Samsung Yepp YP-55V Review

daanger0us writes "RAM based MP3 players are still pretty popular. As hard drive based MP3 players get larger storage capacity, the RAM based MP3 players have to add new features to keep themselves compelling to customers. The Samsung Yepp YP-55V is one of the RAM based MP3 players that's added some pretty cool features at a reasonable price. 256MB of RAM, FM Tuner, ability to record from a line-in, from the FM Tuner and voice recording, USB Drive capabilities, upgradeable firmware, weighing in at 2.2 ounces all for around $160. Designtechnica has a full review. How many people still consider a RAM based audio player when shopping?" Update: 09/03 22:11 GMT by T : That should be "MB," not "MG" as it originally read.

CD based MP3 players

I still prefer CD based MP3 players. The media is cheap, and the the player is cheap.

Re:CD based MP3 players

That's why you get a CD mp3 player that supports "directories", a convenient method that allows a hierarchical organization of files. You know, like Artist/Album/track#-Name.mp3.

This works great on my Rio Volt, which lets you easily move up and down through the directories, and even has neat things like "directory shuffle" or "Album shuffle" where it randomly selects a directory and plays the songs in order. The track#-name.mp3 keeps the name short so it mostly shows up on the small LCD display when scanning tracks quickly, and fixes problems I had with really long filenames.

Anyway, organizing a CD shouldn't be any harder than organizing a lot of mp3s on your computer's hard disk.

Re:CD based MP3 players

I was going to say the same thing. Who wants a couple of pounds slamming against your side when you are exercising? Do you really take your ipod with you when you go jogging, or what have you.

Then I thought... Oh wait, this is slashdot. Never mind.

Jogging

I still consider ram baed stuff for when I want something like that won't mind getting bounced around a bit. I can't help but think a hard disk based player (which is heavier) reacts well to being bounced up and down all its life...

Also RAM based can have quicker access although there is the obvious loss of storage. Now if there was a CF based player...

Rus

Re:Jogging

Size matters too. When I run, and when I lift, I don't even want something the size of a CD on my arm(forget the waist!). The solid state mp3 players are generally smaller. And won't skip. And won't jostle a hard drive. Even for just lifting, hard disks can take some abuse.

Re:Jogging

Now if there was a CF based player...

Uhhh...

1. Daisy Diva [digitalcam...s-vcrs.com]
2. assorted I-Jam players [mp3newswire.net]
3. i-Play Moveman [mp3newswire.net]
4. Merit MP2000 [dev-digithings.com]
5. Precom DC-530 [edgereview.com] (Okay so it's really a camera)
6. Simply Sonic SMP-200D
7. RCA Lyra [thetechnozone.com]

Did you even try looking on compactflash.org?

Re:Jogging

Except that you can't buy these anywhere. They were all either "concept" devices that never made it to mass production, or if they did there was a limited batch and then they were retired. So unless you head for eBay, you're stuck.

Don't knock it....

Hard Drive-based technology is still rather klunky for the gym. Ultra-small Ram-based systems can provide enough music for one work-out.

I know, a geek that goes to they gym. Amazing, huh? No, I don't have a girlfriend. I still don't think that those mythical girl-creatures exist. I think it's just a dirty trick those jocks play on us.

iPod Looms

The iPod can be bought for 200 bucks refurbed (10 gig previous generation...10 GIG!) Why would I get this for 40 bucks less? Radio and Voice recording would be a welcome addition to future iPods though.

I'm in the market right now, and the Rio SP250 wins over this one too. CD Based, larger, but with integrated FM and 700 megabyte CDR capacity.

How many people still consider a FLASH player?

I did, and I bought one.

My Creative Labs MuVo is not only a good mp3/wma player, but was also one of the first to function as a convenient USB drive. Why the hell would I have paid $75 for a 128MB flash drive a year back when I could have both for $150?

Obviously, this concept is catching on and prices are dropping, so anyone who is even considering USB drive who doesn't already own a portable music player should be interested.

A Mega-Gyte

256 MG of RAM

Yes, this product certainly does distinguish itself. I've never seen a product containing 256 Megagytes of memory!

256 MB is enough for anybody!

Seriously though, the iPod and new harddrive based players like the Toshiba Gigabeat [theregister.co.uk] are amazingly tiny and crush the RAM based players in GB/$ comparisons.

