Recommend me a good portable video player

[Azrael]

I spend two hours a day on the trains commuting. I'd love to be able to watch 24 and Heroes during this time, so I need some sort of portable video player. Does anyone have any good recommendations?

My initial thought was to get a PSP (get to play the games as well), but kinda looking at it I don't think it'll hold the episodes much less play them back. So I'm looking for something that'll play back the popular internet video formatting, as well as enough space to at least hold a couple of TV episodes. And, optimally, some porn too. ...Not that I'm gonna look at porn on the train, but just...it wouldn't hurt to have it in case of emergencies.

(Mods - I put this in GD because I felt it was more consumer-orientated than Tech Talk)

[DaDesiCanadian]

Well, how much the PSP holds is dependent on the memory size. The main thing about the PSP is that it lets you watch movies AND play PSP/old school games. It has a damn nice resolution too. The dedicated video players will of course have much better resolutions, and probably more battery time too though. Try the Creative line.

[Hoonyo]

Have you considered a Tablet PC? Those are nifty.

[kindaichi]

and with psp you also get your portable mp3 player...not to mention you can surf the web with it

[1]

Yea, I love my PSP. It's my portable movie/emulator/mp3 player. You just have to invest in a good size memory stick.

If the PSP still doesn't interest you, have you looked at a Zune? My bro has one and it looks pretty cool. The screen isn't as big as a PSP's though but it's got good storage capacity.

[Azrael]

I'd love to go with the PSP, but my primary concerns are this -

-- Sony's website lists the memory at 32MB. ...32MB! That's nothing! That's like like ten ticks of the 24 clock. So if the PSP does have any more capacity, I just don't know it. I'd need at the very least, 1G.

-- Will it play downloaded TV shows? With the funky encoding and everything?

[kindaichi]

I'd love to go with the PSP, but my primary concerns are this -

-- Sony's website lists the memory at 32MB. ...32MB! That's nothing! That's like like ten ticks of the 24 clock. So if the PSP does have any more capacity, I just don't know it. I'd need at the very least, 1G.

-- Will it play downloaded TV shows? With the funky encoding and everything?

yeah the cost comes at buying the memory stick...they are quiet pricey, at least for me in America, but once you get it you won't regret it. I don't know what's the latest one, 4gig maybe? I have a 2 gig one and it's plenty, it can be used for pics/songs/movies/games data saves.....

yand then you need to buy the psp media software thing...that software alone will do all the encoding for you on your computer and with it you can personalize your psp and swap files to and from your computer at ease...if you have a fast enough usb drive

and once you get a psp, of course, now you have the option to enjoy some good psp games!

[True Grave]

I'd love to go with the PSP, but my primary concerns are this -

-- Sony's website lists the memory at 32MB. ...32MB! That's nothing! That's like like ten ticks of the 24 clock. So if the PSP does have any more capacity, I just don't know it. I'd need at the very least, 1G.

-- Will it play downloaded TV shows? With the funky encoding and everything?

PSP can use memory sticks with capacitys up to 1GB. Anything you want to play will end up being stored on the stick.

There are programs out there like DVDFabDecryptor, that appear to be Easily able to convert most video, into PSP-Video compatable format.

[1]

PSP can use memory sticks with capacitys up to 1GB. Anything you want to play will end up being stored on the stick.

Actually, 4 GB is the max right now.

yand then you need to buy the psp media software thing...that software alone will do all the encoding for you on your computer and with it you can personalize your psp and swap files to and from your computer at ease...if you have a fast enough usb drive

Encoding and file transfers cann all be done for free.

http://pspvideo9.com

Personalization can also be done through homebrew software (also free). The PSP homebrew scene is pretty strong right now. You can find mostly anything useful (text readers, emulators etc.)

[MrKrazy]

I'd love to go with the PSP, but my primary concerns are this -

-- Sony's website lists the memory at 32MB. ...32MB! That's nothing! That's like like ten ticks of the 24 clock. So if the PSP does have any more capacity, I just don't know it. I'd need at the very least, 1G.

-- Will it play downloaded TV shows? With the funky encoding and everything?



Memory sticks are ranging up to 4gb now, and I heard there are going to be 8 gb soon. 4gb isn't as pricy when it was released, but there are good sales that you may find that are reasonable. The best one I've seen was 60 dollars. If you still want to consider at least a gigabyte then you are in luck, my friend. As of now, I heard Sony is selling the PSP bundle with the gigabyte stick included.

As for your other question, Yes, it does. However, you have to encode them, so they can fit the PSP's resolution and lower the size significantly. (usually)

[1]

As for your other question, Yes, it does. However, you have to encode them, so they can fit the PSP's resolution and lower the size significantly. (usually)

I'm not quite sure but I believe there's a homebrew program that'll let you encode and watch movies in the PSP's max resolution.

Can somebody confirm?

[nothingxs]

Everyone's going to shit on me right now, but,

The Zune is pretty good if you use their video format for everything you want to watch, or at the very least I actually thought it was pretty good -- and I don't really like Microsoft products at all.

Too bad it's fucking overpriced still, and compatibility could not hurt it at all...

[FallingEdge]

I'm a huge fan of the Creative Zen Vision: M. I have one and except for the random freezing, the mp3 player is dope. Highly recommended.

