Is The Sansa Fuze Better Than Ipod?

By Davis Jetti

The name Ipod has become the standard in MP3 players. Ipod is now the thing we associate portable music with. Sometimes, we want something different. Sandisk (the company that owns Sansa) delivers just that with the Sansa Fuze. I would say that it is the direct competitor to the Ipod Nano. It's about the same size and it costs about the same at some places cheaper. So why Sansa's Fuze if Apple's Ipod is the standard? Well for one, competition is good for the market. Competition drives prices down and it forces manufacturers to adhere to a higher quality. Another thing I am sick of is following what's "in". Be different people! Don't be a mindless sheep. Do our part and improve our standard of living.

I have my girlfriend's Ipod Nano right here to compare with my Sansa Fuze! The Ipod Nano is thinner and is slightly longer than the Fuze. The Nano is also slightly lighter than the Fuze. The screen on the Sansa is larger. It looks almost twice as big. The Nano feels very slick and smooth. The Fuze seem to have a glossy coating on the front face and a "rubberized" backside for added grip. It feels good. It does not look or feel cheap. Both the Nano and the Fuze are well made and they feel like high quality MP3 Players.

My girlfriend's Nano holds 2 GB worth of songs. With the Nano there is no option to add extra storage. My Fuze holds 8 GB of music. I purchased the high end Fuze. They have a standard 4 GB Fuze. My Fuze also has a Micro SD slot that I took advantage of and added an 8 GB micro card making for a total of 16 GB or music storage. I believe the highest micro SD card I have seen was 16 GB but that was too expensive for me. The Fuze and the Micro SD card cost me about $130 all together. About $100 for the Fuze and $25 for the card, with tax included. I am not sure how much the Nano cost as my girlfriend got it for Christmas. I suspect it cost about the same but I could be off as it is an older generation of the Nano and they no longer sell the older generations.

I have listened to many MP3 Players. I have experienced Archos, Iriver, Creative Zen, Phillips, and of course, Ipod and Sansa. I can say without a doubt that the Sansa Fuze has the highest sound quality of them all. The Ipod sounds good and their headphones are awesome. I heard that their headphones use rare earth metals and are of high quality and I don't doubt it. It is top of the line. The headphones that came with the Fuze are okay. I would not say they are cheap but they are definitely not as good as the Ipod's headphones. Headphones, however can be replaced. I suggest yo to get a good pair of headphones that cover your ear, and you will be blown away by the sound quality of the Fuze. The treble is very crisp and the bass thumps well.

I'll tell you straight up that the Fuze wins here. The Fuze can show pictures, video (must be converted like most other players), and has a microphone in case you need to record... I don't know. Anyways, the feature is there if you need it. To be honest, this is a moot point. I don't really care too much about this. While it's nice to have lots of features, we are reviewing and comparing MP3 players, not video, sound recorders.

This is what sold me. I love the sound quality of the Fuze but the community is with the Ipod. The problem I have, and always had with Ipods is that it is really locked down. What do I mean by this? Itunes and transferring music. Syncing. If you have ever used an Ipod, you know what I mean. I guess syncing and Itunes help prevent pirated music but that does not benefit me, the end user. I want to be able to drag and drop music into my Fuze and I can. I can't do that with the Ipod. At least I don't know how. Either way, I don't want to bother with it. Drag. Drop. And play. That's what I want and that's what I like.

Another thing that has not happened yet but might is this incredible open source firmware called "Rockbox". It is a firmware is open source project that aims to improve the original. There is one available for the Nano I believe but currently is not available for the Fuze. Hopefully it will be in the near future. Somewhat of a side track but it's good to keep an eye out for. I used to own and old 20 GB Archos and I installed Rockbox onto it and it was amazing. Made the MP3 player 10 times better. If a Rockbox is released for the Fuze, it could be a serious player that will be sure to take a huge market share from Apple.

