I have seen and experienced the Apple ipod and must admit that it is pretty cool. So, when Dell decided that they were going to branch out and enter the MP3 world as well, I had to see what all the fuss was about. I mean this was and still is primarily a computer company. A very good one, but not a company that has ever been know for electronics. Could they pull it off? Would their offering stack up?
THE SPECIFICS:
* 4.1" x 2.7 x .86 inches
* 7.6 ounces of weight
* 20 GB of hard drive memory (4962 songs in MP3 format)
* Up to 16 hours of play time
* USB 2.0 PC connection
* 80% recharge in an hour and 45 minutes
* Full recharge in three hours and 20 minutes
* Music match 8.1 software
* Microsoft OS
As usual, when I write on the electronics or computer world, I will not include too much in the way of technical info. I simply do not understand it. I do, however, know if something performs up to expectations and whether or not I think it will result in a good purchase. Keep in mind that I have only had the Dell Digital Jukebox for about three weeks.
WHAT I LIKE:
1. The ability to store more songs than I will ever begin to listen to. Think about it: You can store close to 5,000 songs and you will never begin to listen to them. But ya know what, it is nice to have the ability to store and listen to that many should you choose to. It is also nice to not have to worry about memory sticks and/or deleting files in order to clear room.
2. The Dell is a good deal compared to other models. At about $275 it is cheaper than other models from Creative Nomad, Rio, and iRiver models. Granted, some of the other models have more memory, but do you really need the 60GB that Creative Nomad offers? I doubt it. The Dell is about the cheapest good model that you will find and it runs close to $100 less than most of the similar spec competition.
3. Having the ability to pick up the phone and get Dell's vaunted support group is a huge positive. I have almost always had a Dell computer and am always pleased with the competency and short waits when I need to reach the customer service people. I am assuming the same thing applies on the electronics end of their business since Dell has always been a leader in customer service.
4. This thing is very easy to use. I have always been kind of annoyed by the ever shrinking electronic technology because it means that things are perfectly sized for a woman's fingers, but not a man's. The Dell is not tiny, but not bulky and that is one reason it is easy to use. The controls are spaced far enough apart that you are not going to be knocking one while going for another. The controls are also fairly limited when compared to a lot of the options that exist with some other brands. Alas, that does not mean you are giving up bells and whistles with the Dell.
5. The battery life is wonderful. I can actually go for close to the Dell advertised 16 hours of play time. Now this involves turning the back light off and using moderate volume settings, but who cares. Having the ability to go an entire weekend with plenty of juice is a nice benefit.
6. The LCD screen is quite good. I am a big fan of the larger LCD screens of recent times. This one in particular is easy to read and also very clear. I will also mention that the blue LCD light does a great job of lighting up the screen- even in bright sunlight. I would also mention that this a well put together machine. You are not going to break it and it can take a little bit of a beating.
7. I am familiar with the Music Match software and like it. I would mention that it may take some time to get used to, but do keep in mind that that is often the case. I have grown to love the ability to navigate the software. I am still getting used to having to pay for songs, but I guess we all knew that those times were too good to be true. The software can be a little on the slow side from time to time, but otherwise I like it.
8. The performance is quite good. The Dell records quickly and as clear as day. The playback is very good- sound is very crisp and clear and never suffering from any static or white noise. I am impressed with the sound and especially so when you consider the price.
WHAT I DO NOT LIKE:
1. The battery dies and you have at least an hour and 45 minutes wait until you will have an 80% recharge. In order to get a 100% recharge, you will have to wait for more than three hours. I always wonder why this is. Other electronics (Cell phone, for instance) do not take so long to recharge. A minor annoyance and one that should not worry you as the battery is quite good.
2. Dell is new to this game. While I love the Dell computers, they are new to the game of portable music and I wonder sometimes if I should have looked to a proven company. Just a mild concern, but one that is in the back of my mind.
3. The design is pretty much boring and very unimpressive. I look at this as good and bad. Good because I would rather not pay an extra $50 so a machine will look good, but bad because it really is spartan looking.
4. I am not a big fan of the headphones. Dell includes two sets and I wonder if that is because they know they will break frequently. The sound is good, but they are very flimsy and, quite frankly, feel cheaply made.
THE BOTTOM LINE:
I am a big fan of the Dell's initial entry into the MP3 market. There are a few small annoyances, but nothing that really makes me say that this is not a good product. There are also some differences that will take some getting used if you owned other models from other manufacturers.
The bottom line for me is that this is a great deal. For close to $100 less than other similarly equipped models, you receive a very good model that offers virtually all of the bells and whistles and more memory than you can imagine. A great deal for a very good product.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 275.00 Recommended for: Music Lovers - High Capacity Storage for an Entire Album Collection
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