[Oddbodd]

Hi all, I noticed a thread about Apple's i-pod and would be interested in the opinions of the guys who own them. I have been thinking about getting one of these for a little while but seeing as they are quite expensive I was worried about diving in and regretting it. If anyone has any of the other MP3 type players I would be interested in there views aswell, I saw a picture of Phillips player in a magazine the other day and it looked very similar to the i-pod if not a bit better because it was black (=sexy).
If anyone could advise where the best/cheapest place is to buy them I would appreciate it.
Cheers Oddbodd

[Miyazaki]

Hi mate,

It depends much on what you are after.

If you are a real music type and have LOADS of music, then i'd recommend an i-pod or another jukebox music player.

However, personally i don't have much use for them. I use a NetMD walkman, which is basically a minidisc walkman, that can basically record a form of mp3 and i can store at decent quality roughly 3 albums per minidisc, or 150mb, at 1 minute per 1mb. This is more than enough for me as it records at 32x so i can easily wipe off the tracks and record 3 more albums onto it in about 5 minutes or less. And it only cost me £150.

I've had a few mp3 players and none come close to the flexibility of a sony netmd. It also has an optical input and you can obviously play retail minidiscs as well (usually around 70 minutes)

[Oddbodd]

Thanks for the reply Games Guru, I've never heard of the gizmo you've mentioned, any chance of a link where I can have a look at it?
Cheers Oddbodd

p.s.keep em coming guys

[Miyazaki]

i can't think of one off hand, but i got mine from richer sounds, try their website?

Or obviously the sony website, at presumably sony.com

Hope this helps,

Cheers.

[Whiting]

I had a (fantastic) Aiwa Minidisc player for a couple years which bit the dust earlier this year. I looked at replacing it with another MD player (specifically NetMD) but in the end I went for an MP3 player after testing out an iPod. I occasionally work away from home, so the idea of carrying one player with 2500+ plus songs was attractive.

I also like the concept of "smartlists" where playlists are automatically generated according to set rules (e.g. 20 random tracks I've not listened to for over a month ; 1 hour of "REM / U2 / The Clash" tracks I've rated 4 star or better)

Why iPod and not another MP3 player ? Well I tested it, I thought it sounded great, read a couple of reviews of rivals and decided that it was the one for me. And, btw, I think it looks fantastic - really stylish.

Anyway, I've found I use it all the time now and not just as a Walkman. I can hook it up to the AV amp in our lounge and I can listen to pretty much anything I want without having to dig out the appropriate CDs. It's also great for throwing together and playing compilations for parties/barbeques etc. Really, I wouldn't be without it.

On the downside ? Well they are expensive and the battery life is only 8 hours or so (but can be charged directly from the mains)


Price ? I don't think you'll find Apple stuff any cheaper than the recommended retail price. I think they come down hard on resellers who don't adher to their price policy. There may also be a drought on iPods in the UK at the minute. Proving popular.

[tomson]

My decision to buy an ipod was partly due to the fact that i was using iTunes as an mp3 player at work for years and wanted something that would integrate well with it, and partly due to me using Apple products at home and at work. I take it with me whenever I commute and am always glad I have it with me.

I was unsure about spending that much cash on what was, as I saw it, essentaily a glorified walkman. But, like Whiting says it really does come into its own - even to using it outside with a pair of battery powered speakers, so much easier than lugging round a ghetto-blaster and a carrier bag full of CDs. Plus with the add-ons that are coming out - media card readers, battery packs etc - it's use is broadened even more.

[Oddbodd]

Thanks for the input guys,I think it's between an i-pod and Sony's NW MS70 net walkman.The only down side I can see with the i-pod is the battery life because the Sony goes for 30+ hours on it's battery!The Sony only has a small memory though,I know you can increase it with memory sticks but that would take the price up to i-pod levels.I have read the software for the Sony is not as user friendly as i-tunes,people seem to think it's Sony trying to discourage MP3 piratism.I know this is going to sound pretty lame but the main thing I don't like about the i-pod is the colour.Black,silver anything but white,I've heard they scratch quite easily aswell( another £30.00 for a case )
If the Sony had a slightly bigger memory and better software I would go for that.The battery life and build quality/toughness would sway it for me.Decisions,decisions...................:confused :
Cheers Oddbodd

i got an iPOD in thailand when on holiday a few weeks, got it a little cheaper than in the UK, and already have a creative nomad jukebox 1, and would totally say that the iPOD is the more user friendly player, ie: a comsumer device, where as the nomad is more a geek toy, like even my old man amanged to use the iPOD but with the nomad he was lost
i totally recomend the iPOD!

[Oddbodd]

Hi Peterc, thank you for your reply. I must admit it looks like I'll be going for an i-pod, there are some great accessories available for it and a lot more to come.(nice xmas pressy to myself )
Cheers Oddbodd

[dfield2000]

I use a Nomad Jukebox 3 and found it superb. Acording to the reviews it is on a par / better than the i-pod, but then again that's just the reviewers personal opinion and not necessarily fact. I would have got an ipod 'cos it looks totally sexy and the Nomad 3 has got naff styling, but it was more expensive and I didn't have windows 2000 on my pc at the time ( yes, you can use the ipod on a pc, but it's not compatible with all versions of windows- I think its 2000 but check first if your a pc user).

