iPod question - would you recommend it?

Piste

Hi all, I'm looking for a new MP3 Player, I've had three creative Zen Micros, all of which broke, and two iRiver H10s, both of which stopped working properly, so I have pretty bad luck with my Mp3 players even though I look after them pretty well. So I was thinking of getting a 30G iPod video for Christmas, but I want to know if they're any good. I know some of my friends who have iPod Nanos say that the battery is awful and is terribly erratic, ie it will say low battery just after being charged, and that the volume sometimes goes wonky, like it will play too low or something. So does anyone have any experience of a 30G iPod video, and if they do could they tell me how good/bad it is, what are the advantages and disadvantages of it?

Thanks, Piste.

bringitdown

Have had Creative Nomads, Zen, etc hard disk players and so far my iPod 5th Gen 30Gb has been the best in terms of battery life.

Radio, voice recorder is not present but I would not have any use for em.

The only major con for me is the on-the-fly playlists are nowhere near as nice as the Creative approach.

And you more or less have to use iTunes ... so if you don't like that....!?

delly

Had a Creative Zen about 2 years ago and got rid of it because I found it too hard to work with the touch strip. I have my 30gb iPod for the last couple of months now and I have to say I love it. Connected to my iTrip I have been listening to podcasts as I transverse the M50 which makes it that little bit easier.

Can't really say much about battery life as when using the iTrip the battery life is reduced by a big margin, but I am happy with it.

iFight

Have an iPod aswell, really good, well worth getting, battery life on mine is still grand and it's not that new.

Piste

Oh cool, the iPod seems like the way to go then, thanks everyone

mr_disc

Id recommend the 30gb video aswell.... i got one last month and its working a treat .

I got mying while on holiday in New York and saved about €100 so if u know anyone going there get them to do u a favour !!

ondafly

bringitdown wrote:

And you more or less have to use iTunes ... so if you don't like that....!?

if you don't like it - you can use ephod, and its free

K.O.Kiki

Wow -- just meaning to interject here but my sister is closing in on Piste's record -- her second Zen Micro (an 8Gb MicroPhoto iirc) broke!!

Guess that's one more for the Apple train, soon...

Piste

Yes seemingly the smaller versions of things are a bit didgy, my iRivers and Zens all broke, and my friends Mini iPods nearly all have audio/battery problems.

tywy

all my friends' iRivers have been fine...only way they've broken is being stepped on or something.

My friends' Zens have broken though.

Wow, a thread where there is nothing but praise for the ipod. How odd.

On topic: I have no experience with the video model, but Ive had my 4th gen ipod for a little under 3 years and its still performing very well. Id consider myself to be a very heavy user and I only have to charge it every couple of days. The newer versions of the ipod are also supposed to be quite solid in terms of battery life.

Basq

Well.. i have had the same 3G 10GB iPod for almost 3 years (3 years next month to be precise).. got it for €150 when i signed up with Eircom BB.

I use it every day at least three times a day to walk to work, lunch, walk home. Not getting as long as the battery now but that's only been affected recently.

So.. 3 years on heavy use and still going is definantly a thumbs-up from me.

But if it were to break down tomorrow, i'd look at alternatives. Particularly because i've been starting to get into different more EXTREME (!!11! ) audio formats such as FLAC.

K.O.Kiki

I switched down from "high" quality LAME mp3's to 128kb/s AAC.
Still as enjoyable as ever -- although, I *suppose* my not-high-end headphones have something to do with that! :rolleyes:

Squill

Squill wrote:

But if it were to break down tomorrow, i'd look at alternatives. Particularly because i've been starting to get into different more EXTREME (!!11! ) audio formats such as FLAC.

Just use rockbox and have all the formats at your fingertips.

art

mr_disc wrote:

Id recommend the 30gb video aswell.... i got one last month and its working a treat .

Same here. Been impressed with the player in general but particularly impressed with battery life which is far better than I had anticipated.

eigrod

May I ask some very basic iPod questions please ?

1) How much should I expect to pay for a reasonable audio iPod at any high street retail outlet ?
2) Where is the best source for music for an iPod ?
3) Is broadband a necessity to enable one to download stuff for an iPod ?
4) Any other relevant info one should be aware of ?

Thanks in advance from a very uninitiated iPod person.

Huggles

eigrod wrote:

May I ask some very basic iPod questions please ?

