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

What about SliMP3?

[danro]

Why not use the much cooler (geekier) SliMP3?

And get cool stuff and an even cooler open source project to participate in / benefit from.

And, no, I am not affiliated with Slim Devices in any way.
I just think it's neat.
Guess I just can't resist the bright, bright VFD...

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?

Multiple rooms

[kriegsman]

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

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.