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Most disturbing: iRiver already has the replacement model (H320 series) about to come out, and yet the firmware that seems as though it could fix some of the major problems in the H140 or H120 has not been released in OVER 6 months and support is close to non-existent.
It's a lot to spend when there's a new and improved model about to come out and customers who've just purchased an H140 feel neglected and insulted. Please check the iRiver discussion groups for confirmation of the many unhappy H series owners, despite what could have been the BEST unit out there and still is a very good unit...If I had to do it again I would definitely wait for the H320 to be released and re-evaluate; if iRiver does fix the H140, they should become available at under $200 which would be a very fair price for this player with the bugs fixed...
I waited several years for the dust to settle before getting an MP3 player. Sure, the iPod was the first one I heard of but at its introductory price, I wasn't going to be one of its field beta testers.
Even as a long-time converted Mac user, my m.o. has always been that of Alexander Pope:
"Be not the first by whom the new is tried, nor yet the last to lay the old aside."
That said, after following several evolutions by Apple and attempted copies by others, I eventually got the 40 GB iPod. Why? It is far more than an MP3 player, thanks to the 3rd party add-ons. (just google 'iPod accessories').
It is of course a (backup/external) FW drive, I can now download thousands of photos to it from my camera without having to tote around my iBook or buy more fash memory cards. I can port calendars, alarms and to do items, my contact list, driving directions, audio books and text. With the add-on voice recorder it is an on-the-fly input device, eliminating, for me, the need of yet another digital gizmo, the PDA.
I see nothing in the specs of this JukeBox that suggests it can do much more than play music. For the same $400, get the 30GB iPod (less space, but more options), or fork over the extra $100 for 40 GB iPod and get the sexiest handheld device you can share in mixed company.
I am glad I waited. Thank you, Mr Pope.
The interface isn't as easy to learn as the ipod, but it is functional.
The FM reciever works pretty well. It doesn't pick up stations as well as my car, but I still get quite a few stations clearly.
The ability to plug it in via usb to the PC and be seen as a removalbe drive is really nice. Moving files with my old Ipod was much more of a hassle, and now I can also back up other types of files to my H140 to take with me to work, etc.
Also, the voice recordings is handy to have at work for meetings.
The only really bad part of owning it has been the lack of customer communication from iriver. They have basically given up on responding on their messageboard, and when I tried to send them an email via their web site, it came back as an invalid address. It's really a shame that such a nice piece of hardware has such poor support. Please check out their messageboard before commiting to buying anything from iriver. They make good products, but you should know what you are getting yourself into in regards to support. The address is http://www.iriver.com/community/
Sound quality is OK but nothing to write home about. As other reviewers said, maximum volume is way too low.
One issue about build quality: on the left side, there is a void between the top and the bottom parts, through which one can see the backlight. This is an issue with design because both parts are very stiff and I don't see what could have brought them apart. I am worried that dust and water may (and indeed will) get in. Also, the supplied (black) case is a bad fit constraining the jog dial.
The rest is OK.
I am considering returning it.
Here's something you should look out for:
1)there are lots of problems with the firmware. Iriver has promised a firmware updates for the last four months, but it hasn't come through. I suspect that the firmware will come eventually, but it might be worthwhile to wait until the firmware update has been released and that people on the user forums can confirm that it is relatively bug free.
2)I found the GUI next to impossible to navigate through. Partially for usability reasons, but partially because latency causes you to end up pushing a button more than once. I expect this to be alleviated with the new firmware update.
3)I was disappointed with the record function. Latency problems, plus limitations on record time and difficult interface. Usability is somewhat easier when you use the included LED accessory.
4)if possible, you should try to examine the machine first before buying. It is NOT as user friendly as IPOD, although it is more powerful.
5)when recording from internal mike, you will definitely hear intermittent whirring sounds on all recording. Fortunately, there is an easy solution: use the miniature external mike included with the ihp-140. That solves the problem.
In summary: This is a very powerful and useful machine, but I would wait until the firmware has been updated. (That might give time for the price to go down as well).
Even though the player does support OGG files, it does not read the tags. So if you want to use the Search by Artist mode, OGG files are useless.
On MP3 tags, there is a 52-character limit. If a title is longer, the player won't read the tag, and it will not be included in the database (though the song will still be on the player.) This can be frustrating if you have a lot of classical music, and the manual doesn't tell you this; I had to find out in a user forum.
Manual good for learning basic functions, but doesn't offer much beyond. Luckily, there's a great user forum at iriver.com.
Within albums and artists, tracks are listed in a seemingly arbitrary order; neither alphabetically nor by track number. This can definitely get frustrating.
Navigation takes some (frustrating) time to learn; the manual isn't always clear. (Bad translation)
Overall, I am satisfied with my purchase. The sound quality is great, and navigation makes sense once you get used to it. The presense of a stop button is a great plus; I always got extremely frustrated by that when using friends' i-pods. I would certainly recommend this to anyone considering buying one, but be aware that, as with all products, there are imperfections and flaws.
What's good about it?
First, at just under $400, you are getting double the capacity of the iPod.
Second, I have to say that after several days listening to it and trying out the many EQ options, that the sound quality BLOWS AWAY the iPod. I was very pleasantly surprised at how much more detail I was able to hear on the same set of earbuds with the iRiver vs. the iPod. This thing is fantastic.
Second, it has a built-in FM tuner. The sound quality and reception was surprisingly good.
Third, no driver software is needed. The iRiver is recognized as a USB mass storage device when it is plugged in. Just drag and drop files onto the IRiver using a browser. There is database software included, which greatly assists in navigating through your collection. The database software will categorize and allow you to navigate your tunes collection by artist, title, or music genre, among other options. You can also create customized playlists through Winamp.
What's wrong with it?
Nothing major, in short. The user interface is not as slick as the one-handed operation provided by the Ipod, but it's not bad.
It will take some getting used to if you're coming from an iPod.
The depth of options to plumb through, and the range of customization possible make the unit somewhat more complex to navigate through.
Bottom line, if you're in the market for a player with this much capacity, the iRiver is definitely worth your time and attention.
You won't be sorry.
The Good is well documented in other reviews : great battery life,
seems sturdy, plays multiple formats, remote has a decent LCD so it can
spend more time deep in your pocket/bag. FM Radio, sound recording,
digital and analog line in and out, no PC software required.
But it seems I'm harder to please than most, and there are a number
of disappointments meaning I doubt I'll ever love this machine.
Firstly, I don't have access to an iPod to compare sound quality - my
only reference is the Mark I of HD jukeboxes, the venerable PJB-100,
which definitely beats the iRiver on sound quality, though quality was
always one of its strengths. The iRiver sounds muffled in comparison,
though with a very strong bass.
The interface is quirky to say the least. I'm a gadget geek and so
I'm finding my way around, but it's awkward and I'm anticipating trouble with the WAF
(Wife Acceptance Factor), having chosen one over an iPod.
