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4 out of 5 people found this review helpful
4.0 stars
"Very impressive, worthwhile purchase."
Pros: Plays for Sure ready; excellent picture; downloads pics off digital camera; clean sound (minimal electronic noises); resume feature is fantastic; more flexibility than an Ipod; decent battery life
Cons: Wish I had more hard disk space (but that's being greedy); not as intuitive as an Ipod or a Sony design (old sony, not new); definitely a PERSONAL viewing screen, unless connected to TV.
Summary: First of all, thanks to those who left their reviews earlier, as it helped me decide on purchasing this gem. I do not regret buying this device, as it has so many features, some of which I have yet to use.
I use this device mainly for listening to MP3s (at the gym and in the car), watching videos on flights, and downloading digi pics off cameras. In all these tasks, the product has excelled. I use Yahoo Music Engine to download subscription music and it works fine, except for a few bugs which are a result of the Yahoo software. Windows Media player does a better job of transferring and deleting files than the Yahoo engine.
You will get more out of this device, the more tech savvy you are. For example, my setup includes a FM transmitter that I use in the car, which also has a USB plug (GE transmitter powere by cigarette outlet). With a simple USB adapter kit (available at Radio Shack for $20), I could use the USB port to power the transmitter, rather than connecting cables. This allows you to play music via radio without messing up your friend's setup.
My recommendation is to get a good set of headphones; I am currently using the Shure EC2s and they are very good. I also have the Radio/Remote attachment for the Gmini. when you use this, you will get a lot of electronic noises, as the audio signal is not as well shielded in comparison to playing directly from the unit. I was getting a lot of hum and squelches, so I avoid using it in the car, despite the inconvenience of not having easy FF/Rev access.
The Resume feature works very well for audio and video. Trust me, I had another MP3 player before this and it annoyed me to no end having to listen to an MP3 from the start after turning off the device prior(especially long MP3 DJ mixes).
Battery life is decent. Listened to MP3s and then watched Bourne Identity and part of Austin Powers; the flight ended and I still had half my battery life (this included pausing for restroom breaks and Resuming the device after shutting down for the meal). You will need a proper case (Case Logic is a good choice)and I would also recommend getting the car charger. Screen quality for the size is very impressive. Weighty, but not detrimentally so. Device feels well constructed and sturdy.
In summary, this is an excellent device for someone who wants more than just a player. You have more freedom than with an Ipod and once you read the manual (and tinker a bit), you will find more features than you can possibly use. That said, the user interface cold be a little friendlier (especially in saving playlists), but don't take that to mean that it is not easy to use. A worthwhile purchase and I would definitely choose this over the Ipod, from a bang for buck perspective.
PS - Leave a review if you buy; it really helps prevent others from kicking themselves after a bad purchase.
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