1) How much should I expect to pay for a reasonable audio iPod at any high street retail outlet ?
2) Where is the best source for music for an iPod ?
3) Is broadband a necessity to enable one to download stuff for an iPod ?
4) Any other relevant info one should be aware of ?

Thanks in advance from a very uninitiated iPod person.

1) they are all audio...just some come with video capabilities. www.applestore.ie - the stores in dublin don't deviate from these prices much.

2. Download itunes and purchase from the store or simply import your own cds.

3. Not really you could use dial up but how are you with patience?

4. No, its all very simple really.

delly

eigrod wrote:

May I ask some very basic iPod questions please ?

1) How much should I expect to pay for a reasonable audio iPod at any high street retail outlet ?
2) Where is the best source for music for an iPod ?
3) Is broadband a necessity to enable one to download stuff for an iPod ?
4) Any other relevant info one should be aware of ?

Thanks in advance from a very uninitiated iPod person.

1. The 30gb iPod should be the same price as the apple.com price of €290 from most retailers, although there are a few that will try and get a few quid more on that price.

2. I suppose iTunes isn't that bad for buying downloads, but I mostly get my music from here and there and don't stick to one provider. I still buy a good few CD's as well which means they can be ripped without any restrictions.

3. Its not essential but recommended as the average song could be 4-5mb which on dial up may take you 10 minutes or so, so an album would take over an hour. Also if you want to get podcasts you really need broadband.

4. Not that I can think of as I think everybody has a specific reason for getting one, so needs may vary.

eigrod

Thanks guys for the prompt and informative responses - given me exactly what I need to know to get started. That's why I love this site so much.

Thanks again.

CountryWise

I have the 30 Gb video, id definitely recommend it, the battery concerns i had originally are gone, the battery is good(especially since i updated the software) unless you are playing movies then you only get a couple of hours but thats to be expected!
but apart form that i love it....so many features to it

quad_red

tywy wrote:

all my friends' iRivers have been fine...only way they've broken is being stepped on or something.

My H10 died on Sunday. All it does now is make a chugging noise and a system file error comes up on screen. Windows no longer detects it.



I bought my girlfriend a nano 2 months ago and I have to admit - it's a superb piece of kit. If iPods had tuners I'd be sold. But a tuner is a prerequisite for me so no go.

Magic Pips

i bought my g/f a 30 gig Archos 404... very impressive i must say.

A lot freer than the iPod (can use as a external hard drive!)

I have the Archos AV500 but its a little bit big (7" screen) and suffers picture quality when showing dark images.

Archos seem like they have a nice prodcut on their hands though!

lazygit

Magic Pips wrote:

Archos seem like they have a nice prodcut on their hands though!

stay away from Archos at all costs.. they are the biggest pile of crap ever.. myself and my mate both have one, they are totally terrible, i am looking to RMA my one and its only 1 week old

Magic Pips

What is wrong with it? examples please - wanna know what to look out for!

ondafly

Magic Pips wrote:

A lot freer than the iPod (can use as a external hard drive!)

you can do this with the iPod also. no drivers needed on the PC, just the iPod usb cable and the iPod of course:)

Slutmonkey57b

lazygit wrote:

stay away from Archos at all costs.. they are the biggest pile of crap ever.. myself and my mate both have one, they are totally terrible, i am looking to RMA my one and its only 1 week old

Rubbish, I had a gmini400 for over a year and had 0 problems. Am currently saving up for a 504.

Basq

Yep.. i've had an Archos AV400 for over 2 years and still works as well as the day i bought it!

tywy

thinking of getting a nano 8GB there doesn't seem to be anything similar on the market. i have a 40GB iRiver so don't really need a big 30GB Video Ipod. Are there any other brands that do a 4GB or 8GB flash player that's any good. Also is the price on apple.ie the best price you can get?

quad_red

tywy wrote:

thinking of getting a nano 8GB there doesn't seem to be anything similar on the market. Are there any other brands that do a 4GB or 8GB flash player that's any good.

http://www.pcmag.com/products/0%2C%2Ctqs%3DD5CF9C80B14E50A5202B49B32559342878D8D73E%2C00.asp?action=defaultadvancedquery&cid=&sid=1612&gridtitle=Recent+Product+Reviews&googlequery=q%3d%26start%3d0%26num%3d10%26mt823%3d21226%26mt396%3d14441&stpdinglp=1

tywy wrote:

good. Also is the price on apple.ie the best price you can get?

Not that I've seen. Komplett is pretty much the same once you add delivery (apple prices include del)
http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.asp?sku=325803