My Dad called me the other day, asking what I might like for Christmas this year. I didn't even need to ponder, my heart has been set on a shiny new Ipod for the past 5 months. My father searched, but there were no Ipods to be had in his area. So, my dad sent me cash for Christmas, and with glee I dashed to the closest Wal-Mart™ to get an Ipod. But alas, I found that they also were out of stock. In fact, everyone is out of stock. So since I will have to wait to get one, I decided to ask you all... is Ipod really the best choice? There are plenty of non Apple mp3 players on the market, growing lonely on the shelves.
My main concerns are-
Durability. I'm not going to be playing tennis with it, but it needs to be able to put up with my occasional clumsiness. I don't want to drop a lot of cash on one and end up using it as a paperweight. (Good customer service by the manufacturer in question is a plus, in case it does die.) Storage. My music collection is.. large. I also have a number of audiobooks I might cram onto it. Battery life. When I go places, I stay out a while. I would like for my player to still have power by the time I get home to charge it. Compatibility. I don't want anything that only uses proprietary formats or has problems with WindowsXP. Sound quality. I can replace earphones if they are the cause of shoddy sound, but the quality must be present.
I don't care about- Video. Don't need it. Color displays. Meh. Any other neato doodad they add to the player that doesn't have anything to do wth the concerns listed above, I can do without.
I'd prefer to pay $200ish for one, I'll go up to $300 if needed to get what I'm looking for.
Any advice is appreciated!
Posts: 262 | Registered: May 2004
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If you want an iPod, go to an Apple store or order it through the Apple website. Why would you want to buy through a third party, even if it was possible?
Posts: 650 | Registered: Mar 2005
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I had some issues with skipping on my Dell 20G. Dell had absolutely NO problem in shipping me a brand new unit when I reported it, but they did advise me that impact motions (like my running for the train when I'm late) could in fact cause the problem I was experiencing. I don't think that's a Dell issue, I think it's a hard-drive player issue. And since you specifically mention clumsiness, I wanted to make sure you knew this ahead of time.
Other than the skiping issue, I've had absolutely no problems with my Dell. Average 20 hour playtime on a single charge (I charge once a week during the weekend, and I listen on my commute each way, roughtly 1 hour door to door twice a day) Easy to read greyscale display. I prefer the controls on this to the thumbwheel thing on the Apple. Mine came with both Dell DJ Explorer (extremely similar look as Windows Explorer) and with MusicMatch, which I'd already been using since version 4 (they're now on 10 or 11) and have a lifetime unlimited upgrade license. Oh, and I only have 7 gig stored at the moment and it takes me roughly 6 weeks to listen to my entire collection.
One boss has an iRiver 20G, another has Creative Labs (no idea on size, I think his is a flashplayer instead of hard-drive). Both are very happy with their players.
I'll agree with Ambyr, if you're dead set on an iPod, go direct to Apple. I've seen them at stores here (MicroCenter and, of all places, the Meijer grocery store!) but the prices are definitely higher.
Posts: 4515 | Registered: Jul 2004
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You can also try Best Buy or your local electronics store. I was at Best Buy last night and they had a rather large selection of them on display.
Posts: 459 | Registered: Mar 2005
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quote: If you want an iPod, go to an Apple store or order it through the Apple website. Why would you want to buy through a third party, even if it was possible?
My Dad sent cash and I currently don't have a means of buying online, otherwise I wouldn't have hesitated to order one. The closest Apple store is three hours from here, I live in the middle of nowhere.
Every place I've called so far (in Waco, the closest city) has said they're out of Ipods, every model, and Apple won't let them order any until after Christmas. My Dad heard the same in Fort Worth.
There's no specific reason for me to choose the Ipod over any other player, its just the most well known.
Posts: 262 | Registered: May 2004
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If memory serves, files can only be transferred to iPods through iTunes. I think they DO support mp3 and such, not just whatever format iTunes songs are sold in, though. I don't know about .wma.
