Compaq Brings Back iPaq Music Center, Drops Price

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.

Comments

Re:What about SliMP3?

[hrieke]

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?

Still doesn't match up against

[Anonymous Coward]

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...

Re:Mark up

[Celvin]

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.