One of Toshiba’s main attractions, at Digital Life, was their latest models in the Gigabeat line of portable media players, the 2GB U202 and the 4GB T400. Both units were prominently displayed throughout the Toshiba booth, though I’m not sure the devices actually warrant that much attention.
I spent most of my time with the T400, though the U202 operated very similarly. To be honest, I have nothing nice to say about either device besides that each device is very responsive. Other than that, I was taken back by how many points Toshiba managed to screw up on. Let’s start with the display. At no point in my testing of the device did any of the screens or menus actually use the entire area of the screen. The image that did appear in the middle of the black was also lack luster, at best. Colors were faded and the screen wasn’t as bright as most other main stream competitors on the market.
I spent most of my time with the T400, though the U202 operated very similarly. To be honest, I have nothing nice to say about either device besides that each device is very responsive. Other than that, I was taken back by how many points Toshiba managed to screw up on. Let’s start with the display. At no point in my testing of the device did any of the screens or menus actually use the entire area of the screen. The image that did appear in the middle of the black was also lack luster, at best. Colors were faded and the screen wasn’t as bright as most other main stream competitors on the market.
Even more mind boggling was the button layout and overall control scheme. When one picks up an iPod or a Zune, navigating the device is very intuitive. With the Gigabeat, however, the entire time I used it, I fumbled with the buttons hoping one of the darn things would let me accomplish simple tasks such as going up in the menus or even getting back to the menus to start all over. Considering Toshiba supplies the guts for the Microsoft Zune, I’m amazed that they didn’t carry over any of intuitiveness to the new Gigabeats.
Both the Toshiba T400 and U202 are, at best, forgettable devices. A below average display, horribly unintuitive controls and a body that acts as a magnet for finger prints (T400 only) come together to produce an embarrassing effort from a company you’d expect more from. For now, skip over the Toshiba offerings and look elsewhere on the market.
View: Toshiba Gigabeat T400 and U202
FYI: The new gigabeats have been reviewed positively by many reviewers. Case in point, CNET Crave which said that video was very good and so was the audio.
http://crave.cnet.com/8301-1_105-9784082-1.html
Please post bias elsewhere.
Last edited by bangbang023 on 01 Oct 2007 - 02:25
However, Chris is doing a bang-up (yes, the awful allusion to his Neowin name was deliberate) job reporting on the various aspects of the event, and opinions are welcome in the reporting. I don't think he is being unfair at all, and the personal attacks against him in the previous comment were unwarranted.
However, Chris is doing a bang-up (yes, the awful allusion to his Neowin name was deliberate) job reporting on the various aspects of the event, and opinions are welcome in the reporting. I don't think he is being unfair at all, and the personal attacks against him in the previous comment were unwarranted.
Uh...do you email ebert and whoever else when they give a new movie you like a bad review? Um, no. Reviews are based on the user's impressions and nothing else. Ive been a neowin member for over 5 years and absolutely love the fact that i can contiune to come here to get fresh views on everything...now that theyre actually giving first hand accounts of what they see, i think thats even better.
Frankly, if you dont like his review you can post your comments about the device here...thats what this forum is for. But to slam the guy out busting his ass to bring you reviews of new products is uncalled for and i suggest a deduction of 50 DKP.
FYI: The new gigabeats have been reviewed positively by many reviewers. Case in point, CNET Crave which said that video was very good and so was the audio.
http://crave.cnet.com/8301-1_105-9784082-1.html
Please post bias elsewhere.
Ummm...this is Neowin not some accredited news site. If you disagree with a review that makes FP, then you can just simply state that in your comments. Attacking the poster doesn't add any weight to your opinions and just makes you look kinda sad.
The Gigabeat does not appeal to me. Looking at it the design does not really jump out at me I think the MP3 player market is a tough one so companies have to work hard to get a good share of it.
I’m sure some people will like it if that’s the case go for it.
I have now outgrown my S60 Gigabeat and am looking for a new HDD-based player to upgrade to. I've read various reports about the mediocre sound-quality of the new iPod Classic...but 160GB sounds so tasty. And I don't know that the Archos 605 is up to snuff either. How about a Zune with a 160GB HDD? A boy can dream...
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