How well does D2 work with Macs?

[CannotRegister]

Just wondering if anyone's using there D2 with an Apple Mac. Any differences or special issues to be aware of? How does the D2 handle videos uploaded from a Mac, does it use the same software or is it different?

Many Thanks.

[etlgfx]

I use a mac at work so I've had to transfer files from the mac to the d2 a few times, works fine since the d2 is mounted as a regular removable drive.

I haven't tried the videos from the mac though, since I have all my videos stored on my pc at home and I just use the supplied software to convert them to proper format for the d2.

I think you can manually transcode videos to work on the d2 yourself you just need to know the right xvid settings the d2 will play, there's another thread about that here somewhere.

[Ape]

I'll be watching this thread with some interest (thanks CR). I'm very tempted by a D2, but need to hear from a Mac user that they use one without problems.

Two main things concern me: making playlists (I understand you can't with these, but surely if you can drag and drop, you must be able to drag and drop a playlist into a file? Not as convenient as say using iTunes, but still doable...); and uploading video. I'm a technophobe, so talk of manually transcoding videos somewhat scares me off (but thanks for your input etlgfx)....

[Blackroom]

Playlist support is only with MTP and Windows Mediaplayer or Mediamonkey, Therefor a Mac is not gonna be able to do playlists to the D2 if not someone has managed to create MTP support for OS X. For videos check out the video section here, I am almost certain that there is some good programs for OS X or ix os´s that you can compile for OS X. But check through the video section.

Edit: Concerning playlists, Hopefully Cowon will give it pls or equal support in the future, but do not take my word for it ;-)

[Ape]

Thanks Blackroom. Do you use it with a PC? If someone with a Mac can tell me that even without quite the level of ease of use you get with a PC, using a D2 with a Mac is hassle free and straight-forward, then maybe I'd still go for it...

[hibell]

i have a pc and an ibook (10.4.9) at home. and i use both interchangeably with no problems at all.

just remember when with mac make sure its msc mode. only way to use with mac is msc = drag/drop system.

as for video converting. you cannot use official software since its only windows compatible. i do video converting on both pc/mac and no problems also. with mac, i use several different programs. but mostly use iriverter (check videos section). simple. sometimes i use visualhub also. the main thing is to make sure its d2 compatible specs (320x240, with compatible audio format - again either check videos section or cowon official site)...

there were many threads asking similar question about d2 with mac but really hard to do search with it because of word too shore (mac). i would say if you have the time just check rest of threads (most had the word mac in title) and see if any of them help. any more questions i'll try to help.

oh. having both systems (pc/mac) made my life easier. lol.

edit: take that back about looking at threads about mac. really hard to find, im already on page 16 and only found 2 threads about mac and not much answers. i'll try to answer any questions you have though.

[Ape]

hibell, that's really helpful, many thanks. I have a PC at work, but can't use that for downloading etc, so essentially am limited to what I can manage on my Mac. I'll have a look at the videos sections and check out iriverter and visual hub. If they're easy for a luddite like me to use, I may just take the plunge...

PS: I did try searching for Mac threads but found the same problem you did! Plus sometimes they were threads where people had had specific problems that others insisted were atypical and it's difficult to judge how widespread or not they are without seeing a wider selection of Mac users' views.

[Ape]

Hmm. I think I may go for an iPod, just because it's guaranteed to work smoothly and seamlessly with a Mac. Invest in a decent pair of headphones and hope that's good enough...

[hibell]

just to let you know, a decent pair of headphones wont help you at all. but good luck anyways.

i did try my ultimate ears super pro 5 on my co-workers ipods (6 of them) and well they all sucked. i would've let them use mine (or tried it out) but thats disgusting. i did let them listen to my d2 and a2 with their set and they were blown away with the sound quality. but yeah, trying to explain to them on how to transfer songs and converting videos, etc...their eyes were bugging out. they like the simplicity of their ipod. each their own. i dont like any particular software or limit myself to one particular software.

and if you're planning on getting the video ipod. video quality is just ugghh. lets just say marketing and $$$ helps...cause i dont understand how ipods are #1 sellers. oh well.

again hope you are happy and fully satisfied with an ipod. but like you said they are guaranteed to work with the mac. and that is whats important to you.

[Mr. Black]

My D2 works smoothly with both my macs, its great really.

[wader]

Originally Posted by Ape

hibell, that's really helpful, many thanks. I have a PC at work, but can't use that for downloading etc, so essentially am limited to what I can manage on my Mac. I'll have a look at the videos sections and check out iriverter and visual hub. If they're easy for a luddite like me to use, I may just take the plunge...

If you're interested in those kinds of video/audio conversion tools, I wonder if ffmpegx might be to your liking - appears to be a nice, all-in-one toolset. Similar freeware tools for Windows have obscure and laborious interfaces, IMHO.

- wader

[Mr. Black]

or Handbrake

Seems to be very good although I've yet to test it.

There's also iriverter for OSX

[stevil]

Works perfectly with apple

I used to have an ipod but the sound quality is really bad so I get a X5L. but after 1 1/2 years of use it felt to heavy so now I own a D2. even better sound than the x5.

the only down site is that there is no iTunes integration. me I don't care so much for it as I like drag and drop and it will work on windows / mac and linux

the only thing I noticed is the 3.5 firmware with the latest OSX 10.5 seed doesn't work very well so I down graded to 3.5b.

any way a friend of my is a true mac zealot and he recently converted to cowon because of it superior sound quality. And he didn’t regard it although he morns over the loss of ITunes integration (pod casts etc)

if you don't care for sound quality that much and you appreciated the itunes integration I would go for the iPod. but if you really enjoy music I would go for the D2....

apart from the sound quality the D2 have more things over the ipod, like way better battery time and a very nice screen and it is smaller and weights less than a iPod. and it is expandable by SD memory

[Ape]

Thanks again Hibell. Also Wader, Dominic and Stevil.

Good job I checked back in. I'd almost made the decision to go with the pod. Having now heard from Mac users that it's really simple (and integration is less important to me than sound quality and ease of use for someone not particularly technologically competent), I think I'm now firmly back in the D2 camp. Now to find the best deal...

Thanks again to everyone.

[Mr. Black]

No probs... I think other than ebay the best price on the D2 is at newegg.