. So wouldn't that be off-off-topic? At any rate, let's finish up this "hard drive car mp3 player" discussion so the topic gets back on-topic. In off-topic. Hehe.
I have to give my two cents here again. <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo-->
My first MD writer (freakingly expensive - it was still a young product) wasn't made for walking or any other activities. But still, it was designed to be a portable high-quality recorder (since it wasn't your ordinary slim MD, but a little thicker -> very high quality, that you won't get now on mp3 players or the cheap MDs).
The second one was a walkman. It didn't skip much, only if you REALLY shook it hard.
Now my latest one, it's just... Amazing, that's all I can say. I'm still not sure about, how it actually plays the songs, but if I listen to the tiny mechanism working in it, while playing a song, it seems to buffer the whole song, then stop... I have <i>never</i> had a skip on this MD player (by the way, all are Sony). I also dropped all 3 players a few times, and although they contain delicate mechanisms, none got broke or even malfunctioned.
Also, the battery usage with this last MD player is amazing. With one small AA battery, it can play for hours and hours and hours (don't ask me how much - I'll just say that I played it for at least 2 hours every day for two weeks and the battery was still not dead). Now, I can take all my 'dead' batteries that don't seem to work anymore, put them into this MD player and play for an hour or two more! <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo-->
An MP3 compatible CD player is difficult to maintain, especially if you want to alphabatize your playlist. If you fill a CD to maximum, you'll have to rework your list of songs to fit the new album.
My MP3 CD player makes it a chore, requiring each folder of music to be numerically tagged. This means that if I get a new album that begins with a letter in the middle of the alphabet, I have to rename all the folders after that. And when my music collection began spilling over to a new CD of MP3s, I had to rewrite those as well, renaming mass amounts of folders to fit all my music into the CDs.
It may be more trouble than it's worth.
A mini CD-R won't store as much informationa as a full size CD-R, so you're going to end up carrying more CDs, which really destroys the point of having a small CD player.
On top of that, mini CD-Rs are more expensive than normal sized CD-Rs, despite the fact that they hold less information! The price of rewriting a CD-R, which normally is only a few cents, skyrockets when it is transferred to a mini CD-R.
If you want an entire playlist of music that is thousands of songs long, you're going to have to decide how much work you're willing to put into maintaining a growing collection. Ulitmately, purchasing a hard drive based MP3 player would be your best decision in terms of ease of use: however, the price of a hard drive based player is quite steep in comparison to a CD player (mini or otherwise).
If you're planning on using this portable player for small trips, or breaks during work, you can use a flash based MP3 player. The smallest of the group, it can easily be placed in a pocket (and forgotten, so care must be taken). The price to size ratio is skewed in this group: but many more models are priced closer to that of a CD player than those from the hard drive based MP3 player group. The ease of use in arranging playlists makes this a tempting choice for casual listeners on a budget. Many of the models will run on a single AAA battery.
For more information and model suggestions, go to <a href='http://www.cnet.com' target='_blank'>http://www.cnet.com</a>. The editors there are knowledgable, and often cater to the "normal folk".
If it's primarily for your car, go the extra step and get a CD-mp3 player for your car. The one I have only cost $150 plus installation, and it's really quite nice.
If money isn't that much of an object, get an iPod. They're just too nice not to. Plus, there's already an FM broadcaster for the iPod like what Sycophant was talking about. ^^
got the rio when it was about $100... now it's about $50... cheaper than some high-end non-mp3 diskmen...
I have a Panasonic MP3 player, which was the same price. It's a bear and a half to keep up with the songs I purchase from the store or iTunes. Every new song, a new CD!
Mmm sexy Firewire<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
What, only 60gb? <!--emo&;)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/wink.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wink.gif' /><!--endemo-->
I'm designing an mp3 player for my car which will transmit the music over a user-selectable FM frequency, and the source for these mp3's is a hard drive. Any hard drive. 200gb, if you want. It's sort of a "I provide the device, you just provide any size hard drive" kind of design.
This is really more of a personal interest project. Got my electronics engineering a few years ago, and the stuff I do at work is pretty monotonous. Figured this'd be the best way to get some real experience with hard drive interfacing.
The first version will probably just run off a single spare 20gb drive I've got handy. Still, not bad for $30 in parts and six months of development time. <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo--> <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
that sounds interesting...
got any plans? or anything laid out
i'd be interested in taking a look if i could