Philips HDD077/17 2 GB Digital Audio Player with FM Tuner Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I've tried many MP3 players, and I've returned many MP3 players. The first one that I kept was the Virgin Pulse 64MB player. I've had it for nearly two years and finally after dropping it a few times, it's starting to go out on me. It was time to upgrade and get more space anyway. So I thought I'd do what everyone else did, get an iPod! So I bought a pink iPod mini, just to try it out, but I will definitely be getting a refund! Sure it's pretty and the sound is good, but is it worth $200? No!
So that brings me to the Philips HDD077. I will compare the two(iPod mini and Philips).
The Philips has a nice, sleek design. It is slightly shorter than the iPod mini and a tad bit thicker, but both are lightweight. The Philips only comes in one color (white with silver trim), but they offer red, black, and blue stickers to change up the trim. Obviously, the iPod comes in multiple colors.
The Philips has buttons that are user friendly, just push them. There's a volume button, a hold button, on/off button, all of that. The iPod mini has a few main buttons, not including a volume button. To turn the volume up or down or to scroll through a menu on the iPod mini, the user must move their finger around the button area (like a laptop mouse). This is really annoying because every time you go to touch a button, you may accidently change the volume!
The Philips has an FM tuner. The iPod...none.
The Philips has 2 GB of space and can hold about 1,000 songs and it also supports compressed files. The iPod minis come in 4 GB (1,000 songs) and 6 GB (price increase!).
Philips comes with a charger that plugs into the wall(17 hours of play, 4 hours to charge). iPod mini charges through the usb cable.
Philips came with a case that has a belt clip and a neck strap. iPod mini came with a belt clip.
Now, let's get to what counts most.....
Philips uses Musicmatch software to transfer files. This software is easy to use and I didn't even have to read a guide to figure out how to get music on to my player. The iPod uses iTunes software, which was supposed to be easy to use, but I had trouble figuring out how to get music onto the player and I still don't know how to delete music(I'll have to find the instructions for that one). I think that the software should be easy enough to use so that the user doesn't have to read instructions for simple things like transferring files.
The sound quality of the Philips is great! It has a fewer equalizer settings than the iPod. The iPod also has great sound.
Both have a backlight.

Overall, I think the Philips is a better choice than the iPod mini because it costs less and it offers more(like radio tuning!).
I only have two concerns about the Philips and they are minor. The earbuds are designed funny. The left wire is about 3 times shorter than the right wire and they are not adjustable. I called to ask about this and it's not a defect. The right earbud is supposed to go around your neck and then into your ear. But you can buy your own earbuds. My other concern is the case with belt clip. I think it could have been designed so that the user use the controls on the player, but the case covers up everything but the charger port, usb port, and earphone port.
So at least give this one a try before you blow $200 on an iPod! You might like it. This one is a keeper for me!

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Product Description:
Philips, Hard Disc Drive music player, MP3/WMA/DRM, 2GB, FM tuner, AC/DC, rechargeable up to 10 hr.,

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Creative Zen Sleek Photo 20 GB Multimedia Player (Aluminum/White) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I have had this player for a couple of weeks, so I feel I've used it and familiarized myself with the controls enough to write a review. This is my second MP3 player. I already own a CD based player made by IRiver that is excellent. I bought that player in 2002 and I have not had any problems whatsoever. By 2006 with the market saturated by the more portable hard drive and flash memory based players, I decided to make the switch to something more portable that could also hold a substantial amount of music.

I've always been of the line of thinking that it is a ridiculous thing to carry ones entire record collection with them. My collection however, is quite large. The 20-gigabyte hard drive the Zen Sleek Photo is equipped with was surprisingly a comfortable fit. I used to carry a CD wallet full of Data CDs formatted for my old player but now I've transferred most of the songs on those discs to the Zen player. The portability of this player is one of its best features. It is small, light and well designed. All of the hard drive based MP3 players currently on the market are made for casual use, but it does seem that this player can stand up to constant use better than it's counterpart the Ipod.