Its basic mode browses the files by directory, and while it will read
file tags, allowing you to browse by album/artist etc. (once you install
the software to generate the DB when you upload tracks), it displays the
tracks within an album in a seemingly random order (not even alphabetical)!
This means that the only way to get it to play by tracknumber is to
browse by directory and filename, making sure you have the track number
at the start of the filename!
Track display is fixed at folder name, artist tag and track tag. If
you haven't named it all to suit you may get redundant information in
your display, and/or miss out on the album name. Since it's reading the
tags it should be able to extract Artist/album/track and/or other tags.
It also sometimes gets confused, showing the album name as the artist.
I haven't quite worked out what causes this yet, as the tags show up
correctly on my PC software...
The firmware and documentation are written by people with a very weak
grasp of English. Surely they could have hired a native English speaker
to proofread the manual and GUI? Even the closing splash screen says
"iRiver iHP100 series, Thank you for using". It has numerous small
oddities of GUI design - it just hasn't been thought through.
The display is quite high resolution, but browsing files gives just
14 characters across for the filenames due to pointless graphics on the
left and the large font used. It really needs selectable font sizes.
It's bigger than advertised - width/height is the same as an iPod,
but while it claims 22mm thickness (vs iPod 19mm), 22mm is at its
thinnest point, and it's mostly about 25mm not including the nipple
control in the middle (which takes it to about 28mm).
Oddly, the built-in microphone is very sensitive, but picks up lots
of noise from the hard drive. The supplied external mic is not
sensitive and only really useful clipped to a lapel.
Plays compressed WMA, but not lossless WMA.
In summary, I still like it better than an iPod for the battery life
and no requirement for special software on the PC. If the reviews tell
the truth the sound quality is better too, which doesn't say good things
about the iPod. The iRiver does the job, but the quality of the
firmware and interface is shameful compared to the hardware
capabilities. It feels like an amateur project - albeit a very
impressive one.
If possible iRiver should build this sort of thing on Linux and open
source their firmware. Since they're apparently not willing or able to
put in the investment of proper firmware design themselves, the open
source community would do it for them (a la Linksys WRT54G router) and
they'd shift many, many, more units.
Sound quality? Superb! I have never been able to get such amped-up bass response from a portable player before. Headphones (without a subwoofer) cannot create heart-thumping bass very well, but they can get pretty stinkin' close when you punch it up with the built in custom equalizer(s). If sound fidelity worries you, never fear. It will blow you away. No iPOD I've ever listened to can compare.
I was also thrilled with all the extra hardware, cables, and accessories it came with. There's enough stuff to hook it up to anything. I would recommend purchasing a Belkin TuneCast II if you plan to use it in a car. It works extremely well. Integration with Windows is superb. It shows up as a HDD (hard disk drive), and you just have to drag and drop files onto it. Not a problem. I also use Irivium from Red Chair Software, which gives it tons more features.
Lastly - the price. Yes, it is a bit pricey compared to similar Creative players and the like, but believe me, it is far worth it. It is way too well engineered to be worth any less. Plus, as said before: the 40 GB is a better deal since it can be purchased for only an extra $100, and you get twice the drive space. Just remember - iPODs are much more expensive. ANY mp3 player you buy will be cheaper than an iPOD. This one just happens to beat it out in almost every category too. You can't go wrong. iRiver is simply the best to date. A+
PROS:
- Long battery life... They claim 16 hours and I've gotten pretty close to that. I-Pod gets about six.
- Plug and play... If you have Windows Explorer (or whatever OS equivalent), you can literally plug in the H140, copy in the tunes, and you're ready to go. I-Pod requires the use of iTunes software.
- Fast transfer... It takes me about 4 minutes per GB.
- Organization... You can organize your music however you want, since it uses a folder file system (like Windows Explorer).
- OGG support... Ogg is way better than mp3, especially for listening to live recordings (make up about 1/3 of my collection). It's similar to VBR mp3, but takes up less space. Also supports WMA, WAV, and ASF.
- Features... There's some good stuff here: built-in voice recorder, line in/out, optical in/out, .txt file reader, FM tuner, and more.
- Firmware upgradeable... They listen to customer feedback and apply some changes in the upgrades. Although it tends to take a while for the releases, at least it's upgradeable. There are two releases due out in the next couple months.
- Fully functional backlit remote... You can see this in the picture and really takes this product to the next level.
- Easy to use... Although people have mentioned "learning curves" and "difficult to navigate" on these reviews, it actually is extremely easy to copy files from your PC, turn it on, and play the music. Yes it's true that you will have to learn how to use the multitude of features, but I was able to read the entire manual online before I even got the player, so I already knew how to use most of it. If you know the difference between pressing a button and holding down a button, you will do fine.
- Big display... Nice 8-line display. The remote has a 4-line display.
- Value... at $379 for 40 GB, you can't go wrong. It's well built and sturdy (no plastic). You can find cheaper players out there, but that's what you will get. I-Pods (all Apple products) are expensive in general.
- Stable... So far I have had zero issues. The i-Pod has frozen up on us quite a few times.
- Stop button... Had to throw this in here because the i-Pod has no stop button and it p*sses me off.
CONS:
- Slower navigation... It's actually not that slow, but when compared to the i-Pod wheel it lags a little. If you can get used to scrolling up to find something near the end of the alphabet (i.e. Rolling Stones) you will be fine.
- Questionable case... it comes with a brown leather case that's kind of ugly and adds to its size, but at least it comes with it.
- Lack of accessories... there are not too many accessories made specifically for the H series. I did find a universal RCA car adapter (couldn't find the same one on amazon though) that works with 5V.
- No clock... this sucks mainly because you can't date your recordings.
- Can't record from FM radio... in case you do this.
- Slower startup time... Here is a big trade-off because the i-Pod starts right up (takes about 2 seconds) because it's always in "standby" mode, which is why the battery drains so fast. The iRiver shuts down to conserve battery power, but still only takes about 8 seconds to start up. There is an optional DB functionality that helps organize your songs by genre, etc., which makes for slower startup time (I've heard), but I don't use this.
- Tiny 1/2 second gap between songs... this sucks but they fixed it and will be released in one of the next two firmware upgrades.
So really what it came down to for me was the pros were big advantages and the cons were minor. I'm not saying this is the best player for everyone (again, my wife loves the i-Pod and I'm not sure how she would do with the H140). It defintely has more power functions than most, if not all, HD players.
I would greatly recommend this product to anyone looking for a HD player, *especially* if you are looking to buy an i-Pod.
I use it in the car driving to and from work and intermittently in the office when I can. (In the car I have accessories that play the audio on the car stereo.) A single charge usually lasts Monday to Friday, so I estimate I'm getting over 14 hours of play time out of the battery.
Why would anyone want to use an iPod?
The first thing to do when your iRiver arrives is to find the hold button on both devices and change its position. It is shipped with the hold "on" which may explain why some people couldn't get it to work from the get go.
