Since we're all talking about iPods...do you recommend an iPod?

[WindRavenX]

I'm a music fanatic, and I am considering purchasing an iPod when/if I acquire some money. I have a HP Notebook w/ Windows XP.
Share you likes, dislikes, thoughts on the iPod so I can get an idea on whether or not I should get one.

[Deja Q]

1. I saw one on the cover of Time Magazine

That alone turned me off.

I know the device plays music in the proprietary iPod format... probably plays MP3s as well, but standard MP3 players don't cost as much money and don't look like a pastel brick ala the Atari XEGS video game system from 1988...

[WindRavenX]

3. What format does it use?

You mean it doesn't use it in mp3 format? :think:

[CanuckAmok]

18. It uses MP3 AND a proprietary mac format.

[emulatorloo]

23. AAC is not "Mac Format," it is MP4 basically and plays on WIN XP too

EOM

[emulatorloo]

26. It uses MP3 and others, including some "Lossless" formats for audiophiles

EOM . . .

[emulatorloo]

25. I saw John Kerry on the cover of Time Magazine

so I am not voting for him /sarcasm off/

Hypno . . .compare similarly equipped mp3 players and you will see that the "big" iPod (white one) is not significantly more than most hard disk based players from major brands.

Yes flash based players are cheaper, but iPod is not a flash based player.

iPod plays mp3s, aiffs, AAC (mp4 - the itunes store format) etc etc.

Why don't you download iTunes for Windows to get a taste of it?

www.apple.com/itunes

[GOPisEvil]

2. I had a few issues right at first, but now all is well.

It really is pretty easy once you get the hang of it.

Dell is making something similar with about the same storage. It is supposed to be cheaper, as well.

I run XP as well on a PC.

[ranosgol]

4. ipod is great

i bought one of the first models when they where onyl for the Mac. If you have a Mac there is no question you shoudl buy one if you have a PC the answer maybe more gray. Itunes on the PC is about the same better if your PC has firewire port. It can also serve as a hard drive to store files. Yes it si expensive yes it is proprietary but it is the best music device of its class on the market hands down.

[ranosgol]

5. format

it can use mp3 format btu it also uses aac when u download off itunes but u can play mp3

[priller]

6. iPod is great!

I use mine nearly every day at the gym. Nothing like having 2000 songs to choose from while you're working out.

The iTunes Store is very nice, also.

[fofer]

8. Same here.

I could never survive 30 minutes on the treadmill without my IPod!

[FranzFerdinand]

7. absolutely

i use it everyday and i've had mine about 6 months now...

[Nomad559]

9. iPod's Dirty Secret

http://www.ipodsdirtysecret.com

:evilgrin:

http://www.ipodhacks.com/article.php?sid=163

[ranosgol]

10. ipod battrey life i smuch better now

yes they did have issues with the battery but the newer models have overcome this for the most part as always you are going to have defective ones

[Nevernose]

17. What the HELL is the name of that song?

I've only heard it 9,000,000 times, and it's on the tip of my tongue.

[NuttyFluffers]

11. it's great, best of the lot out now, hands down.

do your research naturally, but you'll come to the same conclusions. just about all the pc magazines admit that it is the best still. light years ahead of competition. creative, sony, dell, etc. come nowhere close as a complete package. it has initial sticker shock, but the quality is worth the money. remember price:value. iPod has some sweet value and plenty of satisfied customers (many who were not apple fans).

ps: iTunes is fantastic and easy to use too. blows real player, windows media player, and several other players i downloaded out of the water. simple to use and once you figure out browse and how to make playlists from that you'll never go back. enjoy

[kariatari]

12. Would not recommend an iPod.

Many of my friends and I use our iPods A LOT, so it didn't take long to wear the battery down. The first time I replaced mine, after only 9 months of use, I had to pay $90. Granted, the battery prices have gone down some since they came out, but it's still too much to be paying. So instead of buying batteries all the time, I splurged on a new mp3 player.

I got a Rio Karma and couldn't be happier with it. While the iPod is cuter, the Rio Karma has better navigation, more fun tools and is sufficiently cheapier.

[squidbro]

13. I have one. It's great

I have an iPod. It is pretty nice. The hard drive is very spacious and I back up the drive on my laptop to the iPod.

