View Full Version : Do you regret getting a mini and wish you got a Carbon instead?
crazyonskis
10-18-2004, 08:10 AM
Hi
I was just wondering if any of you mini owners out there regret buying a mini, and wish that you'd gotten the Rio Carbon instead? Why?
Thanks
Asian_N02
10-18-2004, 09:01 AM
No, I love my mini. it has provided me everything that I have asked of it. I have had no problems associated with my mini since ownership.
Aceon6
10-18-2004, 09:20 AM
No regrets here.
Size: 4 gig is more than enough capacity to provide variety.
Support: Apple support is very good and is augmented by sites like this.
Stability: It's a good bet Apple will still be here 5 years from now. Rio? Only if they sell enough players.
orlandopirate
10-18-2004, 02:58 PM
No regreats here either! I checked out the Carbon before I purchased my Mini recently. The Carbon'software seems to very slugish compared to the iPod Mini (all Ipods as far as that goes). It's start-up time seems really log vs. the immdiate start-up of the Mini. Also, the sound quality is just not up the the bar that iPod has set. Also, there are very few accesories for the Carbon such as cases.
NOSpsycho
10-18-2004, 04:07 PM
no regrets here at all
the carbon is ugly... n plus they probably dont have a forum as awesome as this one!
orlandopirate, welcome to the lounge
funnyperson1
10-18-2004, 04:53 PM
If I was buying now I might consider the Carbon, but I would probably get a 4G Ipod. My mini was a gift, and from the get-go the storage space hasn't been enough.
Now though I have an MP3 player and its plenty good enough for me.
hr8675309
10-18-2004, 09:10 PM
You should only have Buyer's Remorse over big purchases or things with huge capability differences. The extra 1Gb isn't that big of a deal - and I'll take the wheel interface any day.
Code Monkey
10-18-2004, 09:41 PM
The carbon? Nope. However, I am waiting to hear the user reports on the Zen Micro. The creative site seems to be saying that they essentially copied everything about iTunes software in terms of smartlists and, functionally, the micro is a bit ahead of the mini. If I had $300 to blow I'd be ordering one of those out of curiosity.
I have no regets of buying my silver mini instead of a Rio Carbon. My mini has worked flawlessly since I got it, and I wouldn't want to own any other player.
MartyMcPod
10-18-2004, 11:43 PM
I'm with you Code monkey. I want to hear about the Micro. I like it. The Carbon though, can stay at the store. I don't want to touch that thing...
in the red
10-19-2004, 03:55 AM
Nope. Mini is very user friendly and has plenty of space. Idon't even know of a store that sells the carbon in aus
eriqesque
10-19-2004, 02:56 PM
Originally posted by crazyonskis
Hi
I was just wondering if any of you mini owners out there regret buying a mini, and wish that you'd gotten the Rio Carbon instead? Why?
Thanks
LOL
The initial release of Carbons have some issues with static, related to headphones with jacks where metal touches the case. This will most likely be resolved in the Carbons to be released soon. You can read more about this on the Riovolution forum.
Other than that, you'll probably find that Carbon users like Carbons and Mini users like Minis - no surprise there. There's a "Carbon vs iPod" thread on Riovolution as well; guess which is winning?
Moose Hunter
10-19-2004, 08:33 PM
that's not the Zen micro. The Zen Micro is not squareshaped. And besides...
The iPod mini not only looks nicer, but has better firmware and syncs with better software. The Carbon is a nice player, yes, but I don't think size matters in this case. The Carbon has more memory, yes, and is thinner, but the iPod mini's firmware, functionality, and style surpasses the Carbon.
And as for your China trip dilemma... You most likely won't be listening to music the entire time. And even if you do, there is a new battery pack that will be out long before you take your trip that you can use. You don't find accessories like that for the Carbon.
Matrixsjd
10-19-2004, 08:42 PM
plan and simple the ipod mini has class, and the rio carbon is shaped like an egg. Not to mention that weird button set up. me no likey
The iPod mini not only looks nicer, but has better firmware and syncs with better software
The Carbon has an iTunes plugin as well.
You most likely won't be listening to music the entire time. And even if you do, there is a new battery pack that will be out long before you take your trip that you can use. You don't find accessories like that for the Carbon.
Of course a third party battery pack would be unnecessary as the natural battery life for the Carbon would probably be enough.
Anyhoo, the Carbon and mini are both small, sleek players, I'm sure most of us here would be happy to have either one of them.
carsncars
10-19-2004, 09:44 PM
Originally posted by bdb
The initial release of Carbons have some issues with static, related to headphones with jacks where metal touches the case. This will most likely be resolved in the Carbons to be released soon. You can read more about this on the Riovolution forum.
Other than that, you'll probably find that Carbon users like Carbons and Mini users like Minis - no surprise there. There's a "Carbon vs iPod" thread on Riovolution as well; guess which is winning?
First part... Well, it seems the mini *not sure if this has been remedied* has its own static problems. At least the Carbon's is easily remedied.
Second part... Yup- right on. Ask at an Apple forum, iPod wins. Ask at a Rio forum, Carbon wins.
Now myself.... I think they're even. The Apple is definitely better as the 'whole package'... Apple has an awesome marketing team, and design team.
IMO I like the mini's and the Carbon's designs just as much. The Carbon's red lights are... Cool lol, even if they do imitate the 3G iPod. I use em for different purposes-- the mini is easier for school because I can just plunk it into its dock and it updates. Yea, the Carbon has the WMP10 plug-in and an iTunes plug in for MacOS users, but #1 in the music management aspect WMP is owned by iTunes, and #2, still, more people have PCs than Macs.
