So hard to choose

[doc9872]

At the risk of seeming annoying - I was hoping to ask for advice between the Clix2 and the X20 from those with experience. I presently have a 1 GB Cowon iAudio 5 player (pretty disappointing - poor build, a number of firmware issues that have only been marginally fixed) that I use almost exclusively for going to the gym or running. The player is pretty beat up now and the limited capacity is starting to get annoying. My main priorities with a new player are size (I'm 6'3" so it doesn't have to be/probably shouldn't be tiny), ease in use, durability, battery life, features (FM radio, video, etc). I'm not an audiophile so while sound quality should be good, it doesn't have to be premier. Memory expansion is a plus, but I've lived with 1G for so long that even 4-8G will seem like a ton. Main concerns:

-Is the Clix2 durable enough for rigorous activities (it seems a bit too 'pretty')
-Is the X20 really bulky
-Will either player be Rhapsody supported (other threads have said yes to clix2, not clear on X20 and the rhapsody site doesn't say either way).
-Should I just get a cheaper (sansa) player so it won't hurt as much if it gets beat up?

Thanks.

[Step666]

There are very few people have a Clix2 yet and I would be surprised if any of them also have an X20, so when you say you want advice from 'those with experience', there may not actually be anyone who counts as experienced.


Beyond that, there have been no complaints on here regarding the build quality of the Clix2. One guy asked if the top half of the player was meant to be loose, before having it pointed out to him that were it not loose, the D-Click system wouldn't work.

No-one's complained about the size of the X20, just other stuff like the sound quality.

I don't know about the Clix2 and DRM services (I would guess that it's PlayForSure compatible but I have no idea what the difference between that and Rhapsody is) but the X20 definitely doesn't support anything like that.

As for buying something cheaper, well that's your decision. If you're really going to follow a course of action just because someone on a forum tells you to, then might I suggest you give me all your money instead?

[BBD]

I say split it with me....

I bought the 8GB Sansa e200 recently for exactly the same purposes you list. I love it so far (by comparison, I also have a 1gb U3 and the iRiver H320).

BBD

[ShyAnne]

If looking for durability stay away from the cheaper Sandisk players. Their e200 series players are pretty good but their M-series players are cheaply built and seem like they could not take too much knocking around or the rough handling that may happen during sports or gym use.

If you shake a Sansa M-series player the buttons and battery door rattle, bad sign for build quality and their plastic housing feels flimsy. Sound quality on Sansa M-series is not exactly stellar either. You say you're no audiophile but still, you would definitely notice a difference in sound if you are accustomed to using a Cowon player. Cowon and iRiver have excellent sound quality, many others just don't perform to the same standard.

The whole Sansa line is carried at most electronic stores though, suggest you check them out there. Whenever possible it's always better to see and handle any player in person rather than rely solely on online reviews and pictures. With some players that's not possible but in most areas Sansa players are carried at electronics stores.

I don't own a Clix but have played with several for extended times. Owners seem very pleased with them, you might want to check out the Clix forum here and just read, or search on relevant terms for any questions you may have about the Clix.

They are thinner and much smaller than you might think from the pictures online, but still seem pretty durable. The screen feels somewhat loose but it's supposed to be that way because of their D-click operation, you press the sides of the screen itself. If it was solidly attached then it wouldn't work. Probably a good idea to also check electronics stores so you can see and handle the Clix for yourself. iRiver as a whole doesn't have much presence at physical stores but most do carry the Clix at least.

[doc9872]

Originally Posted by Step666

There are very few people have a Clix2 yet and I would be surprised if any of them also have an X20, so when you say you want advice from 'those with experience', there may not actually be anyone who counts as experienced.

As for buying something cheaper, well that's your decision. If you're really going to follow a course of action just because someone on a forum tells you to, then might I suggest you give me all your money instead?

-------------
Step
Thank you for your sarcastic response - perhaps I should have been more specific. I didn't think anyone would have had both the clix2 and X20, but was asking opinions of anyone who had either. The thing with the sansa was more thinking out loud. No one comment on a forum would swing me either way - just looking for an overall picture from people with hands on experience.

Shy - I have played with the other players in stores and they seemed OK, but they give you such a short leash there and don't have any iriver products. Thanks for the input on the M series - I'll stay away, but wasn't thinking about them too seriously.

[brotsalami]

I have no experience with both of the players, but I had to make the same decision until Sunday, when I ordered the Clix2.

So I cannot give you any advise from my experiennces just my thoughts why I choosed the clix.

I will use the player mainly in the car, so I needed a very simple Interface and the scroll wheel with 5 Buttons around it from the X20 didn't look very easy. Also the review on asia.cnet.com did say it seemed to be kind of flimsy.

This was my main point, but there were some other things to: I will just wite down the pros and cons I was thinking:

X20:
++ 8GB (available)+ Mini SD- Slot = 10GB, this was a big one, because I had a 20GB Player before
+ exchangeable battery
+ video out, to see movies on a hotel television
+ built in speakers
- ugly
-- flimsy Interface

Clix2:
++ simple, and easy looking Interface
+ Amoled Screen, because of different light and viewing conditions in the car
+ simple good looking design
+ flash games, for waiting periods
- no video out
-- not available in 8GB for a too long time


Afer looking all this over again and again, I choosed the Clix2, mainly because of the Interface and I convinced myself that 4GB will be enough. I don´t need a video out so bad, because I have always my laptop with me. And the Clix2 looks so great. I really will love to show this to my girlfriend. She will be so jealous.

BTW: I don´t know nothing about the information the X20 cannot work with WMA DRM files. Because I use Napster I should know that, but I was guessing that all new Iriver Players support WMA DRM files. So if somebodey else has some more Information about this.

Hope this will help you a little.

[A Subtle Dagger]

Well, i'm in the same situation as yourself, I want to upgrade my U10 1gig. The U10 was the first generation of the "clix" that uses the D-Click system. At first the D-click system was cool but then it got old fast. I thought it just took too long to scroll through songs and albums with the D-click. It has a lag. Now, I don't know if the Clix 2 has the lag but the U10 definitely does. The games on the U10, again, were cool at first, I found myself trying to find any and all games i could find to put on my U10 but then I just found myself not even playing them. What sells me on the x20 is the price, it's pretty cheap compared to other flash players. Not only the price but I love the fact that it has speakers and a microsd slot where you can add more storage. I'm not gonna lie, the scroll wheel intrigues me and I have a feeling it'll be faster to scroll with than the D-click system. I'm still teetering but almost sure i'll end up with an x20, just waiting to see if they announce a release for the US but some people on here think it will never come to the states. I'll just wait it out for a little while and see what happens.

[A Subtle Dagger]

Originally Posted by brotsalami

X20:
+ video out, to see movies on a hotel television

Is this true? I've been trying to find out if the x20 indeed does have video out. Can anyone confirm or deny this?