Gateway reveals iPod clone
By Tony Smith
Posted: 12/11/2003 at 15:05 GMT
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MP3 players
Gateway has announced its first hard disk-based MP3 player, the 20GB Digital Jukebox DMP-X20.
It's not a pretty as the Apple machine, nor as compact. The DMP-X20 weighs 218g (7.7oz) to the 20GB iPod's 159g (5.6oz), and measures 10 x 6.5 x 2cm (4 x 2.6 x 0.8in), compared to 10.3 x 6 x 1.5 (4.1 x 2.4 x 0.6in) - yielding volumes of 130 and 92.7, respectively.
Gateway has Apple licked on price, however. The DMP-X20 costs $300 - $100 less than the 20GB iPod. Its 2.5in 160 x 128 LCD is larger than the Apple's 2in panel. But it only has 16MB of anti-skip buffer memory. Feature-wise it has clear advantages, too. There's a built-in FM tuner with 12 station pre-sets, five EQ pre-sets and an integrated voice recorder.
The DRM-X20 supports MP3, WMA and Audible content, transferred to the player via a USB 2.0 link. The player's battery will go for ten hours before needing a recharge, Gateway said,
The black-coloured, aluminium-clad player will ship with earphones, remote control, carry case and belt clip. It requires a Windows XP, XP Pro or 2000-based PC. It will go on sale on 26 November.
