What's your portable audio solution?

[Mozgus]

and I get what ID3 tags are for. And yes they are better then nothing, but it isn't that OR nothing, those ARE files on a filesystem... can I see the filesystem please? But sometimes I'd like my hardware to understand MORE then that. The fact I can't search for my music via a directory tree, one of the most archaic methods, should be freaking standard! Editing ID3 tags is time consuming and cumbersome.

Have you ever tried editing the ID3 tags of 100 gigs of music? It isn't freaking easy! Yeah I'll get it to it sooner or later. I've already sorted about 40 gigs worth, but I have well over 100gigs left and it took me over a year to get this far as is. I don't have the time to man handle through it all. I'd like my software... AND MY HARDWARE to understand something that I can program a freaking wrist watch to do (over exaggeration, but you get what I mean).

Completely agree. I have 75GB of music that I've been trying to tag for the past couple years. It's just torture.

[lordofduct]

command-e ejects, you could always 'right click' (ie ctrl+click) on the disk and select eject...

It's always been like that.

Tell all this to my mom, she never used a computer before. Hot-keys are cumbersome to memorize, and yeah "right click" makes sense on a two button mouse. The iBook doesn't have that, and ctrl+click still takes getting used to.

Of course there are answers to HOW to do it, but that's not my point. My point is how counter-intuitive most of them are. On a PC there has always been a external button for doing it, this is VERY easy to understand. Hot-keys and button commands take a little getting used to, maybe 1 or 2 days. But they should be simple to understand. Right-click and ctrl+click aren't counter-intuitive... you interact with the icon and perform a generic finger motion that relates to how you interact with ALL icons... you memorize one basic motion for all interactions. Right-click is GREAT, because right-clicking on ANYTHING always gives "alternate options", it's one action you learn and reuse.

command-e and trash can are counter-intuitive. Command-e has 0 interaction with any visual representation of the object you're trying to interact with, and you have to memorize multiple different commands. The only intuitiveness is that some of the commands start with the letter of the action you are performing... i.e. command-e for "eject". But ctrl-v/command-v for paste? Yeah it's right next to 'c' for copy, but this has to be all 'taught' to the user over time.
And the trash-can shittiness is just obvious.
PC takes care of ALL this confusion but simply placing an eject button on the outside of the case! Simple, intuitive, relates to the old-school way most newbies coming to computers are used to. We are used to eject buttons on our CD-Players, DVD-players, VCRs, power button on the TV, open button on the microwave.


Basic actions on a computer should have a default back up 'basic' way to do it. Not doing this discourages users. The simple action of ejecting a disk on OS9 was so annoying to my mother she won't use a computer... "I have my type-writer, and there is always pen and paper."

Making a new user feel like an idiot is bad design. People don't want to be made to feel stupid. My mother is not stupid, she just never used a computer... and don't say to "take a class"... we shouldn't have to take a class to do something this basic.

The kicker! My mother had to use a computer for a job she recently had. They used this archaic proprietary text based user interface (kind of like DOS), it was intuitive enough in "text only" that she had NO problem learning it in a few hours. What does that say MAC?




[edit]
I repeat the word 'intuitive' purposely. Intuitive - spontaneously derived from or prompted by a natural tendency, as opposed to reasoning or deduction.

[fastbilly1]

My question is why is integrated Bluetooth so important to people on desktops nowadays? Apart from a mouse and keyboard, maybe the occasional sync of the phone/palm, I cant really think of a use. I am a wires guy so that might be the problem with me not being able to see the point.

[Metalcrack]

So I've been through hell with the Creative Zen last month. I can't possibly express how fucking awful this product is. Two in a row were worthless; ridden with lockups and other issues. Absolutely pathetic. Do not buy, people. Thankfully Newegg is refunding me instead of replacing it with another turd Zen, despite it saying no refunds on this item. I've given them 3 grand in a few years, so...yeah.

Moz, sorry to hear of your problems. It's bad for a big name player in the MP3 player market (other than Apple) to have problems like this. I have an older Zen Vision :M 30GB, and so far, have had it freeze 1 time in the 3 years I have had it (it was in Milwaukee airport last week too.) Poking the reset button with a staple fixed it, and I was back to watching Boondock Saints in no time. I'd recommend that player to anyone looking for an inexpensive video player as it is starting to become long in the tooth.

For the phones, I use Koss KSC75s at home, and either creative EP-630's or JVC Marshmallows w/Shure orange foam earpieces depending on how I feel for my business trips (the length of the trip determines which ones; The Creatives are more comfy for me, but the JVCs are much better sounding).

OT, but at home I use a Creative XMod into my homemade amp, with Grado SR60s off my PC.

[ott0bot]

My question is why is integrated Bluetooth so important to people on desktops nowadays? Apart from a mouse and keyboard, maybe the occasional sync of the phone/palm, I cant really think of a use. I am a wires guy so that might be the problem with me not being able to see the point.

It's especially cool for networking. No cables is awesome as far as i'm concerned. Also works with some newer printers. With the MAC Air you have to use another computer to burn cd's because it has no CD drive, and only 1 usb??!! It's kinda stupid, but thats why it's so small.
Do the newer iPods support bluetooth? because my nano doesn't. that would be great.

Bluetooth will give you brain cancer though.

[Hatta]

You guys should try out EasyTag for tagging. If you have your MP3s in a sensible directory hierarchy, EasyTag can parse the path/filename and automatically tag every file appropriately. It's a dream.

[Mozgus]

You guys should try out EasyTag for tagging. If you have your MP3s in a sensible directory hierarchy, EasyTag can parse the path/filename and automatically tag every file appropriately. It's a dream.

I can see that working for most organized people, but the way I do things, there's just no automated method I can rely on. The best app I've found is Tag&Rename, and even that could use further customization options. It does however have access to all of Amazon's tag databases, as well as 2 others, but when it comes to all the game music I have, I hardly ever get results for them, so I have to google up the info myself.

[Niode]

My mum never had trouble using my macbook pro. My macbook pro also has an eject button. I very rarely use it because cmd-e is quicker.

I don't see how Windows is more intuitive than a Mac. I really don't, purely because windows has such a high penetration into home computing doesn't mean it's the best or right way. It just means that people have had more exposure to it and have more experience working around Windows.

Learning to use a Mac takes minutes. If you don't know how to use one, you can be taught to use one in store before you buy one. You can't get that in PC World.

[nocturnalnerd]

I use my psp.