View Full Version : New, somewhat negative X5 review
Here's a new review of the X5 printed yesterday from the Orange County Register, posted on MacNewsWorld:
The iAudio X5 will be hard to use and hard to figure out for most. I can't recommend this to my friend, the technoboob. Cowon needs to improve the software so nontechies can figure this stuff out easily. However, it does the job if you have the patience to learn and happen to be tech-minded. This could be better than your iPod.
I actually kind of agree with this statement, and the last sentence goes without saying, of course. :tongueu:
A non-technie would have a hard time figuring out the X5, and if Cowon came up with a better user interface they'd have been much better off.
Full review: http://www.macnewsworld.com/story/Dpn52Z3myzLPU8/Neverending-Quest-for-Perfect-MP3-Player.xhtml
Now that we are ten months since the introduction of the X5 this sort of commentary is more meaningful because of advances made by Cowon and other brands with software and firmware. Let's face it, the X5's day has already past. I love my X5 and will not be looking for a new player anytime soon. BUT, if were buying a DAP now, the X5 would not be high on my short list.
Wow, the topic of this review is now posted on the main page, only a few short minutes after I posted it here. Go figure. :nutty:
... because of advances made by Cowon and other brands with software and firmware ...
COWON made advance in their firmware? What?
Did you ever take a look at the "brand new" i6-firmware? It's just the same as the X5's firmware, just with a more visual main-menu.
That's no advance at all if you ask me - just minimal plastic surgery.
Only Creative made some advance here and owns the best GUI right now.
And to be honest this makes the Vision:M the top-pic among all HDD-DAP's right now, followed by the 5G iPod running on the last Rockbox firmware.
Just imagine a 60Gb iPod with Rockbox-firmware: open source Rockbox, extremely thin, 60GB, 20 hours battery-life, Gapless playback, Top sound quality, future DivX/Xvid support, UMS.
This is only a matter of time if you ask me.
Just imagine a 60Gb iPod with Rockbox-firmware: open source Rockbox, extremely thin, 60GB, 20 hours battery-life, Gapless playback, Top sound quality, future DivX/Xvid support, UMS.
This is only a matter of time if you ask me.
You just described the perfect DAP. If that ever happens, I'm so there.
I think this is a quality review of the iAudio X5... The X5 is not for people that are less sophisticated.
It's not a device for high school kids, they can stick with their iPods. The X5 is for enthusiasts and people into high technology.
Is it really that hard to handle? I can't imagine people having problems using the X5... at least not severe problems.
Me, being a geek/nerd/whatever can't put myself into the shoes of non-tech-savvy people - but my girlfriend got the X5, too, and she just turned it on for the first time, plugged it into her laptop, dropped her MP3s on the player and pressed play... :winker: All without my help.
afruff23
03-10-2006, 14:08
If you have ever used a hard drive on a computer(everybody), then you should have no problem with the X5. The reviewer is an idiot because they didn't even know it was a UMS device and the software is just there for idiots like her. That rockbox iPod sounds nice but I don't need 60 gig, nor do I want to spend $400. The 30 gig has too short battery life, so that's outta the question. No USB-OTG, radio, line-in, or mic. :(. I've also heard that the iPod is uncomfortably thin with sharp edges. I only used the new iPod for 5 minutes in the apple store.It seemed to be a bit too simplified. I like the X5's custom buttons.
Back to the review, it was not a quality review. As mentioned before, the person didn't realize that it is a UMS device. If she had ever noticed the automatic installation thing in the taskbar and opened my computer, then she would've noticed the simplicity. Drag 'n drop, can't get much simpler than that.
marktate99
03-16-2006, 10:07
My only real negative on my otherwise awesome X5 is that the screen is way too cluttered and the text is too small.
afruff23
03-16-2006, 14:56
The onyl cluttered thing on the screen are the sound effects things at the bottom.
Dadship12
03-16-2006, 15:32
iPod's battery life will suffer as long as they decide to appeal to the accesory crowd and keep making it thinner and thinner.
video indeed could be better, but hey, this is an mp3-player, not a portable dvd-player ^^
i really can't understand where someone should have problems with handling the x5, just play around with it a bit and you're set *g*
It's not a device for high school kids, they can stick with their iPods. The X5 is for enthusiasts and people into high technology.
What about the HS students who hate the damn Ipods? I know I do! Even when the sad ipodders look at my X5, they still are stunned by how it sounds and its looks.
afruff23
03-21-2006, 21:57
I would dare to say most if not all people in the DAP market are trying to fit in/have little tech experience/too lazy to research. However, iPod with rockbox looks nice. I don't think I am ever going to switch players, unless somebody makes a decent player with battery life on par with the X5L.
Surg Classic
03-22-2006, 00:40
The new iPod is beats the X5 in a lot off ways, its like 8 months younger than the X5 it should be expected.
afruff23
03-22-2006, 22:23
What?
If you're saying it's better because it's newer, then you're wrong. You can't compare thigns and say one is better than the other ebcause it's newer. That's like comparing a 2006 Miata to a '67 Mustang. I'm not saying the iPod(with rockbox) is bad. I'm saying the stock features for the X5>iPod IMO.
marktate99
03-23-2006, 08:32
The X5 has 3 things over the iPod: Sound quality, codec support and UMS. However, from a usability standpoint the iPod blows it away. The interface, while manageable, is weak. The display is awful. Can they make some of the text any smaller or fainter? Lets put some more useless information on it! I love it though because of the positives. However, I also love my iPods, Karma, Vision M, Sony HD5, Zen Xtra. Right now the Vision M is leading the race in y opinion.
... However, I also love my iPods, Karma, Vision M, Sony HD5, Zen Xtra. Right now the Vision M is leading the race in y opinion.
Are you serious, you really own all these devices right now?
iPod's (more than one?)
X5
HD5
ZV:M
Karma
Zen Xtra
Wow, haven't ever seen such a DAP-nerd like you.
You surely have too much money or you're addicted to HDD-DAP's!
But concerning your last sentence: I also think that the ZV:M is the most complete (but yet far from perfect) HDD-DAP right now.
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