You should also go to the main menu and under display change backlighting battery and adapter. They're set for 3 seconds and you can't navigate fast enough before it turns off.
The data management system shipped on the disc only works if you're going to use MP3 files. Its useless if you're going to copy WMA files. But that's OK, I'm using a computer with Windows XP and you don't need the disc at all and the data management system already on the IHP-40 works just great. But if you are going to use MP3's and installed the disc you have to go into the main menu and under 'general' turn on the DB scan in order to use it.
Another thing to know is that a friend tried reformatting per page 3 and the IHP-40 is too large to format using FAT32 (at least with Windows 2000 and Windows XP) so don't go down that road.
You can get help online. You may have to wait, but they will answer your question. The phone number they give connects to a machine that takes your name and number and someone will call you in two days.
It isn't THAT difficult to navigate, after a few minutes you start getting used to it. The case is brown and ugly. I use a generic CD waist belt holder when I'm listening. That way its' secure and doesn't advertise the fact that I have something expensive to steal.
I really wish it could record from the radio, but that's my only complaint.
I've copied 172 CDs so far (classical and jazz) and haven't had any problems downloading additions everyday. Have more CDs to copy. I've also copied a radio program recorded by my Crane recorder (its like a radio VCR) directly from the Crane to the IHP-40. Only complaint is you can only record in MP3 or WAV format and I'm trying to conserve space and use WMA files as much as possible.
Had concerns about the life of the battery (a lot of money if it isn't going to last forever), but there are places online that sell replacement batteries and instructions for most all of the hard drive jukeboxes. I wouldn't have purchased any of them if I couldn't replace the battery, just too much money for throw away technology.
So far I'm very pleased with the iRiver-IHP0-40. No more messing with CD cases, CDs in a different location from where I am when I want to listen, changing CDs or being connected to a large disc changer (listen with earphones) when I have to move around. I would recommend buying this if a friend asked me. I'd suggest reading all the reviews, because you learn alot about how to work the machine before it arrives.
Would give it 5 stars, but that's perfection. Think it should be rated 4 1/2 stars (because of not being able to record from the radio).
First, the fact that it acts as a USB hard drive means managing your MP3s suddenly got an order of magnitude easier. Just move your music collection permanently onto the iHP; all the powerful software you already use on your PC can already work with it, to manage, rip, burn, sort, edit, even back up your music collection in place. No need to keep two things in sync, and think of all the disk space you'll free up. No matter where you're accessing your music, from your PC, your TiVo, your car stereo, or on a walk, you have the same tracks, the same playlists, the same library, the same organization.
Second, the attention to detail on implementing the features on the iHP-140 stands head and shoulders above anything else. This was clearly designed by someone who uses it, and who would rather do it right than fast or cheap. It's in the big things -- like support for Ogg Vorbis, WMA, ASF, etc. -- and the little things -- like how the included remote control can do everything the main controls can (so every single screen has been developed twice).
There are a few things that aren't perfect. The FM tuner gets moderate reception -- in an urban area it'll be fine, in my rural area it doesn't pick much up. You can't record from the FM. You can queue up the next track, but no more than that -- though on-the-fly playlist editing is promised in a coming firmware update. There's a bit of a learning curve, since a few controls are used to do many things.
But by and large the quibbliness of the misfeatures points out how well the features are done. It looks good, it works well, and neither one is compromised by the other. If you've ever looked at another player, been irked by some arbitrary limitation in how it worked (for the sake of simplicity, probably) and thought, "if I were designing one, it'd do this instead", the iHP-140 is probably the player you were designing in your head.
In the last 4 days I've ripped 3,400 songs and I haven't even filled the IRIVER halfway yet.
The sound quality is pretty good - I'm using the OGG encoded music, but the machine can also handle MP3, WAV etc etc etc. It also has the added bonus of a Radio and a very easy drag and drop music system. It's so easy my Mom was doing it yesterday!!
Well - don't wait! come on!
Cheap as Chips as they say in Blighty
All the minor problems I had with the Archos MP3 Jukebox Recorder have yet to happen with the iHP140. The iHP140 performance has been flawless. I was completely blown away yesterday when I transferred a 1.1GB wave file that contained almost two hours of mixed music on a single track. Not only did the iHP140 play back the entire wave mix nonstop, the battery indicator still showed that the battery was fully charged afterwards!!
The sound quality is excellent. When I feel like cranking up the volume I set it at 30 (75% of maximum). That's more than enough volume for me. The preset EQ's sound descent. I only wished that the iHP140 had AGC or normalization for playback in noisy environments. That's a big issue for me, especially when listening to music in the car. That's why I rated the iHP140 four stars instead of five.
The reception on the FM radio works better than I thought it would. I wasn't expecting much. I've listened to all the file formats the iHP140 supports. I have to say ogg files sound the best compared to mp3 and wma files.
I hope this review has been helpful.
This is very useful to play albums like Pink Floyd DSM/Wall.
Good luck figuring out iRiver. You have to download firmware and driver updates with instructions written by somebody with a clear lack of understanding of the english language. I've spent 20 years in the computer industry and am a PC expert - but the iRiver support staff was nasty, implying that it was MY FAULT that their system didn't work! Unbelievable.
Pros
-Easy to navigate (dont believe the hype!) After a quick thumb through the book i've already learned all the crucial functions.
-FM Tuner (I dont really use it, but it's a plus)
-Ability to use winamp playlists.
-100$ cheaper than 40gb iPod.
-Great sound, even with the stock earbuds.. Can't wait for my Sonys!
-The A-B repeat is cool for a sound editor like myself.
-A buncha other things I haven't even discovered yet!
Cons
-Nasty brown carrying case (it does look like an old sandal)
-It would be nice if songs cross-faded into each other.
Buy this thing. You wont be sorry.
PROs:
1. - Sound Quality. This is the reason why I immediately sold my brand new iPod to a friend, it sounds terrible! Although the iRiver doesn't match true CD quality, it really comes close and definitely beats the iPod. MP3s will probably never sound exactly like the original CD, although I encode them in VBR at best quality level allowing for 50% larger file size.
2.- Features and user friendliness. Having an FM radio built-in is a definite advantage, I don't use the recording possibility, but you never know. You need to take the time to read the manual, but once you figured it out it is really easy to use.
3.- Connection to a PC. The easy and speed at which you transfer song is amazing! Less than a second per song! You don't even need to install software, the device is immediately recognized by Windows XP and you just drag and drop files. Beautiful! Don't forget that you need firewire for the iPod (I have it on my Dell desktop PC but not on my HP laptop) let alone the iTunes software (I always use Music Match)
CONs:
1. - The sound is not loud enough especially on the line-out jack. This is a problem with a lot of players at the moment and the only reason why I did not give this product 5 stars. I have an auxiliary input built into my car stereo system; I turn both volumes at the maximum (car stereo and iRiver) and the sound remains very low. I currently compensate this with a cheap Radio Shack headphones amplifier which works surprisingly well without distorting sound quality.
