Need IPod Info please......

[Liz]

I'm thinking of getting someone an IPod - and may get one myself. I don't need the video for myself or my friend - but will use it for music. I want to download some of the music from my CD's, etc. also.

Is it possible to get a decent one for about $100?

Are these strictly for downloading music? Or do some of them have radios? Please excuse my ignorance, but I'm back in the stone age when it comes to the newest technology - well, maybe just back in the CD age.

Thanks for any info and advice.

Liz

[another view]

I love mine! It isn't a current model (30gb with video) and honestly I rarely watch anything on it - but love the storage capacity for a ridiculous amount of music and "podcasts". Podcasts get very addicting; basically they're an audio blog on about anything you can think of. A friend is a home beer brewer and I told him about a half-dozen or so I found about that craft (fairly unusual, so that gives you an idea). Lots on all aspects of photography too.

iLounge has a ton of information on iPods - but it's not an official Apple site (along the lines of PR.com, actually). B&H has iPods, as do many stores where you can actually see them but it seems like most have them locked up in cases instead of having demo models out. FM radios can be added to them (separate plug-in accessory). The iPod Shuffle is $80, but the "full experience" would be with the Nano that starts at $150.

[mwfanelli2]

I'm thinking of getting someone an IPod - and may get one myself. I don't need the video for myself or my friend - but will use it for music. I want to download some of the music from my CD's, etc. also.

Is it possible to get a decent one for about $100?

Are these strictly for downloading music? Or do some of them have radios? Please excuse my ignorance, but I'm back in the stone age when it comes to the newest technology - well, maybe just back in the CD age.

Thanks for any info and advice.

Liz

I have an iPod Shuffle that fits your price range. It holds a reasonable amount of music as long as you don't want to store a lifetime of tunes on it! The sound is OK (like average FM radio) as long as you buy better earphones. Mine is now loaded with those podcasts as mentioned above!

I like my Samsung player much better, also in your price range. It plays mp3 and WMA, the sound is fantastic (beats the iPod sound easily), and you can just drag and drop to load up with music. Oh yeah, it includes an FM radio.

http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-YP-K3J...6965108&sr=8-1

I have a review there as well.

[Liz]

I have an iPod Shuffle that fits your price range. It holds a reasonable amount of music as long as you don't want to store a lifetime of tunes on it! The sound is OK (like average FM radio) as long as you buy better earphones. Mine is now loaded with those podcasts as mentioned above!

I like my Samsung player much better, also in your price range. It plays mp3 and WMA, the sound is fantastic (beats the iPod sound easily), and you can just drag and drop to load up with music. Oh yeah, it includes an FM radio.

http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-YP-K3J...6965108&sr=8-1

I have a review there as well.

The Samsung player - is that an IPod - or "like" an IPod? Does it fit into the IPod docks? And can you download CD's to it? I want to get an IPod dock that includes a CD player so I can both use the CD player for listening to my CD's - and download some of them on the IPOD.

What is different from the MP3 players vs - say - the IPod NANO? IOW what does the IPod do that the MP3 doesn't and visa versa......

Also both the person I'm getting it for - and myself - will basically use it in the house/apt - with an IPod dock or something similar with speakers.

Thanks for the IPod lessons. I've never considered one until now so know absolutely zilch about them.

Liz

[another view]

Liz, an MP3 player is like an iPod - same but different... MP3's are digital files; just like jpeg or tiff image files. iPods use a proprietary type of file that works only with Apple devices but the iTunes program that makes it work will work fine on Windows XP or Vista (not anything earlier like 98 or ME though). iPods and iPhones are the only devices that fit into their docks; and not all iPods will fit (Shuffle being one and maybe the only one that won't).

I'm not sure if there is an iPod dock that has speakers and a CD player, but haven't really paid attention to them. I'd be surprised if you could copy CD's directly from a device like that to an iPod but it may be possible. One advantage of using iTunes is that it's really easy to set up playlists, which are like recording a tape with a bunch of songs in a specific order. It only takes seconds to do, and will update from the computer in literally a couple of seconds.

