XM MyFi Radio: Good Idea, Flawed Implementation
I want an XM MyFi Radio. I mean I reallywant one. The money was ready, I was ready, I had found a good price (My Radio Store), but then I found out some of the current versions major flaws. And I passed. Maybe the next version will address those problems.
The MyFi is a handheld XM Radio receiver with built in antenna. While it comes with a car kit and a home kit, it is really meant to be taken with you (so you can listen to XM wherever you may be). All of this is really exciting to me. I already have a Roadyin the car and an XMPCR at the office. The Roady is great in the car, but it pretty much stays there because it is too much of a hassle to unplug all the stuff from it, take it with you, and then hook it up again when you get there. The XMPRC was awesomewhen I first got it. It attaches to my computer through USB and allows all kinds of cool things. But getting the sound to be right on the computer is difficult. My old work computer did it really well, but my new one gives a lot of static. And I never could get it to work with Margaret’s laptop. The MyFi could replace both of those radios.
As just a handheld unit, the MyFi is wonderful. It does exactly what it needs to do and does it pretty well (maybe a little more than 5 hours of battery would be nice, but that is being picky). But for just a handheld unit, the price is a little steep (lists at $299). Luckily, the MyFi does a bit more to justify its kinda hefty price tag (for comparison, the Roady can be gotten for $50). The MyFi has up to a 5 hour recording capacity so you can listen to XM in places that you normally couldn’t (ie. subway, etc). In my mind, that justifies the price tag (when considered with its other features). But here’s the problem and why I won’t be getting one any time soon: Good Idea, Flawed Implementation.
Before doing any research into the MyFi, I assumed that the recording feature was just like Tivofor radio. I figured one could FF and REW as I wanted withing a 30 minute buffer or even just record a song or a program I like, as long as I stayed under 5 hours. I wasn’t even close to how recording works. In short, here is what I discovered:
- You can record either one 5 hour show, or two 2.5 hour shows
- You can’t FF, REW, skip or do any trick functions on a recorded show
I had such high expectations that were hopelessly dashed when I discovered those facts. I cannot bring myself to purchase any of the existing MyFi’s until those problems are fixed. Or at least the lack of trick functions (Which I am sure were left out because XM doesn’t want you to skip over their commercials…). I could probably make due with only 2 recordings, but without some way of navigating through those recordings I am going to have to pass.
Tags: gadgets, xm radio // // 1 Comment Trackbacks ()
