ZapStation Price Cut, Linux-Only Version

Richard Robison of ZapMedia wrote in to say that their ZapStation stereo MP3 Box has had a serious price cut to $599. If you put in the comments field 'JUST LINUX' they will ship you the box with just Linux installed (and code to control the IR input and screen). In other words, a $600 stereo component PC ready to connect to your TV and speakers for whatever video or audio projects you feel like rolling up yourself. I reviewed this unit last December and found a lot of problems, but many of those glitches have apparently been fixed, and the price was the biggest problem, so this thing may deserve a serious second look this time around.

Comments

Good price

[Black Perl]

This seems reasonable, since it's not much different than the price of building one yourself.

$900 price drop?!

[thesolo]

These boxes were selling for just over $1500.00, and now they are down to $600? Is this decrease due to getting cheaper bulk goods, or is this an unofficial liquidation??

Even at $600, it's a little pricey, but it definitely looks a lot better than throwing a PC in your entertainment center. I honestly might buy one of these now for a music server with screen overlay project I've been cooking up.

Re:$900 price drop?!

[garcia]

Onion2k, the next world prophet!

well, damn

[nihilist_1137]

JUST LINUX

Re:Cheaper

[HMC CS Major]

Yea, you could.

You're paying for the pretty case, and the software. A lot of people on this site probably do not care a single bit about this product, as they could build their own and write basically equivalent software for nearly nothing. A lot of people who know nothing about computers, but might have an extra $600 to spend, might find this somewhat more attractive.

$600 is still too much

[atrowe]

Who would pay $600 for what essentially is an off-the-shelf PC with a custom shaped case. I can build the same thing with off the shelf components for under $400. I've also found that the S/N ratio on most consumer quality PC sound cards leaves something to be desired. Most low-end sound cards have a S/N ration of around 90 dB, which is completely unacceptable for even the weekend audiophile. I think I'll stick with my PC for gaming and web browsing and use REAL stereo components for my music listening needs.

Re:$600 is still too much

[Sc00ter]

And we all know how much the audiophiles listen to, and love, MP3s. Plus, how do you know this Zapstaion thing even uses a normal PC Soundcard, for all you know it might have a better S/N ratio

Re:$600 is still too much

[svferris]

Well, for audiophiles, I've heard nothing beats the Stereo-link 1200. Sound & Vision magazine gave it a great review.

If only it had an LCD or something so you didn't have to control the music from your PC

Re:$600 is still too much

[TheFrood]

Who would pay $600 for what essentially is an off-the-shelf PC with a custom shaped case. I can build the same thing with off the shelf components for under $400.

Probably the same people who pay $1000 to buy a computer from Dell/Gateway/Compaq instead of just building one themselves from off-the-shelf components for under $700.

TheFrood

Re:$600 is still too much

[Paradise Pete]

I can build the same thing with off the shelf components for under $400.

Assuming, of course, that you value your time at $0.

Re:$600 is still too much

[zmooc]

You can build such a thing (including IR keyboard and RC), install Linux, configure/write the software to controll the whole thing from your TV in an hour? Are you an octopus on speed or something?:P

$600 for this?

[LordOfYourPants]

I would rather pay $400 for a refurbished computer capable of playing all the formats this machine plays. Lets look at its problems:

Can't FTP properly if FTP sites have symlinks.
Can't do large FTP transfers.
Importing tracks from sources other than ripped CDs causes the track order to be lost.
No shuffled play.
Popping noises when listening to tracks via optical cable.
Shitty UI.
Can't change your playlist as it's being played through.
Can play MPEG video only.
Pixelated/jerky DVD playback.
Anamorphic issues with DVD playback.

Which of these issues have actually been fixed? A lot of them seem to be pretty important to me. ie: It may be nice if issues 1-5 are fixed, but if DVD playback is still pixelated/jerky, the device may be worthless.

Re:$600 for this?