I love my Fuze. The firmware can be a little slow sometimes as it does not respond immediately to my actions of the scroll wheel. The Ipod on the other hand is fast all the time. However, I spend most of my time with the Fuze listening to music and not playing around with the interface. The interface of the Nano better but it's still crap compared to a Rockbox firmware. I believe it is out for the Nano but the Nano is not mine so I can't mod it. Overall, if you are looking for an alternative MP3 Players thats not an Ipod, the Sansa Fuze is great. The Sansa line is great itself. The sound quality is great for the line. They have set a new standard in sound quality in MP3 players in my opinion. When you listen to this thing, you'll be amazed that your little Fuze only cost you up to 90 bucks. Granted my package cost $130 and I have 16 GB of storage! I don't think I will fill that space up any time soon. The Nano and its 2 GB of storage caused my girlfriend to occasionally "replace" and make room for some songs. Set it and forget it. I like that. Oh, and I saw the Fuze for sale at Radioshack and a Target the other day. Check it out. Some Radioshacks have a store model that you can try out. You might be able to find a deal on one. I highly recommended getting one for yourself or someone who wants an MP3 player. - 18418

About the Author:

Before you go out and buy an MP3 player, read Set's review on which is better. Sansa Fuze or Ipod. Also don't forget to check out the rest of his articles. He shows you easy ways to relieve stress and other valuable information.

DVD Download Reviews By Dennis

By Dennis Eaton

It wasn't that long ago that a trip to the corner video shop was the most convenient way to get a movie. The next generation it seems will be getting their movies from movie downloads, avoiding any trips to the store. You can get virtually any movie you want with a good movie download site. Here are some examples.

F.T.A: Abnormal, rarely seen documentary of Fonda and Sutherland's Free or the Army revue, shown near army bases and characterizing antiwar skits and melodies. Cast includes Jane Fonda, Donald Sutherland, Len Chandler, Holly Near, Pamela Donegan, and Michael Alamo. (92 minutes, 1974)

Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls: The zany adventures of Ave Ventura continue. Now the pet detective will embark on his most challenging case to date. Ace must travel to the jungles of Africa to find Shikaka, the sacred animal of the Wachati tribe before a huge wedding. If Shikaka isn't found in time, there will be a tribal war.

Diggstown: Friendly yam in regards to a con-actor just sprung from detention center that sets his sights on a high-twirling brat in a tiny Georgia town-with boxer Gossett as his tempt for large-time wagers. The 2 megastars are extremely hot, even if the script is contrived. Gossett's then-spouse Cyndi plays his better half on-monitor. Cast includes James Woods, Louis Gossett, Jr., Bruce Dern, Oliver Platt, Heather Graham, Randall "Tex" Cobb, Thomas Wilson Brown, Duane Davis, Willie Green, and George D. Wallace. (97 minutes, 1992)

Night Must Fall: Renowned film of Evelyn Williams' suspenseful play. A youthful lady Russell gradually learns the identity of a bizarre fierce slaughterer terrorizing god's country. Montgomery has a flamboyant role that's occasionally stagy although commonly a powerful film, with momentous help from Russell. Cast includes Robert Montgomery, Rosalind Russell, Girl Might Whitty, Alan Marshal, and Beryl Mercer. (117 minutes, 1937)

Sofie: Illman's directorial debut which she additionally co-scripted is considerate however choppy. Copenhagen, who is powerless to cut loose of family customs, is wrecking her one possibility at real love. Cast includes Karen Minster, Erland Josephson, Ghita Norby, Jesper Christensen, Torben Zeller, and Stig Hoffmeyer. (146 minutes, 1992)

Only the Strong: An Ex-Green Beret, his old Miami high school now bullied by a medication lord, turns twelve of the joint's poorest malcontents into crime-busters by instructing them a hypnotic, Brazilian form of martial crafts hailed Copernican. Dopey however inoffensive; at its best in potently choreographed quarrel scenes. Cast includes Mark Dacascos, Stacey Travis, Geoffrey Lewis, Paco Christian Prieto, Todd Susman, Jeffrey and Anderson Gunter. (96 minutes, 1993)

Day of the Outlaw: Stark Western melodrama of outlaw Ives and clique taking over secluded Western town. Cast includes Robert Ryan, Burl Ives, Tina Louise, Alan Marshal, Nehemiah Persoff, and Elisha Chef. (91 minutes, 1959)

The Rocketeer: The year is 1938, and pilot Cliff Second makes an incredible discovery. It is a secret jet pack that allows him to fly. He learns that screen star Neville Sinclair wants to give the jet pack to the Nazis. Cliff must elude Sinclair, take down the Nazis, and, obviously, save the girl.

