a stupid question...why do I want rockbox?

[kdean823]

Ok, I am getting a new sansa e260.  It hasn't even arrived yet.    I was reading the reviews and someone said "I immediately installed Rockbox on it".  I googled rockbox.  The thing is, why do I want rockbox on it vs the original firmware?  What is the advantage.  It sounds like there isn't a totally stable version yet for the sansa e200s, so can someone help me out.  I'm all for the best gadgets and having the best stuff on it, but I want to make sure I understand it first.  

Thanks!
Kym

[crzyboyster]

Check out this page:
http://www.rockbox.org/twiki/bin/view/Main/WhyRockbox

 

[P.Opus]

Why do you want Rockbox?  Just wait until you turn it on the first time and you see how long it takes to "refresh" the database after each power on sequence.  Especially after you've just transferred music to it, or are using a Micro SD card.

Also, you will definitely miss the inclusion of a sleep timer in the original firmware, as well as the ability to have the "backlight" come on shortly between each song, so you can always notice when the song changes.

Add to that the ability to have the player power on and immediately continue playing where you last stopped the player and the neato games and plugins and Rockbox becomes a no brainer.

Finally the ability to dual boot allows your player not only the ability to interface with subscription music services and play that content, but when you are playing unprotected content, Rockbox is a much better player than the original firmware.

[krazykit]

Ok, I am getting a new sansa e260.  It hasn't even arrived yet.

Be aware that if your Sansa is a V2 (firmware revision 03.xx.xx among other methods of determining) that Rockbox is not compatible, though it might be in the future.

[riksweeney]

as well as the ability to have the "backlight" come on shortly between each song, so you can always notice when the song changes

Wouldn't you be able to HEAR when it changes?

[GodEater]

Depends what sort of music you're listening to.

[Multiplex]

Why is it that the "Why Rockbox?" and "What Players?" questions on the front page get missed by first time visitors?

I know there was a request for design proposals for the Rockbox web site (and if I had an ounce of skill in that area I'd attempt a design) but I suffer similar problems at work and honestly want to know how to make the available information more *available*

[Yotto]

I'm pretty sure that short of closing the forum there's no way to keep these posts from happening.

[kdean823]

Why is it that the "Why Rockbox?" and "What Players?" questions on the front page get missed by first time visitors?

I did not see anything about "why rockbox" on the home page, forum home page, or under Rockbox general discussion.  I would have love to just look somewhere and not have to ask.  I just looked again, since you had mentioned it, and still do not see anything.  If it's there, can someone please point me to it???  I got the "what players" link, not thru a front page, but thru a link in another person's post, so i don't need that one.

thanks.
kym

[bascule]

It was there when I looked just now...

Rockbox is an open source firmware for mp3 players, written from scratch. It runs on a wide range of players:

Apple: 1st through 5.5th generation iPod, iPod Mini and 1st generation iPod Nano
...
Toshiba: Gigabeat X and F series (not the S series)
More players are in development
Why should you run Rockbox? Click here to find out

[kdean823]

It was there when I looked just now...

Rockbox is an open source firmware for mp3 players, written from scratch. It runs on a wide range of players:

Apple: 1st through 5.5th generation iPod, iPod Mini and 1st generation iPod Nano
...
Toshiba: Gigabeat X and F series (not the S series)
More players are in development
Why should you run Rockbox? Click here to find out

I see that little link under all that now.  It's not very obvious, I guess.  I looked at the page the day I joined it and today and missed it both.  Maybe if it was in larger font or bolded or something.  I wasn't interested in the "technical" stuff above it, necessarily, since I already knew it would work with mine from the other person's post, so that could be why I missed it.  I don't know how to make it more obvious unless the stuff I already stated.  Maybe not putting it right with the technical stuff, but below somewhere??  I don't know.

Sorry I missed it and had to ask.

[AlexP]

Sorry I missed it and had to ask.

Not a problem, it is just we would like to know how to improve things.  To us, it seems obvious so we need guidance sometimes!

[dana7]

I love ROCKBOX.  love it, love it, love it!  And the only reason I found all of this love was I wanted to turn off that STUPID BLUE LIGHT under the thumbwheel!

That alone was worth the $$ I sent in to help the effort.  If you try it and like it as much as I do, you should kick in a few bucks every now and then.  My next donation is scheduled for when they finish USB support.