[TheSix]

+2

Zen Vision: M

[DropOff]

Theres supposed to be an 8 gig pro duo coming out later this year. I've been using my psp for videos, pspvideo9 is a godsend. The screen is very pretty, but yeah dedicated video player might be more your style, although psp has it's perks, I've had two psps and both had irreparable dead pixels.

The one I'm using now has a two dead pixels in the left hand corner right against the side of the screen, so I guess it's not as bad as being right up front ruining my veiwing.

[Rhio2k]

Currently the Sandisk Sansa e250 is on sale at Radio Shack for $119...2 gig mp3, photo, fm radio, audio recorder, and great video playback, very durable, larger screen than Ipos nano.

[Taito]

I'm a huge fan of the Creative Zen Vision: M. I have one and except for the random freezing, the mp3 player is dope. Highly recommended.
I'm actually interested in Zen Vision.. does it support gapless music playback? I need a player to use in my car, and I like the features I read about it (drag and drop multiple video formats, video out--two things PSP can't do), but I can't stand pauses inbetween music tracks..

[Hyperhal]

I just use my DS for mp3, video, and the random web browsing/game playing.

[Rick Fn Stalvey]

I have an archos there are 2 versions of the one I have. There is a wireless one that does divx, xvid, mp4, mp2, ect. just like mine but also does wireless Inet. I get about 6 hours on video and 10 hrs on mp3. I also does pics. The screen is fukin kick ass to boot.

http://www.archos.com/products/video/archos_604wifi/index.html?country=global&lang=en

[Chachi]

I guess the iPod isn't good enough anymore...

[darthJones]

If money isn't an issue, I'd suggest a Dell Axim. If you use the Core Pocket Media Player you can watch pretty much any video type without having to re-encode. Supposedly, you can even watch OGMs and MKVs with subtitles. When I had one I only used it to watch AVIs so I can't verify that.

[nothingxs]

Currently the Sandisk Sansa e250 is on sale at Radio Shack for $119...2 gig mp3, photo, fm radio, audio recorder, and great video playback, very durable, larger screen than Ipos nano.

i bought this for my mom for christmas, it's fucking elite.

[Azrael]

Thank you all. With the info I got from this thread, I picked up a PSP tonight, with a 1G memory stick, and Metal Gear Solid - Portable Ops, just cuz. Thanks to the pspvideo9 site, I was able to encode my 24/Heroes onto the PSP, and they're ready for my train ride tomorrow. Good shit. :tup:

Although, looking at some of the other video players, I might want one of those as a Christmas present or something. The Zen looks like a sweet piece of machinery. Goddamn it's great being a guy - our toys are so much cooler.

[Taito]

Cool.. if you're interested in unlocking the full power of the dark side (if you're playing MGSPO you must be running at least system firmware version 2.81, so it might be a little more complicated to get into the PSP hack scene.. but there's other stuff you can do, like making your PSP D-pad Street Fighter-friendly), check out the official PSP thread for help and info.

[DragonSama]

Congrats on the PSP AZ. I used mine on the plane and I was able to pack about 3 1/2 hours of video onto a 1GB memory stick. The price of the 4 GB stick have come down (over here at least) and I am sure you can find one cheaper than most of us. (between where you live and your patron saint of condoms back home)

Also I know know about the trains in Kyoto but when I was in Tokyo I was hopping the subway there and zipping around places in 10-15 minutes. My guess is you must have one hell of a commute from where you are staying to where you are teaching.

When you get a chance pick up these

Tekken 5 dark resurrection
Street fighter Zero 3 upper MAX
Dark-stalkers.
Guilty Gear Judgment (it has Slash on it)
Narutemett Hero.
Metal gear Ac!d 1&2 (don't let the card stuff throw you off they are good)
Loco Roco. (It's just fun)
Rockman Rockman! (player as the bosses is great)
Rockman X
Valkyrie Profile Lennith
Initial D.
Mortal Kombat unchained. (only if you liked any of the 3D Kombats)


These are the ones I know first hand to be good. I think there was a Bleach fighter for it but I don't know much about that.

[blooper]

hope you have fun with it. as far as games. try DLing the free demos. those will keep you busy for a couple minutes at a time. i just got killzone for the psp, check it out. 1GB could store up to 3-5 episodes of decent res. so dont worry too much about it.

[umthrfkr]

creative zen vision w. it takes all types of codecs and u usually dont have to convert downloads. it really is godlike

[Azrael]

check out the official PSP thread for help and info.
Does anyone have the PSP thread subscribed, or have a link or something? I can't find it - SRK won't let me search for "psp", and "official thread" doesn't exactly narrow down the results. :bluu:

[1]

^^
http://forums.shoryuken.com/showthread.php?t=103931

Check out the later pages.

[DarkGiygas]

i just discovered you can play ff7 on psp and now i must have one

[Shinto]

Man I wanted to get A Zune for media since its 30 gigs, or a Ipod video? I dont know....

[TheSix]

i just discovered you can play ff7 on psp and now i must have one

You could get a ps1 and the game for much cheaper....:confused:

[DarkGiygas]

doesnt help if youre not at home :confused:

[1]

^^

You can get one of them nifty PSone devices with a monitor built in. I'm sure that's what he meant.