The iPod Replacement?

November 24th, 2003

Filed under:
Music

The iPod Replacement?

Slashdot has a discussion of the new 20 GB Rio Karma. It has a small form factor (2.7″x3.0″, that’s it in the middle), but is considerably thicker than the iPod. So, while the iPod is like a deck of cards, I guess this is like, what, a squarish hockey puck? It’s got some bells and whistles that the iPod doesn’t, but nothing extraordinary.

One advantage over many other Windows-based MP3 players is that it supports USB 2.0, a new standard which has only become common in PCs in 2003. USB 2.0 purports to be as fast or faster than Firewire, the excellent Apple cable standard. This is a bigger deal than you may think. I recently got another MP3 player for my Dad and set about loading my 3300 songs onto it. All told, it took like 12 hours to move that data on my USB 1.0 connection.

Comments: 5 Responses so far

KevinG
November 24th, 2003
8:01 pm

Ack. Heresy. To suggest there is a replacement for the iPod ?!? – you can be banned from the cult for such statements.

John Keyes
November 25th, 2003
9:00 am

Check here for a comparison between FireWire 800 and USB 2.0:
http://www.techtv.com/screensavers/supergeek/story/0,24330,3393571,00.html

Stick with FireWire is my advice.

Todd
November 25th, 2003
9:46 am

You might need to consider a replacement when your iPod battery gives up the ghost. Apparently you need to pay Apple US$250 (plus shipping) to replace the battery, which seems to have a lifespan of 18months to 2 years or so; or you can buy a new one.
http://www.ipodsdirtysecret.com/ – has an embedded movie that is fairly well done, and plays the support call in which the ‘dirty secret’ is revealed.