Click or Touch ? M6SL vs. M7

Satka · 10-26-2007

Hey guys.

After lurking here and there, I feel my next DAP will be a Meizu.
The thing is I'm torn between two very attractive solutions: the slickness of the M6SL, and the "forbidden fruit appeal" of the M7

Here is a rough external approach comparison of the two devices:

Code:

            
             M6SL               M7
Input        Touch/click strip  Touch screen
Dimensions   79 x 48.2 x 7.3    89 x 48 x 7.3
Screen       2.4"               2.8”
Resolution   320x240            480x288
Weight       48g                ?
Battery life 26/4.5             ?
Video        needs conversion   no conversion needed

I'm not going to dig the technical differences (could someone do it ?), but approach that dilemma with a simplistic everyday use point of view.

- Wearability, Invisibility
It has to be small, and it has to be operated without a glance. The device should be able to deliver its functionality without requiring you (or others) to look at/crave it.
The M6SL is a tad smaller (10mm), and the touch strip seems to be workable from within a pocket
The M7 has a bigger screen, and I don't think a touch interface could be pocket-friendly

- Hear no evil
The Meizu sound quality seems to be praised by all those who bypassed the "hiss clickle and pop !" hurdle
Will the M7 audio quality be noticeably different from a M6SL for a non audiophile like me ?
For an average listening experience (and by average I mean "few hours at a time listening to wide styles of music, Podcasts"), I have the strong feeling any of the two will fill my needs

- See no evil
I know the M6SL would clearly not win on the video battlefield.
No TV-out, need for conversion (good software are available), lower FPS ...
But ... if I just want to fall asleep while watching my favorite shows or movies, will that lack of quality really matter ?

A temporary conclusion
The M7 is dreamily nice, but as dreams, it could change shapes (it already did once, remember when it was called M6SE) and why not, specifications.
More than anything: it is not out yet, and I'm not sure I'm prepared to wait until March 2008 to see it postponed, or modified/repriced.
The M6SL is here, it's shipping, it's one click away ... but the haunting desire of what you can have right now is naturally obscured by the frustrating mirage of what you could have, should you wait a little longer.

So people ... does anybody else have that sort of emotional turmoil ?

Satka

Some sources (other than the wonderful MeizuMe

)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M6_Mini_Player
http://www.ubergizmo.com/15/archives...uch_clone.html
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Meizu-New-Version-MiniPlay...ViewItem

Changturkey · 10-26-2007

I am in the same sort of dilemma as you, wait for the M7, or get a M6 now. Personally, I use my DAPs for music, and everything else is secondary, because, honestly, if I wanted to watch a movie on the go I'd get something with a bigger screen than both or a portable dvd player. Oh, and also I prefer tactile controls over touch any day.

Moogle Stiltzkin · 10-27-2007

Obviously M7 is much better, BUT it is not coming out until next year in 2008 :X

They said the audio chip should be the same, so in terms of the music it will be the same, but interface and video would be improved alot. I am also like changturkey. The m6 SL has video and it's decent enough and i've got to admit it looks nice to me already. Encoding isn't that big a deal to me :] but i can see how the M7 benefit would be great. But i won't be depending to watch movies on my DAP to be honest.

So for me getting the SL now is better than waiting another year to hear a decent dap.

The choice is yours to wait or buy now :x up to you.

Changturkey · 10-27-2007

If Meizu would release their firmware and let the community develop it (if possible), this would make the problems with the device gone..

vis213 · 10-28-2007

now that i actually have my m6 i cant really go anywhere without it. in your position i would buy an m6 now (8gb is only around $170) use it for a couple months then sell it and pickup the m7. i think for the price its well worth doing.

Moogle Stiltzkin · 10-28-2007

Actually M6 SL 8 gb is $160 and the M6 SL 4 gb is $120 :X

Err0r · 10-28-2007

Get the M6SL if you want a Meizu. It's certainly a very nice player.

At this point, we don't know how the M7 will be. It might not even be released.