Even though the mini is built of metal, and the Carbon plastic, and the fact I bought em for the exact same price ($315 before tax), I'm more willing to throw my Carbon around. Sometimes I pick it over the mini for this... The mini's touchwheel, even though it is more intuitive, feels... somehow more fragile than the Carbon's interface.
I tend to baby my mini more... Screen protecter, click wheel film, iSkin, while my Carbon goes all-natural. Funny how I'm absolutely anal about scratches on my mini, while on the Carbon it's just... 'Meh, as long as it works'
As a music player and solely a music player, I'll pick my Carbon *the EQ is a lot better than the mini's*. As 'the whole package', I'll go with my mini.
steve6420
10-02-2005, 07:33 PM
None
mustremember13
10-02-2005, 07:45 PM
Definitely the Mini in my opinion. I like the orginazation on the mini alot better, and it has a better feel in my hand. There is a possibility of an MP3 player being too small. The Zen Micro is a neat little player. I think the best feature is the External Batter. The only thing that I don't like about my mini is the 8 hours of batter that go all too soon.
BJB4735
10-02-2005, 09:50 PM
Originally posted by mustremember13
Definitely the Mini in my opinion. I like the orginazation on the mini alot better, and it has a better feel in my hand. There is a possibility of an MP3 player being too small. The Zen Micro is a neat little player. I think the best feature is the External Batter. The only thing that I don't like about my mini is the 8 hours of batter that go all too soon.
my friend has a carbon, and i dont really like the way it looks. it looks kinda cheap to me. also, its like his 3rd carbon since they keep getting ruined somehow, and hes pretty careful with it. The micro looks nice, I think its the closet competitor to the mini. I just dont really like the oval rectangular shape to it and lack of 3rd party vendors for accesories like the mini has.
JazzyMac
10-02-2005, 10:01 PM
Originally posted by carsncars
First part... Well, it seems the mini *not sure if this has been remedied* has its own static problems. At least the Carbon's is easily remedied.
Second part... Yup- right on. Ask at an Apple forum, iPod wins. Ask at a Rio forum, Carbon wins.
Now myself.... I think they're even. The Apple is definitely better as the 'whole package'... Apple has an awesome marketing team, and design team.
IMO I like the mini's and the Carbon's designs just as much. The Carbon's red lights are... Cool lol, even if they do imitate the 3G iPod. I use em for different purposes-- the mini is easier for school because I can just plunk it into its dock and it updates. Yea, the Carbon has the WMP10 plug-in and an iTunes plug in for MacOS users, but #1 in the music management aspect WMP is owned by iTunes, and #2, still, more people have PCs than Macs.
Even though the mini is built of metal, and the Carbon plastic, and the fact I bought em for the exact same price ($315 before tax), I'm more willing to throw my Carbon around. Sometimes I pick it over the mini for this... The mini's touchwheel, even though it is more intuitive, feels... somehow more fragile than the Carbon's interface.
I tend to baby my mini more... Screen protecter, click wheel film, iSkin, while my Carbon goes all-natural. Funny how I'm absolutely anal about scratches on my mini, while on the Carbon it's just... 'Meh, as long as it works'
As a music player and solely a music player, I'll pick my Carbon *the EQ is a lot better than the mini's*. As 'the whole package', I'll go with my mini.
...for all carsncars reasons, I agree. I originally bought the mini for a gym partner and was always babying the darn thing because it was toooo cute! When the carbon released, I would have bought it if not for the minis I already owned.
jkmiecik
10-02-2005, 11:03 PM
I think you asked the wrong crowd.
bobb-mini
10-03-2005, 12:58 AM
Carbon who? Rio - bleewh.
A voluptuous blonde (proud to take out, conversation maker) OR the sensible, educated, lots of possibilities but not currently realized, competent woman/man.
Tough choice.
jouster
10-03-2005, 08:11 PM
A minor point to consider is that Rio has gone out of business, at least wrt MP3 players. I'd hardly think it made sense to buy an unsupported product.
jpodmini
10-30-2005, 11:49 AM
Hi, i've had the micro and currently still have the mini. i have to say, the carbon does look amazing, but the mini is overally much nicer.
Carbon:Looks good, but the specs are quite bad apart from the batt life.
Micro: Total piece of junk. mine died out on me in less than a week. the UI will kill u if the weight doesnt. the only good thing is the amount of accessories it comes wiv.
turkeysix
10-30-2005, 12:20 PM
No regrets.
I've toyed around with the Carbon a bit, and I hated it. It just seems very...blah, mediocre. Not to mention its design/appearance is rather atrocious.
About the Micro, I must admit, I'm not the least bit turned on by it. It looks so bulky, so...1980ish. Granted, I haven't listened to any music on one, so as far as sound quality goes, I can't say anything.
caligurl
11-04-2005, 12:42 PM
i had a rio carbon for almost a year... actually.. had one..... within 30 days.. the wheel broke... so returned it... got another one.. and within a year... the wheel broke again.... had the best buy warranty... so got a mini instead.. couldn't be happier!
now... i did like that i could download from napster and other places.... and i loved that it was so small (i had bought it to use on my road bike... so the size was PERFECT!)
however... now that i have a mini... i like it much better! i've learned to like iTunes.... it was a pain to move all my napster songs over.. but it's done now!
oh... and no wheel to break!