MP3 players: Is iPod a good mp3 player?
Re: Is iPod a good mp3 player?
by gcgrotz - 11/19/04 5:10 AM In reply to: Re: Is iPod a good mp3 player? by FHApple does not require you to use an uncommon format. It will accept MP3s and even WAVs as well as the Quicktime/Dolby Labs AAC (which I am a big fan of). They don't, of course, accept WMA files. When I first got mine, they didn't have iTunes for PC so I used Musicmatch for a long time. I am gradually replacing all of those MP3 format files with newly ripped AACs.
I never thought about it before, but since I got my iPod last Christmas, I'm in love with it!
Re: Is iPod a good mp3 player?
by gcgrotz - 11/19/04 5:25 AM In reply to: Is iPod a good mp3 player? by EatChex89OK, despite my praise of the iPod, I have some complaints.
iTunes:
Even though I love its ease of use and the music store, I wish you could collapse/expand on artist/album title fields like Explorer. I get tired of scrolling through a few thousand lines to get to a song in the middle. Are you listening Apple?
There is no easy way to back up playlists, if you machine crashes you can't load them back on the PC from the iPod. I have used ephpod to do some of that and it seems to work. As soon as I get it together I will get a second HD and back up the actual files to another drive but that won't copy playlists.
iPod:
Can you do something about battery replacement? The big store chains won't cover it in their extended warranty because batteries are a "consumable" item. OK, but not if you destroy the product getting the battery out, that's not very consumable!
I love the AAC format, in all the hours if listening I have never heard one artifact of compression (at 128k) like I did with MP3, and I have very good ears(they hear good but they ARE kind of ugly and stick out a little...)
Whatever you buy, ENJOY IT and HAVE FUN!
Re: Is iPod a good mp3 player?
by iccohen - 11/19/04 5:43 AM In reply to: Re: Is iPod a good mp3 player? by gcgrotzWell, let's looka the pros and cons:
Pros
1. Very sleek-looking, small, light. Gen 4 allows for use with the PC right away as USB is included with the iPod.
2. iTunes excellent for organizing music. But you don't have to use it if you don't want to.
3. You CAN get buyer protection plans for the iPod, including batteries, at Best Buy. I confirmed this w/ the Sales Guy and the Manager.
4. The "Click Wheel" is great to work with.
Cons
1. Battery can't be replaced right away (has to be sent off to Apple HQ)
2. A someone once told me "iTunes is like a roach motel. Songs can check in, but they can't check out". That is, you can't natively export songs from iTunes back to your computer- you have to use 3rd party sharewar/freeware to do this (important if your battery starts to fail). So right there is extra cost.
3. The iPod (Gen 4 20GB) doesn't come with a cradle.
4. The iPod doesn't come with any prtective covering, and to buy one, whether it be from Apple, iSkin, etc. is going to run from $20-30.
5. If you let your battery run too low, you lose some of the settings (always keep it plugged in while your playing, unless you're traveling).
All in all, it's nice, but you can probably do almost as well with more memory and less cost with the Zen Jukebox, or the Rio Karma. Definitely check the "Negative" reviews of the different devices, as you'll get a truer sense of what is commonly disappointing.
Re: Is iPod a good mp3 player?
by zole - 11/19/04 6:37 AM In reply to: Is iPod a good mp3 player? by EatChex89I own an IRiver iHP-120 and I love it. I get excellent battery life, usually around 10-12 hours; it appears as a removable drive, no proprietary software needed; it handles all of my file types. My friend has an iPod, intuitive controls? I don't think so. I would not trade my IRiver for an iPod.
Re: Is iPod a good mp3 player?
by mikebellman - 11/19/04 8:01 AM In reply to: Is iPod a good mp3 player? by EatChex89No. It's a good portable hard drive, photo display (new), accessory wonder, envy creator and time waster (and it plays mp3s too)
Re: Is iPod a good mp3 player?
by Phil314 - 11/19/04 9:27 AM In reply to: Is iPod a good mp3 player? by EatChex89like anything else, you get what you pay for. the ipod is top notch, well designed, thought out and a dream to own and use. there are less expensive alternatives, but in the long run, if you are going to really use it, enjoy it, then without a doubt it's worth every penny. how many people have you met that bought one that just doesn't like it?
Re: Is iPod a good mp3 player?
by ta4cier - 12/7/04 9:39 AM In reply to: Re: Is iPod a good mp3 player? by Phil314Phil314 has just hit the nail on the ole head!
of all the posts i've read on hear, i've yet to hear a user say
"oh man i hate that darn iPod of mine"
you can't say that about very many tech products,
now can you...
