posted
I am in the marked for an mp3 player. I want one that can be used as a storage device on any computer. It needs to be able to do this wihout installing software (like Rio Taxi). I want an MP3 player that can also be used like an USB keychain.
So far, I have been unable to verify any mp3 player that can do this. Does anybody know of one that can do this?
Try that one, I have not used their mp3 player (I own an ipod) but I do own their regular flash key drive and I love it.
If you are using windows 2000, ME, or XP you can just pop it into a usb drive and it works. If you use windows 98 you need to install a driver (but that is true of all USB devices). Of course if you use windows 3.1 you are out of luck.
Personally, my advice would be to buy a usb flash device that is not an mp3 player to transfer your files...and also by an ipod. On a slight side note, you can get software for the ipod that allows you do use it as a USB storage device...though it is not as handy as a normal keychain device...since you do have to install sofware which you said that you don't want to do.
posted
I agree with what Lupus said. If you're gonna by a supersmall mp3 player, you won't want to give up valuable space for files when it could be better used by music.
That being said, I think you should take a look at Gateway's mp3 player. It wasn't overly expensive, but again, for the price on a 256mb model, you could almost buy a 5 gig iPod (or another HD based mp3 player).
If you're looking for small storage, you might want to try using a laptop-style hard drive and put it into an external shell. If you shop around, you should be able to get like 10-20 gigs for $100-$120. You won't be able to play music on it, but you'll be able to store alot more than just 256megs.
Posts: 851 | Registered: Oct 2001
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posted
I want to use this mainly as an MP3 player, but I want the option to use it as a small external drive.
Are there any hard drive-based MP3 players that you can just plug in and use as an external drive? I understand that you cannot do this with an iPod, is that correct?
Posts: 16551 | Registered: Feb 2003
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No, you need to install software to use the Ipod as a hard drive. It might work without extra software on the mac...but I don't have a mac, so I am not sure.
I have not heard of any other mp3 player that you can use as a hard drive without installing software, the mp3/flash drive is the only one that I have seen that works that way. Also note, I don't know what the sound quality is on the mp3/flash drive, I just know the normal flash key drive is a good storage device.
I actually don't use my ipod for anything other than an mp3 player...mostly because my office computer does not have firewire port and I don't have the USB adapter for the ipod. I use my ipod for music, and the 64 mb cdcyclone flash key for storage (sold on the website I linked to earlier).
posted
OK, here's another question about the iPod, which seems to be the best mp3 player out there. I have heard that the iPod software (iTunes?) restricts how many computers you can hook your iPod up to. True or false? I don't like the idea of some company telling me what I can and cannot do with my equipment.
Posts: 16551 | Registered: Feb 2003
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posted
With the iPod, and other harddrive mp3 players your music on the iPod has to mirror the music on the comp. Otherwise, it gets deleted. It is a copy protection thing. With 30 gb, you could be quite a pirate, getting music from your firends, or any comp that you hook your iPod up to. I am not really sure if there is an exception to this, all I know is that this polocy is really gay.
Now, that is, as far as I know, the only limitation. As far as using it as a storage device, you can hook it up to any comp, and copy files to your little hearts content. Even music, so long as it is not in the playable directory.
Please, if I am wrong, don't be nasty about it. This is just what I understand to be true, and could, in fact, be incorrect.
Addition: I own a non-harddrive mp3 player. It uses an SD card, and can accept any size of media that is secure digital. These are the best type to use is you are wanting to use it for storage. You just take it with the USB cable to any comp (mac or windows), plug it in, and you are set. Most will work with 98 and up.
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The computer limit only applies to songs bought off of itunes. I think you can only authorize 5 computers to be able to download your itunes songs. Other than that, I don't think the computer thing matters. Though to tell you the truth, I have never installed my ipod onto other computers so I am just working from my memory of the instruction manual.
Posts: 1901 | Registered: May 2004
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The music is (lightly) prevented from being read on more than one computer (its just hidden files on the filesystem). It can be used as a portable hard drive across as many computers as you like, no additional software.
Posts: 15770 | Registered: Dec 2001
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Fugu, you say that you can plug an iPod into any computer witout installing software on it and access the files on that iPod? Am I understanding correctly? Can anybody else verify this?
Posts: 16551 | Registered: Feb 2003
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quote: It can be used as a portable hard drive across as many computers as you like, no additional software.
Even on windows PCs? I thought that was just on macs...I could very easily be wrong though, as I have never tried it.
Posts: 1901 | Registered: May 2004
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The older, OS specific ipods may have problems. The latest are just FAT32 HDs from the OS's perspective, I believe.
Posts: 15770 | Registered: Dec 2001
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I have an ARCHOS Jukebox, it's drive-based and behaves like a regular USB hard drive. It has good music quality, large storage, and a microphone port for a competitive amount of money.
It's a lot bigger than the iPod (it uses a real laptop drive, I think, rather than the iPods proprietary supersmall drive).
My only complaint is that the firmware on the version I got is a little flaky at times, so I have to pop the battery to reboot it when it's being irrational. Luckily, this doesn't do anything bad to the device (that I've noticed, anyway).
My model has 20 gigs, I've never even gotten it half full.
Posts: 903 | Registered: May 2003
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