Samsung P2 Review [ chipchick.com ]

http://chipchick.com/2007/11/samsung_p2_review_.html
Published by Ali November 21st, 2007 in Mp3 & Video Players.

A few weeks ago we did a review on The Pink Samsung U3 which we dubbed the the Shuffle killer. So of course Samsung went ahead and released a few weeks later what certainly seems like an attempt to be an iPod Touch killer. Sadly no matter how many companies try, I think that will be a feet that will take awhile to accomplish but the Samsung P2 gives it the old college try and it does have a lot to offer….

Setup/Installation
Similar to that of the U3 installation - the P2 installed pretty smoothly in Vista. The P2 comes with a USB cable to attach to your computer and once you plug it in, Vista picked it up pretty quickly. The P2 works with Windows Media Player, Rhapsody and other various MP3 player software. However Samsung includes with it's software it's own media software which can sometimes be a plus and a hindrance. A plus because you get extra features that are specific to Samsung products such as upgrades of firmware for the MP3 player. It also handles certain aspects of the player better than third party media players. Like converting video files. When I tried it in Windows Media Player it kept locking up or freezing were as when I did it using the Samsung media program it went pretty fast and without any problems. However, this is kind of a hindrance because I didn't find Samsung's media program as user friendly as my other options for media players like Windows Media Player. I have had many Samsung products over the years and that has always been my major gripe. Of course iTunes is not an option since this is not a Mac compatible product - in case you were wondering. Overall setup was easy and I was able to drop and drag songs and files like I have been able to do in the past.

Interface
With its touch sensitive interface, is the P2 truly an Ipod touch competitor - will it beat Rocky in the ring?! Welllll it's definitely a good try. I have to admit that the Ipod Touch is a super tough act to follow. DAMN APPLE!!
The P2 is pretty and has a very sleek black design which is easy on the eyes. It is also easy to hold without being to clunky. I put it side by side with my iPhone and it was slightly smaller and thinner. But all it's good looks can't hide the fact that it's touch abilities are lacking. The P2 has a very large touch surface that you touch to control nearly all the functions of the device. You also have some tangible buttons on the right side of the player for the volume control and on the left of the unit the play, power, and pause buttons, are located along with your old friend the hold switch, which is definitely needed to prevent those "touch" accidents in your pocket. The menu takes some time getting used too. There are alot of embedded options that you have to choose from. When I made selections I felt like I had to press hard with my finger to make the action happen. I just didn't feel that the sensitivity was there strongly enough. On some menu options my selections were recognized faster than others. You can flick through screens and just like in the Ipod Touch or iPhone but it was just missing the ease and silky feeling that the iPod Touch accomplishes. Instead, I felt responsiveness between my finger and the command I wanted was delayed - not for a long time, but it was missing that instantaneous feeling. I would also suggest looking at the manual for the P2. There are alot of options to choose from and custom settings that can enhance your experience, but if you just like to wonder aimlessly like I do on these gadgets you may get frustrated before you truly get to enjoy it.

Design
The Samsung P2 certainly is sexy. Its sleek black design makes it an eye catcher as well easy to put in your pocket. The front of the P2 is made of a plastic material and the back is black coated metal. The device is easy to hold and not clunky at all. But like all of these devices that are similar in its design, you will constantly be rubbing it on your pants or microfiber cloth to remove greasy fingerprints. There is a also a screen protector included with the P2 so that should prevent the accidental scratch to the face of the P2 if it gets next to keys or other sharp objects in your pocket or bag. I found the design be a major step above the Ipod touch. It has sex appeal all over it - of course that is a personal opinion.

Features
The P2 is packed with plenty of features and even one ups the iPod Touch in several areas. However, while the iPod Touch has wifi, the P2 does not. But the P2 does have bluetooth with support for A2DP which unlocks a wealth of abilities that the iPod Touch can't even touch. A2DP bluetooth means that you can connect the P2 to a A2DP supported speaker or bluetooth headset which means no wires! I like them apples.

As for video playback quality, the P2 has phenomenal video quality. All the videos I downloaded to the P2 were crisp and clear with vibrant colors. Videos played smoothly without any boxy quality. I was very impressed. The display however is half an inch smaller than the 3.5″ inch display of the iPod Touch, but it is still comfortable enough for long periods of viewing.

The other pretty features of the P2 includes the FM Radio - which has excellent reception. Also, pictures can be transfered on to your P2, and just like with the iPod touch or iphone they are displayed as thumbnails that can be easily expanded by the touch of your finger and they can be swiped to proceed to the next picture just like it's competitor. Sadly though it just doesn't work as well - there is a delay between pics, but atleast it made up for it in the quality of the photos which were crisp with color. Continuing on there is a Calendar, Alarm, and world clock. Future firmware updates will also bring games to the P2 and enhanced customization features.

Sound Quality
One thing Samsung products never lack in is sound quality and the P2 is no different. I have to say that is one aspect of the P2 that does beat the iPod in any generation is the sound quality. There is a quality and depth to the music which I never felt with any of the Ipod's, iPhones, etc.. and here Samsung excels again. Listening to the music with the standard earbuds that were included was impressive. But when I switched them out for my big ugly DJ looking headphones, my ears along with my body felt the bass even stronger. There is an equalizer in the P2 for you to customize and once you play around with it to find your perfect sound settings, I think you will be very impressed too.

Conclusion
Overall the P2 is a good alternative to the iPod Touch if support for WMA files, Bluetooth A2DP, FM radio and support for subscription services like Rhapsody and Cinema Now are important to you. - As long as you can get passed the fact that the interface isn't on the level of the iPod Touch, and instead appreciate its wealth of unique features. The P2 is definately a great attempt to compete with a gadget that makes everyone drool. Also, Samsung promises lots of firmware upgrades in the future which will unlock many more features. An upcoming firmware update coming in December will allow you to connect the P2 to your cell phone, so when a phone call comes in your music will be automatically interrupted. There will also be an eventual update that will allow you to transfer files on and off the device wirelessly via bluetooth. Other cool features of the P2 include the ability to customize the interface, Samsung said that a future update will further enhance these customization features. I'm sure one of those updates will hopefully improve the touch sensitivity.
Available in the following colors: Black, White, and Burgundy with matching ear buds, the P2 Retails for $200 for the 4GB version or $250 for the 8GB version.

Conclusion:

The Good: Videos and Pictures are beautiful looking, Sound quality is excellent, nice design.

The Bad: Touch Sensitivity could be better and menu system less complicated.