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Compaq Brings Back iPaq Music Center, Drops Price

Posted by timothy on from the no-ogg-vorbis dept.

scaramush writes: "After initially pulling it from the market, Compaq has re-released the iPaq Music Center, complete with a $600 price drop (was $999, now $399). The size of a 17" standard component, the music center features a 20 gig HD, or as the copy breathlessly enthuses, "Enough capacity for nearly 400 audio CDs or 5,000 individual songs". Slashdot has covered similar devices like the Rio Central, which (at the moment) costs $1500. Will this price point be enough to lure users?" The site doesn't mention whether there will be any onerous playback-restriction technology included as a free bonus.

5 of 123 comments (clear)

  1. Re:What about SliMP3? by hrieke · · Score: 4, Informative

    Yes, it is neat, but:

    1 - needs to be plugged into a network

    2 - needs a PC on to stream the music from

    3 - needs a stero reciever in the room to drive the music.

    Not saying the SliMP3 doesn't have a place, but for me, I'd perfer to have my music collection in a single unit that I can carry with me.

    Now on the downside it appears as if (and this is looking at the flash demo) that they can track information about your music listening habits - and I see an ad on the top of a screen shot (buy 1 get 1 half off - on the Create Playlist screen shot).

    I also wonder if I can select which CDDB I get my data from?

    --
    III.IIVIVIXIIVIVIIIVVIIIIXVIIIXIIIIIIIIVIIIIVVIIIV IIVIIIIIIVIII...
  2. Still doesn't match up against by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

    the Archos Jukebox 20. Same storage, 1/10th the size. You get portability with the only sacrifice being the need to hook it up to a PC to manipulate files. Not to mention the fact that the Archos Jukebox is $100 cheaper...

  3. Re:Multiple rooms by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative
    This may be what you are looking for: The AudioTron from Turtle Beach. It plays MP3 files from your network, and MP3 streams from the Internet. The street price is about $270.

    The great thing about the AudioTron is that it can can pull MP3 files from a Linux box running Samba. The Rio Receiver, on the other hand, needed Windows-based server software running on a Windows box in order to work.

    It can also play Shoutcast and Icecast streams, and has a browser-based interface in addition to the front display. (No TV display, however...)

    From their "Features" page:
    • Plays digital audio stored on networked PCs and Network Attached Storage devices.
    • Plays Internet radio streaming audio in MP3 and Windows Media formats.
    • Plays digital music files in MP3, Windows Media (WMA) and WAV formats.
    • Supports music libraries of more than 30,000 songs.
    • Works with Ethernet 10/100 and HPNA 2.0 networks.
    • Analog and digital optical S/PDIF audio outputs for audiophile music quality.
    • Integrated web server for PC control via web browser.
    • Remote Control lets you assign up to 20 preset buttons for instantly accessing your favorite songs and Internet radio stations.
    • Familiar CD-style controls, including random play, repeat play and song grouping.
  4. Re:Mark up by Celvin · · Score: 4, Informative

    For this I would take a look at the MP3-Box HOWTO. It describes a setup for a networked mp3 player, with low noise and everything.

    --
    -- If ignorance is bliss, why aren't there more happy people?
  5. Re:Wait a minute by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

    Actually, it would be closer to a $399 400-CD (more if you can upgrade the HD) changer, since once everything's ripped you can go through and play any album or song on it. Still a bit overpriced (a quick check at circuitcity.com shows a Sony 400-CD changer for $299), but it is definitely NOT the same as a $30 CD player.

    Oh, and some of us actually buy CDs instead of freely and illegally downloading them...