|
|
|
|
 Electronics : Lexar Media 256MB JUMPDRIVE USB DRIVE ( MP256-231 ) |
|
Rating:  - Lacks features, but easy to use
Forget playlists -- there aren't any, you listen to the music in the order it's saved on the thing, or in random/shuffle order, or you can manually waggle the joystick to skip a song you don't want to hear, but that's it. However, what it gives up in flexibility it makes up in ease of use. Plug it in, turn it on by holding down the one and only button for a few seconds, and it looks like a USB storage device. You can just drag your MP3 files right over, whether you're on Mac, Linux, or Windows XP. (Do note that while it's plugged into the computer you cannot play music). Pull it out (after unmounting it in Linux, or ejecting it in Windows or MacOS), and it's ready to play.
Other minuses: The included earbuds are pretty useless (at least for someone with ears the shape of mine), but better earbuds are easy to buy. The lanyard is convenient, but a clip would have been more convenient for exercising, but there's no real place to put a clip (the back has the battery compartment door, the front has the LCD display and "joystick").
Like all flash-based MP3 players, it has the advantage of durability -- there are no moving parts to break (other than the one and only button/joystick). I bought this to wear while riding a vibration-prone motorcycle, where one of the hard drive MP3 players would have turned into scrap after about thirty minutes of getting beat to shards by huge 650cc cylinder moving up and down, and for that use it is fine. Just be aware that 256mb isn't much memory if you rip your MP3's in 256-bit mode like I do! 2 hours of music is better than none, though, and if I want better memory usage for a long trip I can always choose the songs I want from my CD collection and re-rip into 128-bit mode to get the promised 4 hours.
Oh: Batteries: It uses one (1) AAA battery, like is available at every convenience store in America if you're on the road and need a battery. For travel purposes this is much more convenient than a rechargable battery, since this means you don't have to hunt up some way to plug it in (hard to do if you're riding a motorcycle!).
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Home
