"New" Dell DJ delivers big time
Written: Jun 16 '04
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Pros: Unbeatable price. User-friendly interface and buttons. Great sound. Awesome display. Fast transfer rate.
Cons: No bass boost. Limited equalization. No carrying case.
The Bottom Line: The combination of low price, great sound, an ease-of use makes this a must-have item.
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| dr-rjp's Full Review: Dell DJ (15 GB) MP3 Player |
First, I need to get three issues out of the way.
#1:
In mid-May, Dell released a firmware update (01.20.03 A02) that fixed a lot of the problems listed here. So, when you read my review, keep in mind that I updated my DJ before I ever used it. The new firmware allows you to find, sort, and play tracks by artist, genre, album, and playlist.
#2:
Ever since its inception, MusicMatch software has ALWAYS been a piece of junk, and I strongly recommend that DJ users forget about it totally. My recommendation is to use Windows Media Player 9.0 instead.
#3:
Dell also replaced its buggy Dell File Manager with Dell DJ Explorer which operates just like Windows Explorer in its ability to drag-and-drop files (or copy-and-paste) from folders onto the Dell DJ. It makes uploading files a breeze.
Now, on to my review.
SIZE AND FEEL
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Screw Apple and iPod. The Dell DJ is not only cheaper than that white toy, but it beats it hands down in versatility. The Dell DJ is a little wider and thicker than Apple's white toy by about 4/10's of an inch, but is the same thickness. The weight is about 2oz. more, but consider that the extra weight is due to a superior Li-ion battery that runs rings around the iPod in play time.
BUTTON LAYOUT AND OPERATION
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The DJ fits comfortably in one hand and its jog shuttle dial (actually a roller) can be easily operated with your thumb. If you ever used a Sony or Sharp camcorder, then you will find the roll and press method of selecting functions a familiar process. You simply roll and press to select.
In addition to the jog shuttle, there are two, very handy buttons surrounding it: a HOME button and a BACK button. The HOME button takes you directly to the top menu, and the BACK button takes you to the previous menu -- just like surfing the Web! :-)
The main controls for volume and power are large and located on the side. One of the things I particularly like about the DJ is its ruggedness and well-thought out design. There are three elongated buttons on the front panel for play functions. What is nice about these buttons is that it does not matter where you press them. Essentially, they are big buttons without being, well...big. In other words, no tiny buttons for which to go hunting.
The DJ has an absolutely awesome, blue display -- easily read in any light condition. The buttons also are backlit.
UPLOADING MUSIC
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As I mentioned earlier, Windows Media Player v9 is the way to go. It automatically recognizes the DJ as a portable device and you can easily transfer audio files (not only WMA, but also MP3 and WAV) from your music library to the DJ by artist, album, genre, and playlist. WMA files have excellent sound characteristics and take up less room than MP3's. What is great about Media Player is the ability to rip tracks directly off a CD and upload them right onto the Dell DJ. The transfer speed is quite fast: I am able to transfer files at a rate of 4.7 MB per second -- basically one, high quality song per second.
SOUND QUALITY
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First of all -- do yourself a favor. Get rid of the ear buds and buy a decent set of lightweight phones (Sony, Panasonic, Phillips). The sound quality is clean and excellent, although it lacks a little of the richness of some other players I have tried. Equalization (EQ) presets are included, but they are very limited. You can, however, set one of your own using a four-band equalizer. There is no "bass boost" so I recommend that you buy a set of headphones that has high sensitivity (at least 95Db) and good bass response (a low frequency response of 20Hz or less).
CUSTOMER SERVICE
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I order all of my Dell products via their Higher Education division, and perhaps that is why I have never had any problems with Dell support. They have been fast and courteous. If you are a student or teacher, then you should be going through the Higher Ed. division, and not going though the general public web site.
CONCLUSIONS
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Yes, it does not come with a carrying case (which is why the price is as low as it is). I recommend buying the Action Jacket (comes in assorted colors) which has three different ways of carrying it around. The battery life is outstanding. I recommend that you use Windows Media Player v9 and Dell DJ Explorer to organize and transfer files, and do not use MusicMatch at all.
Now, unfortunately, while the Dell DJ is recognized as a mass storage device, it is not recognized as a drive; i.e., you cannot assign a drive letter to it and run programs from it. You can though, transfer data files between your hard drive and the DJ thanks to the inclusion of a separate folder for them. If you wish to do this, simply plan on using Windows Explorer to transfer your files.
This is an iPod killer in every way imaginable. In short, buy one now!
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 199
Recommended for: Music Lovers - High Capacity Storage for an Entire Album Collection
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dr-rjp
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