[ChaChi Boy]

Is it me or is this going to take a ton of sales from the iPod.

20 Gig hard drive
USB and FireWire
Equalizer
Nice interface
10 hour battery
Carrying case
FM Tuner
http://www.sonicblue.com/audio/rio/rio_riot.asp

What's not to like? (ok the iPod LOOKS a little cooler).

I think us Mac users will have a hard time admitting this thing rocks. PC users are no longer going to have iPod lust.

[Mac Guru]

What are the dimensions for that monster? It looks huge... reminds me of a SEGA Game Gear or a T1-92 Calculator... both of which were a bitch to haul around.

Mac Guru

[Jansar]

Who would want to listen to 20 GB worth of music anyway? The iPod also is going to have new firmware to allow it to do other things than just play music. The Rio looks too bulky anyway. I'm sticking with my beloved iPod

[Jefe]

Where do you see that it has firewire? I don't like the design as much as the iPod, I like the one-handed use of the iPod. And it never gives the physical dimensions, but I'm sure it's larger than the iPod.

Very cool to have a 20G harddrive, but I don't think it's going to kill the iPod. But hopefully it will spur an iPod update

[Justin W. Williams]

Originally posted by ChaChi Boy:
<STRONG>Is it me or is this going to take a ton of sales from the iPod.

20 Gig hard drive
USB and FireWire
Equalizer
Nice interface
10 hour battery
Carrying case
FM Tuner
http://www.sonicblue.com/audio/rio/rio_riot.asp

What's not to like? (ok the iPod LOOKS a little cooler).

I think us Mac users will have a hard time admitting this thing rocks. PC users are no longer going to have iPod lust.</STRONG>

Someone better have some large pants to haul that thing around. At least more companies are making Firewire connctions for those beast mp3 players (well, i assume it has firewire). USB is way too slow.

[ChaChi Boy]

Originally posted by Jefe:
<STRONG>Where do you see that it has firewire?</STRONG>

Tech TV said it has FireWire:

"To load songs onto the Rio Riot, you connect it to your computer with a USB or FireWire cable."

[mrtaber]

I do wish they'd spend more time on industrial design. Ok, so I think it's ugly. But, having got that out of the way, yeah. However, click 'Demo' and then 'Hardware info'--doesn't mention a thing about FireWire; just mentions USB. Hmmmmmm.

MarkT

[marusin]

That website that you put a link to only mentions USB... Call me next month when my 20 gb of mp3s move over...

I'll keep my iPod. More than enough music for me to listen to on the train on the way to work and being able to just plug it in and have it charge and transfer my music without clicking, selecting or dragging things around is awesome...

Just this morning I decided I wanted to listen to the Barenaked Ladies "Stunt" album. I put the cd in my Mac and it automatically pulled the CDDB listing and ripped the cd while I was in the shower. I plugged my iPod in as I put on my coat and the whole cd moved over to it by the time I zipped up my coat. Unplugged my iPod, put my headphones on and I was out the door.. I never ONCE had to touch the keyboard or mouse (granted I have iTunes automatically rip cds when they are put in)... I felt like I was in an Apple commercial (minus me dancing around like an idiot)...

[ 01-11-2002: Message edited by: marusin ]

[ChaChi Boy]

Originally posted by marusin:
<STRONG>That website that you put a link to only mentions USB... Call me next month when my 20 gb of mp3s move over...
</STRONG>

http://www.techtv.com/products/consu...367273,00.html

"To load songs onto the Rio Riot, you connect it to your computer with a USB or FireWire cable"

[ 01-11-2002: Message edited by: ChaChi Boy ]

[Jefe]

maybe they said "USB or Firewire" because they weren't sure which it had

Originally posted by ChaChi Boy:
<STRONG>
http://www.techtv.com/products/consu...367273,00.html

"To load songs onto the Rio Riot, you connect it to your computer with a USB or FireWire cable"

[ 01-11-2002: Message edited by: ChaChi Boy ]</STRONG>

But according to sonicblue
http://www.sonicblue.com/audio/rio/rio_riot.asp

PC
Microsoft Windows 98/SE, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Me
USB Port
Mac
Mac OS X, 10.1 or later, Mac OS 9.0.4 or later (Mac OS 9.1 or later recommended)
Built-in USB port

If it had a FireWire port, it would be listed in their own specs. I'd guess that TechTV is wrong (wouldn't be the first time)

George

[Package]

I actually don't think it looks bad....it would probably work pretty well as a semi-permanent install in a car, for example. I would love to have 20 gigs vs. my iPod's 5, but with USB? No thanks.

