Is the O2 for me?
 

Hi guys! I am looking at a PMP - only for video playback (audio will be handled by iphone - i know - the quality is horrid but it is convenient!!)

I know there are several shortcomings of the O2, but as a video player playing xvid avi at 720x416 2.5-3mbps - is the O2 recommended?

No EQ on video files is a big complaint about the player. How bad is this? Is it any worse than the video audio from an iphone/ipod touch? (p.s. I use super-fi 5 canalphones)

Are there any sync problems with audio and video for xvid?

How bad is the screen glare? This will be used as a portable player on trains and buses. Does the reflective screen make this useless. Again to compare, is it any worse than an iphone/ipod touch?

Thanks!!

Your in luck, as EnzoTen has 1 for sale in the classifieds: Cowon O2 32GB

:-( i am in Australia and he will only ship to US :-(

Thanks though!
Any thoughts on my questions?

I don't have an O2, so I can't help otherwise.

Did you read dfkt's review? http://www.anythingbutipod.com/archi...-o2-review.php

yeah - I know he wasn't a fan at all! But it seemed it was more against the music part as the UI made that impossible. Video didn't seem to be effected as much - or is that wrong?

You are right, he says that it'll take any video you throw at it and that's what he uses it for. You might want to pop into IRC #anythingbutipod (see under my sig) tomorrow and ask him for yourself :p

Edit: I say tomorrow, cause I there now and he's not around

Well, the S9 plays most all videos unconverted as well, but the screen is slightly smaller (3.3 inch), but it's an OLED. Excellent for portable video watching (I use mine 5 nights a week).

Thanks for the info walkgood - I will try and catch him on there.
Thanks Darkside - any other comments re the S9? does it play high bitrate xvid (2.5-3mbs) smoothly and without sync issues?

S9 video supports DivX, XviD, WMV and it handles XviD at 640x320 30fps.

ah - so cowon O2 still looking the best bet. Would you recommend it just as a video player?

I can't recommend it as I haven't had the pleasure of playing with it, that's why I said to chat with dfkt as that's what he told me he uses it for. But like you said above, for everything else he's not fond of it.

TBH, dfkt moved on to the S9, from the O2. So, I'd recommend chatting w/him in mIRC tomorrow as well. I believe he does use his O2 for video though, and the S9 for music alone.

He means IRC #anythingbutipod, as mIRC is a client, lol :D

BTW, nice to chat with you there htpconvert, you found your way to the channel quick ... I stand by my point that it's expensive for just portable video :/

I still use the O2 for watching videos, at home in bed, not on the go, that's the only thing it is halfway good for. The S9 I use mainly for audio on the go, just the few odd videos on it to waste some time.

htpconvert PMed me already, he probably didn't read my sig. ;)

@dfkt: how about your D2 and X5??

What about them? For video the D2 is very much inferior compared to the O2 and S9, and the X5 is utterly useless in that aspect.

o2 is great for video. Has a big storage, and expandable. Very big, nice screen. Color is excellent, and doesnt wash out too bad in sunlight. Its pretty much for what you want. Its bigger, thicker, and a little heavier(solid) than other players, but if you want the bigger screen, thats what you will get.

I just drag and drop any video to it, which is incredibly convenient.

The only downfall with the video is the audio part. It doesnt sound bad, but there is no EQ or BBE for video. Depending on the video, it could sound pretty lifeless.

And the audio still sounds good, but the UI makes it frustrating. If you listen to music on random, then you wont notice;)