[James Fee]

http://www.microsoftmonitor.com/archives/005506.html

"I've tried out a bunch of iPod wannabes and have yet to see a player that comes close to matching the user experience. Strangely, music player features aren't what I see as the problem. Some models, like the Samsung Napster player, quickly get the user to the music. The big problem is synchronization. I have yet to test a portable music player that syncs to the PC as easily as iPod--and Apple got synch right, the first time. Microsoft had set out to solve the synchronization problem with Windows Media Player 10. But in my testing, the software doesn't meet the expectations set by Microsoft in January. For example, in testing the Creative MuVo, Creative Zen Touch, Rio Carbon and Samsung Napster player, I had a different experience synchronizing music using Windows Media Player 10. Now some of these devices carry Microsoft's PlaysForSure logo, which should guarantee a reasonably consistent experience. But that hasn't been my experience. With some of the devices, sync meant manually moving music from the PC to the music player."

I've said time and time again, for digital music players to overtake the iPod, they need to work just as well. Until this is sorted out, reviewers will still point out that the iPod works much better at this and in turn hurt sales. Have any of you had trouble with your PlaysForSure device or has is worked great?

[James Fee]

http://www.microsoftmonitor.com/archives/005506.html

"I've tried out a bunch of iPod wannabes and have yet to see a player that comes close to matching the user experience. Strangely, music player features aren't what I see as the problem. Some models, like the Samsung Napster player, quickly get the user to the music. The big problem is synchronization. I have yet to test a portable music player that syncs to the PC as easily as iPod--and Apple got synch right, the first time. Microsoft had set out to solve the synchronization problem with Windows Media Player 10. But in my testing, the software doesn't meet the expectations set by Microsoft in January. For example, in testing the Creative MuVo, Creative Zen Touch, Rio Carbon and Samsung Napster player, I had a different experience synchronizing music using Windows Media Player 10. Now some of these devices carry Microsoft's PlaysForSure logo, which should guarantee a reasonably consistent experience. But that hasn't been my experience. With some of the devices, sync meant manually moving music from the PC to the music player."

I've said time and time again, for digital music players to overtake the iPod, they need to work just as well. Until this is sorted out, reviewers will still point out that the iPod works much better at this and in turn hurt sales. Have any of you had trouble with your PlaysForSure device or has is worked great?