[Anonymous Coward]

The ftp problem has been fixed.
Track order problem has been fixed.
Shuffled play works fine.
Popping noise has been fixed.
Why do you say the UI is shitty? Most people who have seen it really like it.
Good point about the playlist.
Playback is not jerky or pixelated.
We are not aware of an issue with Anamorphic DVDs.

Maybe if I hit reload...

[realgone]

I think my /. subscription's broken. I just read a feature-length ad for ZapMedia.

onion2k is modern day nostradamus

[phawley]

comment from original /. post:

Prediction (Score:5, Insightful)
by onion2k (onion@uberworld.spamspamspam.org) on 11:06 Friday 07 December 2001 (#2670973) Alter Relationship
(User #203094 Info | http://slashdot.org/) Its $1500 dollars now. In 3 months they'll drop that to around $799. And the Slashdot headline will read 'ZapStation now affordable'. This sort of market just begs for this kind of ploy. Sell way high to start with and recoup development costs from the early adopters with pots of cash (plus its Christmas), and then drop down to a sensible (?!) price.

The fact the media gives loads of free advertising to it when the initial production run is finished and the machine is market tested is the icing on the cake.

Examples where this has happened before? The Sony Clie, PSX, Dreamcast, PS2, lots of hifis.. if its desirable home entertainment, then this is the obvious sales plan.

Moral of the story? Wait and save.

software

[koekepeer]

so, can someone score a +5 informative for me and tell me where i can find the free/open source software to make this an easy to use component in my tv/stereo setup?

i mean:
- rip &play mp3/ogg/windows media, divx, dvd
- audio recording (some radio transmissions are really worthwhile saving!)
- video recording (analog).

and all this with a nice and easy interface that can be viewed on the tv i use for video output?

i know of some of the aplications i just mentioned (mplayer, xine, xmms, etc). it's just that they're all separate applications, which doesn't make it easy to use. i don't want to sit and watch a dvd, using a keyboard and mouse to navigate through the thing.

ps. don't tell me to code it myself or shut up, because i can't code, and most of the people interested in this kind of thing can't either.

Marketing ploy

[return 42]

"Hey, boss! I just got a great idea to market the ZapStation! I can guarantee 50,000 eyeballs! Just one little hitch..."

"Yeah? What?"

"Well...the webserver will go down for half a day or so..."

Re:I bought one... it sits in a box useless

[Anonymous Coward]

An AC posts all this. Doesn't give the name of the 'supervisor' he talked to. Doesn't give the time this happened. Doesn't give anything to back the story up.

Hm. Given that this incident stands alone in this entire thread, doesn't it sound a little fishy?

Re:I bought one... it sits in a box useless

[po_boy]

I'll give you $50 for it.

we're trying

[fons]

Take a look at
http://davedina.apestaart.org
The project is far from finished and i don't know if it will work on this setup. But you can ask around on the mailinglist.
We have a working box in our living room that does some of the things you want (no audio recording yet)

1ghz linux box at wal-mart

[clinko]

Why not just get a 1ghz linux box from Wal-Mart for $200 less?

Wal-mart...

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.gsp?produ ct _id=1731327&cat=41937&type=19&dept=3944&path=0%3A3 944%3A3951%3A41937

Re:I bought one... it sits in a box useless

[rrobison]

I work at ZapMedia. If this actually happened, call me and I will take care of the problem. Since we never sold a box for $799, my guess is that this never happened. My number is 678-420-2720. -Richard

The HP De100C is nice also!

[qurob]

HP has a DE100C out, since November 2001. Smilar product, expensive though!

ZDNet intro article

Slashdot Article #1

Slashdot Article #2

HP's web site

Open Source Info

Re:Cheaper

[Junta]

Big, clunky box to plug into a TV not good enough? Seems to work for XBox :)

Re:I bought one... it sits in a box useless

[scotch]

ATTN Moderators: an unsubstantiated, undocumented report from an Anonymous Coward that blemishes the reputation of this company does not make for +4 insightful. Please restrain your enthusiasm for sticking it to the man.