Hello everyone, now with questions!

[othersyde]

Hello everyone! I am brand new here, although I have been lurking for about a week. I know a few names, but mostly came here to see if anyone asked my questions before me. You all seem like very nice people, and I am glad to join the group.
Well, I am hoping to get the GP32 with a light very soon, although I am still trying to find a place. I live in America, so you all may not be able to help me. I have looked at Play-Asia, Lik-Sung, and GBAX.com (Although I have no clue how much it is, it is in a Englis Currency) and have decided that the best bet (Unless you have a better idea :huh: ) is to go with Play-Asia, and get a 128 MB SMC with it. Not a bad offer.
So, my questions!
First off, like I said before, is Play-Asia the best buy (For front lit ones of course)?
SNES emulators still not at the best?
If my movies are large to begin with, do I HAVE to make them smaller, or will it shrink it for me?
I can erase what is on the SMC card right? I dont really need 2 if I am not planning on doing a lot of stuff all at once right?
And lastly, do I need any other equipment other than the SMC and the GP32? I can use the GP32 as a media of sorts for putting things on the SMC if I am not mistaken, but I would just like to check.

Thank you very much for having me, and I hope to have fun in this community.

 

[NeoAP]

Hi,

I've got no experience of Play-asia, because I bought mine from Gbax.com (went great). I don't know the status of the Snes emu.
To get your movies to fit on a SMC, you must encode them with a program so they work with the GP32 and get smaller. Virtual Dub is a good program for this and you can fit almost 2 hours of movie on a 128mb, with the right settings.
You connect your GP32 with the USB-cable (included) and start up the PC-link program (inlcuded). With this program you can format the SMC, write and erase files. No extra gear needed. If you want to write faster you can buy a cardwriter.

And last, welcome!!!!

 

[qgi]

hi otherstyle, i'm new myself,
but have figured out a few things in the last weeks.

If my movies are large to begin with, do I HAVE to make them smaller, or will it shrink it for me?

yes you'll have to shrink them using virtual-dub and divx 4.12/lame(for audio) codec. try the movie-forum or http://www.gp32-divx.com/index.jsp?nod_id=3&tuto=divx1 for a start.

SNES emulators still not at the best?

the emu is a bit slow, but some games are playable (diddy kong's quest is faster than i thought it would be.)

can erase what is on the SMC card right? I dont really need 2 if I am not planning on doing a lot of stuff all at once right?

sure you can. 128MB is enough for a lot of games, emus and tools. but i'd get a second one for viewing a movie AND playing.
I'd use a card-reader to acces the SMC, it's a lot more comfortable than via usb (though you'll need the pc-link-host to format SMCs and installing packages).

 

[othersyde]

Thank you Neo and qgi very much for your answers, I was a little worried that SMC would be like cartriges, and would be a one time thing. It was only a what if, but still
qgi, I think I will stick with just one for at least now, as they are sort of expensive and I seriously can't see myself watching a movie on it when I first get it. I was thinking shorter things, think 30 minutes long. I wanted to get some games on the SNES, especially Chrono Trigger, which I have but seriously can't sit down and play a SNES RPG anymore. They are not... enough anymore to sit down and play it when I have better things to do. Although that on the GP32 would be superb :lol:
Thank you for your welcomes!

 

[NssOne]

the-discount-shop.com has the GP32 FLU and they're located in New York. They have Samsung 128MB SMCs for like 35 bucks. Can't much beat that price. Maybe a few dollars cheaper, but what's the use?

 

[othersyde]

Actually, from what I have looked at, the discount Play-Asia is giving would save me about 15-20 dollars. The GP32 is 30 dollars more at the Discount Shop, while the SMC is only 10 bucks cheaper.

 

[angrypants]

take into account shipping coosts and the possability of getting stuck with import taxes. That bumps up the price alot. I could have gotten a regular gp32 and a 128mb smc from the discount shop for about 10 bucks more than what I bought the console alone for from lik-sang after shipping and all. shipping was like $30 from lik-sang but would be like $3 at the discount shop.

 

[othersyde]

Hmm, good point! I have not yet checked the shipping on Play-Asia, but I will soon!

 

[NssOne]

Yeah, one thing to watch out for is import taxes, they can be a bitch.

 

[Shane]

(Although I have no clue how much it is, it is in a Englis Currency)

English currency, right. Oh he said he lives in america, hmm that explains it.

Haha just kidding, 12 bucks for shipping from play-asia.com, no not in english currency, I like to call it USD :rolleyes: j/k

 

[othersyde]

12 bucks sure isnt all that bad.