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Some general ramblings
Still happy with my iPod and Rockbox, although I will actually get another iAudio next time, assuming their product remains as good. I avoided it this time, because I didn't want to shell out for a full-blown portable media player (ie. big screen - 480x272 px, and more chunky), and the X5 range has a clunky look I never liked. I had the M3, which was groovy, but it's getting a bit tired in looks.
So, comparisons:
So, all in all, I'm content with my purchase, but I do think clobbering you for so much cost for the extras is ridiculous. I do miss the simple little adapter the iAudio had with its line-out, USB and charging connector all in the space of 2 x 5 x 0.7cm-ish. And the sound quality, although the iPod is ok. The iAudio looks comparatively expensive initially, because the base unit is still only 20GB, and, let's face it, the interface needs major sprucing, as does the unit design, but the value of the extras thrown-in by default certainly compensates to a large degree.
Continuing on the techie front, I loaded the latest version of Ubuntu onto my Toshie (M5) laptop last night. Everything just worked. It notified you about using the proprietary Nvidia video drivers, but loaded them anyway. The wireless networking worked instantly, connecting to my ADSL router/modem via WPA with no configuration other than the correct password. I needed to download VLC for videos, but that's because it pisses over the Mplayer offering (and I couldn't be bothered downloading every codec to make the latter more functional). Even in Firefox, I got prompted to install Flash from within the browser, which it did and it worked instantly.
The only tricky bit was repartitioning the disk to get enough space for Linux. The default live CD install didn't manage to do it, so I downloaded the "alternate" install and used the manual method to shrink the NTFS (XP) partition by 20GB and chuck Ubuntu into the empty space. That CD uses a "text-based" install, which is just as user-friendly as the GUI kind, IMO. Oh, and Ubuntu now loads the NTFS drivers by default - the whole of my C: drive is browseable, no problems at all. Honestly, relying on NTFS permissions for security on a local machine is a joke if you've got access to a Linux boot CD.
So, if anyone is thinking about trying Linux, but hasn't quite gathered up the courage, I feel that the "Feisty Fawn" version of Ubuntu is definitely consumer-ready for those who have a slightly above-average computer knowledge (ie. you've used such arcane things as Usenet, or FTP, can burn a CD from an ISO image, and you've installed software using means other than "next... next... finish"). Although, actually, I think an average computer user would be fine with it if they were willing to get to grips with a slightly different interface, and to poke around a bit.
PS. I've been having a bit of a music festie with myself, as you might imagine, with re-ripping my CDs. I've just done PJ Harvey, and took myself over to YouTube to finally watch some more of music vids that I haven't seen (only bummer about no TV... until now). Man, that woman rocks.
So, comparisons:
| iPod | iAudio |
| Very very groovy interface | Tired interface, but functional |
| I looove the touch wheel | Controls were slightly strange, but the little remote unit was handy - no need to keep taking the whole thing out of your pocket |
| Case scratches badly - it scratched when I laid it on the pouch you're supposed to store it in! (I bought a protective case for it... for $30) | The case is functional and doesn't ding that easily... and it's not so fantastic-looking that you care |
| Tons of accessories. Although not cheap. Apparently no small line-out adapter with a charging port exists. Paying $125 for a stereo dock+charger sux | Bugger-all accessories, because it comes with most of the important ones in the box... a line out/usb adapter which also contains a charging port. You can also get a car charger and radio adapter (the only accessories I want other than line-out). |
| Sound is not that great out of the box (or with the Rockbox loaded), but I'm improving it slowly. Not sure if the audio hardware's not quite as good yet. | Sounds great out of the box, using some of the presets, although the earbuds are pants (but better than the Apple ones, actually) |
| Locked into iTunes to load data, and only MP3 and AAC audio. Subvertable with Rockbox. | Comes with every audio format you can think of by default. Acts as a normal USB drive when plugged in |
| No radio, without buying yet another accessory, or recording functionality | Has both, built in. |
| Constructs a database based on ID3 tags to play music (so does Rockbox, if you enable it) | Uses a folder tree, so you can play directories, or playlists that you construct. I didn't mind this, because I either wanted to listen to an album, or just the whole thing on shuffle |
So, all in all, I'm content with my purchase, but I do think clobbering you for so much cost for the extras is ridiculous. I do miss the simple little adapter the iAudio had with its line-out, USB and charging connector all in the space of 2 x 5 x 0.7cm-ish. And the sound quality, although the iPod is ok. The iAudio looks comparatively expensive initially, because the base unit is still only 20GB, and, let's face it, the interface needs major sprucing, as does the unit design, but the value of the extras thrown-in by default certainly compensates to a large degree.
Continuing on the techie front, I loaded the latest version of Ubuntu onto my Toshie (M5) laptop last night. Everything just worked. It notified you about using the proprietary Nvidia video drivers, but loaded them anyway. The wireless networking worked instantly, connecting to my ADSL router/modem via WPA with no configuration other than the correct password. I needed to download VLC for videos, but that's because it pisses over the Mplayer offering (and I couldn't be bothered downloading every codec to make the latter more functional). Even in Firefox, I got prompted to install Flash from within the browser, which it did and it worked instantly.
The only tricky bit was repartitioning the disk to get enough space for Linux. The default live CD install didn't manage to do it, so I downloaded the "alternate" install and used the manual method to shrink the NTFS (XP) partition by 20GB and chuck Ubuntu into the empty space. That CD uses a "text-based" install, which is just as user-friendly as the GUI kind, IMO. Oh, and Ubuntu now loads the NTFS drivers by default - the whole of my C: drive is browseable, no problems at all. Honestly, relying on NTFS permissions for security on a local machine is a joke if you've got access to a Linux boot CD.
So, if anyone is thinking about trying Linux, but hasn't quite gathered up the courage, I feel that the "Feisty Fawn" version of Ubuntu is definitely consumer-ready for those who have a slightly above-average computer knowledge (ie. you've used such arcane things as Usenet, or FTP, can burn a CD from an ISO image, and you've installed software using means other than "next... next... finish"). Although, actually, I think an average computer user would be fine with it if they were willing to get to grips with a slightly different interface, and to poke around a bit.
PS. I've been having a bit of a music festie with myself, as you might imagine, with re-ripping my CDs. I've just done PJ Harvey, and took myself over to YouTube to finally watch some more of music vids that I haven't seen (only bummer about no TV... until now). Man, that woman rocks.
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