Comments on: Microsoft anti-iPod team

By: Reader's Write

Reader's Write — Wed, 07 Jun 2006 13:07:53 +0000

I’m sure if the Microsoft X-POD or whatever they call it catches on then within a year or two you’ll be able to instal Linux on it – just like you can on the X-BOX and the iPod. Then you’ll be able to play .ogg and FLAC and shit on it. (At least if it has a hard drive and it’s not just a flash memory system…)

Anyway, I think Microsoft’s main motive here (more than hardware sales) is to win the format war with Apple’s AAC and have DRMed WMA become the defacto standard. But with P2P getting bigger by the day, I antisipate that MP3 is here to stay for quite some time since it plays on everything.

By: Reader's Write

Reader's Write — Sun, 04 Jun 2006 21:45:38 +0000

If your buying habits are heavily influenced by marketing, you ARE a fool. Do your own research before buying anything.

You need to look at commercials in a certain light. Sure, it sounds great, but what is being left out? It eats batteries? The ink cartridges cost 50 bucks a piece?

Do your own research! Be a RESPONSIBLE consumer.

By: Reader's Write

Reader's Write — Sat, 03 Jun 2006 00:23:47 +0000

We don’t need no steenking DRM, m’ok?

And you just know this is going to be riddled with it.

By: Reader's Write

Reader's Write — Sat, 03 Jun 2006 00:22:41 +0000

If it:-
- Runs Rockbox
- Is easily upgradable and fixable. Like disks and easily replacable batteries
- Supports USB Mass Storage and USB host
- Has a decent size screen
- Is big enough to take a 60Gb 1.8″ disk or preferably a standard 2.5″ disk
Then yes please.

But if it’s another pile of borked Creative firmware, tied to borked Microsoft software, then no thanks.

By: Reader's Write

Reader's Write — Fri, 02 Jun 2006 22:39:36 +0000

With Monopolysoft developing the software do you really expect the resulting product to support .ogg and .flac?

Geez, you’d think iTunes and iPod were magic or something. Sure, they are well designed products (for the most part…). THE thing, the ONLY thing that really sets them apart from their competitors (some of which are offering totally worthy products that are every bit as good as Apple’s) is MARKETING. Once more for emphasis, M-A-R-K-E-T-I-N-G. If somebody wants to seriously challenge Apple in the portable market it will be done with marketing, advertising, and branding. A decent product wouldn’t hurt either, but even a product that blew Apple away will not take over without very effective marketing.

P.S. If you think your buying habits are not heavily influenced by marketing you are a fool.

By: Reader's Write

Reader's Write — Fri, 02 Jun 2006 20:29:35 +0000

If it’s cheaper than an IPod for the same storage, and it plays .ogg and .flac, count me in.