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jaycee
Just Posting
8 Posts |
 Posted - 10/06/2004 : 07:49:32 AM
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Hiya. I'm thinking of buying a NeurosII, and I can't make my mind up about what to get. Please could someone enlighten me about the following?
1) What's the /main/ difference between a 256Mb/80Gb combi and an 80Gb standalone player?
2) Is the 80Gb standalone seperable in /any/ way at all? If so, to what end? What /else/ can plug into it?
3) Is there a dimension difference between the 256/80 player (with the HD attached) and the standalone 80Gb player?
4) Why - if I don't need the ability to carry round a smaller unit with a reduced music selection - would I ever consider the combi unit? What else does it offer me?
5) Are there any other differences I've not asked about explicitly?
Many thanks!
jc |
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webkid
Posting Mania
1590 Posts |
Posted - 10/06/2004 : 12:18:19 PM
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Answers, in order:
1) The main difference is twofold: your "brain" will have 128 mB of flash with the combo, 64 mB of flash with the standalone, and you get an extra backpack with the combo with a pair of batteries nestled inside.
2) Yes it is. So you can, in the future, upgrade either part without buying a whole new player. (For example: if they release a 160 gB backpack)
3) I don't think you're getting the concept. There are three pieces in play here: the "brain", the flash backpack, and the HD backpack. Only one backpack can be attached at any given time to the "brain". The HD backpack is larger than the flash backpack. When you buy a combo, you get all three; when you buy the standalone, you only get the "brain" and the HD backpack.
4) Upgradability. Perhaps now you don't need it, but one day you may become an athlete, running for hundereds of miles at a time with no end in sight. This is not healthy for a hard drive, but solid-state flash couldn't care less. Additionally, the larger flash area inside of the brain allows for more caching when playing back from the HD, in theory, extending battery life... though DI claims this won't signifigantly affect things.
5) Not that I can see. Others will probably chime in, too. |
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jaycee
Just Posting
8 Posts |
Posted - 10/06/2004 : 2:04:51 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by webkid
Answers, in order:
1) The main difference is twofold: your "brain" will have 128 mB of flash with the combo, 64 mB of flash with the standalone, and you get an extra backpack with the combo with a pair of batteries nestled inside.
The RAM is /in/ the brain in both cases, isn't it? The backpack is either a 20/40/60/80 gig disk (and, presumably, a battery), or just a (presumably larger) battery.
quote:
2) Yes it is. So you can, in the future, upgrade either part without buying a whole new player. (For example: if they release a 160 gB backpack)
Great! That's a brilliant design!
quote:
3) I don't think you're getting the concept. There are three pieces in play here: the "brain", the flash backpack, and the HD backpack. Only one backpack can be attached at any given time to the "brain". The HD backpack is larger than the flash backpack. When you buy a combo, you get all three; when you buy the standalone, you only get the "brain" and the HD backpack.
I'm not sure I am getting it. Given the second post here:
http://www.neurosaudio.com/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=4166
I'm just not sure about the details any more.
With the flash player, I've heard it being talked about as coming with a "battery" backpack, but you're suggesting it comes with a "flash" backpack. The link, above, suggests the former.
I understand that there are 3 parts available:
1) 64/128/256 meg "brain"
2) 20/40/60/80 gig "backpack"
3) battery backpack with no storage of any kind
... and you can buy any of these combinations:
a) a 64Mb #1 and any of #2
b) a 128Mb or 256Mb #1, any of #2 and a #3.
c) any #2 by itself
d) a 128Mb or 256Mb #1 by itself
... but can't buy a #3 by itself.
Am I wrong in above? I wouldn't be surprised :)
Some additional questions, if I may:
Would a battery backpack even /work/ with a 64mb "brain", giving a reduced storage flash player? Not that I'm thinking of this - just interested!
If I buy a 256Mb brain initially, by itself ($149.99, I think), does it come with the battery backpack? Does this purchase, coupled with the later purchase of a, say, 80 gig HD backpack, give me exactly the same physical kit, functionality and upgradeability(sp?) of a single 256Mb/80gig combo initial purchase?
quote:
4) Upgradability. Perhaps now you don't need it, but one day you may become an athlete, running for hundereds of miles at a time with no end in sight. This is not healthy for a hard drive, but solid-state flash couldn't care less. Additionally, the larger flash area inside of the brain allows for more caching when playing back from the HD, in theory, extending battery life... though DI claims this won't signifigantly affect things.