For RAM based players too be tempting, they're going to have to get way cheaper and sexier. $160 for 256 MB is not hot at all.

Minidisc is the way to go.

At 256 meg, this mp3 player's capacity is about the same as a single minidisc, but it's not expandable. Minidiscs cost under $2 each, and the files can be re-arranged on them like with an mp3 player. The battery life on a minidisc player is better than the yepp player too which doesn't make sense since the yepp doesn't have to power a motor. A CD based mp3 player is much larger than a minidisc player (even if it's designed for the 8cm CDs), and the battery life is terrible.

Jason
ProfQuotes [profquotes.com]

I'll tell you what the problem is:

Moving parts. That is one of the biggest problems with the MD player, i.e. it has way too many of them. My MD player broke over a simple mechanical defect, but one that was cost prohibitive to repair. RAM based players make this much more difficult to happen.

Also I dunno about that capacity you quoted. I remember getting CD-comparable storage, with PERHAPS the option to lower quality for slightly more time (I really dont remember), but nowhere NEAR what you could put on 256MB.

MDs were great when they were first available. But with RELIABLE mini-hd based units, and cheap often-expandable RAM based systems (flash cards anyone?), MDs are past their prime in terms of usefulness

RAM?

Very few (if any) MP3 players store MP3's in RAM, as it requires constant battery power to keep data in memory.

More likely, the submitter meant "flash memory" which is typically used to store mostly static data over long periods of time.

I wouldn't nitpick, but he repeated the word "RAM" so many times that I was forced to post this.

All those features...

256 MG of RAM, FM Tuner, ability to record from a line-in, from the FM Tuner and voice recording, USB Drive capabilities, upgradeable firmware, weighing in at 2.2 ounces all for around $160

All those features and 256 milligrams of RAM!

and I thought my cigarettes with 8mg tar were strong.

It is pretty sweet.

I know this one. I just bought it as a present for my girlfriend. It is pretty cool. And she likes it a lot.

I was considering getting an iPod for her. But every time when I decide to deal with Apple I always come to painful realisation that I just hate their attitude. They have this dumbass business strategy that only they know what you really need and they determined to shove it down your throat. I don't want to troll on them. Apple has really cool products, they have good engineers and designers. But at the same time they always try to sell you the most expensive one. Here in Bay Area it is impossible to find 10 GB version of iPod. All BestBuys and Fried electronics have only 30 GB versions (for extra $200) and I don't have 30 GB of mp3s even on my home computer (which is also a home entertainment center). Come to think of it I don't even have that many CDs yet to rip to fill this much space.

So I settled on Yepp. And I'm pretty happy. It is very sleek. Very good sound. You can actually change sound modes. Plus FM radio. Plus record your own stuff. 256 MB is almost enough for my gf. I guess when there will be version with more memory outhere. I'll get new one for her and take the old one.

Re:It is pretty sweet.

But every time when I decide to deal with Apple I always come to painful realisation that I just hate their attitude. They have this dumbass business strategy that only they know what you really need and they determined to shove it down your throat. I don't want to troll on them. Apple has really cool products, they have good engineers and designers. But at the same time they always try to sell you the most expensive one. Here in Bay Area it is impossible to find 10 GB version of iPod. All BestBuys and Fried electronics have only 30 GB versions (for extra $200)

That's unfair. Its the retailers that decide which models to carry, not the manufacturer. I'd guess that the retailer margin is higher on the larger models, which is why Best Buy et al. don't stock the low end models. Don't blame Apple, blame the retailers.

You could always order a 10GB model online [apple.com] if your local store doesn't stock them. I bought my wife an iPod at CompUSA in San Francisco- they stock all three models.

Inaccuracy pissing me off

The article submitter didn't even RTFA. The specs clearly state 256 MB FLASH.

Or, the article submitter is too ignorant to know the difference between RAM and FLASH. Like those older newbies who ask "how much memory" does a computer have, and they mean disk space. I mean, yeah, disk, RAM, flash, cache, are all forms of "memory" if you mean generic computer storage, but that's just not how we talk about these things.

The Slashdot maintainer who let this drivel through should be modded down. Damnit, I have mod points. How can I mod the story down?!?

</rant>