What's a fun toy to take on a commute?
May 1, 2010 8:01 AM Subscribe
What electronic gadget would make my commute the most fun? I have fun listening to music, playing games and using linux on my computer.
My summer internship is a short subway trip and then a long bus ride away from my house. I'd like to buy something to entertain myself with on the commute.
My requirements:
It absolutely must play music. If I can't find anything else, I'm just going to get a crappy flash mp3 player.
It should be pretty small; smaller than a netbook, and small enough that I can shove it into a messenger bag without opening the bag all the way.
I primarily use linux, and I'd like whatever device I buy to work with linux without voiding the warranty. I have an SD card reader. I also have a Windows partition, but linux compatible is better. I hate Itunes.
I'd like to also be able to play games, watch videos or read e-books or text files on whatever I buy. I'm willing to pay for these, but a handful of free games would be sweet.
Price range is up to $400.
I've considered the Ipod Touch and the PSP, but I was wondering what other devices are out there.
My summer internship is a short subway trip and then a long bus ride away from my house. I'd like to buy something to entertain myself with on the commute.
My requirements:
It absolutely must play music. If I can't find anything else, I'm just going to get a crappy flash mp3 player.
It should be pretty small; smaller than a netbook, and small enough that I can shove it into a messenger bag without opening the bag all the way.
I primarily use linux, and I'd like whatever device I buy to work with linux without voiding the warranty. I have an SD card reader. I also have a Windows partition, but linux compatible is better. I hate Itunes.
I'd like to also be able to play games, watch videos or read e-books or text files on whatever I buy. I'm willing to pay for these, but a handful of free games would be sweet.
Price range is up to $400.
I've considered the Ipod Touch and the PSP, but I was wondering what other devices are out there.
Oh, also a Nintendo DS with a flash cart is capable of video, music, and has (poor) e-book support, but is totally fun.
posted by monkeymadness at 8:20 AM on May 1, 2010
posted by monkeymadness at 8:20 AM on May 1, 2010
I love my DS. It gets me through my commute every day. :)
Get a DS Lite and a CycloDS flash cart (there are others out there but that one is the best, IMHO) and then you have a great toy that plays all sorts of games (as a DS does), and also plays music and videos (though you might need to reconvert them yourself to .dpg format - there's guides out there) and read text files, though perhaps not e-books, and though I believe there's pdf support with Moonshell 2.0 the layout might be wonky. Flash carts use MicroSDs but the CycloDS comes with a microsd card reader.
Bonus: DSLinux!
posted by Xany at 8:57 AM on May 1, 2010
Get a DS Lite and a CycloDS flash cart (there are others out there but that one is the best, IMHO) and then you have a great toy that plays all sorts of games (as a DS does), and also plays music and videos (though you might need to reconvert them yourself to .dpg format - there's guides out there) and read text files, though perhaps not e-books, and though I believe there's pdf support with Moonshell 2.0 the layout might be wonky. Flash carts use MicroSDs but the CycloDS comes with a microsd card reader.
Bonus: DSLinux!
posted by Xany at 8:57 AM on May 1, 2010
Sometimes I feel like I write this on every post... but if you are handy: get used iPod video (5 or 5.5 generation), max out the storage and battery with an upgrade, and put Rockbox on there.
You'll end up with a solid, high capacity, open source (except the hardware) portable device that is compatible with any OS and does not require iTunes (you just manage the files manually). And you'll be way under budget.
Rockbox does have a bunch of games too, but I'm not familiar with them so can't comment. You can open text documents and many other file types and considering the small screen it's OK to read on.
posted by quarterframer at 10:04 AM on May 1, 2010 [1 favorite]
You'll end up with a solid, high capacity, open source (except the hardware) portable device that is compatible with any OS and does not require iTunes (you just manage the files manually). And you'll be way under budget.
Rockbox does have a bunch of games too, but I'm not familiar with them so can't comment. You can open text documents and many other file types and considering the small screen it's OK to read on.
posted by quarterframer at 10:04 AM on May 1, 2010 [1 favorite]
Pretty sure this is exactly what the Nokia n810 and n900 are for. The Bradsucks guy brought one to the Boston MeFi meetup for his concert, showed it to us - looked pretty awesome and should meet all your reqs.
posted by Ryvar at 10:18 AM on May 1, 2010
posted by Ryvar at 10:18 AM on May 1, 2010
A bicycle? (just kidding.)