As far as the battery goes, if it dies, go to www.macresq.com. They have iPod batteries for very reasonable prices. $29.99 if you replace it yourself and $59.99 for professional replacement.

Besides, you will be getter one of the newer models with 50% more battery life. If you use the FireWire port, the computer will also charge the battery.

Battery life is really the only Achilles heel. The interface is top notch and it is very easy to use.

Besides, HP is getting ready to introduce the iPod under their own brand name.

By the way, it plays mp3s. The only thing proprietary is that it won't play wma files so if you have those, you will have to convert them. It also plays AAC files that you purchase from the iTunes music store.

I have one along with an Apple PowerBook. I can't speak for how well it works on XP, but it is very easy to use. Purchase music, hook up the iPod to the computer, the music syncs and you are ready to go. None of the rigamarole of the other music services where you have to find where the music is located on your hard drive and physically move it to the player.

I have no regrets over the purchase. Besides, if battery life is your thing, Belkin makes an attacheable battery pack that increases playing time considerably.

[squidbro]

15. My mistake

My bad. It is $79.99 for professional replacement of the battery.

[Aftershock]

14. Don't get one.

I've heard a lot of bad reviews about the iPod.

Instead, go to www.nomadworld.com and look at the Nomad mp3 players. They're great! They use rechargable batteries (included with the player). If you need new ones, four of them (AA size) cost only 8 bucks. With the Nomads, you don't need to mess around with the player or bring it to a professional to get the batteries changed. The memory storage on them varies with the models. They go from 8MB to 60 GB (the cost goes up with more memory, of course). I have a 6 GB one and it holds all my music (1,200 songs) and it has enough room for about 800 more songs. It also has an easy-to-use menu system. They also come with their own charger!

All the software for the Nomads work on all operating systems, too. :)

I highly recommend them.

[CanuckAmok]

19. It's all a matter of taste, but...

I bought a Nomad, and returned it in exchange for an ipod. Of course I spent more, but I love my (20 Gig) iPod. I have something like 5,000 songs on it, and there's still room. I also like the other stuff, like the built in alarm clock (I use it daily), and the iTrip wireless transmitter I got for my birthday (thanks, mom!).

Honestly, now that I'm looking to seriously downsize the physical size of my stereo equipment/music collection, I can see myself using only my laptop, my iPod, and a really good receiver. The iPod is that versatile.

[Aftershock]

21. The new Nomads are like that too.

:hi:

Kinda like this one!



Link:
http://www.nomadworld.com/products/zentouch/

[squidbro]

20. The Nomad is a fine machine. However, the software is lacking.

I have looked at the Nomads myself. The killer is that iTunes won't work with them.

My iPod has a 30 GB drive. I have about 700 songs stored on the drive compressed at 256 kpbs. Sound quality is great and the iTunes music store has a great selection.

I do think the Nomad is a fine machine. I almost purchased one. Still, I am very pleased with the iPod.

[CanuckAmok]

22. One thing about Nomad...

the software isn't great, and if you have an album with the tracks listed numerically (so they play in album order, instead of alphabetically), the Nomad inverses that order, unless you want to rename all your files to conform to their software...

That was the main reason I returned mine.

[emulatorloo]

27. Itunes works on Win XP and is a great player, cd-burner, ipod organizer

you should download it and compare it to your Nomad software. . .you will find your Nomad software lacking.

Sorry, have never seen a bad iPod review.

iTunes download here

www.apple.com/itunes

[JohnKleeb]

16. yes but be careful

well I bet youre not tech clumsy like I am. So I'll give you the benefit of the doubt. I really need to fix this irriating hard disk problem, how the hell can it be near capiticty when I only have a few programs including drivers insalled and my sound isnt working. Ahh sucks.

[emulatorloo]

24. Yes I recommend - HP and Apple are coming out with co-branded iPod

very soon, BTW -- It will be iPod w HP logo.

I looked at all the players, and iPod is best on ease of use. . .I have a big collection of music and it is super easy to find what I want and start playing it. . . .Ease of use is a big factor. . .

It plays MP3s and some other formats.

iTunes is great player software for your Windows machine and is the software you use to work with your iPod and computer and music files. . .why don't you go ahead and download that to get a feel of things.

www.apple.com/itunes