2. - "Only" 40 GB. I would have preferred 60GB or 80GB as I calculated I need 60 GB to convert all my CDs, but then again you need time for that. I only have 9 GB of mp3 music for the moment, until I rip the other 50, the new iRiver will be out there. I will just need another friend to sell this one to.
3. - All the other mentioned cons are not an issue for me. Yes the iPod is very pleasant to touch, so what? Yes the iPod is in, but sound quality comes before fashion for me. Yes the case is brown, but it is good qua?ity and thick enough to last and protect the player. Yes the earphone are probably crap, I didn't even try them out, I use Koss portapro for outdoors and BOSE headphones with noise reduction for plane flights. I hesitated between the iRiver and the Archos AV 380 with 80GB, but the iRiver is half the size and the cost. However, I am very tempted by a combined audio/video player in order to carry all my digital pics with me as well.
1. User Interface...... Advantage Ipod
I have to admit that one of the resons I initially leaned towards Ipod was the incredible user interface. The second I picked up my friends I had it figured out almost instantly. this could be atributed to lack of features but it is still impressive. The Iriver is a very nice interface as well, but if you aren't willing to read over the manual you may have trouble.
2.Sound quality..... Advantage Iriver
After hearing both I was equally impressed although I listened with different earphones. There are two reasons Iriver is better in this department: 1.higher volume ability 2.Many equalizer settings which are all very customizable and provide for excellent sound.
3.Battery Life......Advantage Iriver
The numbers dont lie as Iriver gets 16 hours(mine lasted for 19 on a test) compared to Ipods 8 (often 6). Also there are frequent complaints about paying $100 to replace the already disabled Ipod battery in a year and a half.
4.Design........Advantage Ipod
Its easily Ipod as most would agree;however, the Iriver is only slightly larger, and its durability is exceptional.
5.Features......Advantage Iriver
This is basically useful features versus novelty items. While the Ipod offers games, a calender, and a notebook. The Iriver boasts a FM radio, internal microphone, real-time mp3 encoding, optical line in and out, and the list goes on.
6.Accesseries.....Advantage Iriver
Both have- usb 2.0/1.1 cable(or firewire),earbuds, power cable, case,
Ipod alone-none???? although the earbuds are better, remote(not very functional and only with 20 gig +)
Iriver-fully functional reomte w/ lcd, external mic,
7.Music formats/transfers.......Iriver
each has drawbacks-ipod no wma or ogg, iriver not bought music (can get around that) or acc
The winner here is that iriver has easy drag and drop features as well as the database function supported with itunes. You can plug in the iriver to any computer and just drag or drop files without the difficulty of an ipod.
8. Price............Iriver
Not only can you get a 40 gig for the price of a 20 gig ipod, but the value is much greater.
Overall... The Iriver is the clear winner here, which is why I choose this. The Ipod is a respectable player but for the price your basically paying for a design and a brand name when you could get a better (slightly less atractive) player in the Iriver. If you want a functional player, but mostly want to make a fashion statement get an Ipod.Bottomline if you really care about music and want the best technology get an Iriver and you will not be disapointed.
I won't go into very technical details with this review.
POSITIVE ASPECTS..
FIRST..It has the LONGEST BATTERY LIFE out there. 16 hours based on "normal" playback. Takes 3 hours to charge from a COMPLETELY discharged state. (Much less time if battery still partially charged.) After I researched iPod and ALL others, this was the longest battery life you could get. Has an internal rechargable battery with no memory effect.
SECOND...Some people say that there is a long "learning curve" to this player. Actually, if you can move files in Windows Explorer, you can drag and drop files directly. AND with the USB 2.0, its a flash to drop files... virtually NO waiting. I've become the queen of copy and paste my files to this player.
THIRD...You can use it as an extra, external Hard Drive for storing or exchanging files. (a big plus if you need extra HD space)
FOURTH...Has a GREAT FM Radio! No, you can't record directly from the FM Radio to the player, but...I haven't done that in years, so this is an UNimportant aspect.
FIFTH....Recording operations are numerous..YOU CAN RECORD FROM OTHER EXTERNAL AUDIO SOURCES. Just plug in something (like someone's CD player) into the optical jack. OR.. I can use the EXTERNAL MICROPHONE to the LINE IN jack. It can be a DIGITAL VOICE recorder (just talk into the thing while recording voice, just like a separate DVR unit).
OH... it comes with all the stuff to record from these devices.
SIXTH...Compare the price to the 40GB iPOD???? OUCH!! iHP-140 sure does win over that one!
SEVENTH...Media player compatability is the BEST. It is not just pigeon-held to only MP3 types of media. It is compatable with SEVERAL file types (see product specs). AND the firmware is upgradeable! So future upgrades are a big plus. This unit will still be great in the future too.
EIGHTH...you can plug this puppy into a car radio, via a "purchased separately" cassette thing.
AND there are many more positive aspects to this unit if you like to customize your music, playback options, equalizer, sound, etc.
NEGATIVES........
*Cost can be an issue for some people. I paid a grand total of $400.00 even. CHEAPEST anywhere! All on Amazon.com!!! Trust me, I've looked EVERYWHERE, (ebay, used, new, retail, wholesale etc.) Amazon had it on sale, with FREE shipping, and $30.00 off for opening up a credit line with them. So, got a great deal.
*The earbud earphones are uncomfortable for me. So they supply a special adapter jack for other types of earphones if the ones you like don't fit the units earphone jack.
*The unit is slightly heavy, I just weighed it on a postage scale, with the case its about 8 - 10 ounces. Not for joggers, but bikers and for regular people, its great.
FINALLY..I just wanted a digital player because my cd's were constantly getting lost, scratched or "borrowed" from my teenager. I just wanted to listen to music without the hassels of changing a cd, or carrying around a cd player. With the 1200 hours of music I can store on this, I'll never have to search for a cd again! AND ... it won't be outdated in 6 months! I wanted to have this be the first, and possibly last digital music player I would ever need.
WELL WORTH THE INVESTMENT. :-)
This is probably the best purchase I have ever made. This thing is everything I ever expected and more!! It's easy to use as well - even my wife can operate it!
I have to say, everyone out there who is thinking of buying this, stop thinking. I bought it and I am extremely happy with it the moment I powered this thing on. YOU ABSOLUTELY POSITIVELY CANNOT GO WRONG WITH THIS PURCHASE! I GUARANTEE IT!!!
The sound is excellent! While the included headphones do not compare to my Bose or Grado headphones, they are convenient to use and more than adequate for listening while in the gym or commuting.
One of the main reasons that I purchased this unit was to record audio from my computer (I subscribe to Music Match's platinum service). In addition, although you cannot record from the FM tuner on the unit, you can record FM from your stereo or computer. Keep in mind that the maximum size wav file you can record at one time is about one hour and fifteen minutes; after that the unit will stop recording and go into standby mode. It's not a big deal so long as you time your recording so it doesn't end in the middle of a song.
