[austonia]

http://news.com.com/2100-1041-5097266.html?tag=cd_top

http://www1.us.dell.com/content/topi...=19&l=en&s=dhs

http://home.businesswire.com/portal/...05&newsLang=en

 

[austonia]

full review here

http://www.delldjsite.com/forums/ind...&CODE=03&ID=10

 

[chadbang]

You realise, Austonia, you've just opened up another fifty threads of paranoid indecision...

But, hey, Thanks!

Okay, my first question thrown out there. What he HECK are those buttons? What is that center button? That player definitely looks designed by The Federation for use aboard starships. But seriously, it that a jog wheel/thumb flip/whatever... I can't make it out.



And I have to add that Music Match is a pretty cool programme. I'm on a Mac, but I bought my daughter a PC and installed Music Match on it for her. I've had fun playing around with the programme. It has a lot of options. iTunes is nice, but I'd have no problem going over to MusicMatch (it almost has more of a "power user" feel to it with all it's optiions.

 

[Sweet Spot]

Nice review but it doesn't say much. Not in technical terms anyway. I do love the 22 hour mark...that's cool. Though I wonder how the mp3's were encoded. Also wondering what other file formats it supports, and if it is seen as a HD etc etc...

Question is how does it stack up to the latest and greatest. (iPod, Karma IHP's)

I dont' think it looks as attractive as the guy thinks...it's pretty ugly actually. But the price just may be right if it has the right amount of features.

 

[austonia]

the scroller on the front is very similiar to the one on the e.digital odyssey. I really liked that controller over the wheel on the side, like on creative products. I even like that style controller better than ipod wheel. you just scroll it up to go up and down to go down, easy. Click it in to select something. makes an extemely nice volume control mechanism too.


HOWEVER, if we HAVE to use MusicMatch to load music on this player, there is no way I would buy it. I will have to wait and see i guess. I don't know if it has Mass Storage Drive support or not. I hate MusicMatch though, its too much like RealPlayer - overbloated and virus-like. I hope to god there is some alternative.

Anyway, Dell has 10% off (and more sometimes) promotions all the time, so it might be better to wait for a sale

 

[chadbang]

It does offer integrated mic recording which sounds promising. But I totally agree -- didn't want to say it before -- but that thing is butt ugly. Who the heck does Dell have working in their design department? Hello, we're not talking Taiwanese knock-off $12 cassette players here - which is what that thing looks like. Ugh.

Quote:

I hate MusicMatch though, its too much like RealPlayer - overbloated and virus-like.

I agree about RealPlayer: that whole programme WAS a virus. WARNING, WARNING, YOU WILL NOW UPGRADE. I hated that programme. But at least MusicMatch seems strictly music oriented. At least it didn't try to tune me into some stupid streaming video website when I launched it ala RealPlayer.

(Er, Apple, by the way, that is really annoying. How about dropping that from the Windows version of iTunes?).

 

[austonia]

its still a hella lot better than Archos designs. but then again, that aint saying much.

I don't think the Dell DJ is so much Ugly, as it is just plain-looking. Non-inspirational. No wow factor like ipod and others... just utilitarian in a very Dell-like way.

 

[btaki]

this thing has almost the same dimensions as the ipod !!

 

[callanish]

I still think comparing it to the older zen instead of the latest NX and Xtra was kind of unfair as the Zen NX or Xtra would have had the 30 G version for that kind of money, had the same weight as the Dell and in the case of the Xtra a much bigger screen.

 

[bangraman]

My god. That is probably uglier than even the iHP-100. Still, always nice to see more options.

 

[terrymx]

it seem like a bunch of companies is rushing to make harddrive player these day.

 

[phatty]

Key technical features of the Dell Digital Jukebox (Dell DJ) include:

-- Capacities: 15GB(c) and 20GB(c)

-- Hard Drive Model: 1.8" Hitachi Travelstar C4K20

-- Battery life: 16 hours(d)

-- Display: 2.0" liquid crystal display

-- Navigation: Scroll barrel

-- Microphone: Integrated

-- Volume Controls: Hardware buttons

-- Synchronization / PC interface: USB 2.0

-- Charge time: 3.5 hours(f) (AC adapter)

-- Music Formats: WMA, MP3

-- Voice Recording Format: IMA (8 kHz mono WAV)

-- OS Supported: Microsoft(R) Windows(R) XP, Windows 2000

-- Supported Media Players: Dell Jukebox by Musicmatch, Windows Media Player 9, RealONE Player

-- Additional Features: Record and playback functionality, data backup via included software application, ear-bud headphones included, inline remote and carrying case (20 GB model only)

-- Dimensions (HxWxD): 105.3mm x 69mm x 22mm (4.1" x 2.7" x .86")

-- Weight: 7.6 oz.(b)

-- One-Year Next-Business-Day Advanced Exchange Service(e)

(a) Assumes audio format is 128kbps MP3 encoding with average song length of four minutes.

(b) Weight is for unit only.

(c) One GB = 1 billion bytes; actual formatted capacity will be less.

(d) Battery life is based on continuous play.

(e) Replacement system or replacement part will be dispatched, if necessary, following phone-based troubleshooting, in advance of receipt of returned defective part or system. Replacements may be refurbished. Defective unit must be returned. Availability varies. Other conditions apply.

(f) Battery charge time is based on using standard AC adapter with device turned off.

 

[Sweet Spot]

I find it strange that this player hasn't gotten any press from the tech mags or web sites. Or has it ? With the release date so close and all, you'd think that there would be a very in-depth review that gave a very detailed view of the more intimate areas such as UI/navigation etc... Sounds like the thing will be geared towards people who are buying Dells dude !

 

[e-r0ck]

ugh... musicmatch.

iHP is sounding hotter and hotter.

that 22 hour battery life is insane though. thats impressive.

 

[tbdoah]

Ugh! You made my decision making even harder!

The main thing that makes this stand out among the rest of the field is a somewhat nice 22 hour playback, better than the 6-7 hour on my MZ-R50

.

Nice find

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