I love my netbook for such trips. I understand that it isn't strictly smaller than a netbook, but it can do _everything_, so I have one two-pound device that does everything almost as well as a full-size computer, instead of six half-pound devices that do one thing well and twenty things half-assedly. It also means less stuff to keep track of.
posted by kaibutsu at 10:25 AM on May 1, 2010
I love my netbook for such trips. I understand that it isn't strictly smaller than a netbook, but it can do _everything_, so I have one two-pound device that does everything almost as well as a full-size computer, instead of six half-pound devices that do one thing well and twenty things half-assedly. It also means less stuff to keep track of.
posted by kaibutsu at 10:25 AM on May 1, 2010
On my Blackberry Bold (9000) I have the Pandora radio app (free) installed and I find it makes commuting very enjoyable since I get to make really specific stations of music I like but its still sort of unpredictable.
posted by mollyC at 12:06 PM on May 1, 2010
posted by mollyC at 12:06 PM on May 1, 2010
I hate iTunes too. However, the best personal media player out there right now (and this is coming from a die-hard linux user) is the iPod touch 3g. Nothing matches its battery life, feature set, or ease of use. I have an iPod touch and a Nokia E72 cell phone, and together I am an unstoppable force of portable interwebs and media deliciousness. I really, really, really didn't want to like the iPod touch, but damned if it doesn't grow on you. Everything 'just works'. It doesn't crash, lag, lock up, or otherwise frustrate me.
Cool fact:
I just installed Ubuntu 10.04 on my desktop, and I could sync media with my iPod Touch just fine through Rhythmbox. It was detected without installing any additional software or configuration. Say what you will about Ubuntu, but that fact is TOTALLY AWESOME. If nothing else, this is a great reason to pick up the iPod touch.
posted by Geckwoistmeinauto at 5:46 PM on May 1, 2010
Cool fact:
I just installed Ubuntu 10.04 on my desktop, and I could sync media with my iPod Touch just fine through Rhythmbox. It was detected without installing any additional software or configuration. Say what you will about Ubuntu, but that fact is TOTALLY AWESOME. If nothing else, this is a great reason to pick up the iPod touch.
posted by Geckwoistmeinauto at 5:46 PM on May 1, 2010
Oh, a note -- I originally had a 64 GB iPod Touch, and while the extra space was truly delicious, it was never more than half full. I traded it in for a 32 GB iPod Touch for me and an 8GB iPod Touch for the wife. We are both totally happy with the amount of media they hold.
posted by Geckwoistmeinauto at 5:48 PM on May 1, 2010
posted by Geckwoistmeinauto at 5:48 PM on May 1, 2010
Korg Kaossilator, GP2X Wiz?
Stylophone, Stylophone Beatbox?
I guess a OLPC XO is too big.
A Sirius Satellite Radio Handset?
A chess machine?
posted by at at 7:36 PM on May 1, 2010
Stylophone, Stylophone Beatbox?
I guess a OLPC XO is too big.
A Sirius Satellite Radio Handset?
A chess machine?
posted by at at 7:36 PM on May 1, 2010
Archos 5 Internet Tablet (with Android)?
(So with you on the iTunes. But since I'm on Windows, I'm going to go with a Zune HD. I'm assuming something from Microsoft would not interest you).
posted by timepiece at 1:56 PM on May 4, 2010
(So with you on the iTunes. But since I'm on Windows, I'm going to go with a Zune HD. I'm assuming something from Microsoft would not interest you).
posted by timepiece at 1:56 PM on May 4, 2010
Response by poster: Along the lines of the GP2X Wiz, but quite a bit cheaper, I wound up buying this. It's supposed to arrive on Monday!
posted by martinX's bellbottoms at 2:28 PM on May 7, 2010
posted by martinX's bellbottoms at 2:28 PM on May 7, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
Disclaimer/ad: I am trying to sell mine to afford a phone, but Craigslist is also a good bet.
posted by monkeymadness at 8:19 AM on May 1, 2010