Also, even with a 40 GB hard drive, you will fill it up if you don't convert your wav files to mp3 files. I use MusicMatch to convert them to mp3pro files with a variable bit rate to assure the best sound quality and at the same time minimize size.
I have Windows XP Pro and sometimes when I want to disconnect the unit, I get a message that it cannot be safely removed. Tech support said to ignore that, and just remove the unit anyhow, which I have done without any problems.
When you delete files from the unit, make sure to empty the unit's recycle bin or you will lose space. I use the cleaner on Norton Systemworks.
If you purchase this unit and spend the time to learn how it works, and also educate yourself about recording and converting music files, you won't be disappointed!
In late March, I researched portable recorders for voice, and decided upon the iRiver (1) because it has the capability of hundreds of hours of recording capacity, for recording candid conversations and daily journal entries; and (2) it can serve as a 40GB external hard drive via USB.
I was disappointed to discover that, unlike my previous recorder (a Sony MD recorder), that it does NOT affix date and time info with the files (MP3s) recorded. This means that to keep track of the date of a recording, I have to speak that information at the beginning of each track, like the old days when I used cassette tape to make such recordings.
iRiver touts "firmware" upgrades, so hopeful that this can be changed in the future, I wrote this email inquiry to iRiver Support:
"When I record using the mic, file date shows as 1/1/02. I need the date
of my recording to be associated with the file (MP3). How is this done?
(Files uploaded from my computer to my iHP-140 show their correct date and
time of origin when viewed from Windows 98se Explorer)"
A week later, the reply was simply:
"Since the player does not have a calendar or clock, you can not change the
date on the recorded files."
It seems clear to me that for a very small expense in battery life, a software clock could be programmed into the existing hardware. My digital cameras, computer, camcorder, cell phone, and MD recorder all have this fundamental capability.
There is another problem with the iRiver: Upon receiving the unit, I did a recoding test at all available MP3 compressions (bitrates), and found that objectionable audio artifacts appear. I have worked with MP3 files using a computer and have never heard such annoying artifacts. Transition sounds (jingling keys, for example), have very audible sounds introduced which sound like the old delay-line flanger units produce (intentionally!) Voice sounds also have some of this "flanger noise". The artifacts become acceptable at or above bitrates of 128kbits/sec. I wrote to iRiver about this problem, but have not yet heard their answer. Again, I am hopeful that this can be changed in the future with firmware upgrades (program error fixes). However, considering the capacity of the hard drive in the iHP140, the unit is very satisfactory using this bitrate setting.
Would it surprise you to learn that neither the hard drive nor the battery is replaceable in this recorders? Considering their projected life, this may not be much of a problem, as long as you keep original files backed up on your computer and plan to replace the unit with the latest technology in five years or so.
On the supportive side, the USB port works great (at either the old or new standard).
There IS an external stereo microphone included in the package (altho it is not included in the contents listing) and it is very good. If you use the internal microphone, it picks up a small amount of hard drive noise.
Considering this recorder cost me $470, I expected a little more, but except for the first two items listed above, I am satisfied with my purchase.
If you are considering buying one on Ebay, it might be a waste of time (since this item is so new). The effort to save about $30 may not be worth the Ebay effort. I used Amazon Marketplace synbaxp@yahoo.com and received my order only two days after placing my purchase.
If any reader finds new information regarding the iHP140 problems, I would like to hear from you.
Chick Hebert
drchick@mindspring.com
Navigation - I've noticed that people compare the iRiver to the iPod and say that the iPod is more user friendly. This is true but it is relative. The reason the iPod seems more user friendly is because it has a LOT LESS features compared to the iRiver. Since the iRiver has many more features and settings than the iPod, the navigation is a little more complex. But if you take the 15 minutes to read the manual and then test out the unit, the navigation on the iRiver becomes user friendly. I am not going to list all the features of the iRiver, that you can read for yourself.
Sound - Some bad reviews complained of average to terrible sound on the iRiver. This is simply NOT true. In fact, the iRiver has excellent sound. Do yourself a favor and purchase a good pair of earphones/headphones. If you are still not getting enough bass with the good earphones, then make sure you check the equilizer settings. If after all that and the sound is still terrible, then maybe it's your MP3/WMA/OGG file that is the source of the problem.
Battery Life - The iRiver has awesome battery life. Sure it doesn't get the advertised 16 hours, but it comes pretty darn close. I'm averaging about 12 hours. My suggestion is to make sure that you let the unit charge fully (2-3 hours) before using it.
File Transfer Errors - I'm using Windows XP and have NO problems transferring files between the iRiver and the PC. If you are experiencing problems or errors, then most likely there is a problem with your PC configuration/settings.
Negatives - The only negatives with the iRiver are (1) you can't record from the FM tuner to the hard drive. Hopefully this will be addressed in a firmware upgrade, (2) the horrible earphones that it comes with. They are average at best and (3) the tacky brown carrying case. A newer and nicer design is desperately needed.
Summary - For the amount of features and options that you are getting on the iRiver, it is not only a great buy but also the new standard in hard-drive based media players. If the iPod is a base-model BMW, then the iRiver is a fully-loaded BMW. Both units are great, but you get a lot more with the iRiver.
About 3 weeks ago, I purchased a Belkin Tunecast II for use with this product. Sound quality is good. Finding a station to use on trips of about 30 miles is a challenge since you travel in and out of reception areas. Sometimes there is a faint buzz between songs. The volume also needs to be at about 15 to 20 on the iRiver, and about 1/2 way up on the radio.
*****
First off - I do not own an IPOD, but I am sure it is a GREAT product.
I do own the iRiver iHP 140 - and it is a TREMENDOUS product.
Pros:
To use - Read the manual then try the controls. You should be able to get the hang of this in about 15 minutes. I found the product easy to learn.
I used Music Match to convert CDs to MPs (Read the review at CNet - very easy to do). I attached via USB, and my first test upload was able to move about 500 M of music in about 2 minutes. I also am using a Windows based PC.
The sound quality is good - meaning I know what the song should sound like via CD, and this matches the sound closely.
Battery life is at least 12 hours, with 1 of 4 'battery life' bars remaining after the 12 hours. The recharge is very fast - about 2 to 3 hours.
The remote is very handy. Do pay attention that the jack on the remote is not a standard jack - use the 'converter' wire that comes with the unit to use most headphones.
There is a slight noise from the internal harddrive - but you can only relaly notice it when you are between songs. Even then it is not that loud.
Very Important - make sure you do not just unplug the unit from your PC. I think this might cause issues...;)
The radio is a nice feature!
You can also use this as a memo recorder!
I have not upgraded the firmware - I have not been able to find a relase at iRiver.com. HOWEVER, if you do upgrade, make sure you read the manual, and follow the directions to the letter. Not doing so is a surefire way to wreak havoc with this unit.
