X5 Qs

[raybert]

So, it appears that my old Archos JBFMR has died and I'm looking around at my options.

I really like a lot about the X5 and it looks like I'm probably gonna buy one.  I have a couple of questions about it:

1) Any opinions on whether it might be possible to upgrade the battery in the X5 to be >= the one in the X5L ?  Yes, I realize I could just buy an X5L, however, I need more than 30GB and that's the largest X5L I can find.

2) Any opinions on whether it might be possible to upgrade the hard disk in the X5 to a larger one?  My JBFMR has a 40GB HDD in it now and it seems that I could save ~$100 by buying the 20GB X5 (vs the 60GB) and installing the HDD from my JBFMR.

3) Any opinions on the remote?  Is it worth buying?

Thanks in advance!

~ray

[MessUP]

1.) Yea,same. I couldn't find anything...
Check with the place that i bought mine from...
http://www.advancedmp3players.co.uk/shop/index.php?cPath=3&sort=4a&filter_id=15

2.) There has been talk of this somewhere - tho if i remember rightly,the size of the HHD is bigger hence it wouldn't fit in the casing....Then Iaudio fiurmware wouldn't work because the drivers...

3.) I don't see the point in them, but i know people that say they are brill...
My reason for thinking it is because, why can't you just shove your hand in your pocket, and press the buttons without looking? Its not hard, once you know the button layout....

[RaeNye]

The X5 60GB has a bigger HDD, so there's no room in the casing for both the HDD and an extended battery.

I went for battery, btw.

[MessUP]

Yea. i did to. With the iaudio on it - it does get close to 35 hours....
Do you really need 60GB of music? I mean with you all the time in your pocket...
i got an 20GB X5L, and thats 5000 ish songs on it- and i don't need to be carry them around! You just have to leave some on the computer...

When you compress a DVD to play on it - Most of mine are under 200mb - thats about 1 hour and a half of video and sound

So basicly - why do you want 60GB - your not running a pc in your pocket! xD

[raybert]

Re: iAudio Remote:

3.) I don't see the point in them, but i know people that say they are brill...
My reason for thinking it is because, why can't you just shove your hand in your pocket, and press the buttons without looking? Its not hard, once you know the button layout....

I'm thinking it might be useful in the car.  I guess I won't really know until I try it though.  I bought an X5 last night and I decided to get the remote also.  I figure that, if I don't buy it now, I'll probably regret not getting it at some point down the road and, with my luck, they won't be available anymore...

[raybert]

Do you really need 60GB of music?

My Archos JBFMR currently has just over 30 GB on it (on a 40 GB disk).  So while I probably don't need 60 GB, I do need 40, but there are no 40 GB X5s; they go from 30 to 60.

I keep my whole collection on my (big) player because that's what I like.  I often find it hard to predict what I'm gonna want to listen to later in the day so I like having it all with me, and this great technology allows me to do that in a very tiny package.  Before MP3 players, I used to carry a big box of CDs with me all the time.  It was a PITB and I still found that I would often want to listen to something that I hadn't brought with me.  This way is much better... 

[raybert]

Thanks for the responses everyone.  I did a little more research last night and discovered that the X5 (not surprisingly) uses a 1.8" HDD.  My old Archos uses a 2.5" laptop HDD.  So there really is no chance of reusing the old disk in the new player.  I decided to go with the X5 60 GB because the storage capacity is more important to me (as I explained in my last post).  I think the battery life in that unit will be good enough for me.  If not, I'm hoping that I'll be able to upgrade the battery in the future.  It sounds like I may not be able to use the same battery as the X5L uses, but hopefully there is a compatible battery that has a higher capacity.  We'll see....

Thanks again,

~ray

[MessUP]

Over come your problem about picking battery over size - did you say that you would be using it in the car? What about a car adaprter?...

Yea i have about 40GB of music - tho ma player is 20GB (really about 18.6GB). Tho i don't listen to all of it at once - my moods don't change that quickly!

Well tell me how much to use the remote (which so far rockbox doesn't support yet!)....

[afruff23]

Check out this thread at iaudiophile.net.
http://iaudiophile.net/forums/showthread.php?t=7597

[raybert]

What about a car adaprter?...

Exactly.  That's one reason why I think the smaller battery will suffice for me.  I usually listen in the car, at work, or at home, and I can use a power adapter at any of those places.  The times I spend away from power probably won't exceed the battery's capacity. But if it does I'll look into replacing it.

~ray

[raybert]

Check out this thread at iaudiophile.net.
http://iaudiophile.net/forums/showthread.php?t=7597

Thanks.  That's a good thread.  From what I saw there, I'm pretty confident that I'll be able to replace it.  Just need to find a compatible replacement and I'm sure some will be found.

~ray

[MessUP]

Treat the battery right - and it last longer!
Only change it when its low/out! (this means disable charging when plugged into pc)
When charge it - charge it fully!
Try and not to drop it!

o - btw if having battery problems - i did read somewhere (this is about laptops batterys btw), run it completely down, take it out, place it in a FREEZER, leave it in for 48 hours, take it out - fully charge it - run it down - tis charge it , freeze it - do this 4 times - and then use it normally....

Warning!This is meant only for batterys- i havent got a clue if this will mess the chips up inside it....

[afruff23]

Keeping batteries stored at low temperatures helps prolong their life. Put the X5 in a plastic zipper bag(to prevent condensation) and place it in a fridge.

[Deano]

Treat the battery right - and it last longer!
Only change it when its low/out! (this means disable charging when plugged into pc)
When charge it - charge it fully!
Try and not to drop it!

o - btw if having battery problems - i did read somewhere (this is about laptops batterys btw), run it completely down, take it out, place it in a FREEZER, leave it in for 48 hours, take it out - fully charge it - run it down - tis charge it , freeze it - do this 4 times - and then use it normally....

Warning!This is meant only for batterys- i havent got a clue if this will mess the chips up inside it....

a) Lithium Polymer batteries work better if you do not keep on running them down to low power levels. Keeping them charged up does them no harm whatsoever, as far as I have been led to believe it actually keeps the cells better.

b) Not dropping a unit isn't going to help the battery, it might well keep your player a bit more alive though.

c) Only do this with the battery if possible. The cold doesn't damage circuitry, but the condensation might well do. Make sure you put them in something airtight first.

[Piksou]

About point 1: Toshiba has or will very soon release a 40 GB hard disk that is compatible with the 30 of the X5L
so it will be a lot easier to buy a X5L and then to change the HDD (in 6 month if necessary...) than buying an X to change his battery...
of course, it's only OK for 40 GB, if you want more, you will have to wait longer