digital music player hunt

An update of this past post... after a lot of thought about my needs for a player and my budget, I've narrowed down my selections to this final set to my (hip.hop) audiophile happiness:

• Apple iPod 20GB model
  (...about 333,000 yen)
  
  Advantages:  MP3 support, proven reliability, huge selection of accessories, great control scheme, price, access to iTunes store, large user community, brand new model.
  
  Disadvantages:  Small B&W Screen,  12-hour battery life, separate purchase of best accessories.
  
  
  
• Sony VAIO Pocket
  (...about 525,000 yen)
   
  Advantages:  Color screen, 20-hour battery life, AI (automatic statistic keeping of songs), displays album art, pictures, comes with relevant accessories (remote, cradle, etc).
  
  Disadvantages:  ATRAC slavery, no MP3 compatibility, must be charged via cradle, lack of accessories. 
  
  
  
• Sony Network Walkman NW-HD1
  (...about 528,000 yen)
   
  Advantages:  Very small size, lightweight, 30 hour(!) battery life, 20 GB space, inclusion of best accessories (USB cord, remote, etc.)
  
  Disadvantages:  ATRAC slavery, no MP3 compatibility, small B&W screen.
  
   
  
• Sony HMP-A1
  (...about 620,000 yen)
  
  Advantages:  Large color screen, multiple format compatibility (MP3, ATRAC, etc), video playback capable (with AV out for connection to TV), digital photo storage, can be charged via external AC adapter.
  
  Disadvantages:  Very expensive price, 6-8 hour battery life, lack of accessories, 20GB not enough for a lot of videos and storage space is small considering the price.
  

.:.


Interestingly enough, iPod Lounge featured an article which pretty much matches my own research and testing (AKA playing with the display models in Japanese electronic stores).

If it sounds like I'm close to buying an iPod... *GASP*... I am.  The last rumor I'm attempting to lock down, is that one store claims that there's a way to force the Pocket Vaio to play MP3 files.  Still hunting that down...


.:.

 
I went to Amanohashidate (lit. "Bridge Up to Heaven) in northern Kyoto prefecture this past weekend, on Sunday and Monday.  It was a fantastic trip; I'll post pics next time.   

Here's a good page about it (warning: Japanese) and this page is nice too for quick reading.  
posted by G at 4:42 AM   |

in?scrip?tion (n-skrip-shun)n.
1. The act or an instance of inscribing.
2. Something, such as the wording on a coin, medal, monument, or seal, that is inscribed.
3. A short, signed message in a book or on a photograph given as a gift.
4. The usually informal dedication of an artistic work.
5. Jeremiah 31:33