gigabeat S beats ZVM in CNet Prizefight!

[rlanger]

Didn't need CNet to tell me this as I've been really enjoying my gigabeat a lot since I got it in June. Check out the results here.

It's pretty much a split decision though and we all know the ZVM is a quality device.

I just don't know why the gigabeat hasn't been more popular since it's release?

Rob

 

[GSTom1]

I think a lot of it is subjective, such as looks. I prefer the Zen Vision: M over the Gigabeat. I think it has a better screen and great sound. Plus, I've never liked the controls of the Gigabeat, though the touchstrip of the Zen Vision: M is not that great either!

 

[fierce_freak]

I was always interested in it, but the lack of lineout (as far as i can tell) really kills it for me.

 

[manhattanproj]

i really like the look of the gigabeat S. i like that it is slim. but the poor battery life and poorer sound quality than zvm are holding me back.

 

[TenaciousO]

One of the reviewers, Jasmine, is flat out wrong when she says that the Gigabeat has a widescreen display. It's basically the same size as the screen on the iPod and ZVM rotated 90 degrees.

 

[rlanger]

Very true Tenacious, it really isn't widescreen. Must be an optical illusion

 

[The D]

cnet also says that the gigabeat is better than the ipod 5g

.
Most people here have said that the gigabeat does not sound as good as the ipod and the zvm, but not only that but the ipod can play xvid (at 2500kbs vs only 900kbs wmv for the gigabeat) and can be rockboxed.
I know which one I would buy.

 

[nsjong]

Well, maybe they're comparing the newer gigabeat?

I mean there are more than 1 gigabeat.

 

[The D]

Quote:

Originally Posted by nsjong Well, maybe they're comparing the newer gigabeat? I mean there are more than 1 gigabeat.

Only the newer gigabeat can play videos, and that was what I was comparing the ipod to.

 

[rlanger]

Quote:

cnet also says that the gigabeat is better than the ipod 5g . Most people here have said that the gigabeat does not sound as good as the ipod and the zvm

Not sure about the ZVM The D, but I've spent enough time listening to the iPod to know that my gig definitely sounds better. And I haven't seen any posts from people here that said the iPod sounds better than the gig S (doesn't mean that they aren't there, of course).

But, we all know that the way we hear is very subjective.

Like I said in my original post, it's a virtual draw and they are both great units. I don't think too many people would be disappointed with the gig, unless of course they wanted a dedicated line-out. But then you wouldn't buy it in the first place.

 

[The_Duke_Of_Eli]

The new line of microsoft media-encabled players are nice but really not that exciting. I like the ZVM better. It has tons of features, great codec support and I really like the screen. I've never used the Gigabeat S for prolonged amount of time, but I don't think that either are really well-suited to watching videos on a nice basis, so I still like the ipod better for its lossless capabilities through ALAC and (when rockbox'ed) FLAC.

 

[rockin_amigo14]

Quote:

Originally Posted by fierce_freak I was always interested in it, but the lack of lineout (as far as i can tell) really kills it for me.

you can use the A/V out, and keep the screen on. i kind of works the same way.

 

[rlanger]

Hey Duke,

The gig does .wma lossless, and you're right, neither the ZVM or the gig are great for watching video. But I do watch the occasional TV show on it which isn't too bad.

 

[rockin_amigo14]

Quote:

Originally Posted by rlanger Hey Duke, The gig does .wma lossless, and you're right, neither the ZVM or the gig are great for watching video. But I do watch the occasional TV show on it which isn't too bad.

If you get into it enough, you forgot it's a tiny screen. It's fine for casual viewing I think.

 

[manhattanproj]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TenaciousO One of the reviewers, Jasmine, is flat out wrong when she says that the Gigabeat has a widescreen display. It's basically the same size as the screen on the iPod and ZVM rotated 90 degrees.

well, not really. the zvm is 1.8" and the gigabeat is 2.4". the gigabeat definitely has a wider viewing angle, thus the widescreen as referred to by the reviewer.

here is the thing tho: cnet gives the gigabeat a pretty high rating, higher than both the ipod and zvm, whereas dapreview gave it a lower rating than the zvm and the ipod.

i wish the creative will come out with a thinner zvm. the current one is too bulky.