The Zen's controls are awkward at first, but it does not take long to get used to the vertical touchpad. The touchpad's sensitivity can be modified by accessing the player options through the main menu. Once songs, albums and playlist have been loaded, it's a breeze scrolling through the various names to access any song (or group of songs) that's wanted. One of the drawbacks of it's scaled down simplistic control system is the inability to make playlists, edit or change the order of songs directly from the player. If you want to make any revisions to track information or even change the sequence of a playlist, you must rely on the software that comes bundled.

The software, while it's easy to use, is a taxing application when it's loaded onto a computer. If you have a newer system with a processor in the 1.5 to 2-gig category you should be fine. If you are like me however (with a processor of less than 1 gig), then it can be a little sluggish. Running this program is similar to starting Musicmatch's jukebox application. Once the program is running, navigating through it is simple. Even those who are novices to this type of technology will find a user friendly environment that makes it easy to access the content on the computer hard drive, load the player and put it to use.

Another one of the player's best features is it's battery. This is the thing that is the most dramatic improvement compared to my last player. A 2 hour charge will last at least 12 hours (it lists as 15-20). When I put this in contrast with my other player's 4 hour battery time it is significant because once I charge the new player, I generally don't have to charge it again until the next day. The feature that turns the backlight off when it is not in use probably contributes to the long battery life. File types also factor into the equation. MP3's are the easiest to play, while WMA and WAV files are a little more demanding on the battery.

The sound quality is superb. The player has an extensive EQ system that allows users to choose a preset (ranging from hip hop to classical) or customize their own settings. The smart sound feature will take all of the distortion out of songs encoded at high ranges and keeps the songs at a general levelness as far as loudness is concerned. This feature does affect the sound quality a little bit, but it can be side stepped almost entirely by turning the volume up a few notches. The headphones included are of average quality. The phones get the job done nicely and are a comfortable fit. I do wish that the padding that covers the ear buds were of a little more quality. I'll probably be in need of new padding (or new headphones) in a month or two.

The photo viewer shows crisp (miniature) replications of the photos loaded onto it. The quality drop when loaded onto the player is noticeable but not drastic. As a portable viewer, it is a good feature to have and it is the main reason for the player's color display. The ability to partition a section of the hard drive for storage is also a useful tool. At the moment I just have 512 megabytes set aside to use for school work but you have the option of up to 16 gigabytes.

Overall, the ZEN Sleek Photo is an excellent MP3 player, with great features (microphone, FM radio, limited organizer, photo viewer, drive storage). It does have a few functionality issues but these don't warrant any great complaints and usually just require a tad more patience. I've enjoyed using this player and I would recommend the Zen Sleek Photo to anyone looking to buy a quality player of this class.

Design * * * *1/2 stars

Functionality/ease of use * * *1/2 stars

Sound quality * * * * stars

Features * * * * stars

Portability * * * * * stars

Click Here to see more reviews about: Creative Zen Sleek Photo 20 GB Multimedia Player (Aluminum/White)

Product Description:
Living up to its name, the svelte and elegantly designed Creative Zen Sleek Photo Multimedia Player can carry thousands of MP3 and WMA music files as well as your favorite snapshots. It is compatible with secure PlaysForSure WMA files downloaded from online music stores and subscription services (like MTV's Urge, Napster, and Rhapsody).

View the stunning, high-intensity 1.7-inch OLED screen from any angle.

