Toshiba GigaBeat S30 Portable Media Player - Silver (2.375

Toshiba Gigabeat S30

GigaBeat S30 Portable Media Player - Silver (2.375 Review, by Eric Butterfield August 15, 2006

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• Latest User Reviews 1 review
• Reviewed by: randelcole

  Duration of ownership: 1 Month

  Strengths: Size, stle, audio quality, user interface, screen image

  Weaknesses: poor battery life, battery is not field replaceable (see below), cannot be used as hard drive for document storage, no clock or contact managment capability, maximum volume is average

  Overall: This is a fien player that performs well except for one problem, and it is a BIG problem, the battery--for 2 reasons: (1) I only get about 8 hours between charges and (2) the battery is NOT field replacement and when I called Toshiba, they told me that the unit needs to be returned to Toshiba and the cost is a flat rate $140.00 dollars. I almost fell off my chair and dropped the phone. HOw can TOshiba charge $140 to repalce a battery when the player only cost me $216? Toshiba had no reply. I have returned the player and I purchased a Ven Vision instead.

• Reviewed by: mitchec217

  Strengths: works with wmp11 and Vista

  Weaknesses: if battery goes empty you have to reset the player by switching to dc power.

  Overall: I purchased a Gigabeat 60 3 week agao. It is definitely an IPOD and ZUNE killer. It costs less than an IPOD and ZUNE, is Plays for Sure Compatible and has a larger video screen. I am very happy with this purchase. I only wish there were more accessories available. Workout band and holder would be great, as well as, speakers.

• Reviewed by:

  Strengths: stylish, portable, good sound

  Weaknesses: bad battery life, very weak, and slow to respond

  Overall: This product is terrible no matter what you do don't buy it my broke within the first weekend i bought and it takes forever to sinc the music please for your own sake don't waste your time or money on

• Reviewed by: rcolenyc

  Strengths: Small, good interface, good audio, easy navigation

  Weaknesses: poor battery life, battery not field replaceable, headphones are cheap, low volume, cannot be used as a hard drive to hold documents, no clock, only works with Window Media player

  Overall: I purchased this player after reading the CNET review which gave it high marks. It is indeed easy to use, small, attractive, and performs nicely. But, and this is a BIG but, the player has both a short battery cycle life, and to replace the battery, it must be returned to Toshiba. I called Toshiba to find out the price for battery replacement and I was told that the flat rate price is $140.00. I almost dropped the phone. As I recall, a big complaint with the the first generation I Pod was that the battery also had to be sent to the factory for replacement for $99.00. I Pod users revolted and so Apple changed the design. So how can Toshiba, five years later, make a player that does not allow for field replacement, and why should battery replacement cost so much??? Needless to say, I have returned the player and I plan to purchase a Zen Vision instead.

• Reviewed by: dpcash

  Strengths: Interface, screen, capacity,

  Weaknesses: Battery life!

  Overall: Great player with lousy battery life!!!!!!! I wish Toshiba would recall all this players battery and replace it with a longer lastins one. That would really make this player outstanding. In the mean time we fans of the gigabeat are stuck with 2.5 hrs video and 5.5 hrs music play.

• Reviewed by: bigcat001

  Strengths: good screen and slim body, that's it. Most pros can be found in many other players that are in the same price range.

  Weaknesses: Very buggy, poor battery life

  Overall: some problems I found:1 sometimes when a track is finished, It may play a random track for 2-3 seconds and then next track, VERY annoying.2. It randomly deletes all files on the device! Backup your music and be aware if you use it as a portable storage.3. Very poor battery life, I only got about 4 hours play back time. Before the release, some web sites cited that the battery life was about 20 hours. some people were lying.4. Video conversion and playback are very painful. So far I have not successfully sychronized video files to my plays, tried many different files, even on some tiny clips, the software shows "Converting, 0%", it never finishes.5. Because of the poor battery, I left AC charger in my home and the USB cable in my office, thought that the battery problem might be covered. However, the USB charge is NOT fully functional. If the battery is empty, you can NOT charge it via USB, so bring the AC chager with if you are on vacation with you laptop.6. Very annoying noise when you forward to next track.Other small issues: no sleep timer, no voice recording, less accessories.Check some web sites for gigabeat user group, there are a lot of complains.