- Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 177 reviews Back to product review
- My rating: 0 stars
Full user review
-
47 out of 51 people found this review helpful
5.0 stars
"First big leap in portable MP3 player since the original iPod"
Pros: Small formfactor, plays video, looks good, sync with MCPC
Cons: Doesn't support all file formats, WMP11 not out yet.
Summary: I had this thing on pre-order for over two months, but I'm glad I stuck with it. I've owned several iPods over my life (including the 30GB iPod video, nano, mini). But this is the first mp3 player that has really made me feel like it was a big leap since my orignal iPod.
The video syncing feature works a lot better than Apple's, being that Media Center converts the file for you (which means that the movie is at the proper resolution for the PMP)and it syncs with the recorded shows from my Windows Media Center. Don't have to search for the H.264 encoded files like Apple Video, and converting my Xvid/Divx when syncing is very easy (wouldn't want to play the Divx file in its original size on the small screen anyway).
The interface is also fantastic and intuituive, I really like Apple's scrool wheel (which I miss), but the Toshiba is more colorful and full of options. I also LOVE the FM Tuner built in, I hated carrying around the attachment that I have for my iPod that made the iPod a tad bigger.
AAC support would have been nice, but most of my CDs are ripped to MP3 rather than AAC so its not that big a deal. iPod can't play WMA, Toshiba can't play AAC, whatever. . .
I've only had the player for a couple days now, but battery life is very decent. I haven't timed it but its generally equivalent to my iPod. Overall, IMO, this is the best portable media player on the market.
- 12 replies to this review
-
pvps such as the creative zen and the zune and the toshiba gigabeat have their pros and cons, but has anyone looked at the prices? the gigabeat is the only one under 200 dollars, and personally i like it better than any of the other ones.
-
Have u not heard about the Creative Zen Vision M Media Player? Its been in existance for years before the I pod video or any of these "wannabes". The Toshiba looks good...I would buy it..if I did not already have a Zen from Creative Labs. Do your research before you say "First big leap in portable MP3 PLAYER since original Ipod"
-
You seem to be forgetting about the random data wipes and freezes...Not to mention battery life in the real world is actually around 7 hours on average.
-
i have been interested in the gigabeat for a while, maybe waiting for something new. but anyways, do u know it supports itunes formated files
cause all my musics on itunes, not media player??? -
Your comments may be biased. This is what i read around and i'm not sure if it's all true.
the memory i think is more than enough (60G)
It's size is fine. The battery is disapointing but at least you can change it easily (unlike Ipod)
touchpad easy to use and the actually thing looks great. Screen size is ok, big enough.
- i also heard that converting video can be troublesome and sometimes wont work at all.
- Album pics won't go on very well or not at all,
- The screen quality is not as good as other PVPs
- and does it only work on Windows XP? or can it work on other windows as well??
What can you say about these things? I'm thinking of getting a PVP. this gigabeat has a good price too. -
how do you set the item to work with the tivo.
-
one dramatic oversight with this product is the lack of a car charger. Toshiba doesn't even make one to go with this player... anyone found one out there that works?
-
Good review but you've drawn some Apple fanboys who felt the need to share their love for Apple rather than commenting on the Gigabeat itself.
I'm thinking on getting the 60gb version as it only costs a bit more and I have a lot of recorded tv on my media center PC but do you find the 30gb capaicty enough?
Also CNET mentioned that the Gigabeat screen is not as good as either the previous generation Toshiba or was it a player by Creative (I cant remember which one, its been a while since I read it)? Did you find this to be the case or is the picture quality/screen resolution perfectly fine? -
I too have owned just about every brand of digital music player at one time or another. Oddly enough, I've recently settled on the iPod video. Not because it's cool and trendy (I loathe those aspects), it's because iTunes BEATS DOWN any WMA management system I've ever used. That includes Realplayer, MusicMatch, Rhapsody, WMP and Creative/Rio proprietary, etc. How many folks use Windows Media System PCs and does it make it that much of a difference? Me, I don't need Windows at all (a major factor. All I have to do is sit back watch my fab Mac Mini (my first Mac and last in a long line of Wintel PCs) and iTunes do it for me--fast!
-
iTunes outdated? Is this the same music store that boasts the LARGEST selection of music and videos anywhere???? I don't doubt that the Toshiba toy is great, but Apple will, as always, come out with something new soon to trumpet it. As for file formats, the only file I've found so far that iPods can't play, are WMA - and who needs those? I'm new to iPods, but it would seem that the sheer selection and ease-of-use of iTunes, coupled with the great screen display and sound quality of iPods, not to mention all the accessories available for iPods, would be enough to make a person stick around! I think Apple has more than proven it is not only the most innovative company out there, but that it has staying power!
-
I just ordered my 30GB S after waiting months for it!! The main reason why I didn't buy an iPod is from compatability issues with windows based software. Also, the varitety of subscription based vendors attracted me although not sure Vongo is worth while on a 2.4 PMP.
I think everyone should take'r easy on the CNET staff. Bias or no bias, how many people actually rely solely on one source for an impartial review? It's always best to consider several review sources before making a decision. So, thank you Cnet for adding to the equation! -
Hey CNET, why is it that you cite not having a radio as a con here BUT NOT IN THE IPOD REVIEW? Also why do you cite scratchign as a problem in the zen vision review BUT NOT IN THE IPOD REVIEW??? Because ur bias.
Where to buy
Toshiba Gigabeat MES30VW (30GB, white):
$245.99
| store | price | in stock? | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Amazon.com Marketplace
|
$245.99 | Yes |
|
%20user%20review%20and%20rating%20-%20CNET%20Reviews&srcUrl=http://reviews.cnet.com/portable-video-players-pvps/toshiba-gigabeat-mes30vw-30gb/4864-6499_7-31660763-1.html){kind=small}