I've had a mini disk recorder as well but having 200+albums on one small box if far better than having to cart around all the minidisks around with the player when you take it on your travels.

Battery life a bit poor on the nomand but it has a second bay for another battery if you want to buy an additional one. It's got optical input, two line outs and a headphone socket.

I didn't use it much after the novelity wore off but now I've got broadband and started using WinMx it's got a new lease of life.

Go for it - you'll wonder how you ever managed without one.

I bought an i-Pod when going on holiday and it became very useful but there isnt much game choice.

The cheapst place in the UK is the official Apple© Store online, but it takes a few weeks to arrive.

[Whiting]

Originally posted by xa200
... there isnt much game choice.

[obiwan]

Is the ipod going to be ok to use on the treadmill??

[texasboy]

It is absolutely fine on a treadmill.

I bought mine to use pretty much exclusively at the gym and it get a lots of use. (5 days a week for 4) months since I bought it.

Buy one, you won't regret.

Depending on what mood I'm in at the gym - I can choose from currently about 90 albums.

Still have a ton more to put on as well

I have a Creative Jukebox Nomad Zen NX 30Gb, and if i had the choice to have the money back and buy again, i would probably buy the ipod. Although for the same amount of money (£235) i would only be able to get an ipod with a lot less memory, the ipod has more (and better) features. Also i only have enough music to fill about 5Gb of space. Oh, and the Nomad has crap battery life, it says 14 hrs in the spec but i reckon that its about 2 at the most.

[Ivor_Monkey]

I have an ipod. Possibly overdid it by going for the 40gb, but I plan to record at the highest quality and use the ipod as a backup for music files on computer. Expensive but great sound. Ideal for playings thru the hifi. Recommended.
The only downside, is trying to stop the children from borrowing it.

[Oddbodd]

Hi all, thanks for your replys.Would the guys who actually own i-pods tell me what they think of the battery life and robustness(is that a word )

Cheers Oddbodd

[obiwan]

I found myself attempting to sing the ipod ad music, anyone know what it is...


""you think da da dad a d a d asompn"

[TranceFan]

ipod has a poor battery life 6-8hrs, and doesnt sound as good as either the iriver ihp120 (which records as well as plays mp3 and lasts 14 hrs per charge), or the creative zen nx xtra. if style is important, get an ipod, if sound and battery life consider the other 2.

http://gear.ign.com/articles/457/457818p1.html

http://gear.ign.com/articles/454/454774p1.html

[Frankie_D]

Oddbodd: I have the iPod and think it is the best £300 poundsi have ever spent, i am more into music now than ever since i can put more music on i am discovering new music. To answer your questions the battery life is very good for me, it's not like i use it 8 hours a day so i can easily recharge it in the evening and i usualy recharge every 3 days but thats me still being safe. On the sound quality side it is just as good as any of the other mp3 players including the Zen the important factor is at what quality you rip your music from cd to computer. Finally on the robustness side, it is robust as in it wont break easily but what it does do is scratch, so i bought a good carrying case which shows off the iPod's beauty but protects it as well. Believe me the iPod is great. If you have any other questions just ask.

[Frankie_D]

Oh forgot obiwan's question the music for the ads are: Jet - Are you gonna be my girl (Rock), Black Eyed Peas - Hey Mama (Hip-Hop), and Rockstar by N.E.R.D. i think

[pointon]

My 20GB IPOD is on it's way!!!

Hurrah!!! I can't wait!

[Frankie_D]

Well done pointon!! Believe me you will enjoy it!

Frankie

[Oddbodd]

Hi pointon, may I ask how much and where from.
Cheers Oddbodd

[simon1967]

I'm on my second now - donated my first to my wife. I have never regretted it for a moment - if I could put it into perspective I would say out of all the gadgets and toys that I have bought over the last ten years (and that's a few gizmos), the iPod along with my D30, have been the most used. They have rewakened my interests in both music and photography respectively.

There are two problems that I have heard, one is the headphones and the other is the battery life. Personally, I don't have a problem with either although I can vouch for the better quality sound from some Sennheiser phones.

The other 'must-have' gadget to buy with the iPod is the iTrip. You can't buy them here but you can buy them in the States so if you or any relatives visit, get them to get you an iTrip - $30ish. It allows you to wirelessly play your 'toons' through any FM source i,e in-car stereo, av receiver etc, etc. Magic device.

Have fun

simon

quick question. can i transfer data files (dreamweaver, 3d studio, flash etc) between home and uni on an i pod?

[cwick]

Originally posted by GSide4Eva
quick question. can i transfer data files (dreamweaver, 3d studio, flash etc) between home and uni on an i pod?

Yes.

so really i can use it as a poratble hard drive, how is it done?

[paulefox]

ipod is great , one of the best things I have ever bought

[cwick]

Originally posted by GSide4Eva
so really i can use it as a poratble hard drive, how is it done?

I forget the details (which settings etc), but you put it into Firewire target mode, at which point you just treat it like a hard drive - drag-n-drop files onto it / from it. Simple

Apple FAQ on the subject here

Cheers, Carl.