Dell DJ: The Other "iPod"
Written: Jun 01 '04 (Updated Dec 27 '04)
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Pros: Incredible value, Dell's high reputation, Great ergonomics, Compatibility with different music services
Cons: Battery life, MusicMatch shortfalls, Accessories only from Dell
The Bottom Line: If you don't mind MusicMatch and can utilize AC power, the DJ is the perfect alternative to the iPod near-monopoly.
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| MASTERNC's Full Review: Dell DJ (15 GB) MP3 Player |
In the modern world of file-sharing and digital music, MP3 players have been an alternative to carrying around books of recorded CDs and having to switch discs just to find a favorite song. With file-sharing programs such as Kazaa remaining popular, record companies have been looking for a way to thwart the theft of music. At the same time, businesses have looked to capitalize on the new idea of selling digital music files on a per-song basis. However, with record companies and credit card processors taking most of the proceeds from song sales, these firms have turned to selling MP3 players to make profits.
Apple was the first of these companies with its iTunes software and iPod player. To try to create a stronghold in a Microsoft-dominated environment, Apple restricted iTunes to Mac computers for about a year and ultimately made its iPods compatible with only its format of copy-protected songs (not the Windows Media-based format). In response to the popularity of the iPod, major electronics manufacturers teamed with other download companies to cash in on Apple's success. One such company was Dell Computer, the successful custom-built computer manufacturer, who teamed with the MusicMatch download service. The result was the Dell Digital Jukebox (or DJ).
Having downloaded about 24 songs from MusicMatch, I didn't want to have to re-purchase the songs from iTunes in order to use an iPod. Also, I was disappointed with the ergonomics of the iPod despite its small size. Finally, unlike the iPod, which still sells for its original price, the DJ had the same storage capacity while being over $50 cheaper (I bought a refurbished model at a $25 discount over the normal price, which was still $50 cheaper than the iPod).
Design: As I stated before, the DJ is a bit bulkier than the iPod (especially the iPod mini). However, it is still no bigger than an average cell phone (it's a lot thinner) and can easily fit in a pocket. What Dell lacks in size it makes up in its controls. Unlike the iPod's touch-sensitive rotary wheel, which controls different functions at different times and can be difficult to master, Dell uses a scroll wheel (like on a mouse) with separate controls for playback and volume controls on the side. Selections are made using the scroll wheel and pushing it in to confirm a choice.
Compatibility: As Dell is a PC manufacturer, the DJ is only compatible with Windows-based PCs (most Mac users would probably prefer the iPod anyway due to its specific compatibility with Mac OS). Unlike the iPod, the DJ can accept almost any copy-protected song in Windows Media format (in addition to regular MP3s)--in fact, Microsoft certifies it as a compatible device with its encryption technology. That means that downloads from most major sites, including Napster, MusicMatch, Walmart.com, and MusicNow will work on the DJ (although I have not tried this yet--most of these sites list the DJ as being compatible though). The DJ can also be used as a portable hard drive (there is a separate program for file management--songs cannot be uploaded through this program). There are no games or time-management programs like in the iPod, but most people buy an MP3 player for its music capabilities, so those aren't as important.
Setup is very easy: charge the battery, install the software drivers (and MusicMatch if you desire), and connect the DJ to the computer using the included USB cable. Although MusicMatch is the preferred song transfer program, regular Windows Media Player will also work.
The sound quality is much better than that of the CD player I had--part of the reason is the DJ's customizable equalizer. The only gripe I have is that I sometimes hear a mechanical noise (like a skipping CD) before or after a copy-protected song is played (this may have to do with the MusicMatch files though).
Software: As I mentioned earlier, the DJ is designed to work best with MusicMatch software. All Dell DJs come with the basic version. There is an upgraded version with faster recording to and from CDs, but I don't find that is necessary unless one wants to record from a record player or cassette tape ("line-in" recording can only be done in the upgraded version, which costs $20). The program is decent, but lacks some of the features that iTunes has, such as the ability to listen to the songs located on another machine on the same network. Also, I have had some MusicMatch downloads refuse to transfer to the Dell DJ; however, MusicMatch tech support graciously let me re-download them and the problem went away.
Battery Life: Dell claims that the DJ's lithium battery can last 16 hours between charges. However, that is based on the assumption that all of the songs on the player are of the same quality. In reality, most legal downloads are of a higher quality, taking up more disk space and requiring more battery power to play. As a result, my battery indicator usually drops after 1-2 hours of play, especially if I pause or skip songs frequently and power the unit on and off. Otherwise, I have had the battery indicator not drop after 6 hours of continuous uninterrupted play. Still, I usually plug my player in to the car or the wall outlet when I can. The battery cannot be replaced by the user (as is with the case with the iPod). I don't know the replacement costs but hope they aren't too high and that the battery will last a while before that happens.
Price: The Dell DJ is an incredible bargain. While most MP3 players that cost $100-200 only have between 128MB and 1.5GB (1500 MB) of space, the Dell DJ has 15GB, meaning that it can hold thousands of songs at once. In addition, it is $50 cheaper than the standard iPod of the same size (the iPod mini only has 4GB of space and costs as much as a 15GB regular iPod and almost the price of a 20GB Dell DJ). The only catch to the low price is that accessories are very hard to find in retail stores (unlike the iPod, which can be purchased at major retailers). Instead, most official accessories must be ordered by Dell.com, meaning that they have your business for a while and opening up the possibility of being overcharged for accessories.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 172
Recommended for: Music Lovers - High Capacity Storage for an Entire Album Collection
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Epinions.com ID:
MASTERNC
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Location: Pittsburgh, PA USA
Reviews written: 33
Trusted by: 1 member
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