iriver vs. the mighty iPod
digg lists an interview with Joon Yang, CEO of reigncom, which is selling digital audio products under the label iriver. Worried about the customers which actually don’t like Apple’s iPod, Yang wants to offer an alternative, a way out of this applified existence full of iPodism. Well, thanks Joon San. At least that gives me an opportunity to finally sort my thoughts on this topic and share them - not that blogs would need either opportunity or thoughts anyway.
Seriously, I myself own iriver’s IHP-120, a 20GB HD-player and I’m quite happy with it since about a year:
- runs flawlessly under GNU/Linux as mass-storage device (Do I really have to do all this to get an iPod running with an alternative OS?)
- supports Ogg Vorbis
- works as voice recorder
- has built-in FM-Radio (which you unfortunately can’t record from using the player for HDD causes interference)
- can be controlled by the included remote
- last but not least: doesn’t tie you to DRM!
I’m sure there are more pros, but I guess you get the picture. Of course, there are some for the iPod, too:
- meanwhile, the iPod seems to be cheaper (294€ vs. 329€, amazon) - well, wait. Reduced functionality, no remote and crippled by DRM? On the other hand, it comes with a cradle and a IEEE1394 cord, doesn’t it..?
- Apple Exclusivity. Your chance to join the exquisite circle of apple users. Well, actually you don’t, mac-users won’t accept you for an iPod, but anyway! Now even cheaper with an iPod shuffle! Then again, it doesn’t sound that exclusive with the whole world carrying around that device..
- Design! Surely related to the above but definitely worth a separate bullet. IMHO, this is the only valid argument. Of course it isn’t. Or do you want to be one of those shallow persons judging books by their covers? We all know what count’s on the inside, so how dare you?
Long story short: for the majority prefers to join the hype instead of thinking about what they actually spend their money on and design mostly is emphasized over function, there’s not going to be an iPod-killer anytime soon.
Also check patrick’s reasons for not getting an iPod and those for getting an iriver.
If you still don’t have enough of iPods
- visit this gallery of little iPods in Iraq, especially those of some “stupidpo1tergeist”. If some of those guys are really allowed to operate weapons, I’m somewhat afraid. A collection of those pictures alone would be worth a very evil comment of epochal dimensions.
- browse the search results for iPod on digg. The amount itself is simply ridiculous.. now read the topics.
- google for iPod vs. <anything> for all kind of creative and not-so-creative flaming in all directions.