Creative Zen is a better option
by cindypsych - 11/19/04 10:43 AM In reply to: Is iPod a good mp3 player? by EatChex89I have the Creative Zen and think it's a better option. You DEFINITELY get more for your money. If you want what everyone else has, get the ipod. If you want a great MP3 player that does everything the ipod does for less money, get a Creative Zen.
Re: Is iPod a good mp3 player?
by KMILLER - 11/19/04 11:35 AM In reply to: Is iPod a good mp3 player? by EatChex89Yes. Slim, solid feel, awesome sound and tremendous capacity. You will not be disappointed. I just received the special edition U2 version to replace my 4 generation 20 gb. If you are interested in purchasing it from me ($250.00) let me know.
Re: Is iPod a good mp3 player?
by vince7 - 11/19/04 12:20 PM In reply to: Is iPod a good mp3 player? by EatChex89I think iPod is a great player. It offers good looks and a ton of storage. For my taste it is a bit limiting though. I love gadgets of all types but can't afford to buy them all. Saying that, the word for me is versatility. Also I don't want to look like Tim the Toolman with stuff attached to my belt. And this last bit. What if the player breaks? Poof, gigs of mp3s gone.
I have a Dell Axim 5. I simply buy extra cards when I run out of space. All of my eggs are not in one basket and I can do email too. I can do a document or spreadsheet or view pictures. I can record verbal messages. To keep my balance I hang it on the opposite side from my cell and pager 
Good Design, Poor compatibility
by LANjackal - 11/19/04 2:10 PM In reply to: Is iPod a good mp3 player? by EatChex89If you want to look cool, the iPod's as good as it gets. If you want maximum compatibility, go with another brand, such as Creative or Rio. The latter will cost you far less than the iPod for similar storage and superior features, but none of them have the same fashion appeal.
Re: Is iPod a good mp3 player?
by jennlester71 - 11/19/04 5:56 PM In reply to: Is iPod a good mp3 player? by EatChex89I have a creative jukebox zen - however, I would personally recommend a Creative Zen Touch (the next player I'm looking at as soon as I'm working again). Creative specializes in sound cards so you're probably going to get the best sound out of one of their mp3 players. Plus, Creative supports more file formats than the iPod. The best part of it all - Creative boasts a lower price than the iPod. MORE BANG, LESS BUCK. ~~~> http://www.creative.com/products/welcome.asp?category=213
Re: Is iPod a good mp3 player?
by jhall49 - 11/19/04 8:41 PM In reply to: Is iPod a good mp3 player? by EatChex89I have purchased two iPods for my girls. The thing about iPods is that both the girls take really good care of them. They both know how much they cost, and that I will not be buying them again, if they are lost or damaged.
The other thing about iPods is the Apple software works perfect right out of the box. It found all the songs on my laptop and moved them to the iPod in one easy step.
The iPods also are the best looking player out there, and one of the easiest to use.
I love the sound quality and would have to recommend them.
Jon
Re: Is iPod a good mp3 player?
by - 11/20/04 2:16 PM In reply to: Re: Is iPod a good mp3 player? by jhall49You're wrong on two counts.
1) The software does not work perfectly for everybody.
2) It is NOT the most beautiful either. That's completely subjective to begin with. It just somehow recently became a cultural icon and many people have been conditioned by advertising to think that it's beautiful.
Personally, I prefer a magnesium case with functional button placement.
Re: Is iPod a good mp3 player?
by ricbrink - 11/22/04 7:44 AM In reply to: Is iPod a good mp3 player? by EatChex89If you're considering any player, try the ipod for ease of use. Day to day operation, ripping your CD's to load, buying music off the net, etc. Do you carry around a portable CD player or radio with you? Carrying any player can be problematic. Are you forgetful? Leaving an ipod on a table in the coffee shop is something you'll do once. It's not too likely someone will track you down to return it.
If you can afford it, it's worth it. I got a 30 gig last year right before the 40 gig model came out. I listen to audio books in my car, and it's by far the best way to do that. Audible.com's service is fantastic. If you buy 3 or 4 audiobooks at the store a year, you could be listening to 2 books a month all year long for about the same price.
I listen to music too. I have about 8 GB of music files. So what ever my mood, I can find just the right song. I'm not wild about buying music online, because of the restrictions on how you can use it. But by far, the apple store give you the most freedom to use the songs you buy from them the way you want.
The easy to use controls are a real plus in the car. Taking very little interaction. I single touch of the button and it's paused for a phone call or a stop for gas. Need to hear something again? Wind the track back 5 seconds or 5 minutes, it's just the touch of a button. Then back to my book or music.
The main bad thing I hear said about the ipod and other hd players, is they're not too durable if you are clumsy. It may survive a drop to the pavement, but you can bet they will get scratched, chipped or dented. For that reason, figure out a safe way to carry it around. The hard case that comes with the ipod kit does a fine job. Some people like the jelly rubber covers to keep the scratches down.
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