Hi Boyd, > > negative: NO SUPPORT FOR OGG!!! > > > Well, doesn't help me (see above) but hopefully someone else reading the > thread can use your review / recommendation.
I just bought myself an HD 300 from MPIO. You can check out the device at www.mpio.com. It's recognized as an external usb harddisk under linux, so /var/log/messages tells me. I haven't gotten around to actually mounting it yet - I actually got this only 2 days or so ago, and my Kernel obviously still has some SCSI issues, so right now I can't mount any USB drives... I will try to get it running over the weekend. As for the device itself, I think it's rather neat. It supports OGG, MP3, ASF, WMA and WAV (though it doesn't play just ANY wav format: I couldn't convince it to play a mono wav file...). Also, it can record via line-in or an integrated microphone, and even from radio (which is also included, and has a rather decent reception, AFAIK). It does have 3 issues which I find annoying: 1. The user interface, i.e. the touch pad/keypad is good enough for setting the volume, but it's a rather awkward way to navigate the directories. Also, the keypad has 2 trigger points (i.e. if you press it 'lightly' you get the first trigger... if you press a little harder, you get a second trigger... but there's no difference between the two actions), which makes for some confusion. 2. The drive/response time is somewhat slow. When you want to navigate the directory, you may click on a file, and it will take 3-6 seconds to actually change the directory or start playing the file. However, if you run through a playlist or play all files in a directory, this is not an issue. 3. It needs a separate charging unit and doesn't get charged via USB. Not a real problem, but an annoyance. So, summing up: Loads of features (radio, recording, integrated equalizer with many presets and configurable, media formats) which outperform the iPod, AFAIK, but a slightly awkward user interface (where the iPod shines). Ah yes, one other thing: Sound is superb! Matthias -- 5 GB Mailbox, 50 FreeSMS http://www.gmx.net/de/go/promail +++ GMX - die erste Adresse für Mail, Message, More +++ -- gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list