5) Not that I can see. Others will probably chime in, too.
Many thanks for taking the time to reply! I hope you can help me clear up my misunderstandings :)
Cheers!
jc |
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kronin
Posting Mania
1144 Posts |
Posted - 10/06/2004 : 2:46:04 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by jaycee
The RAM is /in/ the brain in both cases, isn't it? The backpack is either a 20/40/60/80 gig disk (and, presumably, a battery), or just a (presumably larger) battery.
Yes, the Flash Memory is in the brain in both cases. The backpack either contains a hard drive and batteries, or just batteries.
quote:
I'm not sure I am getting it. Given the second post here:
http://www.neurosaudio.com/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=4166
I'm just not sure about the details any more.
With the flash player, I've heard it being talked about as coming with a "battery" backpack, but you're suggesting it comes with a "flash" backpack. The link, above, suggests the former.
It's confusing, but it's called the "flash" backpack because when you put it on, you are in "flash" configuration. In reality, the backpack just contains batteries, no flash.
quote:
I understand that there are 3 parts available:
1) 64/128/256 meg "brain"
2) 20/40/60/80 gig "backpack"
3) battery backpack with no storage of any kind
... and you can buy any of these combinations:
a) a 64Mb #1 and any of #2
b) a 128Mb or 256Mb #1, any of #2 and a #3.
c) any #2 by itself
d) a 128Mb or 256Mb #1 by itself
... but can't buy a #3 by itself.
Am I wrong in above? I wouldn't be surprised :)
Actually, with the Neuros II, you can't get a 64 MB brain anymore unless you buy from this page. They're either 128 or 256 MB.
Edit: I'm not sure about this anymore. I think I remember some conversations when the Neuros II was coming out that even the HD models had 128 MB of flash, but I could be wrong on this.
You're not really meant to buy a brain by itself. That upgrades page is really meant for people that already have a Neuros that either want to upgrade to the II, or replace a broken brain unit. If this is your first Neuros purchase, you really should get one of the bundles: either the 256 MB flash player (it has a 256 MB brain, battery backpack, belt clip, power adaptor, headphones and a USB 1.1 cable), one of the HD bundles (which has a 128 MB brain, a HD backpack, headphones, wall power adaptor, car power adaptor, USB 1.1 cable and USB 2.0 cable), or one of the 128/HD or 256/HD combos (comes with a 128 MB or 256 MB brain, battery backpack, HD backpack, belt clip, wall power adaptor, car power adaptor, USB 1.1 cable, USB 2.0 cable, and headphones).
You _can_ buy a #3 by itself, it's here.
quote:
Would a battery backpack even /work/ with a 64mb "brain", giving a reduced storage flash player? Not that I'm thinking of this - just interested!
Yes it would.
quote:
If I buy a 256Mb brain initially, by itself ($149.99, I think), does it come with the battery backpack? Does this purchase, coupled with the later purchase of a, say, 80 gig HD backpack, give me exactly the same physical kit, functionality and upgradeability(sp?) of a single 256Mb/80gig combo initial purchase?
If you buy this, then buy this, you'd still need to buy this in order to get to this. But, if you buy the 256 MB unit, an 80 GB hard drive, and a car power adaptor, you'd have the exact same unit as if you bought the Neuros 80 GB/256MB bundle. |
Edited by - kronin on 10/06/2004 4:29:35 PM |
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alien04
Posting is for Closers
70 Posts |
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jaycee
Just Posting
8 Posts |
Posted - 10/06/2004 : 4:29:51 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by kronin
[lots of stuff!]
Thanks - that really clears it up for me!
I spy a joint b'day/Xmas pressie coming on - if I can find somewhere that ships
the 256 meg unit to the UK! Neither ATP nor C4U2V(?) seem to offer the "256Mb unit
then a 80 gig HD later ..." route, from my reading of their sites. Is the 256Mb unit
a recent addition?
Cheers!
jc |
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jaycee
Just Posting
8 Posts |
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alien04
Posting is for Closers
70 Posts |
Posted - 10/06/2004 : 4:57:58 PM
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Yes, the 256 unit is new, as of Sep 04. There may be a plan to offer the flash-only version in the near future. In the meantime, you can order the 256 "brain" for about $100, and the small (battery-only) backpack for about $30. The net is a 256 player.