I had an MP3 player a couple of years ago and it just plain didn't work. I spent an hour trying to get everything right and then took advantage of Best Buy's 30 day return policy. The iPod has been great, and they are easy on a PC but slightly easier on a Mac (probably no surprise).

In short, an MP3 player does basically the same thing except things like playlists and podcasts are part of the Apple/iTunes/iPod family. However, there probably are some podcasts (or similar audio blogs) that you can get as MP3 files.

Hope this helps; not confuses!

[mwfanelli2]

Liz... The iPod is a proprietary design of Apple that they do not share with others. The iTunes stores sells DRM music that plays on an iPod and pretty much nothing else. The iPod can also play mp3 without DRM such as downloading from CDs. Wal-Mart has dictated DRM-free music from their suppliers, what Wal-Mart demands, it gets! Apple iTunes has been talking a good game about DRM-free music but has little to show for it yet.

If you want all the gadgets, definately stick with the iPod. They are more expensive and don't sound as good but they do have a huge amount of doo-dads that work with them that no other company can match. Also, forget the Shuffle, it doesn't have the required connector you need.

[Liz]

Liz, an MP3 player is like an iPod - same but different... MP3's are digital files; just like jpeg or tiff image files. iPods use a proprietary type of file that works only with Apple devices but the iTunes program that makes it work will work fine on Windows XP or Vista (not anything earlier like 98 or ME though).

I have WinXP - so that works!

iPods and iPhones are the only devices that fit into their docks; and not all iPods will fit (Shuffle being one and maybe the only one that won't).

After reading all of this wonderful info from you and Michael, I'll most likely get the IPod Nano since it's seems to be one of the least expensive. The Nano should work on most docks, right? (I saw a NANO at Costco for $140).

I'm not sure if there is an iPod dock that has speakers and a CD player, but haven't really paid attention to them. I'd be surprised if you could copy CD's directly from a device like that to an iPod but it may be possible.

I've seen a few with speakers and the CD player attached - and vaguely recall reading that at least one of these will download the music from the CD to the IPod.

One advantage of using iTunes is that it's really easy to set up playlists, which are like recording a tape with a bunch of songs in a specific order. It only takes seconds to do, and will update from the computer in literally a couple of seconds.

Setting up made easy is a big plus for me! My big concern is the cost of downloading the music. I'm mostly a classical, semi-classical music person, although I really like country and some pop music (I'm not a rock fan - no offense, Steve). Michael mentioned free music from Walmart which I'll definitely check out.

However, there probably are some podcasts (or similar audio blogs) that you can get as MP3 files.

So, a podcast is like a blog, except it's audio. Probably a really dumb question, but how does that work on an IPod. Do you blog on the podcast - how? Where do you find the blogs? Thanks for clarification.

Hope this helps; not confuses!

This has really been useful. Before I asked here, I knew nothing! Now I know what an IPod is, what it does and I'm getting to know what it is capable of. Thanks for taking all the time to explain. I'm most grateful.

Liz

[Liz]

Liz... The iPod is a proprietary design of Apple that they do not share with others. The iTunes stores sells DRM music that plays on an iPod and pretty much nothing else. The iPod can also play mp3 without DRM such as downloading from CDs. Wal-Mart has dictated DRM-free music from their suppliers, what Wal-Mart demands, it gets! Apple iTunes has been talking a good game about DRM-free music but has little to show for it yet.

If you want all the gadgets, definately stick with the iPod. They are more expensive and don't sound as good but they do have a huge amount of doo-dads that work with them that no other company can match. Also, forget the Shuffle, it doesn't have the required connector you need.

Michael,

Thank you so much! Both of your posts have been a great help. Between you and Steve, I really have it down now with few exceptions. I can at least shop intelligently now and not depend on an eager salesperson to "advise" me.

I'll go with the IPod. Costco has the IPod Nano for $140. However, I may wait a week or 10 days to see if any of the stores offer a big sale on one of the models.

Liz

[another view]

The Nano should work on most docks, right?

Yes, the Nano has a standard dock connector.

Michael mentioned free music from Walmart which I'll definitely check out.

