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-- InnoGear ready to ship MiniJam ... (http://discussion.visorcentral.com/vcforum/showthread.php?threadid=5511)

I just received an email from InnoGear saying that they're ready to start shipping the MiniJam to "those that are on our mailing list." I guess we get first priority. They're taking pre-orders now for a ship date in early August. Pretty cool.

BTW - the 64mb MiniJam (60 minutes worth) is going for $259.00, while the 32mb (30 minutes) is going for $199.00. Kind of pricey if you ask me.

I received this preorder e-mail from Innogear too. After seeing the MiniJam pricing, I must say that I am extremely disappointed (especially since this is probably *THE* springboard module that I have been waiting for). I had my eye on the 64 MB version, but it's just too expensive, IMHO. The fact that I live in Canada doesn't help things either -- with our weak dollar, I suspect that the 64 MB version would be over $400 at the final tally -- simply crazy.

Oh well... it was a cool idea anyway. Maybe it's time to reconsider something like a Diamond Rio...

quote:

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Originally posted by Ken:
BTW - the 64mb MiniJam (60 minutes worth) is going for $259.00, while the 32mb (30 minutes) is going for $199.00. Kind of pricey if you ask me.

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quote:

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InnoGear Product FAQ - January 15, 2000:
Q: What else will the MiniJam do?
A: Additional features and enhancements for MiniJam include <snip> Memory Expansion for your Visor: MiniJam will also act as a �hard disk� for your Visor applications and database files�. you will be able to store Visor related data on the MiniJam memory.

Q: How much will MiniJam cost?
A: That depends on the memory configuration, and pricing is not final as of right now, but we are estimating a 64meg version to be about $225 and a �zero� memory model to be under $100 (zero memory MiniJams will be available for customer who already have MMC flash cards and/or who wish to buy MMC memory elsewhere).

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Just to keep you guys informed and those who are disappointed (such as myself), there is this mp3 that I found that I can't imagine why it is such a good find. I clicked on this ad banner, and found one of the only mp3 & cd audio players around. For about a 100 bucks, and it ships in a week... not August. I don't know what else to say except that I don't work for them but I put a banner on my page to get to them.
http://www.geocities.com/timmins39/

I hate to sound like a spam mail, but I have been so excited since I got mine.

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what?

I'll give you my opinion. I have never owned a memory based mp3 and I don't plan to until they have at least 1 gig of memory and are $99. It will happen.

For now I recomend getting a mp3 cd player. I got one for $99 and I can get 10 hours of music on a .75 cent CD. I can listen in my car, take it around anywhere I go.

Anyways, thats my opinion.

Heyday

I just ordered my MiniJam. Lets see when it really ships!

My rational is along the lines of what narnia_77 mentioned. This thing is supposed to act as a storage device for data in addition to mp3s. Also, the convenience of having only one device to carry around instead of two is a big plus. Finally, with the external MMC slots, it should be very expandable.

One question I have though... earlier Innogear said that the player has no base memory, and has two MMC slots. But in the description when I ordered they make it sound like it comes with either 32 or 64 AND has expansion slots. Ok, that sounds too good to be true, but I will be really pissed if my 64MB configuration comes with no base memory and 2 32MB MMCs!!!

Looking forward to that shipment!

These were the selling words to me:

"Utilities include: Megabyte Flash memory expansion, Mass storage of Palm OS Applications and Database files, and Programmable flashing LED Silent Alarm."


Superstream

I just ordered mine. Sure if it could only play music, then it wouldn't be worth the money, but with that much storage, I can carry around my portfolio and a link cable and easily dump it onto anyone's computer. Much easier than hauling a zip drive around! This way I can listen to music AND impress the heck out of potential clients!

[This message has been edited by LuckyChuck (edited 07-11-2000).]

Hey heyday - where did you get your mp3 CD player for $99?

I got so tired of wanting for Inoogear, I went and brought the Nomad, that has a FM tuner and a digital recorder, for 20 bucks cheaper. I am sure that there are others who are fed up with the waiting game these techo companies give to the consumers

The MP3/CD player can be found here, and goes for $115. Oh well, it was nice dreaming about the MiniJam.

I am most thrilled that the MiniJam will be shipping soon. I searched around to find the cheapest MMC's. I saw a 32MB card on one site for $67. I'm sorry to say that company is based in Singapore. http://www.pcstop.com has them also at a price of 75.93 per card. So if you take the base price of the MiniJam at $99 and add two 32MB cards you get a total of $250.86: a saving of $8.14. Not worth it in my book to purchase MMC's elsewhere unless you can find them for a rock bottom price. (And you have to pay for shipping.) And Innogear probably got a deal for buying in bulk anyway. So when the time comes around I'll be buying the MiniJam.

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I have never owned a memory based mp3 and I don't plan to until they have at least 1 gig of memory and are $99. It will happen.

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I have to agree with LuckyChuck and Superstream (hope I got the handles right) ... I'm not buyung this solely for the music, though that's a huge part of it; I'm buying in becuase it's so much more than this.

Frankly, with this and Bluetooth, I'd like to think I won't need the SixPac.

Also, I was equally surised to learn that Innogear was shipping with base memory ... give me STORAGE! Ah, hah ha (sounding like Tim Allen doing standup).

Can't wait!

Just my .02

Christopher

Does anyone know if the audio record feature mentioned in the product lit a few months back will be on this first release of the product? I didn't see it listed in the features on Innogear's store page, and that was a big selling point for me.

That is a very good question! It was supposed to use the built in Mic if I remember right.

Heyday, where did you get a $99 MP3/CD player. The selling point of the 115 on is that it is the only one avaible on the market right now. ANd I've done a #@$load of looking for another one that is out. Please tell me which one you are using.

As for the 15 dollar MP3/CD player. Read the unofficial guide on MP3car.com, it doesn't seem to be that good. You can only burn the CD's at 2x speed, and 700mb discs can't be used. There are many more things that make this very unattractive. I think that it would be wise to wait for the next one to come out.

BEN

I asked Innogear what the deal was with the different "base" memory models, and this is what they said:
"The MiniJam contains no onboard memory. All memory comes through the use external memory cards.
If you order the 64mb MiniJam it will come with one 64mb expansion card leaving one empty slot."


But I can't seem to find 64MB mmcs anywhere--the only price I could find listed an unavailable 64MB chip for over $300!!!

Well, here is the answer from Innogear on my recording feature question:

***Email Content***
To: Geoff Harper

Thank you for your recent contact.

Regrettably, the built in mic and voice recording feature
was not included in the MiniJam Springboard Module in
it's final configuration.

Please look to our upcoming 6-Pak combo card for voice
recording and a built in speaker.

If you have any questions or concerns please contact us
through any of the following means:

Phone (within the US): 1-877-711-6778
Phone (outside the US): +408.848.2759
Fax: (408) 848-5784
Email: [email protected]

Evan Prieskop
InnoGear Customer Care

-----Original Message-----
From: Harper, Geoff
Sent: Tuesday, July 11, 2000 12:15 PM
To: '[email protected]'
Subject: MiniJam Recording Capability


The original product materials released earlier this year listed a feature
that allows you to record using the Visor's built-in microphone. Is this
feature a part of this first release of the MiniJam product? This is a
deal-breaker for me, so please let me know ASAP so I can place my order.
Thanks!

***End of E-mail***

Well, doesn't that just bite the big-one! For $259, I would have expected this feature to be included. I guess this won't be my first springboard purchase afterall...

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Regrettably, the built in mic and voice recording feature was not included in the MiniJam Springboard Module in it's final configuration.

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