I’ve been holding out on buying an mp3 jukebox for some time. I have a nice inexpensive discman and a 16x burner that have served me well, but I’m really itching for a portable hard drive. I have been waiting for the disk space to ramp up and the units to get smaller. In terms of size I couldn’t ask for more than the iPod, and the firewire, backlit display, and simple controls are exactly what I’m looking for. I’m a PC user but I would just use this or similar software.
My music collection takes up over 70 gigs and grows weekly. If Apple released a 30 gig player I would probally break down and buy it, but oh how I would love to be able to have my entire music archive at my fingertips wherever I go. It occurs to me of course that very few people need/want an mp3 player with that kind of space, and the technology is somewhat far off. So, what do you think, am I holding my breath for a product that may never be?
Depends on how fast Toshiba can cram more storage into that microdrive of theirs. I think a 100 GB iPod won’t show up for another two or three years myself, but that’s just a guess as a consumer, not backed by any scientific knowledge.
Note that if your collection is greater than the iPod’s capability, Apple’s iTunes software will let you specify which playlists to refresh the iPod with, so you can opt to carry just the first 2,000 songs that you want with you today (“Okay, no need for the ‘romantic candlelight dinner’ collection at the office”). And Firewire’s fast enough that filling even the 10 GB iPod won’t delay you for too long, I’d imagine.
If you’re not stuck on Apple, you could buy a d-Link Roq It and upgrade it with a 40GB 9.5MM 2.5" Toshiba notebook drive. Note that that drive won’t work in the iPod because the latter uses a 1.5" drive.
No, you’re just a couple of MacWorlds ahead of your time
Seriously, the 60 gig IBM TravelStar is smaller than an iPod, and I’d be astonished if drives didn’t continue to get smaller (physically) and bigger (logically).
Meanwhile, you could carry your entire music collection around with you in a CD wallet full of DVD 4.5 gigs easily enough. My Case Logic CD wallet holds 24 and you could burn your 70 gigs on a mere 15. Of course you’d need a device that can play back .mp3 files on DVD media, which might have to mean something a big more cumbersome than today’s iPod. Would work pretty nice in an iBook though.
By then keithnmick, I expect to have gig/sec net connect at all times, networked into my clothing, with a MEMS display that writes directly on to my retinas, and a bone resonance tooth phone. Just sign me up for the Borg package. In the meantime though, a 100 gigs of music that fits in my shirt pocket would be nice.
that you want with you today (“Okay, no need for the ‘romantic candlelight dinner’ collection at the office”). And Firewire’s fast enough that filling even the 10 GB iPod won’t delay you for too long, I’d imagine.