But so does every other non-iPod device out there. And they can be transferred to through many other programs.
I'd go with something else, honestly. Especially if you're not going to buy the iPod directly from the manufacturer. Check out a Best Buy or something.
posted
They're coming out with a much better version of the Ipod soon. Can't remember what's so great about it but the popularity of the current ones, despite their ummm.. crumminess (by the way no, they're not very durable)... they've been successful enough for apple to bother to try to become the leader in the MP3 Player market by actually making a product that's more vauable than anything else available.
The current Ipods sales success has come as a result of their marketing campaign, IMO, not because it's a superior product.
Posts: 1138 | Registered: Nov 2005
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The iPod can play mp3, aac, wav, aiff, apple lossless, and several of the audible formats. Additionally, iTunes can convert most music formats to mp3 or aac (the latter usually preferable).
You can transfer files to your iPod either using iTunes or through a large number of free utilities (or just if you know your way around the filesystem).
Posts: 15770 | Registered: Dec 2001
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cheiros: of course, basically every review of the iPod raves about the functionality and practicality, too .
Posts: 15770 | Registered: Dec 2001
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If you're worried about being a klutz, buy a protective skin. I have an "iskin" for mine and I love it. I've dropped mine a couple of times on tile, concrete, etc, with no problems.
As for battery, you can get a car charger if you're out and about town alot. I have one that works as part of my tape deck adapter and it does an amazing job of charging my ipod.
I haven't had a problem with any of the other concerns you listed.
If you've got your heart set on it, go for it. You'll love it. I don't know how I lived before I got mine.
I got mine "third-party" from Best Buy. I got it because they offered a huge warranty for only $50 and this was before Apple relaxed its return policy. Nothing wrong with getting it at a LICENSED APPLE RESELLER. With the holidays, I'm not surprised places are sold out. I'd hang tight for a few days or see about getting your name on a waiting list when the next shipment comes in.
Posts: 1733 | Registered: Apr 2005
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I was going to post why I think iPod is so bad, but I'm lazy so I thought, hmm, OSC reviews everything, maybe he's reviewed the iPod. And I know he hates Apple, at least as much as I do. Here it is.
If anyone still thinks the iPod is so great after that, I will bother to tell you why it's not.
Posts: 1138 | Registered: Nov 2005
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I really loved my iPod. Unquestionably, it has the best user interface, iTunes is much better than the other music management software out there, and it does everything you need with little bloat.
It fails in one area. Durability. I've had to constantly (3 times) send my iPod in for (free) repair, and although the support has been friendly and well done, it is very slow. In Australia, it would typically take 2 -3 weeks to get a replacement a very frustrating experience. Its recently just broken again, this time outside the warranty period.
In the same price bracket, the main choices seem to be the iRiver, the iAudio (a bit more expensive), the Sony (crazy cool battery life) and the Creative.
I'm leaning toward getting the iRiver myself, but each has its advantages. The samsung looks nice but the only model available near me is apparently not the most hardy machine.
Posts: 122 | Registered: Feb 2003
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That's not a review, that's a rant, where he spouts off a random opinion, makes an un-backed up statement, then drops the issue without contributing any actual review.
Simple observation tells me many people find the ipod yields high value for them -- at least the price's amount in value, to be specific .
There are dozens of reviews, written by technology reviewers for prominent and geeky news sources, that talk favorably about the ipod even while acknowledging issues they find.
Is the ipod perfect? Of course not. Might there be better mp3 players? Quite possibly, at least on some dimensions. Is the ipod's overall package extremely valuable to many people, even so? Most definitely.
Knock it all you want, apple's crying all the way to the bank. You might find your analytical skills better sharpened by uncovering why that's so instead of assuming all the people buying it are either rich people looking for a status symbol or idiots unable to see beyond apple's marketing.
