Ipod or not, that is the question.....

utiler

Following on from my past thread, is an iPod the only option? I see plenty of other mp3 players on the market, I notice that windows even has it's own called a Zune. How universal are they, meaning can an iPod take music from a PC?

And what are the pro's and con's of all?

I am travelling a bit with my work now and think it is appropriate that become just another ignorant traveller that is hiding under the brim of his hat and between his earphones.....
Thanks all,

Speak later.

davekn

Hi Utiler

I wouldn't have anything other than an iPod but then again I am a Mac fan.

I have had an iPod now for a couple of years & it works perfectly. It is incredibly easy to download music from iTunes or from a CD & I can stream the result through my car radio with an f.m. transmitter if required.
Now I know all this can be done with other MP3s apart that is from iTunes which can ony be used with an iPod, but that is a HUGE plus.
My daughter uses an iPod with a PC & it works just as good - you just download the free iTunes to the computer.
Pros:-
Incredible design
Decent sound quality
iTunes
Huge market saturation
Did I mention incredible design

Cons :-
Slightly more expensive

Dave

dylan

I went with ipod several years ago, but to be honest I chose it because it looks so good imo.
Saying that, I have been very happy with both I have owned (ipod mini & ipod nano)

I think some people think ipods are not compatible with mp3's, thinking they will only play Apples own format, but obviously this is not true.

Im sure many of the other mp3 players sound just as good though and some maybe better.
Im a very happy pod user though

Jackson

I have a natural tendency to try not to do what everyone else is doing (or buying), but I just couldn't resist the iPod mini when it came out. Got to say however that one thing struck me almost immediately- the battery life was CRAP! The most annoying thing is that the battery would run down even when I wasn't using it so I'd throw it in my bag for an impromptu day trip not having used it for a few days and find it was dead. It's even worse now (about 2 years old)- battery lasts less than a week without using it and it crashes regularly, telling me there's no battery power left when it's literally just been charged. I think it's a 2nd generation iPod mini (obviously they don't make it anymore), but I can't wait to get rid of it. What will I replace it with? Probably an 8Gb iPod nano Sucker!

Anssi

I am not personally a mobile music person, but a couple of years ago I bought an Ipod mini for my daughter, and she has used it quite a lot. I have heard almost no complaints, and it has been used both with a PC and more recently with a Mac.

Anssi

Stu

Andrew,
What about a mobile phone?
I've got a Sony Ericsson K810 [Optus Plan]. Its got a handy 3.1 Mp CyberShot camera which is very useful for work shots.
I'm planning to get a 1 Gig memory card for it to load up four CDs of 'Learn Mandarin'......320Mb approx of Mp3s. So that leaves plenty of space for lots of music....or approx. one thousand Jpegs.
Stu

utiler

thanks all, I have heard that battery life is a concern.....

Good option Stu, but I am one who wants to have a bit more of a chose of music when i am away... only 4 CD's would drive me crazy, I may as well listen to commercial radio for the repitition!!!

I do like thephone though.....

A

solo

Soon, end of next week, the new Ipod will be revield (so i was told) it will have Internet support, touch screen scroll and a bunch of new features.

Stu

Sure Andrew, but those 4 CD only took up 1/3 of the memory so thats, say, 12 CDs and there are 2 Gig cards around.
The camera is really useful for taking quick photos of a job but the results aren't album quality.

utiler

Sure, I sometimes take site pics with my phone but only for retention of info...

it is handy that a camera phone has reasonable pic quality though; it is kind of scary where we are heading with gadgets.....

A

John Sayers

It really depends on what system you are on. Mac users will prefer the Ipod - windows users the Creative Zen vision M 30gb.

The Zen outperforms the I-pod in various ways - more video and audio formats such as mpeg, divx, wmv, xvid for video, and mp3, wma and .wav audio formats. The Zen can play and record FM radio with 30 presets and record and play voice. It also has removable disk storage like SD cards. It has a 2.5-inch screen with more color display ability than the iPod.

They are both the same price.

BTw if you are feeling wealthy this is the go but it's $886.

http://www.anythingbutipod.com/archives/2007/08/cowon-exposes-q5-and-a3-pmps.php

cheers
john

utiler

Thanks John, i thought you'd chime is before too long....

will go and have a look.

Andrew