Griffin SmarkDeck?

[fondoo]

http://thinkdifferentstore.com/product_info.php/cPath/103_110/products_id/988

what do you guys think of the griffin smartdeck? i'm thinking of getting it.
i would think the smartdeck would be clearer than a fm transmitter

[GadgetGuru72]

Looks awesome, but won't be out for a few more months.

[K1W1]

The only problem I can see with this device is that it looks like it will only connect to the audioout port on the top of an iPod (i.e. you can't use it with, say a Belkin Auto kit). In my experience the sound quality from the line out is far superior to the sound quality through the audio out ports.

[GadgetGuru72]

Weird. I said above that it doesn't come out for a few more months because the Griffin website states:

We are not yet shipping the SmartDeck. It will begin shipping in the second quarter of the year. Feel free to continue ordering your SmartDeck by clicking the 'Buy Now" button on this page. Your credit card will NOT be charged until your SmartDeck is shipped to you.

However, the ThinkDifferent store you linked says it will be available April 29.

Granted, the "second quarter" is from April through June, but it seems to me that if the product were that close to release that Griffin would update their website.

Looks like we might be able to get one in a couple of days. That would be great.

[K1W1]

Not everybody on the Internet is 100% accurate or honest.
It could be that Griffin's site needs updating. It could be that the other site is being liberal with the delivery date.
The only way to tell is to place an order and I won't be because I don't need to.

[GadgetGuru72]

Originally posted by K1W1
The only way to tell is to place an order . . .

No, you could call Griffin and ask when it's going to be released. That's much easier than blindly placing an order and wondering when it will be shipped.

Originally posted by K1W1
. . . and I won't be because I don't need to.

Fantastic! I spent all day yesterday wondering if K1W1 was going to buy a SmarkDeck, and now I know that you don't need to. That's for providing that information. ;)

If you don't want one and you're not interested in this product, why have you posted in this thread twice already? There are plenty of other threads.

[fondoo]

the thinkdifferentstore.com emailed me back and they'll have them by this friday, march 29th. BUT on their website it OUT OF STOCK. I might have to order it from griffintechnology.com website.

[otherguy41]

I ordered mine Feb 19th and i still haven't gotten an answer from Griffin as to when I should be expecting it. I just wrote them last week (May 11th) and they still said that all they know is that it's sometime in the second quarter. I think it's ridiculous that they can't tell me a date, especially since i bought it 3 months ago!!

[melsmusic]

I've been waiting to order the smartdeck in OZ and the site I am watching it on ... keeps changing the "expected" date. Last time I looked it was end April .. now end May ... so it looks like Griffin's production was later than thought.

In reference to the 1st post when you asked if it's better than a FM transmitter. Yes any tape adaptor is better as you don't get the interference or have to tune.

BUT as K1W1 says the line out feature is far superior but not everyone can connect that easily so the tape adaptor is an easy option if you have a tape player in your car.

[Echo_]

imo id just get the 10 dollar ones at walmart unless you have a really nice audio system which would be weird since its out of a tape lol

[fondoo]

wow.. no one has received their smartdeck yet. i thought it was shipping by end of april.

[mesostinky]

I'm kinda bummed I even saw this. I just got an iPod and need to buy a cassette adaptor asap but this thing seems great. Being able to change songs etc from the steering wheel would rock. And for $29 it sure beats those $200 kits that only offer basic functionality. Hope it comes in stock soon.

[melsmusic]

Do what we did. We went to Kmart and just bought a cheap tape adaptor to use until we wait for the Smartdeck.

Then we will give the cheap one to our son to play with his mini through his stereo :D

[mesostinky]

Done. Walmart $9 special. :)

[fondoo]

was this a philip cassette adapter from walmart?

[melsmusic]

$9 special. Cool. You will find that you might get a bit of the tape clicking sound which the Smartdeck is not supposed to have but it will get your through. I don't have a tape deck in my car :( but my husband does. I'm waiting for Bluetooth or time to organise the connection through my stereo so I know how it feels to be ipodless in the car (not good). FM Transmitters dont work for me as we live in the City and it's too conjested.

[mesostinky]

fondoo, Yes it was the Phillps model.

melsmusic, I actually thought about trying out the original Belkin Tunecast which Walmart had for $19 but considering the supposed sound quality problems combined with living close to New York city made me not bother.

[mallu2u]

Does cassette adapter solution sound better than FM Transmitter solution?

[mesostinky]

It should, but a crappy cassette adapter along with an cheap car cassette player won't do wonders for your sound. FM tuners seem more trouble then they are worth and cost way more than they should IMHO. I did hear good things about the roadmaster FM tuner though. As far as all other FM tuners go buyer beware if you looking for decent quality and a constant level of reception. They work for some people and sound horrible for others.

My cheap cassette adapter that I talked about sounds "just" passable for car use. Compared to burning the same exact mp3's to CD and then playing that in the car, the cassette adapter sounds pretty bad. All highs and lows are gone.