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Originally Posted by FlameGrilled
I'll tell you why compressed audio CDP's (MP3 CDP may be a convenient term, but it sidesteps the fact that most now support more than one codec, and some include video support) are still worth bothering with...
Say you are travelling...
A 20/40/60/80Gb HDD player may be able to contain a pretty damn massive proportion of a typical domestic music collection and have it on tap, but the HDD's mass storage is also it's not-always-traveller-friendly disadvantage.
A CD-ROM (700Mb, at ferk cost all per blank) can easily hold a pretty good selection of most-commonly-listened-to travel selection, and most CDP's (even those with gumstick main DC power source) can still be run off 1 or 2 AA's (depending on the make/model) in alkaline or rechargable form.
Given we are talking 60-130 hrs per charge (around 40-80 per pair of AA's) in compressed audio playback mode on such decks (the higher extreme of figures, is pretty exclusive to Sony units) on replaceable cells that cost ferk all (you can pay peanuts for a bulk pack of 12 Duracell AA's), that's more convenient to a traveller who's not overly able to rely on having an AC point on hand to use an CDP or HDD unit's charger with.
I've travelled, been 'out in the field' with no more than two or three CD-ROM's packed, and maybe one Audio CD album, and would pick the endurance factor and a decently compiled couple of CD-Rom's of favs over many Gb's of audio that i don't have time normally to listen to most of.
HDD's are less battery friendly, and it's battery friendlyness that counts for a lot for travelling.
Also, when it comes to security - noone takes a blind bit of notice of CDP's, where DAP's you mentally associate with computers (such as flash decks, in their resemblence to portable data keys, and HDD DAP's) are not always easily explained away as being harmless mere audio players. It's not a huge problem, in many cases, but simplicity is golden when travelling, and being able to not even need 'explain' something like that, is definately in your favour.
A closing note re CDP versions of MP3 decks - they can be purchased (here in the UK anyway) for upwards of about 45 UKP (at 45 UKP, less UDF reading capability, there is one that's pretty damn close to iMP-250/350 equvilence) and that's about 1/3rd of the cost of a HDD unit of decent capacity. Ask yourself this :-
If you were to get a deck ferked up, which would you prefer to bin, a sub-100 UKP CDP type and be able to still (with zero tools) rescue the content (aka the CD-ROM's), or a obviously ferked/not servicable multiple 100 UKP cost HDD that short of electronics assistance and poss data forensic methods, may mean a total loss of all content forever..??
For travelling, the CDP still justifies it's existance happily in the same way a MD unit stil is more than good as a subbie for a walkman.
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