The Sleek Photo 20 GB player holds up to 10,000 WMA or 5,000 MP3 songs. View larger.
This 20 GB digital audio player will store up to 10,000 WMA (encoded at 64 Kbps) or 5,000 MP3 (128 KBps) CD-quality songs. The internal rechargeable lithium-ion battery offers up to 19 hours of continuous play. The cutting edge, 1.7-inch OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) screen looks terrific from every angle and it draws less power than conventional LCD displays. It displays 262,144 vivid colors, ensuring every picture is sharply detailed and extraordinarily clear. In addition to standard slideshows, you can also set up custom slideshows complete with music.
Tune in to the built-in FM radio (which features 32 station presets) and listen live or record programming for listening when you're ready. Use the built-in microphone to record your voice--dictate memos, record meetings, hours of notes, lectures and reminders. Sync with Microsoft Outlook to transfer your calendar, contacts and task list so you'll never forget important anniversaries and appointments. You can also use the Zen Sleek Photo as an external hard drive for saving and transferring your most important files.
The equalization feature offers nine acoustic environments, such as "rock" and "jazz," enabling you to customize your listening environment. Other features include a 5-band graphic equalizer, easy-to-use touch pad control buttons, and upgradeable firmware. It connects to PCs via a USB 2.0 connection (cable included)--which features download speeds of up to one second per song--and it's compatible with Windows XP SP1/SP2 systems with Windows Media Player 10 software.
The Zen Sleek Photo Multimedia Player uses PlaysForSure technology. Look for the PlaysForSure logo if you're shopping for a portable music or video device and you want to make sure the digital music and video you purchase will play back on it every time. Match the PlaysForSure logo on a large selection of leading devices and online music stores. If you see the logo, you'll know your digital music will play for sure. Choose from a large number of digital music and video stores, including MTV's Urge, Rhapsody, Yahoo!, MSN Music, MusicMatch, MusicNow, Napster, Wal-Mart Music Downloads, and many more.

What's in the Box
Zen Sleek Photo digital audio player, earphones, power adapter, USB cable, pouch, CD-ROM with software and user guide, and printed Quick Start guide.

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Creative Zen Sleek Photo 20 GB Multimedia Player (Aluminum/White) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This is an awesome MP3 player and really cheap for 20 gigs and a color screen!One drawback: can't view photos at the same time as listening to music.I personally use Windows Media Player to sync all my music but other programs like Rhapsody will do the job.Don't install any of the Creative software that comes with it because it sucks.This player is very easy to use and sync.I plug it in, Windows Media Player syncs it with my licenses and music from my CD collection and my subscription at the Urge music store (get Windows Media Player 11 for this).
Simple.Reliable.What's not to like?
PS: You MUST have Windows XP to use this.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Creative Zen Sleek Photo 20 GB Multimedia Player (Aluminum/White)

Product Description:
Living up to its name, the svelte and elegantly designed Creative Zen Sleek Photo Multimedia Player can carry thousands of MP3 and WMA music files as well as your favorite snapshots. It is compatible with secure PlaysForSure WMA files downloaded from online music stores and subscription services (like MTV's Urge, Napster, and Rhapsody).

View the stunning, high-intensity 1.7-inch OLED screen from any angle.

The Sleek Photo 20 GB player holds up to 10,000 WMA or 5,000 MP3 songs. View larger.
This 20 GB digital audio player will store up to 10,000 WMA (encoded at 64 Kbps) or 5,000 MP3 (128 KBps) CD-quality songs. The internal rechargeable lithium-ion battery offers up to 19 hours of continuous play. The cutting edge, 1.7-inch OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) screen looks terrific from every angle and it draws less power than conventional LCD displays. It displays 262,144 vivid colors, ensuring every picture is sharply detailed and extraordinarily clear. In addition to standard slideshows, you can also set up custom slideshows complete with music.
Tune in to the built-in FM radio (which features 32 station presets) and listen live or record programming for listening when you're ready. Use the built-in microphone to record your voice--dictate memos, record meetings, hours of notes, lectures and reminders. Sync with Microsoft Outlook to transfer your calendar, contacts and task list so you'll never forget important anniversaries and appointments. You can also use the Zen Sleek Photo as an external hard drive for saving and transferring your most important files.
The equalization feature offers nine acoustic environments, such as "rock" and "jazz," enabling you to customize your listening environment. Other features include a 5-band graphic equalizer, easy-to-use touch pad control buttons, and upgradeable firmware. It connects to PCs via a USB 2.0 connection (cable included)--which features download speeds of up to one second per song--and it's compatible with Windows XP SP1/SP2 systems with Windows Media Player 10 software.
The Zen Sleek Photo Multimedia Player uses PlaysForSure technology. Look for the PlaysForSure logo if you're shopping for a portable music or video device and you want to make sure the digital music and video you purchase will play back on it every time. Match the PlaysForSure logo on a large selection of leading devices and online music stores. If you see the logo, you'll know your digital music will play for sure. Choose from a large number of digital music and video stores, including MTV's Urge, Rhapsody, Yahoo!, MSN Music, MusicMatch, MusicNow, Napster, Wal-Mart Music Downloads, and many more.

