Registered: Jul 2001
Location:
Posts: 12

MiniJam or SoundsGood?

I want an .MP3 player for my Visor Platinum and I wanted to see what owners of the MiniJam or SoundsGood player think about their devices. Mainly, I am interested in the sound quality of the players and it would be great to hear from someone who has compared both. I like the expansion capability of the MiniJam, but the speed and size of the SoundsGood are making me lean in that direction.

Registered: Apr 2000
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 604

I haven't compared both (sorry), but I love my SoundsGood.

Registered: Feb 2001
Location:
Posts: 268

I really like my SoundsGood. I love just about everything about it ... except that I really wish it was expandable. Really, that is the only fault. The sound, the controls, the software, etc. are all excellent.

Registered: Mar 2001
Location:
Posts: 347

I just bought a MiniJam. I haven;t got it yet, but I'll give you a review as soon as I do. I know that speed matters, but come on, you KNOW that you will want more than 1 hour of music on your player. Beisdes, if it take stoo long, you can always keep on card in the player and one card free to put music onto. Then there's the speedloader as well.

Registered: Dec 1999
Location:
Posts: 19

SoundsGood

I love my SoundsGood too. Have not compared it to the MiniJam side by side, but looked at the features before I bought it. Everything about the SoundsGood is high quality...

Registered: Dec 2000
Location:
Posts: 24

SoundsGood

My vote goes for SoundsGood. I agonized over this one last November when they were basically the same price, and I went for speed and size over expandability, and I've never regretted it. I rip at 64kbps, so I can get more than 2 hours music on the thing. Changing the tracks is no problem; the load speed is that fast. Even loading the entire memory takes less than 5 minutes. No big deal in my book.

What I really like about it is that it fits flush, so I can keep it all the time in my regular Slipper case. Would have had to buy a special Vaja to do that with MiniJam.

Sound quality is great, even at 64kbps. I never notice the difference with ripping at the lower quality.

Registered: Jul 2001
Location:
Posts: 12

Thanks

Well, I get paid in a few days and it is looking like the SoundsGood player for me. Expandability is great, but I work in an industrial setting, so I need to use a Fellowes "Bumper" case (by the way, this is a GREAT heavy duty case, it doesn't look good, but I have dropped my Visor down 15ft of stone stairs in this case and it took no damage). Also, I read a review of both in an old issue of Maximum PC and they said that the SoundsGood module has better sound quality (even better than a Diamond RIO).

Well, thanks for all the input.

Oh! One more thing: Does the SoundsGood module use a standard headphone jack? Because I would like to get some Sony noise cancelling earphones :-)

Registered: Dec 1999
Location:
Posts: 19

SoundsGood

Yep - its your standard dinky little headphone jack.

Registered: Jul 2001
Location:
Posts: 9

I have compared both units. Sorry to be the wet rag in this group but I am terribly disappointed with the audio players available for us Visor owners in comparison to what's available on the Windows Handheld side. Not only in features, but in price.
To be fair:
For the individual who simply wants to rip and run. Both units do a great job if that's all you want to do with it. I'm a SoundsGood owner mind you, but I'd have to say go with the MiniJam. I love the SoundsGood. I think it sounds great and it loads like grease lightening, but if you are into MP3 music in a big way, or feel your interest will grow, you will definitely want the ability to swap out MMC memory on the fly to expand your music capabilities.
I think it is unforgivable that Innogear didn't include a functional progress bar (like MediaPlayer or MM Jukebox). These are computers, they should have exploited that point. The Sounds Good has one and it's a joy but Sounds Good screwed up their software. There is a 14MB limit per file. If you're in to classical selections that are longer than 14 minutes you're out of luck. You can't upload it to the Sounds Good. Also, Good Technologies gave the whole shooting match to PalmGear, they're out of the hardware business now so you won't see any future development of this product.
I feel let down by the developers of these products. These products are overpriced for what they provide. For what we pay they should support multiple formats (Audible, WMA[protected!], have the same functionality as Windows Handhelds (read functional progress bar) they should load fast without the need of a "Speedloader" type device,
they should be expandable and they should provide the ability for upgrading to guard against obsolescence.

Registered: Mar 2001
Location:
Posts: 347

Well, I'll let you all know how I like my MiniJam...I should get it Monday or Tuesday.