Registered: Mar 2001
Location:
Posts: 21

Soundsgood?

I'm looking into selling my Rio 500 and buying the Soundsgood (yes, I know the Minijam is "better" and "expandable", but I like the Soundsgood's form factor)... So I have a couple questions for people that already own them... answers are appreciated!

1) Claims about battery life: I dunno if it's just me, but Thinkoutside's claims that the Stowaway uses less power than Graffiti input just don't stick with me... After a few days of typing, a fresh set of alkaline's are shot... Just how bad is MP3-playing on a Visor's batteries (specifically a Plat)?

2) How does the snap-on hard cover fit with the module in place (Both on the front and on the back)? i.e. Does it actually fit and stay on in both positions, and what exactly on the module is blocked/covered when the cover is in place in each position? Can I snap the cover onto the back and jot down some notes while listening to music? Is it going to randomly pop off?

Thanks!

Registered: Mar 2001
Location:
Posts: 21

... and on the same note... Let's say I go crazy one day and decide I want to listen to music and type some thoughts with my Stowaway at the same time... should I buy a couple Energizer AAA fusion reactors for my Visor, or is this actually not going to kill my batteries in 10 minutes?

Registered: Dec 2000
Location: Petersburg, AK
Posts: 131

I think you'll like your new Soundsgood. I've had some prety good luck with batteries. Some programs like thinkDB and HandyShopper seem to drain my batteries more than the mp3 player. I'm powering big headphones often with the volume pretty high. I turn off the indicator lights (on the buttons) to save a little battery life. The problem with that is you can accidentally turn them on when putting your cover on the back of the visor or just having the visor unprotected in your bag or pocket. When the snap cover is on the back it covers pretty much everything but the headphone jack. It fits on just fine and I've had no problems with it coming off. When I got my soundsgood I bought the battery system from eXtend so I could recharge instead of replacing batteries more than once a week. I now have a Prism though.

I've used the stowaway with the soundsgood a few times but it never lasts long. I always get to talking to the person next to me. They withhold their comments while I'm listening to music and writing with grafitti but they just cant hold them back once I pull out that funky keyboard...

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

I haven't found the battery life to be too bad. However, I usually use my SoundGood in the Energy Clip, to the point where it's really only plugged into my Prism when I transfer songs.

Registered: Oct 2000
Location:
Posts: 443

i also have a plat and a stowaway and have used the keyboard and the soundsgood together.

however... i've never really noticed what the battery drain is because i use the extend rechargeble battery system ( http://www.extendcomputer.com/html/..._for_visor.html )

my recommendation is that you check it out and then you'll never have to worry.

mc

Registered: Sep 2000
Location: Raleigh, NC
Posts: 832

Not knocking the MP3 modules, but I think that a totally seperate player would be a better idea, as well as more expandable.

Registered: Oct 2000
Location:
Posts: 443

forgot to answer your second question. the lid fits front and back with the module in. no probs. it will not pop off.

mc

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

To respond to dampeoples post (great avatar, by the way); a standalone MP3 player may be more expandable.

However, if you lay out the extra dough for the Soundsgood's "energy clip" it works just like a standalone player.

Registered: Mar 2001
Location:
Posts: 21

Just realized something else I was wondering... will the soundsgood keep playing music when the Visor is off (i.e. after auto-shutoff)?

Registered: Mar 2001
Location:
Posts: 21

D'oh... I keep coming up with questions that aren't answered in any reviews... this should be my last post...

1) Can the REW/FFW buttons be held down to change the position in the current song? Or can that only be done with the slider in the audio player program?

2) Has Good Technology completely given up on the Soundsgood (I noticed Palmgear seems to own/control it now)?... i.e. should I not hold my breath on Flash ROM updates and such?

3) (from prev. post) Does the Visor need to be on to play?

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

To answer your questions:

1. Not to my knowledge. You can skip whole songs, but not within a song.
2. They've been pretty quiet - I don't know if that means they have given up or not. There's been some speculation on the boards to that effect.
3. Yes, you can run the module in the visor when the rest of the visor is powered down.

Registered: Jul 2000
Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada
Posts: 415

how long does it take to fill all 64mb with mp3s?

crashes? how often and how severe?

software to install songs on module, is it convenient to use?

__________________
-thorin

I have a webcomic. You should read it, or I may do something rash. <b><a href=http://driveby.keenspace.com/>Drive-by Loitering</a></b> is updated every monday, wednesday and friday.

<!img src=http://www.frontfly.com/myrouter/vcsig2.gif alt="Soundsgood is too elite for the punks."><img src=http://www.frontfly.com/vcsig.gif ><!img src=http://www.frontfly.com/myrouter/vcsig2.gif alt="Soundsgood is too elite for the punks.">

Registered: Jul 2001
Location:
Posts: 4

>>how long does it take to fill all 64mb with mp3s?

crashes? how often and how severe?

software to install songs on module, is it convenient to use?<<

Figure that you can fill the 64MB with about an hour of music.

I've never had the SoundsGood crash, but occasionally it will ask you to remove the module and reinsert because the "software is hung". A simply remove and insert fixes the problem.

The Good Desktop is almost too easy to use. Simply drag and drop mp3s onto the software window, rearrange the files and press the obscenely huge blue Move It button. It really can't be easier.

Great product, and with the EnergyClip, you also have an extrememly small mp3 player that you can take running, jogging, etc.

-brian

Registered: Feb 2000
Location: El Segundo,CA
Posts: 374

It takes less than 10 minutes to fully load it.

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My Treo has more memory than I do.

Registered: Oct 2000
Location:
Posts: 443

quote:

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Originally posted by j762538
It takes less than 10 minutes to fully load it.

---

Registered: Feb 2000
Location: El Segundo,CA
Posts: 374

4.5 min is less than 10 min. I should have said less than 5 min.
YMMV

__________________
My Treo has more memory than I do.

Registered: Jun 2001
Location: Mo-Town, WV
Posts: 22

To tell ya the truth, the cover doesn't exactly fit perfectly on the back. (but i didn't notice for a good while) You know the crack between your visor and the module? That's where the cover snaps onto. It's because of the extra 1 mm added to the back, but don't worry, you probably wouldn't have ever noticed it until now that I've told you.

I just like the fact I can run other stuff while listening to my music. Yes, downloading takes under 5 minutes, probably much less. The quality is better than a Rio, b/c I used to have one.

Anything else?

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~Jonathan

Registered: Aug 2001
Location: NYC
Posts: 4

Any Cases that hold the Soundsgood?

Does anyone use the Soundsgood module with a case other than the standard issue hardcover and sleeve?

I got a free leather case (snap close) with my Deluxe and like it a lot, but now that I've bought the Soundsgood, it won't fit in the case due to the 1/2 mm extra in width.

Anyone find a binder-type case that actually does hold it? I'd like to find one with a snap close so I can access the volume control and headphone jack without having to unzip part of it.

Thanks. Icepick

PS.. anyone wondering about the battery life, just invest in the eXtend FullCharge unit. I re-charge it at home once a week and I only see a nominal drain after a lot of heavy use. It's worth it just on the convenience factor alone of not having to remove the batteries to charge.