Convince me to get the D2

[Echesketch]

I'm currently looking at two players. The Cowon D2 and Creative ZEN. I've obviously found many pros and cons of both players. I've got a couple questions for this forum about the cons of the D2 that may be fixed or may not even be that bad. Possibly someone can change my mind about them.

1. How dirty does the screen get when you constantly touch it all the time? I'm not going to carry around that stupid stylus thing.

2. Is the ability to scroll through a song or movie easy to do without the stylus? I have fairly normal fingers and want to know how easy it is to move this slider bar?

3. I've heard that browsing by files is hard when going between SD card and internal memory. Is this something that might be fixed by firmware updates?

4. For the players alarm function, does the unit need to be on or will it turn on automatically at the right time?

5. As I understand it, you can set the volume buttons to "next/previous track" when the hold button is on. One part I can't seem to find online is if this setting will act as fast forward and rewind if held down?


6. Say you turn off the player while in the middle of a song. When the unit is turned back on will the player resume the playlist from where you left off? If so, will it happen automatically or do you have to press a button. Also, does it matter if the song was playing or paused when the unit was turned off?

7. Can someone list the functions that can be set to the buttons when on hold?

8. Although not very important, might the player eventually support ACC (.m4a) files? I have a few on my computer and it would just be easier.

Sorry there are so many, but that is it. Thanks.

[JIMBOAthens]

1. Dirty enough but you can wipe it at once using e.g. your sleeve, or bye a screen protection which is cheap.
2. It's not very easy but you can handle it.
3. It's not that hard. You'll get used to it.
4. It will turn on automatically but don't forget to plug in speakers or your headphones.
5. Exactly.
6. You can resume from the beggining of the last song. You have to press the play button.
7. You can find the list if you look around the forum.
8. I am not sure.

I hope my answers will help you to make the right decision for your new player!

[theRightNee]

1. buy a screen protector-a case is not really neccessary, and if you want a one, just grab an Altoids tin (stylish and safe)-and being dirty is not an issue; i rarely wipe my D2 and its still as clear as the day i got it
2. it takes getting used to-it works through the use of applying differing amounts of pressure, or at least thats how i see it
3. imho its not difficult per say, rather just annoying-one needs to go up the directory until it branches off into D2 and D2 EXT, go to EXT and then browse the files from there
4. never used this function; cell phone!
5.yep
6. to my knowledge there is no way of manually turning off the unit, if it is playing, it'll keep playing until paused. When it times out and turns off, turning it on again will bring you back to the that was last playing, and you start from the top. =]
7.hold all/FF+REW/Volume
8. Not as of now; but it is possible, though unlikely, in future FW's or if Rockbox does get ported to the D2 then maybe then, though who knows about the SQ...

we're always glad to convice new people into our group!

[kr0me]

1. Get a BSE for it... $5 and you won't have to worry about it again

2. Just use your fingernail. I barely have any nails and it works fine... though even using your fingers is fine... I never use the stylus and I have fat fingers.

3. I use ID3 browsing and it is seamless.

4. it will turn itself on I believe.

5. Yes it will, though at firmware 2.51, this function doesn't work for me on my 8gb D2


6. It will not auto-resume. You'll have to press play again.

7. Doesn't work for me so I can't... sorry.

8. isn't it just easier to transcode them?

[Echesketch]

thanks all so much. Your answers have mostly been positive and have made me like the looks of the D2 more. Almost just as important is the fact i got so many good responses. I posted questions about the Creative Zen on two forums and got almost no answers. The support behind the D2 makes me more confident. I'm definitely leaning toward the Cowon. Does anyone know if they may put out a 16gb version? This would, without any doubt, seal the deal.

[tsayin]

Huh? Other Cowon players will auto-resume to the same place in the song as when they turned off (or were paused and auto shutdown). Why can't D2 do this? Or at least que to the same spot in the song?

[shotofadds]

Not resuming at all is better than my Zen Vision:M - it seems to choose a random position in a random song when you'd think it should resume where you left off

[Ferry]

@tsayin

You have the option, when you press play, to resume the song at the point you left it, but what it will sadly not do is auto-play when you switch it on again, you have to enter the Music section and press play. That's two "key" presses and the screen unnecessarily on. As I said in another post, quite annoying and uncomfortable...

Cowon should add this feature, at least as an option, in the very next firmware update.

Saluditos,

Ferrán.

[kr0me]

i haven't heard too many good words on the Creative Zen, unfortunately.

[Echesketch]

One other question. Is a 16gb version a likely possibility. I think I've decided on the D2 and wonder if it is worth waiting. Is there any difference between the internal memory or data on an SD card. As I understand it, the only difference is the browsing by file. Is this the only difference. What about download and upload speed? Is putting songs on the internal memory faster?

Also, can you move files between the internal memory and the SD card while on-the-go?

[Echesketch]

well, i contacted Cowon to hear what they say about a 16gb player being sold. This is basically how the chat session went

I asked, "Is there any possibility of a 16gb D2 player?"

Technical Support Team 3:
Let me find out for you.
Technical Support Team 3:
One moment.
Technical Support Team 3:
It is projected to do so, but I have no clue to as when.
Technical Support Team 3:
Late in the year or beginning of next year.
Technical Support Team 3:
At the moment I do not have any estimated time frame.

So it looks like it will happen. But I;m guessing more toward the end of the estimate. Probably February.

What was the delay for release of the 8gb version from when the news of such a player emerged?

[morgan]

wow that's fairly big news.

i guess i'll just sell my new 8GB D2 to my brother when the 16GB model comes out.

will it be a D2 though or a new "D3", i wonder.

[nila]

Well the 8Gb version has only just come out recently so I cant see the 16Gb version coming out tooo soon!

[ProDigit]

Convince me to get the D2

Buy the D2, or I'll kill you!

[JIMBOAthens]

You can buy the 8GB D2 and get an 8GB SDHC. I think that this pack would be cheaper than the forthcoming 16GB D2. And you can enjoy your music right away!