IMHO, the 2 main problems with the clones is the sound quality and battery life. If the sound quality is greatly improved with new headphones (significantly, though) then that's one problem solved.
I don't recall what the battery life is (10 hrs or?) but with the current Nanos able to provide 20-24, that's hard to beat even for the price of a clone. Think of it as use time. While the guy who spent $150 on an iPod, the other guy who spent $60 on a clone is probably recharging while the iPod owner is listening to music. You get my point. The other interesting tidbit I have heard about mp4 players is that some use a cell phone battery and are easily replaced. I think if the mp4 player has removable batteries, that's a huge advantage. I could be mistaken but I thought iPods had to be sent for replacement.
With all that said, however, it is easy to suggest considering one of these clones. You are not tied to particular software and you can get one at a decent price. The iPods are overpriced, aren't they? I was thinking of getting one or a brand name mp3 player but only because I was not too happy with the sound in my mp4 player. Also, I have had to buy an adapter and I discovered the player won't play VBR files (another disadvantage).
But, I bet that these mp4 players will eventually improve, both in design and overall quality. It's just a matter of time. For now, I think they are only good for the price. However, given time and addressing the issues, that could change.
|