You're going to have to go FireWire or better to have an "iPod killer." Simple as that.

Package

[jfischetti]

It's the Pontiac Aztek of mp3 players

To ugly, too big, and did i mention ugly.....

[ 01-11-2002: Message edited by: jfischetti ]

[scottiB]

The "intuitive LogiTrack interface" seems to need two hands to use.

[macanonymous]

The specs are cool.

The device is not.

It's ugly and slow (I'm sure TechTV was wrong). Another "me, too" PC product.[/LIST]

[ericwass]

Does look a bit big. But I like the idea of "favorites" and the "DJ" functionality. Apple should take a hint. Also..a RADIO! The big missing link from the iPod. I love my iPod but I'm not so blind as to believe it can't be bested. Innovation always leads to imitation.

[marusin]

Sorry.. Didn't read your mind on your posting...

The link you posted (http://www.sonicblue.com/audio/rio/rio_riot.asp) has no mention of FireWire... Just USB...

Originally posted by ChaChi Boy:
<STRONG>

Tech TV said it has FireWire:

"To load songs onto the Rio Riot, you connect it to your computer with a USB or FireWire cable."</STRONG>

[scaught]

besides the fact that its a brick and the rio site says nothing about firewire (techTV is stupid), who knows what the software for putting the music on there is like. i would guarantee its not nearly as good as iTunes works with iPod, period.

[ratlater]

It's very simple, this isn't an iPod killer for 2 very "large" reasons. 1) It uses a 2.5" inch drive so it will be huge, and 2) It doesn't have firewire.

This is an ok mp3 player, but it's no different than the Creative Nomad.

-matt

[JoeG4]

Can't even compare.. honestly, the ipod is the size of a deck of cards!

Or, for the nerdy ****'s, like a smaller 2.5" harddrive, and I mean including everything.

I was dumbfounded something that tiny could exist. Then again, I was shocked when i found how small the 80gb hard drive is in my G4

[mokolabs]

Yep, ChaChi Boy, it's just you...

(1) No firewire
(2) Goofy industrial design
(3) Looks big

I guess all the 'but Windows can do that too' people will have to wait a little bit longer to rationalize why they use such a crappy platform...

[mrchin]

No, it is Firewire as well as USB. TechTV had it at the CES floor showing the plugs for it. It's just a bit bigger than the iPod. And now, people saying that who wants to listen to 20 gigs of music. But when the iPod came out, everyone was complaining that we need more. You're never gonna need to listen to 20 gigs at once but if you've got it all on there, you've got a lot more to choose from. Plus it's nice that it has a memory that interprets what songs you listen to most and sorts a list of your favorites.

I still love my iPod, and ain't gonna change it for this.

[Prufrock]

Anyone know if it also is able to transfer files like a portable hard-drive?

That is a key feature to me and how I use my iPod.

I think this feature of the iPod gets ignored when we start looking at other MP3 players that are coming out.

[roxnadz]

Thanks for not giving us technical specs, Sonicblue

I wonder how big it actually is in relation to the ipod. I'm not too hyped on the design, but it seems to have a nice feature set. However, if it doesn't support partial caching (or have a big enough memory buffer to not require it in the first place) it's useless for me.

[WJMoore]

Originally posted by roxnadz:
<STRONG>Thanks for not giving us technical specs, Sonicblue

I wonder how big it actually is in relation to the ipod. I'm not too hyped on the design, but it seems to have a nice feature set. However, if it doesn't support partial caching (or have a big enough memory buffer to not require it in the first place) it's useless for me.</STRONG>

I have managed to find specs on this page:
http://www.newsfactor.com/perl/story/15760.html

In the interests of a comparision I drew them to scale in AppleWorks, you can see how they compare here.

The Riot has my attention as it has some neat software features as well as a basic equaliser, radio and 20Gb... I have more then 5Gb of MP3's. If it doesn't support partial caching or Firewire (although someone above seemed to have inside knowledge that it does) then I could still go for an iPod though.

