Samsung Yepp YP-55V Review

daanger0us writes "RAM based MP3 players are still pretty popular. As hard drive based MP3 players get larger storage capacity, the RAM based MP3 players have to add new features to keep themselves compelling to customers. The Samsung Yepp YP-55V is one of the RAM based MP3 players that's added some pretty cool features at a reasonable price. 256MB of RAM, FM Tuner, ability to record from a line-in, from the FM Tuner and voice recording, USB Drive capabilities, upgradeable firmware, weighing in at 2.2 ounces all for around $160. Designtechnica has a full review. How many people still consider a RAM based audio player when shopping?" Update: 09/03 22:11 GMT by T : That should be "MB," not "MG" as it originally read.

Comments

CD based MP3 players

[Brahmastra]

I still prefer CD based MP3 players. The media is cheap, and the the player is cheap.

Re:CD based MP3 players

[Chris Burke]

That's why you get a CD mp3 player that supports "directories", a convenient method that allows a hierarchical organization of files. You know, like Artist/Album/track#-Name.mp3.

This works great on my Rio Volt, which lets you easily move up and down through the directories, and even has neat things like "directory shuffle" or "Album shuffle" where it randomly selects a directory and plays the songs in order. The track#-name.mp3 keeps the name short so it mostly shows up on the small LCD display when scanning tracks quickly, and fixes problems I had with really long filenames.

Anyway, organizing a CD shouldn't be any harder than organizing a lot of mp3s on your computer's hard disk.

Don't knock it....

[JoeLinux]

Hard Drive-based technology is still rather klunky for the gym. Ultra-small Ram-based systems can provide enough music for one work-out.

I know, a geek that goes to they gym. Amazing, huh? No, I don't have a girlfriend. I still don't think that those mythical girl-creatures exist. I think it's just a dirty trick those jocks play on us.

Re:Jogging

[El Pollo Loco]

Size matters too. When I run, and when I lift, I don't even want something the size of a CD on my arm(forget the waist!). The solid state mp3 players are generally smaller. And won't skip. And won't jostle a hard drive. Even for just lifting, hard disks can take some abuse.

Re:Jogging

[Kazymyr]

Except that you can't buy these anywhere. They were all either "concept" devices that never made it to mass production, or if they did there was a limited batch and then they were retired. So unless you head for eBay, you're stuck.

I'll tell you what the problem is:

[Anonymous Coward]

Moving parts. That is one of the biggest problems with the MD player, i.e. it has way too many of them. My MD player broke over a simple mechanical defect, but one that was cost prohibitive to repair. RAM based players make this much more difficult to happen.

Also I dunno about that capacity you quoted. I remember getting CD-comparable storage, with PERHAPS the option to lower quality for slightly more time (I really dont remember), but nowhere NEAR what you could put on 256MB.

MDs were great when they were first available. But with RELIABLE mini-hd based units, and cheap often-expandable RAM based systems (flash cards anyone?), MDs are past their prime in terms of usefulness

Re:It is pretty sweet.

[gwernol]

But every time when I decide to deal with Apple I always come to painful realisation that I just hate their attitude. They have this dumbass business strategy that only they know what you really need and they determined to shove it down your throat. I don't want to troll on them. Apple has really cool products, they have good engineers and designers. But at the same time they always try to sell you the most expensive one. Here in Bay Area it is impossible to find 10 GB version of iPod. All BestBuys and Fried electronics have only 30 GB versions (for extra $200)

That's unfair. Its the retailers that decide which models to carry, not the manufacturer. I'd guess that the retailer margin is higher on the larger models, which is why Best Buy et al. don't stock the low end models. Don't blame Apple, blame the retailers.

You could always order a 10GB model online if your local store doesn't stock them. I bought my wife an iPod at CompUSA in San Francisco- they stock all three models.