What's in the Box
Zen Sleek Photo digital audio player, earphones, power adapter, USB cable, pouch, CD-ROM with software and user guide, and printed Quick Start guide.

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Coby PMP-3522 20 GB Portable Media Player with Touchscreen Interface Review

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(More customer reviews)Awesom product. Battery is removable which is great. The price was great, I got quite a bargain. It does everything music, videos, text, fm tuner, recording, dictionary, plus more. The srs wow sound effects is the icing on the cake!! Worth your every penny!

Click Here to see more reviews about: Coby PMP-3522 20 GB Portable Media Player with Touchscreen Interface

Product Description:
COBY 20GB HDD MP3 PLYR W/3.5" SCREEN - 20GB Portable Media Player with Touch Screen

Get 62% OFF

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Cody 30GB Portable Media Player PMP4330 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Strengths:
Wide Screen, Built-in Speakers, FM Radio, Records Content Directly (no docking station needed), Plays Most Content, Fits in Pocket

Weaknesses:
Power Adapter Required to Re-charge Unit (No USB Charging)

I saw a prior CNET review and wanted to set the record straight because I thought it was unfair and we (as consumers) need to tell companies when they are doing something right. As an experienced PMP user, I can tell you that there are only two choices that make sense for users who want PMP's with the most comprehensive video functions, that can still be slipped in your pocket: Archos 604, or Coby PMP4330.

Archos was the leader in power PMP's until they split their product into two separate products.Now you must purchase a separately-priced docking module to record video, and use proprietary cables to connect the unit to a computer. Archos did this to get the price closer to the low $300's because the days of selling $400+ PMP's are over.

Coby, however, has managed to deliver a product that allows you to have your cake and eat it to. You get a self-contained unit with all the features of the old Archos models in a very compact package for around $269 (in a recent sale) with a 30GB hard drive and an SD card slot. You don't have to purchase anything else to record content directly from the unit, and it uses normal cables that are included.

The 4.3" wide screen blows away the competition. If you haven't used a PMP with a wide screen, you don't know what you are missing. Many PMP manufacturers are moving this direction. Coby allows you to set the ratio and fill the entire screen regardless of the video. It would take about 3 iPod Video screens placed side-by-side to get the same effect. This is a good unit to watch video on. My advice, don't buy units with square screens.

The stereo speakers are surprising good and blow away the lousy speakers on my other PMP's and even my laptop! You rarely see this in a PMP. I think the reason for this is the curved design behind the unit that allows optimal space for speaker positioning. I'm not an expert, but you will be satisfied. I can't figure out how CNET's previous review got it so wrong.

The FM radio function is excellent because Coby designed a user-friendly radio interface that looks and feels the part. My wife couldn't get over the screen that looked like a car radio and was so easy to move through the automatic presets. She wanted one of her own just based on that feature. The reception quality was as good as any car radio. Optionally you can record any radio content to MP3.I think this would be most useful if you want to record a radio talk show and listen to it later.

As an MP3 player it doesn't impress or unimpress me. Most MP3 players deliver content that is pretty standard.This is no exception. One benefit of this model is the equalizer, but that is something I expect on any unit. If you don't care about video and just want an MP3 audio player, buy an iPod because you will be able to recharge it using a USB cable and it will have a smaller foot print. I similarly have little to say about the voice recorder or e-book functions because they are bonus features to me. I have tried them and they work. Good enough.

The File Explorer is about what you would expect. It is nothing fancy, but it is simple and uses a directory hierarchy like any computer hard drive.One nice thing is the ability to rename files and directories using the unit, but you will probably end up using your computer to organize the files. When you connect the unit by USB, your computer recognizes the PMP as another drive and allows you to manage files just like most other PMP's (except iPod). It's a simple, universal USB cable. Archos, what are you thinking?