[Severed Hand of Skywalker]

Originally posted by mokolabs:
<STRONG>Yep, ChaChi Boy, it's just you...

(1) No firewire
(2) Goofy industrial design
(3) Looks big

I guess all the 'but Windows can do that too' people will have to wait a little bit longer to rationalize why they use such a crappy platform...</STRONG>

1) It has firewire
2) agreed
3) It is not that big
4) windows users care more about specs then anything else.

[marusin]

How come everywhere but the OFFICIAL site has specs that this device has Firewire? Click the "Demo" link and when that loads click "Hardware Features"... Again no mention of Firewire.

I've seen this mp3 player before somewhere... I think it's called a Laptop.

No thanks for a two-handed mp3 player. I'll keep my iPod in my jacket pocket.

[mrtaber]

I don't care for the looks, but...it seems they're doing something right. Bigger capacity never hurts (I have way more than 5 gigs of music already). It would all depend on the size and weight--right now the quality of the iPod's sound (with my Grado SR80's, I don't need an equalizer) as well as it's small size, I'm really content with my iPod. FM tuner? A lot of people may want that; I don't (radio bites in our area).

However, competition is a good thing. What product ever came out of the starting gate and couldn't be improved upon? Now, if they could only hire some better designers to work with their obviously talented engineers...

MarkT

[Edited for logorrhea]

[ 01-15-2002: Message edited by: mrtaber ]

[Severed Hand of Skywalker]

Originally posted by marusin:
<STRONG>How come everywhere but the OFFICIAL site has specs that this device has Firewire? Click the "Demo" link and when that loads click "Hardware Features"... Again no mention of Firewire.

I've seen this mp3 player before somewhere... I think it's called a Laptop.

No thanks for a two-handed mp3 player. I'll keep my iPod in my jacket pocket.</STRONG>

Right, the only one that forgot was the official site. It happends.

TechTV showed it on the showfloor and it clearly had a FireWire port on the side.

[Brit Ben]

Originally posted by ChaChi Boy:
<STRONG>Is it me or is this going to take a ton of sales from the iPod.

</STRONG>

It's you. That thing is as ugly as sin.

Ben.

[BTP]

Why would any of you be surprised that people are playing follow the leader with Apple products?

If it does have Firewire, that is good, but as TSHOLS said, Windows users could are less about specs. Kind of like the guys that drive around in muscle cars painted with primer, but has a kick ass engine.. Strictly function over form. If this does force a new iPod or price drop, that would be nice.

Does anyone know the dimensions or how much this thing weighs? I can't imagine that it is near the size of the iPod, since the drive is one of the smallest and I can't see a 20G drive being as small.

You know what they say about imitation.

[AlanApple]

400 albums! Forget it. It was only 20 albums ago that I was in a whole area of music that I don't even want to remember. Besides this thing looks huge. With this in my pocket I am either going to have a strangely shaped ass or worse still it will look as though i have a constant erection. That can't be cool. I think I will stick with my iPod which is just sublime (and it doesn't give me weird bumps).

[Severed Hand of Skywalker]

Originally posted by Brit Ben:
<STRONG>

It's you. That thing is as ugly as sin.

Ben.</STRONG>

Ya it is me. Since when are PC's or Windows the least bit atractive? They sell boatloads.

[Jansar]

Originally posted by Severed Hand of Skywalker:
<STRONG>

Ya it is me. Since when are PC's or Windows the least bit atractive? They sell boatloads.</STRONG>

That's why I hate them. And Bill Gates, too.

[Severed Hand of Skywalker]

Originally posted by Jansar:
<STRONG>

That's why I hate them. And Bill Gates, too.</STRONG>

Fine, we might hate it because it competes with an Apple product but that doesn't mean that it will not sell as well as the iPod.

I promise you PC users will eat this thing up.

[talisker]

Apple has brainwashed us all with this 'Industrial Design' nonsense. Lots of comments here about the Rio's poor industrial design etc. Er, don't we just mean 'Design'?

Originally posted by talisker:
<STRONG>Apple has brainwashed us all with this 'Industrial Design' nonsense. Lots of comments here about the Rio's poor industrial design etc. Er, don't we just mean 'Design'?</STRONG>

sorry to be nitpicky, but you asked. Industrial design is a real thing, apple didn't make it up. It is the design of objects. Like architecture is the design of buildings and graphic design is the design of flat surfaces (generalization). You can go to school to be an industrial designer, they have awards for industrial design, Jonathan Ives is an industrial designer.

