Toshiba Gigabeat 30 GB Review - Design and Cosmetics
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Toshiba chose to go with a somewhat simple design with this Gigabeat, and it was a great choice. The Gigabeat comes in either blue or white, and other colors are sure to follow. The overall layout and design of the Gigabeat is nice, because it is simple and very functional.
The Gigabeat is physically a bit smaller than the Apple iPod 30 GB, making it comfortable to hold yet small enough to carry in most pockets. The overall dimensions of the 30 GB Gigabeat are 3.9 x 0.6 x 2.4 inches, and it weighs in at a relatively lightweight 5.3 ounces. It is smaller than the iPod, but it is a tad thicker. It is made out of a tough plastic material, which is pretty durable, and it also does a good job at resisting fingerprints.
Looking at the Gigabeat, the first thing you notice is the 2.4 inch LCD screen. The screen could have been a bit bigger, because it can strain your eyes to watch a movie on that small of a screen. The screen works well, though, with a maximum resolution of 320 x 240 pixels. The screen is bright and colorful, and it even works well in bright conditions. It is also viewable in portrait or landscape.
Below the LCD screen, you can find the main 5-way controller. This controller navigates through the menu system, and the center button helps select the desired options. The controller works very well, and it allows for very smooth navigating throughout the menus of the Gigabeat. Just above this 5-way controller is a dedicated menu button and a back button. The menu button is an overlooked feature of some other players. It is great to be able to get to the start menu screen from anywhere in the menus, rather than having to navigate backwards through the menus like some other MP3 players.
The other buttons include a hold button on top of the player. This is a great feature to have, because it prevents the player from being turned on by accident while it is in your pocket or purse. On the left side of the player, you can find the dedicated volume buttons, on/off switch, play/pause button, forward, and reverse. I like this kind of setup, because these are some of the most used functions so they should have dedicated buttons.
At the bottom of the Gigabeat, you can find the USB port, a dock connector, and a battery on/off switch. The battery on/off switch can be used to cut the battery power in order to save battery life. This switch must be turned to "on" in order to charge the player.
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