I got my first iPod, a 3G touchwheel 15GB from eBay because I needed some sort of a large capacity audio player. Even though it was second-hand, it has served me well for 4 years.
On a side note, I won't be getting another iPod. To hell with Apple and Jobism. I've had enough.
It all started with Carla Bruni and her guitar and her singing (then I saw her body...).
I wanted something to listen to while I struggled with exercise at the local fitness center. I discovered the world of podcasts and iTunes, and it fit my bill. First, it was a download of Carla and her first (?) album with all that seductive guitar playing and French songs; then it was the three- to sixty-minute podcasts on everything audio that replicated everything YouTube: astronomy, philosophy, interviews, political opinion -- all the text I never had time to read became readily available and read to me while I pumped away on machines.
But because I also wanted to listen to eAudiobooks, I tried other Mp3 players that could process the DRM and other encoding, mostly based on Microsoft licensing (and not proprietarily available to Apple products). They could not perform, repeatedly, and reliably. The "others" were not up to the music, video, and audio demands that I had. Only the iPod satisfied. (I also found that I didn't listen to the eAudiobooks, anyway.)
And the iPod performed, over and over; not without errors, breakdowns, and some small frustrations, but still, overwhelmingly, with fewer flaws and with greater fidelity and intuitive searching of its directories.
Need I go on? the size, the convenience, the confidence of technical support, the fabulous marriage of iTunes... To those who say "Never!" or "No Apple innovation will ever darken my breast pocket" I say: "People change their minds." I change my perceptions and my loyalties when presented with something better -- "loyalty" is only needed when there is "failure."
I have a generic 512MB mp3 player that uses standard AAA batteries. I can carry as many rechargeable batteries as I like, and I don't have to carry fancy travel-unfriendly charging equipment, or worry about a locked-in lithium battery.
This is a subject I am very compassionate about because I love music so much and carry my portable player with me everywhere. I don't even use a CD portable player anymore as the convenience and usability features of a smaller, flash-based WMA player is much nicer. I am disappointed with the iPods and have not and will not ever consider using them again. Apple lost to Windows and they lost to the .WMA format that most music subscription services such as my choice, Rhapsody, uses. Sandisk, and Creative produce top notch players and thankfully are stearing away from the hard drives uses in previous models that are prone to shock and skipping.
I have owned an Archos multimedia jukebox for the past 4 years. It plays mp3's, video's,has media card attachments and can even take pictures and also just be an external hardrive. All without having to install any extra software. iPods are just a fashion accessory.
Primarily, I hate the interface, I just don't like the wheel with its imprecision, the very small screen, the iTunes-like graphics - so old fashioned: don't know it well enough to hate it more.
Secondarily, I don't take Apple's word for it being 'simply the best', for a long time lack of FM radio made the iPod such a restricted device.
Incidentally, there's an element of, 'I didn't vote for Steve Jobs as God', he and BG are equally DRM demons as well as ...
My first iPod (a 30 Gb one) was a prize from Lufthansa's Miles and More program. It took me to flight a number of times to the far east in first class, but eventually I got it. Of course, the tickets were not paid by me !!!
That happened 3 yrs ago, i still own and like it very much ![]()
I don't even have a cell phone, why would I need an iPod. I like technology but when I don't have the need, why buy it. I have three PCs, digital TV, a five speaker sound system and numerous DVD, VHS players and recorders and several photo and video cameras. My phone is thru the cable company. I make about 2 calls a week and receive about ten so a cell phone is not something that demands a need. I have a good stereo in my car and a couple of portable radio headsets. What the heck is an iPod anyway?
I don't waste my money on all these fancy gadgets and that includes cell phones. If I want to hear some music I turn on the radio. If someone wants to talk to me, call my home phone. Leave a message on the answering machine if I don't answer. People look ridiculous with all these things up to or hanging out of their ear everywhere you look. Another thing that bugs me; people that complain about getting phone calls on their cell all the time. HELLO! There's an OFF button..............use it!
I have learned that the ipod systems require downloading twice.(uploading then downloading). Why? - because of the itunes program. I can't justify uploading music just to download it again. At least that's what my two kids do. I'm not willing to go thru that hassle just to listen to music. I drive for a living and devices in my ears is a big no-no, never mind trying to fit those stupid little ear-bud speakers into my ears which is quite uncomfortable.
Own one? Never. Buy one? Not going to happen.
I have never owned an ipod but that doesn't mean I never will. At the moment they are not competitive on price with other brands so I choose Sansa or iRiver or Creative.
But bought a mp3 player that can also be played in (the player is a 'cassette with a built in recharable battery) a cassette player for $26.00, found a deal for 'SD' cards (2gbs each) for $13.00 each. So for $78.00 I have a 8gb mp3 player that I can listen to alone or 'pop' into a friends car cassette player and share the music. I also have a 2gbs mp3 player in the form of a digital wristwatch (it also plays mp4 videos and pictures). The watch set me back a big $66.00!!!!
Over,over rated. Is it "cute"? Sure it is, but we aren't talking datting here, are we?
I have mp3, but no ipod. But I am thinking of getting one.
I just bought my first MP3 player two weeks ago. After much research (on CNET) I decided to go with the Sony Walkman. The iPod didn't have the performance nor the flexibility of many of the other units. In addition, it appeard to me that reliability was a serious issue.
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