New iPod owner......It's a full count!

DavesPPC · 09-23-06, 02:36 PM

So I had to bite the bullet and buy an iPod yesterday.
I didn't want an iPod, but as the only store in my area that sells any MP3 players (good ol' WalMart).
So, I decide that the iPod Nano 2GB will be good enough, and I paid $149.99 plus taxes. Good deal? Bad deal? I don't know yet.

Here's my Baseball analogy

I have to install iTunes of course, to even be able to use this thing. I absolutely hate iTunes! I am a follower of JetAudio, but to use the iPod, I must change software. (Strike one)

The iPod is small and sleek in design, looks sharp and did I mention how sleek it is? (Ball one)

The iPod scratches extremely easy! Fingerprints all over the place! (Strike two)

The sound is pretty good as far as I'm concerned. Several EQ options are a plus, but a custom EQ would be better. Can play loud and you can "cap" the max volume level as well....another good thing. (Ball two)

Battery life is fantastic (for now). I worked an 11 hour shift and then had two hours drive (one hour each way to/from work). A total of 13 hours. I had about 70% battery left! (Ball three)

Battery isn't replaceable. Well, it is technically, but not something that is easily done by the faint of heart. The normal process is to send your iPod back to Apple and they will "repair" your iPod for the "measly" cost of $59
WOW! $59 for a low capacity battery that sells just about everywhere for less than $15? I would take the chance and replace it myself if it came down to it. (Strike three)

You're OUT!

I can't see myself keeping this iPod for the reasons listed above. From what I can tell, the battery doesn't last more than a year (at 80% capacity or less).
Apple says the battery life is 400 full charges. Only 400 charges for a "non user replaceable" battery?

No, I think this iPod will be going back to where it came from.
I'll have to stick with using my iPaq as an MP3 player.

David

imported_EasternCanuck · 09-24-06, 12:43 AM

You should have done the baseball analogy before you bought it. All that info is available.

DavesPPC · 09-24-06, 11:34 AM

Thanks for that bit of useful information

I know it was available, and much more for that matter, but I am the type of person that wants to try things out personally, and not go by others opinions.
I own many items that others say "don't buy" and just love them!

**ksong12** · 10-08-07, 10:12 AM

Yes, I agree that the iPod isn't exactly worth $150, but it really isn't quite that bad.

I've had a case on mine since day one, so there goes one of the strikes. And I find it easier to use with the case (easier to grip, etc).

I can't believe I've finally found a JetAudio fan! I love JetAudio (since I own a Cowon A2) best media player ever! but iTunes isn't quite that bad. No, I don't use it to play media, but to fire it up occasionally to add songs, not that bad.

I haven't had to replace my battery, nor have I noticed any noticible battery degrading yes. There will be, inevitably, but by then I'll probably have a new one anyway. Besides, my favorite portable media player, the A2, doesn't have a replaceable battery either.

While I understand what you are trying to say, and that I fully agree with you, I just thought that some of the things aren't quite that important. The user interface is decent, especially for scrolling through huge lists of songs.

P.S. What I said about getting a new mp3 player before that battery dies, tis true. Think about it. If its within a year, its under warranty anyway, if its over a year, you said that using it for a full day took it down to 70% If the battery reaches 80% capacity, that would mean that a full day's work would bring it down to about 50% (rough estimate). Not too shabby.

I've had mine actually for only maybe 7 months (during which I also used the A2 a lot), before I upgraded to the iPhone. Now that, the non-replaceable battery is a great concern, since the phone can drain a lot at times. And replacement costs are $150. Ouch.

spunker88 · 10-08-07, 06:55 PM

I hate ipods.

Heres why:
-They are way too popular. Everywhere u go u see an ipod. They are becoming the trademark name for all mp3 players. (IE: Kleenex did for tissues, band-aid did for bandages)
-Itunes is a huge piece of bloatware that reminds me of the new realplayer.
-Apple charges money for almost everything u download from itunes and all their other software is getting worse. I stopped using quicktime, b/c the bundle the yahoo toolbar, and put all the new features in a pro version.
-Rechargeable batteries. They supposedly save you money, but if i spend $5 a year on AAA batteries for my player, is it really that bad. Instead i have to buy a charger, and u know how li-ions can drop charges sometimes and all the other things they can be picky about.
-Overprotected formats. Not only do i have to pay for all content, it is so protected i cant use it anywhere else. (I know they are trying to protect it from illegal distribution. But do u own the song, or are u just renting it?) I might as well just get the cd instead.
-Price. The hd based players have a good price, but the small players are way too expensive. I got my 2gb flash based creative player for under $40 after MIR.

**ksong12** · 10-12-07, 08:25 PM

True, but I found

"but if i spend $5 a year on AAA batteries for my player, is it really that bad." Quite interesting..... how do you figure?

I personally prefer the Cowon/iAudio brand, I love the Cowon A2, and the new Q5 is freaking amazing. But still, having Phone + iPod is pretty convenient.

adamska · 11-12-07, 08:31 AM

I just bought my first NEW ipod, (had a second hand 30gb photo ipod...died, and a 2nd gen ipod shuffle, got washed in a pair of jeans...whoops)

My iPod Classic is fine for what I use it for, putting last night's TV shows on it for the train to work is fine, especially using videora.

I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with apple but I've always found iPod's best to use as mp3 players, used to have an archos and a creative zen but they just pale in comparison, I don't see how them becoming synomynous with MP3 players (a la kleenex/tissues) and it being "way too popular" bears any credance.

If anything it shows that it's a brand that can be trusted (until it gets past it's 2 year lifetime and miraculously starts dieing

)

Battery life has been brilliant on my new one, although I did have to replace the one in my old one, mainly due to it being over four years old, and it's a relatively simple process, I disagree with the batteries being locked away and not replaceable, but as I said before it's very simple to replace them with all the guides on the net.

Overall I think the iPods (when not old and knackered like my old one) live up to their reputation, and perform well for an acceptable period of time. It has its downfalls but then again so does everything else....like the iPhone! lol

User Name		Remember Me?
Password

iPod - Talk about the Apple iPod MP3 Players.