Posts: 15770 | Registered: Dec 2001
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Better user interface? Quite honestly, I prefer my Samsung to the iPod, having had the opportunity to use both. Most of the menus, options, and such are extremely similar. My Samsung also has a control pad that can be operated with only the thumb, which is one of the things iPod used to claim made their product so extremely great.
I honestly think that most people who claim that "iPod is the best, period" haven't given any other option a chance.
Dell's mp3 players are also pretty good; I got to play with one for two months. I liked it a lot. I don't know what their tech support is like, though.
A lot also depends on what kind of song files you're playing. I use Napster, so an iPod isn't really practical for me, aside from the fact that I don't like them to begin with. If you use solely iTunes, I believe the iPod is your only choice (?? I seem to recall them being sued over this issue).
I'd say, if you aren't using iTunes, don't get an iPod.
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The strength of the iPod is that Apple provided all three parts: a snazzy mp3 player, an easy-to-use interface, and an easy-to-use store. No other company has even come close to providing the same package deal even though there are better individual players, interfaces, and stores out there. While trendiness is a factor, it's not the only factor.
Posts: 7790 | Registered: Aug 2000
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Rio's players are vastly superior to anything Apple makes, for several reasons:
1) Comparable features for half the price. 2) Better (in my opinion) aesthetics. 3) VASTLY superior customer support. When my friend's 3rd gen iPod died on its own, Apple charged him $179 in parts & labor for repairs - IN WARRANTY. I spilled a glass of wine on my Rio Karma, called them and told them what happened, and they replaced my player for free in 7 business days. 4) Other nifty bonuses, like the fact that the battery life is, on average, 1.5 times as long in comparable units (e.g. Karma vs 20 gig iPod).
Especially given that you do not care about a color screen or video capability, I see no reason to ever purchase an iPod.
Then again, both iPods and Rio player (and most other players, for that matter) require the use of proprietary file transfer software, something I still DO NOT understand, at ALL! I hate to break it to them, but I'd much rather use my own file management software, since it's better than anything any company has come out with.
Posts: 4313 | Registered: Sep 2004
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quote:The current Ipods sales success has come as a result of their marketing campaign, IMO, not because it's a superior product.
Undoubtedly. Until Apple's iPod campaigns, MP3 players were almost exclusively used by the extremely tech-savvy crowd. They were huge, hideous machines (the hard drive ones, at least) and no one wanted to be seen with one.
Apple revolutionized the market when they created something with an ultra simple interface, a simple aesthetic and an urban youth target audience. I don't like or dislike the iPod any more than any other mp3 player, but I can't fault Apple's business genius in this regard.
Posts: 4313 | Registered: Sep 2004
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I've had a pretty excellent iPod experience. I almost had a cow when my 3rd gen broke and stopped functioning at all-- twice. But Apple replaced it twice, and yup, within 7 business days. They sent me boxes and had someone come pick it up and everything.
Durability... buy a cover for it, I have an iskin gelly thing that cost me $15. Little iPod The Third has survived 10 months so far with me, and I drop everything I own constantly. I go running with it a lot too!
Posts: 308 | Registered: Sep 2005
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erosomniac: as pointed out, there are plenty of 3rd party apps (or if you know how to deal with hidden files, you can do it yourself in whichever file management system you prefer) to transfer music to and from the ipod. I predict similar exists for the Rio.
The reason the preferred interface is through a specialized program is because most people prefer something simple and easy to use.
Posts: 15770 | Registered: Dec 2001
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Kip: Why do you love me? Why do you need me? Always and forever... We met in a chatroom, now our love can fully bloom... Sure the world wide web is great, but you, you make me salivate... I love technology, but not as much as you and me... But I STILL love technology... Always and forever. Our love is like a flock of doves, flying up to heaven above... always and forever, always and forever... Why do you need me? Why do you love me? Always and forever...
My point you ask? No point.
Posts: 1138 | Registered: Nov 2005
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