Cons
The earphones that come with this product stink - That is about the only think I did not like, but I bought an MP3 player, not a set of headphones.
Something to improve -
The case that ships is brown - I think it would look better if it was Black - bat that is not a big deal.
First off, I have only put about 20 CD's in it and it's not even 1/16th used up as far as space is concerned. And let me tell you, loading them couldn't have been easier. You plug it into a USB port and bingo, Windows XP recognized it as an external hard drive so placing files is simply a drag and drop exercise. Of note is that fold and file name information is copied over exactly as you have it on your PC hard drive. Also of note is that this unit sorts alphabetically via the first word in the title so if you're used to sorting by the last name of an artist, you'll have to rename the files accordingly as I've not found a way to correct this once you have copied the files over in their original form. Another bonus, since its seen as a hard drive by your PC, you can copy to it whatever your PC can hold. That is amazingly handy if you want to take work with you from one PC to another, such as Word documents and the like. Edit them to your hearts content and simply copy them back to the unit for transport to your other PC.
As for the size, I held it up against the bigger iPod as well as the 15GB Dell, they're all about the same. It's not extremely sexy or anything and the brown leather case that comes with it is a bit more bulky than I'd like, especially the seams around the edges - but overall, that's a minor complaint.
For usability, this thing flat out rocks. The way I use it is I put the main unit in my jacket pocket or on a belt loop and the hook the remote to a lapel, shirt pocket or even fold a piece of the shirt material over to grip it and put the remote in about the same spot every time. That way I can easily find the buttions and thumb wheels (they don't fully turn so I guess they're technically a rocker switch) without looking. I also like how it eases you into the last song you were playing be starting at a lower volume and then working up to the last volume setting you used. This keeps you from being blown out by a sudden hit of sound. It works that way when you pause it too, I sometimes have to listen to subway information being relayed and simply hit the giant play button once on the remote and the song is paused right where I was and starts back at the same point. Again, with that neat low to normal volume increase.
One thing I can't seem to master from the remote yet is how to browse up and down folder levels. I know it can be done because I did it by following along with the instructions and it works fine, I just can't seem to easily remember how to do it when I'm on the train and want to switch to a different CD. The remote play, stop and volume controls are nice and work well for almost everything. The book says you can do everything with the remote that you can from the unit but I'm using the joystick-like device on the main unit every time I want to change to a different album. When it's freezing cold out and I have to go under the jacket to do it, it's a pain. I guess when I get back home I'll pull the book out and learn how to do all the functions from the remote.
I did notice it picks up a minor amount of electrical interference when the subway train accelerates, probably because of the electric motors used to run it. It's low and not a problem as you only hear it when the song volume is very low or you're inbetween songs.
Lastly, I've read that folks believe the learning curve to be a bit long. I had no problems whatsoeve so I guess I think like an iRiver engineer! My wife got my older unit loves it so much, it has me believing I'll be buying her a larger unit soon.
Let me tell you, if the iPod or Dell are better, I'd be surprised. This unit feels solid, has been totally skip proof for me even though it uses a Toshiba microdrive, and has even been dropped without a problem.
I like iRiver's web site too, go check the product out there and you'll see what I mean. It is really cool and the standard ear buds don't even sound too bad. I bought more expensive Sony ones based on review I've read online but I find the original ones so light and comfortable, I could literally use them all day without a problem.
If you're looking at the Dell or iPod, you may want to consider this one on price alone. It also supports more song file types than the competition and seems like a unit I'll have around a long, long time.
Now, I've got to go rip some more CD's from my collection so I can begin utilizing some of the massive drive space I now have!
If you're on the fence, don't be...buy it!
Steve
1) Keep getting file transfer error messages from my Windows Music Library. Only about about 1/4 of the songs transferred and it took almost 40 minutes, only 60 or 70 songs, and some of them end halfway through - aarrgh! When I contacted IRiver they said I must have a computer problem, so I tried again by burning a couple of CDs on my other work computer (different model) and had the same trouble. In effect it seems I'll have to burn 300 plus CDs all over again to get them in the right format, whatever that means. I had thought the IRiver handled all formats 'effortlessly'. What a joke. Aarrgh again! No thanks.
2) The much touted battery life is waaay off the mark. Mine gave out after 6-7 hours of normal play without any extra power hogging settings, etc. Yet iRiver advertises a 16 hour battery life. What do they base that on? I feel misled because that was one of the main reasons I looked at this 'thing' in the first place.
3) The sound is really terrible. My Sony Discman even sounds much better compared to this. No depth or bass. I tried fooling around with it, even switched earphones to no avail. Maybe the problem is in the iRiver software or hardware. Not much else it could be :).
4) Well, those are my three big gripes but on the less technical side of things it feels like a toy from a Cracker Jack box, with buttons that you really have to mess with to get to work. I can't believe they have the nerve to ask $450 for...this?! If it was only a $100 machine I'd have trouble giving it 2 stars. When the buttons did respond the navigation menus were ok if you want to take a long time to figure them out. In general this is not a user friendly machine. I think the iRiver is bigger and heavier than some of the other players I've since seen, too. For the money I feel totally ripped off so I'm going to send this thing back and hope I get no hassle. Maybe I'll try the Zen or the iPOD. Most people tell me those are still by far the best out there. I heard Archer (French?) has a new player out, too.
Never again, this has been a constant headache. Lesson learned.
I bought this ihp-140 two weeks ago, and very happy to have it. I am asking this quesion for my friend, who has a Mac (OS 10.3) and want to transfer files to this ihp. I have a Windows 2k laptop and had no problem when tranfer files, even for big size > 2 GB. But when my friend tried to transfer a folder from his Mac, the transfer wizard always stop in the middle, saying that there's some error in some file, and couldn't finish this transfer. But really there's no errors at all! and every time the message appears, it gives a different file name, saying that some errors appear in this file. It just doesn't make sense.
I am wondering is this because the driver in Mac is not properly desinged for ihp? but the manual said it's fine with OS>10.2. then what's the problem?
thanks in advance.
On paper, the iRiver iHP-140 blows the iPod away as far as features. It's one of the only units available that allow for recording directly to .wav. For real audiophiles, this is big news because it gives them the ability to record without having to use lossy (and crappy) .mp3 compression. Like the competitors, .mp3 recording is available as well. Aside from .wav recording, audiophiles will also like the digital input AND output (via optical). 15-16 hours of battery life, fully-functional remote, FM tuner, USB2.0 support, and massive 40GB hard drive make the iHP-140 just that much better. For something this powerful, you'd think it would be the size of a computer monitor, but it's only slightly bigger than the newest generation iPod. In the end, the iHP-140 is the new milestone as far as mp3 players/hard drive recorders go. It'll be hard pressed for any company to produce a competing product with as many features.
