Did It Replace My iPod?
And in the end, that’s really the main question. I went searching for a replacement for my 5th generation iPod and after much deliberation, I settled for the Samsung YP-P2 8GB. It has indeed replaced my iPod and I’m finding I’m using the player far more, both of which were goals I had set out. There are several reasons why I’ve been very happy with my purchase of the P2, but there are also a couple things that would have made it even better.
It’s smaller, it’s lighter and it’s something new from my iPod. It’s also far less prone to scratches, so I don’t feel like I need to baby it. The touchscreen is very slick and I prefer it to the tactile navigation of my other MP3 players. All these factors combined means I’m using it more and carrying it with me when I previously wouldn’t have brought my iPod.
The large touchscreen is a trade-off. One benefit of moving to NAND flash is the decrease in size compared to the 1.8″ or 1″ mini hard drives that dominated MP3 players in the past. The Samsung P2 is not the small flash MP3 player you take jogging. Case-in-point, I still use an old MPIO FL350 when I go to the gym – it’s far less intrusive. And although the Samsung P2 is marketed as a multimedia device, the slow refresh rate and poor viewing angles of the display really means you won’t want to watch too many videos.
All in all, the Samsung YP-P2 8GB is a great MP3 player. With what I have experienced with the player, if I had to pick a replacement for my iPod again, I’d choose the Samsung P2.
Pros:
- Great industrial design
- Touchscreen usability
- Nice large display
- Good battery life (albeit, not up to Samsung’s advertised)
- Awesome sound quality
- Intuitive user interface
- Bluetooth potential
- Blue Wave firmware enhancements
Cons:
- Poor viewing angles
- Slow display refresh rate
- Larger than the typical flash MP3 player
- Lacking video format support
- Inevitable comparisons to the iPod touch, in which case, it’s lacking Wi-fi and the super-slick UI
Here are a couple more Samsung P2 photos for your viewing enjoyment.
Great review, as always. I’m thinking of picking up a new MP3 player when I’m visiting Rushan for his ordination later this year, and I’ll definitely check this out (possibly the 4GB as I don’t watch videos and I always have trouble filling more than 2GB).
What other ones were you considering?
I wrote about a bunch of different MP3 players and what I (quickly) thought of them when I was deciding. You can read it here.
I’d take a hard look at the Samsung T10 if I were you.
I’m going to say that iPod sales growth is slowing (but not down year-to-year) mainly because everyone already seems to own one. It’s almost like a disease now that everyone has.
Then why aren’t we (as good capitalist consumers) buying second, third, fourth or twentieth ipods? You’re not saying that people can have enough stuff….are you Rene?
Because unless it breaks most people don’t go around buying a new iPod every week for kicks. Being capitalist consumers doesn’t always equate to frivolous spending. If you already own one, and its not broken, then why get another? It’s like anything, TVs, cars, steroes. If the newest technology isn’t miles better than what you have, why spend the money?
Rene, I agree with you. The same thought actually hit me when I looked around my study period, and everyone listening to music was listening to it on an Ipod. And there were a lot of people listening to music. With the prices on the simpler models so low, I think most people who would ever buy them have already done so. And I think Nick was joking. Or being sarcastically cynical.
The T10 actually seems like the right player for me. Let’s hope my problems with Samsung (see YP-Z5) won’t continue with this. Forgive my ignorance, but what does bluetooth in an MP3 player do?
Ah, but Rene, I think you’d be surprised at just how many people have multiple iPods – they have a 4th gen, but hey, that iPod touch is awfully cool. I’m sure my comment will be accused of being stereotypical, and it is, but Apple fans can get especially caught up in the hype. A broken iPod is hardly the most common reason for upgrading. Just for the sake of it and keeping ‘with the trend/times’ are often just as good reasons in their minds (and sometimes, shamefully, in my mind as well).
Will – Samsung’s players have progressed a hell of a long way since then. I remember fiddling around with that Z5 and it sure was frustrating. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend a Sammy nowadays.
As for Bluetooth, the most common use is probably Bluetooth headphones (ah, the wonders of wireless) but a cool feature of some of the new Samsungs is the cellphone pairing capabilities. I’m actually writing something about it, but in short, you pair it with your Bluetooth-enabled cellphone and you can make and take calls with your MP3 player. You’ll be listening to music and it’ll fade out and indicate an incoming call. No need to take off the headphones and swap devices.
I don’t foresee myself using it much, but it could be useful if you have earbuds stuffed in your head all day…
i cant wait to get one
Excellent review, particularly the information regarding video formats and the Badak converting freeware. If you have details of the settings used in Badak to convert to a working format it would help.
I have a problem connecting my samsung p2 with the computer,I have windows xp sp.2 but when i connect it,nothing shows on,even there is no like a new hard drive??
Veljko – Check the player when you connect it to your computer. Does it show that it’s connected or does it not recognize that fact at all? Windows XP should have automatically installed the mass transfer drivers for you.
Foolish Earthlings The p2 will be all of your Dooms!!!
Doom! I say…. Doom!!!!!
Do You have the brain worms??? Why are you all still happy about meeting your doom!!!!!!!!!!
I, uh… am not certain what to say, Zim.
I can’t understand all the hype about IPOD. I’ve got Sansa Clip mp3 player and it beats IPOD shuffle in terms of cost and quality. I think there’s a lot of alternatives available like this samsung player you’ve got reviewed. Great review anyway!
i got one and i loved it
its the best thing i have ever bought i think
then one day i go to use it and i have no screen
its just black but i still got music playing
is there anything i can do about it?
i have tried reseting it a number of times and still wont work?
does anyone no what to do?
I can’t wait to get one now but I have to wait for ages till I have enuf money to get one.
yeah pretty nice gadget..pushes the competition..sad that samsung sort of doesn’t make it clear that the bluetooth feature wont work with the FM radio..the earbud wire is needed for an antenna..That info would not of stopped my from buying the one I bought,,that said, I think its a bit of a call for buyer to beware..still..nice gizmo though..all the same..I suppose
I have recently ordered one, and I am looking forward to receiving it!!
Right now in Canada, the mp3 is selling for $99.00CA – should I get it, or save my money for other new technology? Because it sounds great and everything, but it does have some bugs I may not be able to be patient about (I have the T10, and sometimes its so sensitive i end up restarting the song than going to the next one).
Please answer back!
Hey uh I have a problem. Mine doesn’t seem to be charging at all. Whenever I connect it to try to charge it it only takes about 7 minutes for it to show the green light; but whenever I disconnect it, the bars are not full D: plus when I’m listening to music it turns off by itself and says “turns off due to low battery life” in red letters