08-23-2005, 04:02 PM
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Executive Editor, Android Thoughts
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,233
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the::unwired Asks: Portable Media Player - Is PPC Supreme?
"Over at Yahoo! News, they have an interesting article called "PluggedIn: Portable media players may struggle to find market" where the author comes to the conclusion that Portable Media Players are too pricy, too hughe and that they haven't found there "natural" place yet, like MP3-players (a logical follower of the good old 80's Walkman).
Actually it's an interesting thought and even the media player manufactures might don't see a serious market yet if you count the available portable media centers and compare it with the number of Pocket PCs which can do basically the same."
Arne makes a good point over at the::unwired about the current wave of portable music players and their features compared to what a Pocket PC can do. Not suprisingly, he reaches the conclusion that based on hard facts, our PPCs reign supreme. What do you think? Ready to trade in your Zen for a PPC?
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Dr. Jon Westfall, MCSE, MS-MVP
Executive Editor - Android Thoughts
News Editor - Windows Phone Thoughts
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08-23-2005, 05:03 PM
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Magi
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,341
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I've never really seen the point to them. They have a screen the same size as a pocket PC, yet they are bigger. They lack functionality. They are much more expensive than most of the alternatives. They have one advantage, larger memory, and that is going to disappear fairly soon when hardrives start appearing in Pocket PCs.
Dave
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08-23-2005, 05:09 PM
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Thinker
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 450
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Hmm.... So in his article, Arne admits that a PMC has a larger storage capacity, supports video out, has a far better stand-by time, and the UI is easier and more user friendly, but in the end concludes that a PPC is a better portable media player because it can do other tasks and can possibly stream some media (if a broadband connection is availabe). IMO, I'm not sure that makes it a better portable media player. Does it make it a better all-in-one solution, if that's what you're looking for... ok, sure.
- Aaron
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08-23-2005, 05:10 PM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 191
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If I had a Zen or anything like it, I would trade it in for a PPC... My PPC as suggested is my PMP... listen to music, watch movies, read books and much much more obviously. I had a first generation mp3 player years ago but I don't think PPC's could even play mp3's back then (like 6 years ago). I really really want an iPod but my reasoning gets the better of me. What the heck do I need one for when I have my PPC on me all the time? They are just so damn cool and trendy though... that and those little Paris Hilton dogs (jk).
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08-23-2005, 05:37 PM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 65
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I have my eyes closley on the media players out there - they're looking more intersting all the time.
I'd probably be happy with a PPC media player but it lacks two things I really need:
- storage
- battery life
An no, 1, 2 or even 4GB cards will not do the trick when it comes to storage. You need a minimum of 20 GB preferably 30-40 GB to store some movies, music, photos, etc.
My x50v has an awesome screen, ultra-smooth playback, nice and compact but lousy battery life and storage. External hookups would be nice but not essential.
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08-23-2005, 05:55 PM
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Pontificator
Join Date: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,051
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Paragon
I've never really seen the point to them. They have a screen the same size as a pocket PC, yet they are bigger. They lack functionality. They are much more expensive than most of the alternatives. They have one advantage, larger memory, and that is going to disappear fairly soon when hardrives start appearing in Pocket PCs.
Dave
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I always find the sentiments about how the PPC is going to make some other technology obsolete (I think I read earlier about how the Blackberry will get run over shortly) rather amusing. I must admit that I hated the thought of adding a new gadget, but I needed more storage. I waited as long as I could for the 2GB SD cards to become available at a reasonable price. Got tired of waiting and purchased a 6GB Rio Carbon a little over a month ago for roughly the same price a 2GB SD card would have cost me. Haven't listened to music on my PPC since. Size and convenience are but two of the numerous advantages the Rio has for playing music over the PPC. My hunch is that the majority of people who will prefer their PPC over a dedicated music player will be those who have never owned a dedicated music player, just as I was in this camp until a couple of months ago. Music players aren't going anywhere anytime soon. And when they do go away, it will likely be caused by cell phones, not our trusty PPC's.
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08-23-2005, 06:11 PM
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Magi
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,341
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by shawnc
I always find the sentiments about how the PPC is going to make some other technology obsolete (I think I read earlier about how the Blackberry will get run over shortly) rather amusing.
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Good point....BUT.....I see Pocket PCs as only one of the better choices. If you are going to use a dedicated device, why not one of the portable DVD players on the market? The are much less money and have a bigger screen. I realize they can only play a single DVD, no memory and so on, but seem to me to be a better overall choice if choosing a dedicated device. The music capabilities of a Portable Media Player are easily reproduced by many iPod like deices on the market.
Dave
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08-23-2005, 06:17 PM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 51
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No ipod for me
I refuse to buy an ipod while I own my pocket pc.
0X
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08-23-2005, 06:20 PM
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Thinker
Join Date: Apr 2002
Posts: 437
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by shawnc
Music players aren't going anywhere anytime soon.
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This, I agree with.
Quote:
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Originally Posted by shawnc
And when they do go away, it will likely be caused by cell phones, not our trusty PPC's.
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I'm sorry but this makes little sense to me. The only thing that cell phones have over Pocket PCs is a keypad, and size (or lack thereof).
There's no technology that's proprietary to cell phones, preventing them from going into Pocket PCs.
For instance, Samsung is coming out with a Smartphone that has an integrated 3GB HD, but there's nothing preventing those same 3GB HDs from going into Pocket PCs.
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08-23-2005, 07:11 PM
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Thinker
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 342
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I love my pocketpc. I love my IPOD. For now they serve different purposes. With my Samsung I730, high speed EVDO connection and Orb for place shifting, I have come pretty close to not needing the IPOD at certain times. But the fact is, for me, it is easier to have a high capacity dedicated audio device. For video, I do prefer the flexibility ppc, especially if I am inside the EVDO network. But the ease of use and the sheer capacity of my IPOD, has made it my only real choice for my hour + hike around the Washington Beltway.
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