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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. it seems like a good buy but.... by sub7mage · · Score: 2, Insightful

    the price drop should tell u something. if they thought it was worth $600 more before why do they suddenly change their minds? Did they find a huge flaw in it that no one else has realized yet and they want to get rid of as many of them as possible?

    --
    There are 10 kinds of people: those that understand binary code and those that dont
  2. I'm surprised by Krapangor · · Score: 2, Insightful

    that they can openly sell a device which only purpose is to create illegal copies of music.
    Won't the RIAA attack them with legal killer drones ?
    Well there is some "free" music out there, but this stuff is mainly free because noone would be so foolish to buy it.

    --
    Owner of a Mensa membership card.
  3. Multiple rooms by kriegsman · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Here's what they've gotten right: average folks are starting to embrace the put-all-my-CDs-on-a-hard-drive and listen-to-them-from-there model. And $399 is a much better price -- not just cheaper, but better: it's more in line with what other stereo components cost.

    But for me, there is one big thing missing from this setup: if you want music in the living room, and in the study, and in the bedroom, you have to buy three of these things, and rip your CDs three times each. If one of these boxes could feed a Rio Receiver or a SliMPEG over ethernet (wireless perferred, of course), I'd be much more interested. Central storage, distributed independent playback.

    -Mark

  4. Audio formats by I_am_Rambi · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Uses MP3 format at compression rates up to 320 kbps. Enough capacity for nearly 400 audio CDs or 5,000 individual songs.

    Does this mean that I can only use mp3 format? How about wav or Ogg Vorbis?

    I would not spend $400 on one of these. I currently have 25 gigs of storage that I can use for whatever, and supports all music formats. Thanks to a Linux file server, and winamp, and free cd ripping software. Why would someone want to spend $400 when I put together a better file server that cost under $100?

  5. The "greedy son-of-the bitch" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    Bill Clinton supported DMCA and signed this bill into law.

    So before you start your criticism, might as well aim it the right way.