RE: the iPOD
the scroll wheel can be annoying. If I've got a list of hundreds of items (an I do), even with scroll acceleration, it's darn annoying to have to keep moving my thumb. I'd rather hold a button than keep moving my thumb.
So does Rockbox address this? Or is the functionality of lists and scrolling exactly the same? or worse? I'll most likely be playing some sort of random playlist based on genre/s (if this is even possible), or playlists created on the fly.
Again, finding one with a warranty should *not* be a concern: Rockbox will be considered to void almost any existing warranty.
Again, if I pick one up at (insert Big Box retailer here) they are most likely not going to flinch if I return with receipt and box saying, hey, this POS doesn't work. They will accept it and issue a refund w/out ever turning it on. I do not think this will be easy with eBay retailers.
So... I'm back to leaning towards the iPOD, for disc space alone and something that can be purchased new that isn't a Zune (funny, eh?) AND because it can be ROCKBOXED!!. But I hope that someone somehow makes a music player quickly that does just what we want (and if not, can be Rockboxed!) because I do not want to have to turn to the (either) dark side (again, funny from such a PC centric guy, what with my WM5.0 HTC Wizard sitting here).
Huh, Target.com claims they will have stock in 2-6 weeks (Target is also selling them through amazon.com, so same source) and I ASSumed they were telling the truth. I know they are no longer made, I just figured it was old new stock.
That's the 30 GB version, not the 60GB, and the GOOGLE link shows 2-6 weeks, yes, but if you just search the site, nothing at all for cowon comes up anywhere, even the entire list of Electronics brands. Strange...
Ok, So let's talk iPOD audio quality....
I'm listening to my son's 2GB Nano Gen 2 (which I know can't be Rockbox, yes, he is bummed). I made him turn off all EQ, and limiting, I'm cranking Bjork, Homogenic. It is LOUD. It is rather crispy on the high end. The lows sound good, but I had to back it off full volume to keep it under control and my ears from bleeding. I'm using my Sony IEM ($49.99) can't find the model #. What kind of IMPROVEMENT can I expect re: audio quality from the Rockbox. I mean, I am aware I can minimally EQ to remove the crispy highs from previous posts using a single filter. But is the improvement in audio quality on the whole minimal or HUGE?
For the most part, I'm going to be using the iPOD for plane travel and when working out. I will most likely not be driving any boom box, or car stereo, or home stereo. If sound quality is not the biggest issue, I mean, we're not talking FLAC here... and I can get over the thumb wheel hell, will I be satisfied with the sound quality on my Rockboxed 5.5Gen 80 GB iPOD?
What could I expect from the other players mentioned in this thread before and after rockbox in terms of quality difference (stereo image? more flat? less crispy?)? or are they exactly the same, i.e. once you rockbox an iPOD it is exactly like playing a Rockboxed iAudio, Toshiba, etc. Are the other players out-of-the-box FAR superior in every way when it comes to sound quality, or do most of them need Rockbox to improve the base player (not counting interface here, just audio quality)?
Thanks in advance.
caldvd