I own a Sony MiniDisk MZ-R50, over 5 years old, but this is my first portable MP3 so my opinions are based soley on how this works, other or all other players may behave simarliy, I don't know. All the praises that have been heaped upon this are well deserved, but (hoping iRiver is reading this) I do have a few wishes:
- Transition options between songs, there is a slight delay, about .250 second, between songs, but it would be nice to fade out the current and simultaneously fade in the queued song.
- Queue up more than one song, or even better, edit a play list from the player
- Edit song info, maybe not rename songs, but, how about flag the file or move it elsewhere for those songs you realize have a problem, easier than remembering which of the 10,000 songs had a problem
- Record from the Tuner, I read there were technical limitations with this but it would be nice to record a radio show and play it back later (how about an auto timer to start recording?)
- Emergency Broadcast Reception, option to have emergency broadcast messages overide the player even if not on the tuner. I would expect this would wear down the batteries, but if there is a big storm in the area, I would hate to stop listening to my player
- Receive and display additional radio information, similar to the car radios that show artists, title, or Genre
- Better quality headphones, because of the size of the plug on the remote it is hard to find good headphones that fit without using the included adapter. Headphones provided would be fine if they just had a rubber surround on the ear buds, for comfort.
- Auto volume leveling, I know I should have checked the levels prior to being put on the player, but, it would be nice if you can have a built in limiter/compressor/gate
- External control by PC, I would like to queue, select, play songs from the computer yet use the playback circuitry of the iHP 140, not my computer. When you connect the computer the player controls go bye-bye
- Rubber tip on the joystick, metal is a bit slippery so a non-slip pad would help when navigating. I've inadvertenly started a new song while just 'browsing' more than once.
- Pouch for all of the additional cables, complaints have already been made about the included case but I would still like a matching case/pouch for the cables and headphone.
I am very glad I bought this (...), I forgot how many great CD's I own, it is nice to listen to whatever, whenever I want. Now there is not only a fight for 'shotgun' when the family goes out but now 'I control the player' is heard as well.
Nice job iRiver.
When the battery is dead, can you use AC instead of change the battery?
Thanks in advance.
I river fun
I have compared the sound quality for ihp140 vs. my thinkpad laptop using sony earphone (6-320000hz frequency response). my laptop sounds much better than ihp140, the sound is richer and crispier.
when i plug the ihp140 to my car, 03 nissan pathfinder LE factory premium sound, it just sounded like crap. really really bad! i have tried different biterate ranging from 128 - 320(upper limit). but that didn't make too much of a difference. there's no comparison to CD quality sound. so.... i'm very disappointed and going to return it
oh yeah, and the LINE - IN has a LOT of noise. when i try to record CD from my DVD player using MP3/320Kbs setting, TONS of noise!!! i just can't stand it anymore!!!
this player's hard drive IS NOT REPLACEABLE or UPGRADABLE, then be careful to handle, NEVER drop it
this function may help Asian listener, since this is the ONLY player supports Traditional and Simplified Chinese (Creative player supports too, but lacks digital in/out feature, and audio jack issue), then you don't have to worry display problem about Chinese mp3/oggs
this is one of the player supports hi-fidelity .ogg format
and somebody concerns about transfer protected audio files, then there's a trick you can do: use digital connection (if your pc has SPDIF out), and your brain, and time, then you can still transfer protected music to this little monster
the reason I give 4 stars instead of 5 is...I have not owned yet, but by the feature, I'll surely get this little player/external hard drive
this player has several cool features, use your brain to find'em
Alternatives to the iPod have come and gone, but none has really stuck. Apple really cornered the market with what was arguably the first good-looking and well-performing player. Nevertheless, its shortcomings were painfully evident. What the market has been missing ever since is a player that does all that the iPod can, whilst providing features absolutely essential in a truly high-end player, such as an integrated FM radio, voice recorder, support for multiple codecs, and longer battery life.
Such a player seemed like it was still some time away, until iRiver recently came out with the iHP-140. At last, we are offered a 40 Gb player that can handle the MP3, OGG, ASF and WMA codecs, has an FM radio tunable to the band of whichever continent you happen to be on, a voice recorder that works with either the internal or an external microphone, and a respectable 16 hour battery (assuming 128 Kbps MP3 listening at normal volume and no flashy EQ settings). The battery is also Lithium Ion, so there are no battery memory issues to worry about.
After a couple of weeks with my iHP-140, I have to say that it has lived up to the hours of review reading and research I did before purchasing it. As a Linux user, I needed a player that did not depend on my computer operating system. I should not need any proprietary software to index the files, transfer them to the device, flash the firmware or manage the device in any other way.
The iRiver caters to all of those demands and more. The unit supports the USB mass storage standard, so connect it to your computer and a 40 Gb drive immediately appears on the system. Use standard utilities to copy your music files over, dump some playlists via XMMS or a few quickly hacked together Ruby or Perl scripts and away you go. Flashing the firmware is as simple as dumping a file in the root of the unit's file-system and selecting the relevant option from its menu.
The sound quality is excellent, although you'll probably want to replace the supplied ear-buds with something better. The Sony MDREX71SL ear-buds are providing me with adequate service during my bicycle commute to the office. The remote control is very handy for safe control of the device while biking. Just clip it to your T-shirt and lift a hand off the handlebars to change songs or flip to the next directory full of music. You never have to take your eyes off the road.
The FM receiver is of high quality and voice recordings work well, even with the internal microphone.
iPod users at work peruse this device with some suspicion. How could it be better than an iPod, when they haven't even heard of it? Besides, it's a lot cheaper than an iPod, so it must be inferior, right? Think again.
The personal jukebox is finally mature. Whether or not iRiver has the clout to go up against the Apple marketing machine and win the PR battle remains to be seen, but if you're a technically-minded person who wants the most fully featured player on the market today, there's really no contest.
Do I have anything bad to say about it? Yeah, the brown case. What were they thinking? Still, like I said, I'll take features over something that superficial every time.
The only downside to the player is it's a little complicated to learn but it's very well designed and loaded with useful features. I have about 130 CD's, about 1500 songs (about 4GB) on mine and it's great! I'm using MP3's and WMA's at 128kbps. The sound quality is excellent and I like the different eq options. I run this straigt into the sound system in my Honda Element and it's sweet!
I'm pretty sure you won't get more for your money.
1. The whirring sound that was previously mentioned *does* exist, but I had to strain to hear it and this only after a while of trying. It was so inaudible as to be a non-issue, but the external mic that comes with the 140 eliminates this if it bothers you.
2. The recording does stop after 5 hours. The device obviously holds much more than this, so I don't know why this happens. Perhaps it's to periodically save the rather large file (~145mb in MP3/128kbps format.) But since the battery life is about 3 times this, you could simply restart the recording and it will go for another 5 hours, etc.
3. While there's no comparison between the speed of USB 1.1 and 2.0 in my desktop and in my laptop, respectively, in practice 1.1 has not been a nuisance.