The Senator Was Indiscreet: Humor-playwright Kaufman's only directorial fling turns out relatively well, with Powell as Senator whose notebook causes embarrassment. Cast includes William Powell, Ella Raines, Peter Lind Hayes, Arleen Whelan, Ray Collins, and Hans Conried. (147 minutes, 1974)

See if "Watch Movie Online Free" gets you to a good download site. If a search does not yield a good result, try different searches. "Downloading Movies Online" would be worth a try. - 18418

About the Author:

The keyword phrase "Online Movie Downloads" is great for finding downloadable movies. Imdb Movie Advancements in technology allow PC user to download movies from the internet. Any company not moving toward a movie download services will be left behind.

Epiphone Les Paul Standard Guitar - as Good as it Gets!

By Mark McPherson

Guitar enthusiasts often find themselves debating over whether it is a smart idea to buy an Epiphone Les Paul guitar. Because it is labeled as a cheap guitar, the misconception of it being of low quality is often construed.

The history of the Epiphone Les Paul guitar goes way back in the late 1800's when Anastasios Stathopoulos from Turkey mastered his ability in creating string instruments. When his family migrated to the United States in the early 1900's, he put his skills to good use.

Anastasios Stathopoulos, a Turkish instrument maker in the 19th century, mastered the art of making string instruments. When he migrated to the United States in 1903 along with his family, he started a company which became successful because it was at this time that Americans developed a fascination for the banjo.

The great response from their customers prompted the company to venture out to guitar-making. The name Epiphone was actually taken after Anastasios' son, Epamimondas, in 1928. However, after a few decades of operation, the company was bought by Gibson in the late 1950s.

Thereafter, Gibson made an electric guitar of solid built which was named after the famed guitarist and inventor, Les Paul. Les Paul made a design for the body of the guitar but the first design was turned down by the company. However, Gibson did seek suggestions from him when they were coming up with their own design and in fact, Les Paul himself endorsed this guitar throughout the country.

In order to make the guitars more affordable, the materials needed to be economical, including the labour costs which is why they are manufactured in Korea. The resulting guitar became what is now called as the Epiphone Les Paul guitar. The Epiphone Les Paul guitar is a modified version of Gibson's original creation.

Fond guitar users would usually heat up the Yes and No sides as to the argument of how good the Epiphone model is compared to the original Gibson creation. The critics would say that the tone emanating from the Epiphone models will not level up to the quality produced by the original.

In truth, the quality of the Epiphone Les Paul guitar is not much different from the original Gibson design. It has been modelled from the original Gibson guitars with almost the same inlays. It may be a bit lighter compared to the original but according to guitar users, they find it to be more responsive and the sound to be almost identical to the original Les Paul.

The makers of Epiphone have a standard built patterned to the specifications of the Gibson design, with little or no difference whatsoever in the sound quality. For some of the users of the Epiphone Les Paul guitar, they are very happy and satisfied with it because it is affordable and is still almost the same as the original design.

Users of the Epiphone guitar have not complained about it and they say the pickups are the same as the Gibson standard, and although the heads tend to move more than the standard, this helps to keep it tuned. If you take a good look at both the Epiphone and the standard Les Paul guitar, you will find no difference at all! - 18418

About the Author:

Looking to buy Epiphone Les Paul then try the Epiphone Les Paul standard and you will not be disappointed when you do!

Guitar Lessons Beginners Will Love

By Derrick Vanago

Are you a beginner on the guitar looking for lessons online? Are you in search of guitar lessons beginners like you can learn quickly? There are a few outstanding programs around if you know what to look for.

Guitar lessons online has quickly become quite a topic nowadays. A common problem with this is that many of these programs tend to be overly technical causing a lot of sincere beginners to lose heart quickly. A courses that stresses simplicity and having fun learning the basics is crucial.

Tons of people are making their way to the internet and learning to master all kinds of instruments because of the affordability and freedom with online instruction. Online guitar lessons is just very convenient.

What is the main point to consider when choosing your online guitar lesson program? It should be fun and enjoyable so you will like learning.

Your beginners guitar course should be simple and fun so that you will enjoy practicing, therefore, learning more and learning faster. Your guitar course should begin with having fun while teaching you the basics. This is the point where one develop the groundwork for the basic principles of guitar.

After you become rooted in the basics you can then progress to the more advanced skills. The more you enjoy learning the better you will feel and the better you feel, the more you will like practicing and making progress. Pretty soon you will be on your first world tour.

