ReviewerScott's Full Review: Intel Pocket Concert (128 MB) MP3 Player
I'm confounded by the ecstatic reviews given the Intel Pocket Concert Audio Player (IPC)in the computer press and here on Epinions. And while I have the greatest respect for the other reviewers here, I must respectfully disagree.
This is the third MP3 player I've owned, and my least favorite. Creative Labs Nomad II was the best - it came with a belt clip, had expandable memory, and arrived with sleek silver headphones. The same company's Nomad II MG also came with expandable memory, and had better radio reception than the Nomad II. But the metal headphones, which inserted in your ears, were like a torture device, and it didn't have a belt clip.
The IPC plays loudly. It also has a belt clip, which makes it very convenient to carry.
But unlike the other two devices, it doesn't have preset EQs, which makes it hard to find the right sound mix. The FM radio reception is the worst of any portable I've ever used. Jodie Foster had an easier time hearing the aliens in Contact than I do trying to listen to Howard Stern.
The Intel desktop software that comes with the IPC is much less robust than that used by Creative Labs. You can't use it full screen in 1024x768 resolution, and it doesn't let you sort by date. These shortcomings are very annoying when you have as many MP3's on your system (600+) as I do, and you want to find the ones you burned yesterday.
Like others, I also think it's outrageous that Intel charges so much for their accessory pack. The Nomad II MG comes with a docking station that recharges the batteries, and it's a great boon to usability - and better for the environment!
I also find the IPC a little bulkier and heavier and thicker than the other players -- and the bland ovalish shape is uninspiring.
And those bright blue plastic headphones with the huge "INTEL" stamped on them are an insult. I can't see anyone over the age of twelve wearing them.
Lastly, no matter how much memory a peripheral comes with, a true techie will always want to expand. I thought I'd be satisfied with 128mg, but guess what -- I'm already busting at the seams. The IPC won't grow along with my MP3-lust, and so I give it a thumbs-down.
128 MB of built-in memory--over 4 hours of music Digital FM radio with 10 presets Supports MP3 and WMA; upgradeable to support future digital standard...More at Amazon Marketplace
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