I'm a 30 year old IT professional (yuck) with a passion for gizmos like radios, mp3's etc. Also love...
I'm a 30 year old IT professional (yuck) with a passion for gizmos like radios, mp3's etc. Also love going to the gym, eating healthily and other boring things :-)
Member since:04.07.2003
Reviews:3
I had been looking for an MP3 player for ages for one purpose and one purpose only - going to the Gym! I hate working out on the treadmill listening to my little Roberts radio, or to the Gym's own stations because you never know what kind of horrible, rhythmless music they're gonna play next! I like to choose my own tracks!
So, after looking round the different stores (Argos, Dixons etc), and reading some of the reviews on this Ciao, I went the whole hog and paid £119.99 for the 256 MB MuVo NX at Dixons. MY main reason for choosing the MuVo was the favourable reviews, and the fact it has NO moving parts at all - ideal for banging around in the gym!
My first - and lasting - impressions were that this is a *brilliant* little machine.
You need to be computer-literate before using it though; to put your favourite tracks onto the player, you need to either download your tracks as MP3s from the Internet, or use the software supplied to "rip" (ie convert) your fave CD's into the MP3 files needed by the MuVo. When you have "ripped" the tracks you want, you then simply plug the MuVo into your computers USB port and copy the MP3 files across to it using Windows explorer. The 256MB MuVo can hold around 50 average tracks. (Incidentally, you can copy ANY type of computer file onto the MuVo making it a mini hard disk!).
When the MP3 files are actually on the MuVo - it is GREAT and easy to use! There are 3 buttons altogether; one to play/pause, one to lower the volume and one to raise the volume. There is also a little "thumbwheel" like device - this allows you to navigate backwards and forwards through your tracks, and also allows you to perform some other functions using the little icon menu displayed on the MuVos LCD Screen. (The screen is backlit - ideal for using it in the dark!)
Other features (which to be honest, I don't use) include the voice recorder. I think you can record something like up to 16 hours of voice recording but the sound quality ain't great, nor is the range of the little built in microphone. Still, some people might find it useful.
Sound quality is good through the pre-supplied earphones; however, I found they keep falling out while jumping around at the gym, so I bought a pair of £9.99 ear clip ones from Argos, which have the added advantage of sounding excellent - even better than the pre-supplied earphones! There is also a little graphic equalizer accessible from the icon menu on the MuVos screen which you can use to further enhance the sound.
Battery life is very good. It takes 1x AAA battery. I use Duracell Ni-MHrechargeable batteries (750mAh), which give me approximately 3-4 hours playing time.
The only drawback I've found to the little midget is it's "bodywork"; it comes with 2 interchangeable battery packs (different colours - black & blue for the fashion conscious!), which is handy - but the little slip on battery cover is very flimsy, and I managed to break one of mine with VERY little effort. Oh well, I still have the other one :-) In addition, the "mount" between the battery pack and the MuVo itself strikes me as something which could "wear out" quite easily if you swap the battery packs too often. Also it comes with a daft looking wrist strap, which is horrible looking and detracts from the look of the player (needless to say, I've never used it!)
Aug 22nd, 2004
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