I've dealt with ATP, and been very satified with Keith's responseness, I'd suggest discussing this with him. Other folks speak highly of Jeff at Cool2...
Good luck,
quote:
Originally posted by jaycee
quote:
Originally posted by kronin
[lots of stuff!]
Thanks - that really clears it up for me!
I spy a joint b'day/Xmas pressie coming on - if I can find somewhere that ships
the 256 meg unit to the UK! Neither ATP nor C4U2V(?) seem to offer the "256Mb unit
then a 80 gig HD later ..." route, from my reading of their sites. Is the 256Mb unit
a recent addition?
Cheers!
jc
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American Techpusher
Posting Mania
604 Posts |
Posted - 10/06/2004 : 9:40:15 PM
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Yes we have the 256MB unit for sale. It’s just a matter of getting it up on the site. Which according to the web people should be done by tomorrow night.
Hopefully next week we will all the other accessories done also.
Canada, UK and Australia are the most popular places that we ship internationally.
Keith Ashwood
American Techpushers ( The Neuros Specialists)
www.americantechpushers.com |
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Tecchie
Likes to Post
12 Posts |
Posted - 12/28/2004 : 6:36:35 PM
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Look, let me clear up somthing ONCE and FOR ALL...
ANY NEUROS PLAYER YOU GET will have at least 64MB of INTERNAL Flash memory, that's in the BRAIN..
The "Small Backpack" is just a Battery pack to power the BRAIN for use with the internal storage, weither it be the 64MB, 128MB or 256MB models.
The Small Backpack contains Two (2) NiMh 1300mAh Batteries.. That's all, aside from a charging curcuit.
When you are using your HARD DRIVE backpack, it used the internal storage as a "Cache" meaning it reads some songs ahead of time and loads them into the internal memory so the HD doesn't have to keep spinning up, effectively increasing battery life slightly..
REMEMBER: The Small Backpack is JUST A BATTERY PACK! Your FLASH memory is BUILT INTO EVERY "BRAIN".
If you need clarifacition, just take yours apart and look inside, you'll find the flash chip in there, open up the small backpack and you'll see that it just has Batteries...
Remember though, doing so will void your warranty.. As I already planned to change the color and add some other LED's inside, I didn't care much about voiding my warranty..
Even "IF" I screw mine up, I can always buy another one. DI Makes a GREAT product, and if you REALLY still have some other DUMB question about the hardware, just go find their Schmatics that they released..
I believe the address is http://open.neurosaudio.com
Anyways, oodluck, and I'd reccomend to DI that their next release be compatable with existing HD packs and have a color screen and about a 200 - 400Mhz Procesor in it.
That way you can do alot more with it, open sourced things, and help to drive up sales of the Neuros as a whole.
Thanks guys!.. And if I seem like an "ass" about it, I am just tired of people posting what they "think" about it rather than just getting facts, half of some of these people don't even own one yet, and/or went off what another site said..
Come to your own conclusions, open yours up (once again, it will void your warranty) and find out for yourself once and for all.
Sleep... One of the Greatest Factors in Slowing the Development of our Society... If only I had more Caffene... |
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kronin
Posting Mania
1144 Posts |
Posted - 12/29/2004 : 10:16:16 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by Tecchie
snip...
How did this add anything, especially after this thread has been dead for 2 months? Besides, people that ask this question don't normally search the forums, so this post probably won't stop any of them from asking it again, anyway. Also, you can't expect everyone to be able to read a hardware schematic, that's just silly. |
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Tecchie
Likes to Post
12 Posts |
Posted - 12/29/2004 : 1:09:20 PM
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Kronin.. One statement.
I'm tired of stupid people, if they are going to ask a stupid question and not READ first,it's their own stupid fault if they end up paying more, getting NOT what they ordered, or what have you.. The world is full of stupid and illiterate people, and there is NO excuse for them to be that way.
Un-Educated people.. Very Annoying. I don't know how to read a Schmatic for the most part, but I do know about half of the symbols used in an electronics Schematic..
Who cares if I am one of the ones that want to teach myself, and learn and expand as a person in whole. I am tired of most others taking the "easy" way out, weither it be by not searching forums first, or by throwing money at a problem until it goes away...
But anyways, that's my peace.
Sleep... One of the Greatest Factors in Slowing the Development of our Society... If only I had more Caffene... |
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QwikQuestion: Flash/HD differences
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