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Neuros 20GB Backpack Review

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  1. Nathan •  February 4, 2004
    Rating: 4.5/5

    I’ve been using the Neuros 20gb unit since Christmas. I’ll admit that it has a little learning curve, but reading the manual goes a long way towards making the curve a smooth one.

    I also like the fact that Digital Innovations is into their community. The forum they set up for users is a great place to learn Neuros tricks and tips, and if you need product support (and don’t want to dial the toll-free support phone number to talk to a D.I. employee for whatever reason) the forum users are always willing to help.

    Finally, the cons in this review: Poor FM reception… Not making excuses, but I haven’t seen an mp3 player with good reception. Honestly it’s not a feature I use.

    Slow USB transfers: A quick trip to the Neuros forum will show that D.I. is getting ready to release USB2 backpacks for their player… It’s all the buzz :-)

    Larger than similar products: Again, I guess this didn’t matter much to me. I carry the Neuros with me in the car, and I use it both at home and at work.

    For me the important things are the FM transmission (which is great), the fact that D.I. is commited to it’s users (you can regularly find the owners and employees of D.I. in their forums with “the people”), and the fact that D.I. is a local company (Chicago, IL). They make a great product, and they’re comitted to improving it. Don’t count out this little player or this company :-)

    Rating: 9 :: 0 out of 0 people found this user review helpful.

  2. Dan •  February 4, 2004
    Rating: 4.5/5

    I don’t understand the comments about the Neuros being too big for pockets. I carry mine in my pockets all the time!

    Rating: 9 :: 0 out of 0 people found this user review helpful.

  3. Techfreak •  February 4, 2004
    Rating: 2.5/5

    I had a chance to pick one up at ComUSA and decided to return it after a week. First of all it is way too large, and transferring 20GB over USB 1.1 will take all night, its crazy. I don’t think the player is bad, but it just lacks cutting edge technology. It needs to be smaller, better looking, and have FireWire/USB 2.0 in it.

    Rating: 5 :: 0 out of 0 people found this user review helpful.

  4. Audiophile •  February 4, 2004
    Rating: 4.5/5

    I find the Neuros just great. It plays my volumes of ogg vorbis files, so I can’t complain! The FM transmitter works wonderfully if you find a good frequency – it has an autoscan feature to find one that’s not used. Personally I think the backpack design and looks are a leap forward upon other players. Yes, USB 1.1 is slow, but as mentioned, USB 2.0 backpacks are coming soon (love that architecture – multiple backpack technology!) and after filling the 20GB hard drive once, I wasn’t expecting to do it fully again every day anyway. My Neuros fits in my inside coat pocket nicely concealed and playing my lovely tunes! :) That’s not to say I keep it hidden, everyone finds the orange backlight quite sexy!

    Rating: 9 :: 0 out of 0 people found this user review helpful.

  5. JustinCase •  April 5, 2004
    Rating: 5/5

    Rating: 10 :: 0 out of 0 people found this user review helpful.

  6. Mike Roman •  May 24, 2004
    Rating: 5/5

    I bought the Neuros 20 gb in March and it just keeps getting better. I got it dirt-cheap at CompUSA and have recently gotten it upgraded to USB 2.0 (additional purchase). It transmits a signal to my radio (home, car, rental) so I can carry my 500 hours of music everywhere. I use it to record quick notes on the drive in to work and the 5 preset buttons are easy to set up. I download beta updates and enjoy seeing my machine get better each week. If you go to the manufacturers website you will see the best support forum in its class with tips and suggestions for making it better. Just the fact that the manufacturer understands that this is an upgradeable computer vs. others manufacturers that sell a players and the forget about you is puts these folks on a higher plateau. I sure wish all the other gear I have collected over the years had this much support and upgradeability.

    Rating: 10 :: 0 out of 0 people found this user review helpful.

  7. ClusterOne •  September 8, 2004
    Rating: 4.5/5

    You only think it is because you’ve been trained to think so. It’s a question of perspective — If you’re a manhattan hipster that wears really tight jeans, you’re not going to fit this thing into your pants pocket — in fact, I’m not sure you could fit an ipod either. But I use my Neuros on my car, at my home, and everywhere else and have never once found myself saying “God, if it were only smaller and 3 oz. lighter!!”

    Long story short — This is a great gadget and since I purchased mine 7 months ago, it hasn’t left my side. Even in the clogged Philadelphia airwaves, MyFi works wonderfully (and handily outperformed my friend with his ipod/itrip combo). The mounds of features, software options (there are well supported, fully functional 3rd party apps for windows, linux, and mac) excellent support (huge web community), and lower pricetag than the ipod (before factoring in all the extras you’d need to get the features of the ipod on par with those of the Neuros), make this a must-have gadget.

    But if you’re more worried about having the most popular and smallest player, rather than the all-around best (and admittedly large) device, then by all means, line up with everyone else and get yourself an ipod :)

    Rating: 9 :: 0 out of 0 people found this user review helpful.

  8. jude bach •  January 3, 2005
    Rating: 4.5/5

    the fm receiver doesn’t work out here in the boonies, but

    i can carry my cd collection in my pocket and transmit it

    to my truck stereo or office stereo. i’m not crazy about the

    software that came with it–i use the neurosdbm freeware

    program. it’s simpler and easier. you just can’t find more

    tech for the buck.

    Rating: 9 :: 0 out of 0 people found this user review helpful.

  9. peter •  June 13, 2005
    Rating: 4/5

    people always nag about the size of the neuros mp3 player. This device does what its made for and very good as well very high quality of music and in a lot of formats, also it has some nice gadgets. So buy it and buy a jacket with a pocket in witch it fits.

    Rating: 8 :: 0 out of 0 people found this user review helpful.

  10. rcossebo •  December 10, 2005
    Rating: 4/5

    I have the N2 (Neuros II) and love the sound, storage, reliability, but the size and the “backpack” feature are difficult to get use to. You have to be an true “audiophile” to love this unit! I AM!

    Rating: 8 :: 0 out of 0 people found this user review helpful.

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