Yeah, That's Right, I Bought a Zen Vision:W

[Jason Dunn]

http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/zen-vision-w-unboxing1.jpg

Although the common consensus (http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/index.php?topic_id=11570) was that I have too many gadgets, and that the Zen Vision:W was going to be a superfluous addition to my gadget life, I couldn't resist ordering one at the price it was being offered for. It arrived the other day, and I eagerly ripped it open. My first impression? Holy crap this thing is big! I knew it was chunky, but in my mind when I saw the Zen Vision last year at CES it seemed thinner.

Turns out, I was right: the Zen Vision is "only" 20.1mm thick. The 30 GB Zen Vision:W is 22mm thick, and the 60 GB version I have is a beastly 26.4mm thick. I really wasn't prepared for how thick it is. I charged it, and booted it up, and the screen is quite impressive. I can tell it's not exactly high resolution, but all in all it looks quite good - and it has the bright and crisp contrast of the Zen Vision:M. I'm going to take it with me to CES, loaded with photos, videos (TV shows from my media center, and some ripped DVDs), and music, and see how it goes carrying it on the plane. If I find it's just too big to be useful to me, I'll ship it back to Dell for a refund.

Judie also got one, which is pretty funny that we received them at nearly the same time, and she has a whole bunch of photos of her unboxing the thing (http://www.geardiary.com/?p=1881#more-1881). So go check out those for now. ;-)

[Lee Yuan Sheng]

Oh dear, you have too many gadgets alright. :P

One of the nice things is that the Vision has a CF slot. Should make a decent seconday backup for your photos out in the field.

[Jason Dunn]

One of the nice things is that the Vision has a CF slot. Should make a decent seconday backup for your photos out in the field.

True, but that's also why I have this thing:
http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/articles.php?action=expand,11492

I'll definitely test it though, maybe I'll like it even more than the NEXTO.

[Mexico]

I recently purchased an Archos AV500. I didn't really need it. I already had a Zen Vision M (which I just sold for $250 to somebody in Mexico, and bought a Zune :D ), a Fujitsu slate, a portable DVD player, and a PPC-6700. Oh, and a PSP. Well, I use the AV500 everyday to watch recorded TV off my Media Center. When travelling, it is way better than the portable DVD player or the tablet pc.

I tried for a while using only one or two of the devices, but they all lack in one or two of their features. AV500: great for video, so so for audio and pictures. Zen Vision M (when I had it): great for audio (better than the Zune), OK for video, so so for pictures. PSP: great for gaming, OK for video (great screen, poor capacity), so so for audio and pictures. PPC-6700, OK for everything media-related, but not great at any of them (due to capacity, battery life, and screen size). Tablet PC: OK for everything media-related, but not great at any of them mainly to its size.

So.... if you don't mind carrying stuff around, you'll be happy with all your gadgets. If you do mind, you still have several options depending on the kind of trip/commute you're doing.

Now, sometimes you simply don't need a justification for buying something, just like smokers don't need a justification for opening up a pack o' cigs. You just gotta admit your addiction and try to keep it under control. Gadgets Anonymous, anybody? :lol:

Enjoy the W, Jason!

Mex