Really, how many of us like doing something that makes us feel uncomfortable or lost? A good guitar program should instill a sense of enjoyment, confidence and progress in every beginner.

There are so many programs out there with so much knowledge that it can cause you to have an "information overload" and lose interest quickly. Try to research and choose a program that can "teach" you, in a fun and easy style, the knowledge you need to become an accomplished guitarist. - 18418

About the Author:

Learning guitar online doesn't need to be like a chore. Come and found out which guitar lessons beginners prefer the most.

Hot Films To Search Online

By Shawn Mcpherson

For a long time we have used the video store as one of our main ways to access movies. High speed internet access has now made it possible to download movies right off a movie download site. Here are some examples of movies you can acquire through a movie download site.

Number One With a Bullet: Carradine and Williams do well in this alternatively normal action movie, set by "abnormal" investigators out to dethrone a medication kingpin. Cast includes Robert Carradine, Billy Dee Williams, Valerie Bertinelli, Peter Graves, Doris Roberts, and Bobby DiCicco. (101 minutes, 1987)

Shining Through: The movie is set in WWII. Linda Voss is a legal secretary with a Jewish relative in Germany. She figures out her boss is working for the government on covert operations. She wants to help, and she speaks German. She eventually gets an assignment to go undercover in Germany. What will her fate be?

Hook, Line & Sinker: Conceivably ludicrous premise about allegedly dying guy who runs up one hundred thousand in credit card debt. Even Lewis fans can be bored. Cast includes Jerry Lewis, Peter Lawford, Anne Francis, Pedro Gonzalez-Gonzalez, Jimmy Miller, and Kathleen Freeman. (91 minutes, 1951)

Foolish: Part drama, part comedy, part performance film, total catastrophe. Tale hubs around a man who feels he is not utilizing his abilities wisely and tossing away his potential. Alas, nothing is even remotely funny. The title affirms it all. Cast includes Eddie Griffin, Master P, Amy Petersen, Frank Sivero, Daphnee Lynn Duplaix, Jonathan Banks, Andrew Dice Clay, Marla Gibbs, Bill Nunn, Bill Duke, and Traci Bingham. (96 minutes, 1999)

Pearl Harbor: Part old-styled silver-monitor romance, part boys' venture, part enormous re-creation of December seven, 1941: a gigantic Hollywood film. Infrequent silliness and anticlimactic rendering of Doolittle's pillage on Tokyo are counter-act by thrilling and appalling illustration of the scandalous bombing assault on Pearl. Cast includes Ben Affleck, Josh Hartnett, Kate Beckinsale, Cuba Gooding, Jr., Alec Baldwin, Jon Voight, and Catherine Kellner. (183 minutes, 2001)

Bright Lights, Big City: A young writer moves to New York to work for a major magazine. His life is a mess, his mother died recently, now his wife has left him. He now finds himself escaping into the seedy nightlife in New York City than never ends. Can he escape the downward spiral he is on?

Cliffhanger: In a complex heist, a group of thieves hijack a $100 million delivery flight. Attempting to switch planes to escape, they crash in the mountains. They radio for help, and when it comes they force the rescuers to help them recover the lost cash.

Gator: Not-so-hot continuation to White Lightning, in reference to a due process Dept. representative Weston and moon-shiner ex-con Reynolds out to get the wares on corrupt Southern congressmen. Some excellent action, however overlong and badly created. Cast includes Burt Reynolds, Jack Weston, Lauren Hutton, Jerry Reed, Alice Ghostley, Mike Douglas, and Dub Taylor. (116 minutes, 1976)

Like Water for Chocolate: Striking and sensuous film from a novel by Laura Esquivel, the controller's then-spouse, set in the early part of the 20th century: a youthful female's life is conditioned first by her serious and unyielding mom, and more vital, by the swamping electricity of grilling. Sumptuous legend-not without humor-with a excellent cast and a top-dent behavior from steel actress Cavazos. Cast includes Lumi Cavazos, Marco Leonardi, Regina Tome, Mario I minivan Martinez, and Ada Carrasco. (113 minutes, 19

For file downloads use a phrase like "Watch New Movies Online". When one search fails to succeed just change things and try again. Try something different, like "Downloading Movies Internet". - 18418

About the Author:

"Online Movies Downloads" is one of the best search terms for movie downloading tools. Rental Movie Download Find movie download sites by searching "Family Movie Rental". Any company not moving toward a movie download services will be left behind.