Newbie

[jbg]

Just want to share my experience as a new PMP400 owner - it's my first day using the device & I am totally bowled over by it.

Exp#1: The unit comes with a plastic sheet (like a screen protector), it covers the screen and half of the navigation keys. I was extremely frustrated navigating around until Eric advised me to take the plastic sheet off. My advice to you newbies, is whilst waiting to get a new screen protector (4.3" Sony PSP type), you may keep the original plastic sheet but cut it so that it doesn't cover the navigation keys. After I removed it, it was easy as ABC. To think I struggled with it all of the night before! Don't repeat my mistake.

Exp#2: The Sony PSP screen protector may be slightly too big for the PMP400 screen (that's not to say PMP400 screen is smaller), it's just that the protector sits over the edge (the screen is lower than the edge), and so the protector doesn't sit 100% flash, especially the edges. Before you lay the protector, cut it slightly smaller on 2 sides.

Esp#3: I used the PMP400 in the public transport for the first time today. Here are some notes, I normally use a PSP and a spare Tablet DVD player (just in case) but today I left my Tablet DVD player at home.
o It's slightly heavier than my PSP but it's sits snugly in my breast pocket. The PSP is too long for my breast pocket.
o It goes 'vrrr, vrrr, vrrr' as you feel the hard disk spinning away. My PSP is solid state so it's relatively quiet. I guess that's the only negative point I encountered so far. I will share my experience about the battery at some later stage but I made sure to charge it fully in the morning and charge it at work before leaving the office.
o Watching a movie and breaking in the middle is easy as you can 'Set label' easily and play it from the last position. This is very important as I can't finish a movie in one trip. Unfortunately, it can't set labels for different movies at the same time - it just stores one label. For that matter, PSP is not able to do it so it's not worse off.
o The 160GB hard disk is totally capacity supreme! Compared to the PSP - I was able to transfer as many movies as I want and my entire music library! My PSP? I had to use a couple 4GB Sony memsticks and they cost upwards from $80 each! The true benefit is you can store generic AVI file format so no conversion required.
o But I need subtitles as I watch a lot of Korean and Japanese movies.  I use my current converter software which I invested in (legit, yo). It's DVDFab Platinum and it keeps getting upgrades to cater for new features. The product has decrypter+shrink+device converter functions. For the latter, it converts DVD to PSP, PVP (PMP), generic, mobile phone & iPod. My conversion to PVP didn't work so I used generic & it's fine. Pls email me for detailed settings if interested.

Exp#4: Too bad the PMP400 doesn't support bluetooth, cos I use bluetooth stereo headset to watch my movie. In this case, my Blueant set has an audio streamer that will allow me to interface with the PMP400. It's good without wires. Recently I got a Plane-Quiet noise cancelling headset - I will try that tomorrow to see if it works well & share that experience with you.

So much for a Entertainment-on-the-Go! Hope you will have a chance to enjoy this gadget like me. Cheers. cL

[jbg]

Exp#4 continued: Tested the Plane-Quiet Noise-cancelling headset today. It is better compared to normal headphones but the best option is still the 'in-the-ear' plugs - a word of caution: very dangerous to use when walking as it blocks out 95% sound! You just can't hear a car horning you.

Exp#5: I cannot comment with authority on the battery yet as it may be different for different types of hard disks. I have a 160gb Samsung drive. Will share my experience about the battery life once I test it properly. Off the top of my mind, I would be buying a spare battery or two and hope that it can be charged off the device. I have 2 PSP spare batteries that 1) can be charged externally & 2) a hand-carry plug-in rechargeable type. Both will help with long flights/ trips. The wire connection between the device & the battery is a challenge.

As a suggestion, the device can be put into the pouch that came with it. It would be great to have a cover for it to protect the screen from finger prints - but you can't have it all. That's it for now. cL

[jbg]

Hi all, this is a good reference site for those who looking at PMPs - PMP overall review by PCWorld, talks about the types, makes, etc

http://www.pcworld.idg.com.au/index.php/id;1039562914;pp;1

As a PMP400 owner, I'd have to say that the features offered matches those of the more expensive types.

... to follow through with my other blog ... this is about the battery life of my unit - it lasts only 1.5 ~2 hours on a Samsung disk. I have not gotten around to investigating whether there are any performance enhancement utilities similar to the Hitachi. I normally charge it fully in the morning and again during work hours before the leg home.

Note that a Portable Battery Pack (PBP) was available in Aldi stores for $99 which allows stored charge, different adjustable stepped battery output, 15 different types of connectors that can be handy if your PMP runs dry on battery. I carry this with me (300gm - same weight as PMP400) as well. Thank gawd the PMP400 has 2 types of charge connectors - the DC-in and USB-in. Unfortunately the PBP doesn't have a DC-in connector for the PMP400 but the USB-in works! It should carry a charge to extend the PMP400 for at least another 3 hrs - not tested. It claims a 8,000 mAh, whereas the PMP400 is a 3,100 mAh.

That's it for now. cL