Recording video content directly from the unit is a HUGE plus and separates it from the newest Archos models which do not record video unless you buy the $100 docking model which is a deal-killer. This is great if you have a lot of programs TIVOed and want to move them to your PMP. You get typically large .asf files which you can keep and play as-is or if space is a concern (and it will be), you can use a utility like ConvertMovie 4.0 to reduce them by 80 percent with the same quality in MP4 format. Ten episodes of the Simpsons can be reduced to about a gigabyte. One thing I noticed is that it takes about 5-seconds to start after you press record, but no big deal.It has a typical timer so you can set the time or you can stop recording manually. No fancy scheduling, but that's what my TIVO is for.

The form factor and size is unmatched by the competition. It is a little wider, a little thicker, and about an inch longer than a 60/80GB iPod Video, yet it does so much MORE. It still slips easily into your pocket, and the back of the unit tapers inward so it appears smaller and fits easier into your pocket. I own an iPod Video and I can tell you that the only things iPod has on this unit is the smaller size and the larger hard drive.That is it. I even disagree with the previous review about the controls.I have no problem with them and find them easy to use, actually easier to fast forward video than the iPod.

The previous review talked about the quality of the unit being low. I have to disagree. Yes, it is plastic, not metal like the back of an iPod Video, but it is decent quality and as good as the materials forming most new laptops. Just because iPod sets the bar high with a metal cover on the back does not mean that all other cases are cheap. It is a practical design that works. Everything is plastic anymore and it keeps the price affordable.White plastic always looks cheaper. If Coby had used an all-black design, then the previous reviewer probably wouldn't have noted anything.

I actually bought this unit as a present to replace my daughter's current PMP, but decided to give her my hand-me-down iPod Video instead.I think that's for the best.I hope that Coby keeps doing what it is doing in providing another option for consumers.If you are in the market for a video PMP right now, you won't beat this deal and you won't be disappointed.Maybe Apple, Microsoft, Archos and the rest can learn something from what Coby is providing.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Cody 30GB Portable Media Player PMP4330

Product Description:
This handheld home theater provides the perfect entertainment every time, everywhere. Fill the massive 30GB internal hard disk with up to 15,000 songs or 120 hours of video, displayed crystal clear on the brilliant 4.3" widescreen TFT LCD true-color display. It even displays photo and text for on-the-go slideshows! Rechargeable lithium-polymer battery. 90-day warranty. Model PMP4330.

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Creative Zen V 1GB White/Red Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This item works good...it is in color, unlike some models of the ipod. I have owned an ipod in the past and the zen v works just as well..but for less money. I would even recommend this product over the ipod

Click Here to see more reviews about: Creative Zen V 1GB White/Red

Product Description:
Listen to your music everywhere. Smooth contours and tiny size fits perfectly in your palm slides effortlessly into your smallest pocket and comfortably sports your fashion at the gym. View photos and album art in full color with the vibrant 1.5" OLED display and discover all the additional rich features ZEN V has packed in tiny curves.

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COBY PMP3521 3.5" TFT Portable Media Player with 20 GB HDD Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I am doing Underwater Photography and wanted to have an 'off-camera' storage+viewer; this product was cheaper than the 'professional ones' so I bought it.
Good things:
1. Plays almost any video format (including DivX)
2. Good size product - pretty small.
BAD THINGS:
1. Product works ONLY with CF Type I (thin) cards; CF Type II are too 'thick'for it.
2. Little 'joystick' that is used for majority of operations works very strangely. Having a Computer Science background, it took me a while to figure out how to work the device. Overall UI is OK, but...
3. No support to RAW format (honestly, did not expect it)
4. Takes FOREVER to load large images (at times you think it is hung).
5. Does not play some MPEG-4 (very few of them do).
REAL BAD THING(S):
I could not get the Video/Audio output to work! ANYTHING I TRIED - could not get the image/sound on TV. Not too much about it in the manual.
I called support - ABSOLUTELY NO ATTEMPT FROM COBY's side to help. Basically 'send us the unit; we will send you another one in a few month' - totally unacceptable!!!
OVERALL: RETURNED THE PRODUCT - VERY POOR QUALITY!

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Product Description:
3.5" TFT Portable Media Player with 20 GB HDD

Get 67% OFF

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