MP3 Mailbox Monday
A: Unfortunately, not many MP3 players are compatible with Linux, and perhaps even fewer use hard-drive-based memory nowadays--the iPod Classic is one of the few ultra-high-capacity players on the market today. Still, there are some worthwhile choices for those who use the Linux OS. The first brand to look to is Cowon. Based on your list of wants, I would go with the Cowon D2, which has a 2.5-inch touchscreen, a compact design, and a hugely impressive 50 hour battery life for audio. Its sound quality is noticeably superior to that of the iPod, and it has a nice, solid feel to it. There are two minor drawbacks to this player. First, it only goes up to 8GB, but it also has an SD card slot that allows for memory expansion. Also, the interface isn't as "friendly" as that of the iPod, but that's going to be a hard feature to match in a Linux-compatible device. Another option is the TrekStor Vibez, which offers up to 12GB internal memory and a 22.5-hour battery life. The 1.5-inch screen probably won't satisfy your eyes, though.Q: I use SanDisk flash-based MP3 players and like simple software for managing my CNET podcasts. Juice has been great for Windows XP, but I need a recommendation for Windows Vista. I don't want/need iTunes nor want to deal with the Zune software digital rights. So is there anything small and sleek for Vista you can suggest? -- Chris, via e-mailA: We don't use Vista yet here in the office, so I don't have a lot of personal experience with that operating system or the software that works on it, but I found a couple of potential programs by scouring forums. The first is Miro, which looks to have a nice, user-friendly interface and a lot of features, but it appears that it may be a bit more than what you are looking for. The other is Feedreader, which seems to be more simple and perhaps a lighter program. It states "Windows 2000 and newer" in the requirements, which may or may not include Vista.
