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Review by
mattmardini
(date: 30-Aug-2007)
Subject: Wolverine does it all for less and is expandable
Comment: MP3 players. I've resisted buying one until they made it perfect. Wolverine met my standards. Here's some features you should think about:
Removable, drop out $30 li-ion battery - keep a spare after 14 hours of songs!
CF/SD/MMC/and more slots for reading memory cards AND saving photos on the hard disk
80 GB hard disk is user upgradable (instructions in the manual) when big ones get cheaper (which they will - you know it!)
Big, BIG screen. 320x240 but wow - it's a display in and of itself. I use it to review photos on the spot from my 8MP digicam
Video - well they all have video now, so that's an expectation. it's compatible with itunes, so I'm fine - but it does WMA and PC video too!
Microphone built in - record conversations on the spot
separate video/audiio outputs for watching video or playing photos - even with a soundtrack!
Separate configuration for screen, hard disk, and system power down times.
Easy to zoom in/out on photos for focus checking - wonderful feature by itself.
Empties both high and low speed CF cards. My 4GB sandisk extreme III dumps to this fast, letting me keep shooting those big photos.
And the features go on and on - too many to list here but I may find the manual to upload.
Basically - you are looking at a video MP3 player on steriods - supports universal formats, has an upgrade path, records audio on the spot, even has a video recording dock and can be setup as a TIVO. USB, 5VDC, dock ports on the bottom, ear buds included or use standard 1/8" stereo headphones with it. Uses common li-ion battery securely tucked in the handle. And with all those fetures, it's easy to use, not too big, and comes with a beltloop case. When the 200 gb disks come out, there's a button to setup one on it. No need to buy the expensive 120GB disk today.
The screen color is wonderful and performance is just flawless. For example - I shoot in Olympus Raw format so I can fix things later without compression loss. This thing understands most SLR raw formats on the market today! And it's firmware is upgradable as more arrive (the factory encourages you to check for the latest version).
I haven't drained the battery yet - but I've moved alot of data to it. It also charges off the USB connector via a special cable with 2 usb plugs to snag enough power from your pc to juice it up off the USB bus.
It's a winner - Comparing it to my parent's IPOD the size is close, but the functionality is far more impressive. My dad's camera uses SD cards and it cleared his card out just like my CF card - so we both can use it on trips. It even works with my micro-SD cards for my motorola phone (1GB).
At 399 - Amazon's price is great. No shipping - prime members get it in 2 days or less (mine arrive next day for 2 day price - free) and no tax. I'm impressed - I think you will be too.
Rating: 
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