On MovieTome:
New HARRY POTTER pics are here!
Electronics & Computers Deals here!
Apple iPod Classic alternatives
It can't be easy to be an MP3 player manufacturer these days--especially when your competition has sold over 100 million iPods. To many people, the terms iPod and MP3 player are practically interchangeable. There are many good reasons that the iPod brand is the king of the hill when it comes to MP3 players, but the iPod is not a perfect product. If you're the kind of person who bucks the trends (or maybe you have a grudge against Steve Jobs), then I present to you our list of high-capacity hard-drive MP3 players that offer a competitive alternative to the iPod Classic. While none of these players have much chance of dethroning the iPod (many have their own set of flaws), each offers something unique that the iPod Classic doesn't. Whether you're looking for better sound quality, a bigger or more colorful screen, subscription music service compatibility, or just a different look, this list will give you an idea of what the competition has to offer.
Related Resources
| remove this product | remove this product | remove this product | remove this product | remove this product | remove this product | |
| Product name |
Archos 605 WiFi (160GB) 
|
Microsoft Zune (second generation, 80GB, black) |
Ibiza Rhapsody (30GB, black) |
Creative Zen Vision W (60GB) |
Cowon A3 (60GB) |
Creative Zen Vision:M (60GB, black)
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Review date | August 30, 2007 | November 12, 2007 | November 29, 2007 | September 13, 2006 | January 25, 2008 | January 26, 2006 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| CNET editors' rating |
8.7 Excellent |
8.3 Excellent |
7.0 Very good |
8.0 Excellent |
7.7 Very good |
8.0 Excellent |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Users' rating |
6.6 Good |
7.7 Very good |
7.0 Very good (
from 8
users)
|
7.2 Very good |
6.5 Good (
from 4
users)
|
7.7 Very good |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Buying choices |
Prices from online stores:
Searching for pricing data... |
Prices from online stores:
Searching for pricing data... |
Prices from online stores:
Searching for pricing data... |
Prices from online stores:
Searching for pricing data... |
Prices from online stores:
Searching for pricing data... |
Prices from online stores:
Searching for pricing data... |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Local shopping | No local stores found | No local stores found | No local stores found | No local stores found | No local stores found | No local stores found |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Product videos | Watch video | Watch video | Watch video | Watch video | Watch video | Watch video |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Review summary | The Archos 605 WiFi portable video player is one of the best mobile distractions money can buy. | The Zune has blossomed from an ugly duckling into a worthy iPod alternative. | The Haier America Ibiza Rhapsody is a cutting-edge media player that puts its wireless capabilities to good use while still retaining an easy-to-use design and interface. If you're willing to shell out the dough for a massive feature list, give it consideration. | The bulky but easy-to-use Creative Zen Vision W and its nice screen will dazzle video lovers who don't require video recording. | The Cowon A3 portable video player is a fantastic value when judged on the merits of its file support and integrated video-recording capabilities. If you've got nimble fingers and an eclectic assortment of audio and video formats, the Cowon A3 should be at the top of your list. | The dazzling, DRM-friendly Creative Zen Vision:M gives the iPod a run for the money as the current high-capacity WMA champ. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Product series | See all products in this series | See all products in this series | See all products in this series | See all products in this series | See all products in this series | See all products in this series |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| My Products | ||||||
| Basic Specs | ||||||
| Device type | Digital AV player | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | Digital AV player | Digital AV recorder | Info unavailable |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Key multimedia features | Digital audio player , Digital photo viewer , Digital video player , External HDD function | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | FM tuner , Voice recorder , Memory card reader , Digital audio player , Digital photo viewer , Digital video player , External HDD function | FM tuner , Voice recorder , Digital audio player , Digital photo viewer , Digital video player , Digital audio recorder , Video capture from external source | Info unavailable |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Hard drive | 160 GB | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | 60 GB | 60 GB | Info unavailable |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Display type | TFT 4.3 in - Color | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | TFT 4.3 in - Color | TFT 4 in - Color | Info unavailable |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Supported still images formats | BMP , PNG , JPEG | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | BMP , GIF , JPEG | BMP , GIF , PNG , RAW , JPEG , TIFF | Info unavailable |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Supported audio formats | MP3 , PCM , WAV , WMA , ADPCM , Protected WMA (DRM) | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | MP3 , WAV , WMA , Audible , Protected WMA (DRM) | AAC , ASF , MP3 , PCM , WAV , WMA , AC-3 , FLAC , G.726 , Ogg Vorbis , MPEG 1 Audio , MPEG 2 Audio , Apple Lossless , APE (Monkey's Audio) | Info unavailable |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Video playback formats | WMV , MPEG-4 , Protected WMV (DRM) | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | AVI , WMV , XviD , MPEG-1 , MPEG-2 , DivX 4.0 , DivX 5.0 , MPEG-4 SP , Motion JPEG | ASF , AVI , VOB , WMV , MPEG , XviD , MPEG-1 , MPEG-4 , DivX 4.0 , DivX 5.0 , DivX 6.0 , DivX 3.11 , MPEG-4 SP , Motion JPEG , OGM (Ogg Media) | Info unavailable |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| PC interfaces | Hi-Speed USB , IEEE 802.11b , IEEE 802.11g | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | Hi-Speed USB | Hi-Speed USB | Info unavailable |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Battery technology | Lithium polymer | Lithium ion | Lithium polymer | Lithium ion | Lithium polymer | Lithium ion |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Included accessories | USB cable , Carrying pouch , Stereo headphones | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | AV cable , USB cable , Carrying pouch , Stereo headphones | AV cable , USB cable , Stereo headphones | Info unavailable |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Width | 4.8 in | 2.4 in | 2.4 in | 5.3 in | 5.2 in | 2.4 in |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Depth | 0.8 in | 0.5 in | 0.5 in | 0.9 in | 0.9 in | 0.9 in |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Height | 3.2 in | 4.3 in | 4.1 in | 3 in | 3.1 in | 4.1 in |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Weight | 9.2 oz | 4.5 oz | 4.9 oz | 9.7 oz | 9.9 oz | 6.3 oz |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Mfr estimated battery life | Info unavailable | 20 hour(s) | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | Info unavailable |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Color | Info unavailable | Black | Volcanic black | Black | Info unavailable | Black |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Digital storage media capacity | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | 30 GB | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | Info unavailable |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Dimensions (WxDxH) | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | 2.4 in x 0.5 in x 4.1 in | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | Info unavailable |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Resolution | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | 320 x 240 | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | Info unavailable |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Radio | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | FM: 87.5 - 107.9 MHz | Info unavailable | FM: 76 - 108 MHz | Info unavailable |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Product type | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | Portable network audio player / digital player / radio | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | Info unavailable |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Sound output mode | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | Stereo | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | Info unavailable |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Digital player (recorder) | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | AAC , MP3 , WAV , WMA , Protected WMA (DRM) | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | Info unavailable |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Compatibility | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | Intel VIIV Technology | Info unavailable | Info unavailable |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Flash memory cards supported | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | CompactFlash Card type I , CompactFlash Card type II | Info unavailable | Info unavailable |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| TV standards supported | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | PAL , NTSC | PAL , NTSC | Info unavailable |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Video capture formats | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | ASF | Info unavailable |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Product name |
Archos 605 WiFi (160GB)
|
Microsoft Zune (second generation, 80GB, black) | Ibiza Rhapsody (30GB, black) | Creative Zen Vision W (60GB) | Cowon A3 (60GB) |
Creative Zen Vision:M (60GB, black)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Full specifications | Full Specifications | Full Specifications | Full Specifications | Full Specifications | Full Specifications | Full Specifications |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Price range |
 Check
latest
prices
$330-452 from 13 stores |
Check
latest
prices
$240-280 from 8 stores |
Check
latest
prices
$260-299 from 5 stores |
Check
latest
prices
$n/a from 0 store |
Check
latest
prices
$350-351 from 2 stores |
Check
latest
prices
$n/a from 0 store |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Popular on CBS sites: World News | Fantasy Football | Amy Winehouse | Baseball | E3 | Batman | Firefox 3 | iPhone 3G
© 2008 CNET Networks, Inc., a CBS Company. All rights reserved. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use
