h10 vs zen micro vs m:robe(100)

[wuduhel]

after much debate and research i've narrowed my DAP choice to these three players

h10
zen micro
m:robe

i want a player that will connect to an XP machine with no drivers and that i can transfer mp3s to using explorer. i don't want to install drivers or use extra software to transfer files and i definately don't want to "sync". i want to drag and drop. use as an external data drive would be a plus, but not necessary.

i don't really care about ID3 tag sorting as my mp3 collection is well organized by genre/artist/album.

i've heard on the fly playlists are great, but have never used them myself.

i think the m:robe is the coolest looking player, but from what i've read it needs drivers and software to sync. unless there is a workaround i haven't heard of, i think this player is out

i like the look and feel of the h10 as well, but i'm confused as to whether or not it needs drivers and software to load mp3. also, does it sort mp3 via ID3 tags or directory structure.

the zen micro i believe does all these things, i'm just not sure about the headphone jack or battery life.

opinions please

 

[gshan]

Regarding battery life, how will you be using your player? If it's for example daily commute use, an hour or two is already sufficient (in my case). If you need a ton of battery, flash players are still the way to go imo.

If the handful of headphone jack issues you've read about concern you, just make sure to buy your micro from a reputable dealer like newegg. Cheap price, good RMA, and has their own warranty on top of the manufacturer's.

 

[wuduhel]

i work as a deckhand on a yacht, so i'll be able to charge it every night, but i'd like it to last 10hrs a day.

i have all my mp3's on DVD and will be transfering from DVD to DAP via my laptop.

 

[gshan]

You'd better check "micro battery" threads here for batt life. Btw, there might be a trick to get the H10 recognized as UMS ie no software will be needed for file xfer. Check out the misticriver.net forums for more info.

 

[South_Korean]

wasnt this subject already posted?

anyways, the micro has removable same as iriver. h10 feels more well built. micro bulges in pocket. iriver has colour screen. micro has headphone jack problems, hard drive problems, none of this is happening to the h10. pictures on h10. all touch sensitive on micro, which would be a little difficult for pocket navigation without the remote. iriver has good SQ.

 

[Kreez]

The only way to have drag and drop on the H10 is to boot it in UMS mode.
This consists of removing the battery and replacing it (to completely reset the player), then holding 2 buttons for a couple seconds. The only way to play your files is then to use the Browser mode, which is rather unresponsive. You'll be spending lots of time looking at a loading icon.

I returned my H10 beause of this.

 

[PrototypeX2]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kreez The only way to have drag and drop on the H10 is to boot it in UMS mode. This consists of removing the battery and replacing it (to completely reset the player), then holding 2 buttons for a couple seconds. The only way to play your files is then to use the Browser mode, which is rather unresponsive. You'll be spending lots of time looking at a loading icon. I returned my H10 beause of this.

That's a rather an immature comment on H10.
If you sync your music through UMS trick, you have to DB refresh the player to access them through Music folder.

 

[Kreez]

I found that that only updates files that are already in the database, it wont add new files to it. No matter what I tried I couldn't get it to add them to the database. Maybe I was just doing it wrong?

Anyway, I still would have returned it because I don't feel like removing the thing from the case and remove the battery to transfer files to it.

 

[PrototypeX2]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kreez I found that that only updates files that are already in the database, it wont add new files to it. No matter what I tried I couldn't get it to add them to the database. Maybe I was just doing it wrong? Anyway, I still would have returned it because I don't feel like removing the thing from the case and remove the battery to transfer files to it.

You only like drag-and-drop?

 

[Polarize]

Maybe not use the case

 

[Kreez]

Quote:

Originally Posted by PrototypeX2 You only like drag-and-drop?

I mentionned drag and drop only because the OP said that's all he wants to use.

I could only use drag & drop because the player had a conflict with some hardware of mine when trying to sync and after 5 hours on the phone the tech said i'd be better off returning it and getting another player because it was unsolvable.

Wonderful player, I really wish it had worked out for me, but alas...

 

[scorpian007]

If you have the MTP firmware installed on the Micro, you wont require drivers under Windows XP with SP1 and WMP10 (you don't have to use it, it just has to be installed). It becomes a drag/drop system through Windows Explorer.