Death of an MP3 player
My MP3 player is officially dead.
No, not the Creative NOMAD Jukebox Zen Xtra, but its predecessor, the Creative MP3 Player 2.
| The DMP2 was my first MP3 player, bought sometime in 2002 and chosen because, at the time, I couldn’t afford a bigger (in terms of capacity), more expensive MP3 player.
It was only 5.2cm by 7.5cm by 1.5cm (or 2.01″ by 2.95″ by 0.6″), ran on 2 AAA batteries, and had 64MB built-in with an MMC explansion slot in which I put a 128MB for a total of 192MB space for something like 50 songs. |
It was so tiny I could put it in my palm and wrap my fingers around it. I used it the most during my gym sessions as it was so light, it didn’t add any extra weight in the pocket.
Cause of death? Owner’s stupidity.
Sometime late last year, I’d not used the DMP2 for a while, and had left the batteries in. When I next took it out to use, I found that the battery compartment was wettish – the old batteries had leaked. After wiping it dry, I put in fresh batteries, pressed the “power on” button and nothing happened.
I called up the guy who sold me the DMP2 to ask about repairs. He said it would probably be too expensive and I would be better off getting a new MP3 player.
Thing is, I didn’t want a new MP3 player. I’d grown to like the DMP2 a lot.
Next, I called these two electrician friends who come to our house to do whatever repairs my father asks them to do. They’re good, and have been known to revived dead appliances. So I told them what happened and they came to pick up the DMP2.
It’s more than half a year since my DMP2 went in for possible repair. Every now and then, I would call the two fellows and they would give me an update. All this while, they were looking for the coil to replace the one that’d been corroded by the battery acid.
This morning, I called to give them a message from my father. When they heard my voice, they thought I was calling about the DMP2, and proceeded to give me the update, which turned out to be the final update.
“We found the coil, but then found that the entire circuitry has been eaten by the acid.”
Ouch.
Actually, this is what I have been told to expect right from the beginning. But I was hoping for a miracle. Not this time. Not with this gadget.
Now I’m wondering whether to get another DMP2. Cuz it’s still available (limited stock) and it’s still the best MP3 player to use at the gym. Not that I’ve been going to the gym, but maybe getting a DMP2 replacement might motivate me to go again?
Meanwhile, of course, there’s my ZenX.
