6/22    Mp3 players...opinions?  iPod?  iRiver?  Rio?  WHAT IS THE STANDARD?
        \_ If you own a recent BMW or MINI, get an iPod. They work with
           your steering wheel controls now.
           http://www.apple.com/ipod/bmw
           http://www.bmwusa.com/ipod
           http://www.ipodyourbmw.com
           \_ Thanks, this is awesome! --aaron
           \_ Hey that is pretty cool. I'll go buy a BMW now.
              \_ Unfortunately, it only works with bare-bones BMWs...if you have
                 a nav system or premium audio (in some models) you are SOL.
                 \_ You're not missing out on much without a Nav. Honda has
                    some of the best Nav systems out there and even they
                    have some ways to go.
              \_ This may be cool, but it's probably not worth getting
                 a BMW for it. What I really want, and I see it happen
                 in a few years, is audio dashboards that can take
                 mass storage compliant devices such as CF, Memory
                 stick, USB, etc. I can then just connect my ipod, or
                 a CF card, and use it just like a CD from the
                 dashboard. That'll be cool. Heck, even a DVD player that
                 can read MP3 files stored on a DVD will be nice. 4.7GB
                 per disk. Who needs ipod in the car?
                 \_ Anyone with a nontrivial commute.  All I want is a
                    radio with a line-in jack; I'll hook up my ipod that
                    way.
                    \_ BMW offers a line-in jack in their 3-series. But
                       I'm not sure I want to be navigating through an
                       iPod menu while I'm driving. That's worse than
                       sipping coffee and talking on your cell phone.
                    \_ I agree, a standard line-in jack would be so nice.
                 \_ Audio dashboard? Well, this BMW thing lets you a) power
                    the ipod b) use the same ipod in your car and portable,
                    no need to have a fancy car hard-disk system that only
                    stays there c) just plain beats mp3s-on-cds, that are
                    limited, bulkier, and don't have the playlist stuff.
                    There are other ways to set this up, and obviously this
                    isn't reason to buy a $30k car, but it's cool and uses
                    the cd-changer interface. There are mp3-playing cd
                    changers also but get with the program man.
                    \_ I'd rather take a DVD than an IPOD to my car. Much
                       lighter and easier to replace. The playlist can be
                       and should be configured on the dash, much like radio,
                       or burned on to the DVD. Ipod is like going through the
                       tape interface to listen to CD in cars.
                       \_ I'd rather not burn DVDs and replace them when I want
                          to change playlists or add more stuff or swap dvds
                          or configure stuff on the dash, or have discs
                          cluttering the car. It may appear inelegant at first,
                          but a hard drive system synced using a PC is the
                          best and the ipod fits this perfectly. It's stupid
                          that it can't be independent of sat. radio and nav.
                          A DVD would be actually be fine for me too though.
        \_ Tape Walkman is the STANDARD!
           \_ Go away, proletarian pig dog.
              \_ Oh yeah, you're too cool for a walkman.
           \_ No.  A 200W portable stereo on the shoulder is the standard.
              \_ VICTROLA!  VICTROLA is the STANDARD!
        \_ E450 is the standard Enterprise class mp3 player. See the url
           from yesterday.
           \_ Dunno, that struck me more as a "my dick is bigger" type project.
              *shrug*
        \_ One of the reason to go with iRiver before was with how often they
           used to release updated firmwares with new features.  But they've
           been pretty bad updating firmwares.  I'm still waiting for unmanaged
           version with OGG support on my iFP395 that was supposed to come out
           back in January.  I probably won't buy another iRiver again.
           \_ I won't necessarily count this as an advantage. Company that
              releases firmware every other week are usually pretty buggy,
              like the linksys crap. My Garmin/Netgear has far fewer firmware
              releases and is a much better product.
              \_ Most of iRiver's firmwares are fairly stable and bug-free with
                 the exception of recording noise bug introduced in the USB-HD
                 version of iFP players.
              \_ Why is rapid firmware updating a good thing in a consumer
                 device?  Why can't they get it right the first time?  No one
                 wants to update their CED every 2 weeks.  I don't update my
                 toaster, my TV, my alarm clock, fridge or BBQ grill.