Toshiba's iPod Competitor 395
a lonely moose writes: "It looks like Toshiba basically copied Apple's iPod. They got cheap on screen size and unit weight, and without iTunes, it'll be darn hard to handle as elegantly as the iPod. Anyway, check out
MacCentral's article and the smoking forum at the bottom."
Re:I will buy it (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Yay competition! (Score:2, Informative)
Certified Ass Hat (Score:1, Informative)
Re:It can't be any worse than the i-plod (Score:1, Informative)
Re:Advantage? (Score:5, Informative)
1) The Ipod is smaller, lighter, and has a bigger screen.
2) The battery is a Lithium Polymer, which can support playback of up to 13 hours, by some user reports, while this hunk of junk may very well use AA's.
3) It costs, oddly enough, $10 more, even though Toshiba makes the hard disc, and it has *ahem* a smaller screen.
4) The backlight can't be nearly as good.
5) USB 2.0 can't power the unit, while firewire can, so I never have to bring an AC adaptor *anywhere*.
I think that you maybe didn't read the article?
Could be better. (Score:2, Informative)
Myself, my iPod just arrived in the main today, so I've put my money where my mouth is. I'm off to work with it now!
Re:Yay competition! (Score:4, Informative)
While USB2 does have a theoretical maximum data rate of 480 Mbps compared to 400 Mpbs with FireWire, FireWire does a much better job of time-critical streaming with its isochronous mode. Thus you can actually use a much higher percentage of the theoretical bandwidth with FireWire.
Of course, we're talking 400 freaking Mbps here. A real-time stream of DV is only 25. Maxed out MP3 files are 0.32 Mbps. Heck, Panasonic is going to have 1280x720 HD decks that use FireWire later this year, and THAT is only 100 Mbps.
USB2 also has less bus power than FireWire, so it can't charge bus-charged devices like the iPod as quickly.
Also, while 1394b is coming, the name Gigawire is purely theoretical.
1394b includes faster speeds over copper and optical connections (800 Mbps initially, with 1600 and 3200 coming), with run lengths up to 100 meters. It'll also do 100 Mbps over CAT-5, so you can route real-time video over existing wiring.
There will be two new connector types. Bilingual cables will hook up to both legacy 1394 devices and 1394b. This means you can mix and match 1394 and 1394a devices and computers. There will also be the beta connector for 1394b only applications (not beta for "non-quite-done" but for the b in 1394b). There won't be any more of the 4-pin v 6-pin confusion in 1394b, thankfully. As long as you don't have any beta-only stuff, you can just use normal 6-pin FireWire cables for all your stuff.
Re:Only 5GB (Score:2, Informative)
Re:Advantage? (Score:2, Informative)
Hard to take you seriously when you can't even get simple facts straight. USB has always provided power to peripherals. Check their web site [usb.org] if you don't believe me.
Re:Advantage? (Score:2, Informative)
Re:Advantage? (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Better than ipod (Score:2, Informative)
FOR THE LAST TIME -
The drive in the iPod USED to cost $399. TODAY, it costs $99, RETAIL. I imagine Apple gets them for way less. A FireWire hard drive incorporating the same Toshiba mechanism used in the 5 GB iPod can be purchased for $99. (The FireFly drive).
Makes you wonder why they never lowered the price of the iPod when the price of the drive went down, doesn't it? Perhaps some pressure from other vendors will persude them.