So if you just didn't like the whole gist of the rio, then you would critize the "design." However if you did not like the shape and form of the rio then you would critize the industrial design.

[JFischel]

Toshiba announced a 20GB drive in the form factor of the ones in our beloved iPods. Moot point on the space, Apple wins hands down.

.jaf.

[tr]

probably has nothing to do with original topic, but has anyone seen the terapin mine?
http://www.terapin-mine.com/terapin/index.htm

looks like a good iPod competitor, it's larger, has a couple more features...but no firewire, and no mac support.

tr

[Maneki Neko]

Originally posted by JFischel:
<STRONG>Toshiba announced a 20GB drive in the form factor of the ones in our beloved iPods. Moot point on the space, Apple wins hands down.

.jaf.</STRONG>

Is the price point somewhere that will make a 20 gig iPod affordable for anyone though?

[Disgruntled Head of C-3PO]

They mention that it only has USB. Still, PC users will not care as 99% of PC's don't have firewire.
http://gear.ign.com/articles/317492p1.html

[VanToffler]

It works with Firewire and iTunes.

Originally posted by scaught:
<STRONG>besides the fact that its a brick and the rio site says nothing about firewire (techTV is stupid), who knows what the software for putting the music on there is like. i would guarantee its not nearly as good as iTunes works with iPod, period.</STRONG>

[Disgruntled Head of C-3PO]

Originally posted by VanToffler:
<STRONG>It works with Firewire and iTunes.


</STRONG>

These guys also say USB only: http://gear.ign.com/articles/317492p1.html

[Apple Pro Underwear]

Originally posted by Disgruntled Head of C-3PO:
<STRONG>

These guys also say USB only: http://gear.ign.com/articles/317492p1.html</STRONG>

THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE RIGHT THERE.

we started a thread about the damn thing and can't even determing the specs. the PC industry has always suffered from fragmentation and this is going to be a prime example. Apple makes a new innovative mp3 player, everybody knows about it because there is no real competition or it blows it away. rio makes one and nobody cares because they don't know how to make a device that is innovative and they have no idea how to market it.

this rio riot is not competition to the ipod. it is competition to a Nomad jukebox. Ipod smacks the jukebox up and now it smacks the riot up.

do you smell what apple is cooking?

[Arnold Schwarzenegger]

Ze Rio is too big, and zey hef to make it smaller. I want to fit it in ze pocket.

[Disgruntled Head of C-3PO]

Originally posted by Apple Pro Underwear:
<STRONG>
this rio riot is not competition to the ipod. it is competition to a Nomad jukebox. Ipod smacks the jukebox up and now it smacks the riot up.
</STRONG>

Why, because it is a little smaller and has firewire?

1) How many PC users have Firewire?
2) PC users are so hung up on specs and features they will eat this thing up.

[Moderator]

By spring, your iPod options will be as follows:

5GB iPod -$299
10GB iPod -$399
20 BG iPod $499

[xMetal]

one of the key advantages to the iPod is that it is compact enough to comfortably fit in one hand and your pocket.

Envision, if you will, trying to walk around with the Rio device in the front pocket of your jeans....

Done?

I rest my case. It looks like a fine device (only if it has firewire though. If it is truly USB only then it's worthless) but cannot compare to the iPod. Sorry.

[Disgruntled Head of C-3PO]

Originally posted by Moderator:
<STRONG>By spring, your iPod options will be as follows:

5GB iPod -$299
10GB iPod -$399
20 BG iPod $499</STRONG>

Thanks http://www.mycleo.com

[Arkham_c]

Nice job on the AppleWorks PDF.

I saw this thing on The TechTV CES show. They were raving about the interface, but it didn't look very nice to me. Its also a lot bigger than the iPod. One of the appealing features of the iPod is its portability. You can stick it in your pocket. The RIO Riot suffers from the same flaw that the original Newton had. It's small enough to barely fit in a pocket, but heavy enough that you feel it there all day weighing the pocket down.

The iPod is so small you don't notice it.

I am not the target market for either one (I would not pay $100 for either of them), so I may not be the best judge, but the iPod will hold twice as many songs as I have in iTunes right now, so the extra space of the Riot holds no benefit for me.