4. I use this unit a lot, and a 3-hour charge every 3 days does the trick. If you use it for an hour or two a day, you could go more than a week before needing to recharge. However, since the hard drive reads only periodically when playing, and operates continuously while writing (transferring songs from your PC), you ought to have it plugged into AC when you are doing transfers. Otherwise, you'll drain the battery in 2 hours of continuous hard drive activity.
Enjoy!
I don't have USB 2.0 on my desktop (although I have it on my laptop), but even with USB 1.1, the transfer was more than acceptable given how often I will upload or download my entire collection (hopefully not often!) I let it run overnight and my 30gb collection was transferred. All it will require now are fairly quick incremental transfers.
Some rumors or things I have read:
1. While using the internal mic to record, there is a clicking or whirring caused by the hard drive starting and stopping.
===> My unit doesn't do this. If what others are saying is true, I don't know why it happens on some units and not others.
2. Battery life is very good.
===> True - it's been running for around 11 hours so far and the battery meter still has two bars on it. It had about 4 hours on it and I did let it run all the way down and then re-charge it, something I recommend to everyone as soon as they get it.
3. Can't delete tracks directly from the unit.
===> I've only had a day with it, and I don't see an easy way to do this, but I'll keep looking. Maybe it's just me.
4. Recording stops after 5 hours. Since this unit can hold many more hours of recordings (in MP3 format) than that, this would be a nuisance.
===> Can't confirm yet, but will test and report back. I can't see ever recording anything for that long, but if true, a firmware upgrade to fix this would be appreciated.
5. The case is awful.
===> True: brown, old shoe-leather looking case sucks and the unit barely fits in there without a struggle. I guess I'll shell out $15 for a third-party case when I find one since I want to protect this $400+ investment.
End of day, this is a quality, feature-packed unit that really performs well. That's it for now, will update in a week.
The controls take some getting used to, especially on the remote, but they at least provide you with one. Good sound quality and it was able to handle all of the listed formats and bit rates as they had advertised. So far it has been a pretty durable player and design.
In response to "tjwegxx" review above, the beauty is that you don't need any specialized software to load files. Just create a file & folder system on your PC and copy to the removable drive. Also, I use this to transfer large files to & from work. Plug it in and it goes. (Win2000/XP/2003)
If your view in life is that you are going to pay $x00 to get a device then it must be near ideal - ruggedly constructed, fault proof, good product support, easy to use software - then do yourself a favor and don't buy yet. All the products have drawbacks and are not mature yet; if you expect value and reliability then wait a while. If you are OK paying $x00 for something that can be used now, but is likely to both get better and cost less in the future then try to determine which device is the lesser of evils for you.
iPod clearly has the most buzz. Great design and looks cool. Most people love the appearance and praise the touch sensitive buttons. It has a hold button to deactivate the buttons to avoid accidents; however, enough reviewers have complained that the hold button is easily broken and then the device can't be used. Some of the more geeky (non-Apple type) reviewers complain that the scrollwheel is annoying after a while and they resent being forced into this Apple-like interface. Everyone complains about the non-replaceable battery, yet this is the price of sturdy construction. iPod can be used as an external disk, and apparently stores files without problem. However, the music and data are apparently not separated; iPod reviewers complain about "white noise" in random feedback mode that comes from appointments / contacts created on the iPod during synchronization. Synchronizing music among computers, if you have more than one, seems to be an issue; research this before buying if you have multiple computers you want to be synchronized. Reviews for sound quality are generally (but not universally) positive. Reviews of Apple's support are generally poor; they seem to address issues in warranty, which covers a short time after delivery / pickup of item. After that it seems like you're on your own. iPod has no stop button; when new users mention this iPod veterans call it "unnecessary" and "so 20th century".
Creative Zen feedback suffers from construction quality, poor product support, difficulty of using the scroll wheel and reasonably consistent feedback about problems with the headphone jack. Construction quality is a difficult item. The Zen has a detachable face plate that allows the battery to be replaced. What is added in functionality (battery replacement) detracts in build quality as the face plate is prone to popping off. Drop if just a few inches on a hard surface and the faceplate pops off (but not if it's in its case). Many reviewers say the faceplate simply didn't fit well so they returned the Zen. Feedback on Creative's product support is universally poor; this is not limited to the Zen, it applies to all the company's products. The scroll wheel is finicky; it works most of the time but there is a learning curve for pressing it just right; new users say they have 50% - 75% success rate; some find it so frustrating that they just return the device. The Creative software is awkward / difficult to use and just plain doesn't load on some computers. Enough people have reported that their headphone jack doesn't work after a month of using the device to believe that Creative has some inbuilt manufacturing or quality control problem. The Zen doesn't support folders so it is not really a storage device; even with third party software that "creates" folders, documents and programs can't be launched from the Zen, so it is not a hard disk, it's a storage device at best. Reviews for sound quality are generally (but not universally) positive. The Zen has no stop button. Veteran Zen users have explained how to stop if that's what you want.
The Rio Karma feedback suffers from sensitivity in the hard disk. It seems like movement, even small movement, causes skipping in playback and even the device freezing. If you plan to carry the device around (it is a mobile device, right?) then this is something you might want to think about. Karma gets consistently good reviews for sound quality and connectivity from its docking device, which has RCA output jacks and Ethernet jacks for connectivity. Usability (button usage, feature selection, menu structure, display size and quality) also has good feedback. Repair seems to be an issue; some say the repair don't exist - you just have to buy a new player. Perhaps because of its smaller user base there is also a lack of accessories. Like the Zen, the Karma does not support folders and is not designed to be a data storage device. It only comes in 20Gb; enough for most people, not for those with large collections ripped at high sampling rates. The Karma does have a stop button.
There aren't many reviews for the iRiver iHP. Those that have it like it. The only complaint seems to be that the disk rotation is slow, leading to longer delays in some functions (playback and even a slow display of the menu?). Otherwise feedback seems to be good. No comments on reliability, warranty, repairs, accessories. No-one mentions whether there is a stop button, but the photos don't show one.
None of these are perfect. If you have the appetite choose the one that you think has the least deficiencies or is best suited to you. Accept that there will be better devices (or new generations of these ones) in a year or two that will cost less. If that is for you then pay the money, learn from the experience and you'll be a more informed buyer when you buy device #2. If you aren't into paying $x00 to learn and experiment, or the cons outweigh the pros, then wait a year or so.
Pros:
1. Good battery life. I had the Archos before this.
2. The remote control is good.
3. Good sound quality. The presets are good.
Cons:
1. Menu is too easy to pull up...maybe too easy sometimes all U want to do is advance a song and you accidently enter the menu.
2. The case only fits a belt loop. A optional clip would have been nicer.
Overall a VERY positive experience. I was shoveling snow with this device for hours without a problem. I commute for 2 hours each way, 5 days a week and usually battery life is for 3 days. It's a great device. Worth the extra money.
PS. The FM radio was