Actually he was talking about DRM free music which isn't free. DRM = digital rights management, and this has to do with copyright protection. Stealing music is just like the concept of stealing digital photographs which has been discussed here many times. If you copy from a CD you already have, you're doing nothing wrong. If you buy from the iTunes music store, you're fine too. Remember Napster when they were a free music sharing site? That was a problem, and now Napster is a pay site. There are still free sites out there but I don't use them.

So, a podcast is like a blog, except it's audio. Probably a really dumb question, but how does that work on an IPod. Do you blog on the podcast - how? Where do you find the blogs?

What I meant by blog is that instead of someone typing their blog and posting it on the web, a podcast is like someone just recording those same words so you can listen to it rather than read. It's much better this way when you're driving. Part of setting up an iPod is downloading the iTunes program, and part of iTunes is the online music store (no website for it, you get to it from the program). Here, you can buy music or TV shows (which I rarely do) and also search for podcasts.

Actually it wouldn't be a bad idea to go ahead and download iTunes now - it's a free program. 90% of learning an iPod is learning iTunes, but it's pretty easy. It is a little more "Apple-style" than a lot of programs so it may look a little different, but it is pretty intuitive. Here's a link to Apple's site where you can download iTunes. Once you get it installed, you can search for (and subscribe to) Podcasts as well as load in your own CD's (called "import"). In the store, it'll be obvious if you're spending money so you probably won't do it accidentally. I don't think I have seen any podcasts require a purchase.

The iPod will come with an iTunes disc, but downloading it now will have two advantages as I see it - first, you can decide if you really do like it and want an iPod to go with it (an iPod is really just a portable version of the iTunes on your computer), and also you'll have the latest version (install the disc and you'll probably still have to install an update, just the nature of software).

[Liz]

Thanks Steve,
I really appreciate the information, the link and your clear explanations. I'm looking forward to getting one now that I know exactly what I'm investing in. Also, I hope to get one for someone else.

Liz

[schrackman]

Speaking of iPods, does anyone know why it takes a whole day for my wife's iPod to charge on my Mac computer? And then only about an hour or two at the most of continual use to lose its charge?

[another view]

The downside of iPods is that the batteries (supposedly) have to be replaced by Apple. After a year and a half, mine's still going strong, but it sounds like yours is on the way out.

Charging by USB port is usually slow and I haven't tried it from my laptop (which would just drain one battery to charge another). From my desktop it might have taken two hours for a full charge. When it's in the car, it charges when attached to the interface but otherwise I use a Belkin AC adapter (half the price of Apple) and it goes pretty quick.

[zrfraser]

Check the apple site for refurbs. They had a 2 gb nano the other day for 99.99. I bought my wife one and it works just like a new one.

Z

[another view]

Arrgh - didn't even think about the refurbs! I bought my Mac from Apple that way and the only thing different is that it didn't come with the pretty box.

[zrfraser]

Yeah no pretty box for the ipod either. The wife will be getting another this Christmas, iPods don't swim too well. Which suprises me. Nanos are flash based, and I have a Sansa Express, very neat little pleyer in its own right, and I have washed it probably 3 times on accident. I let it dry out for a day and it still works. You drop an ipod in the tub and it never works again. I pods are great, but I like my Sansa because it has removable media. In my opinion refurbs are the way to go when it comes to buying the iPod and if an iPod touch ever gets that way I will buy it in second.

Z

[masdog]

The downside of iPods is that the batteries (supposedly) have to be replaced by Apple. After a year and a half, mine's still going strong, but it sounds like yours is on the way out.

Depending on which generation iPod you have, that's not entirely true. Of course Apple would like you to have them replace the battery...it's more income for them after all, but if you google iPod Battery Replacement, you'll see several sites that offer aftermarket batteries and instructions on how to replace them.

I've had my iPod for five years now. About three years ago, the battery got to a point where it wouldn't last an hour off the charger in standby mode. Replacing the iPod wasn't an option, and sending it off to Apple to have it repaired would have been $99. A quick google search turned up a reputable supplier who sold batteries for $30 each. All it took was the flat-blade of a screwdriver to get it open.

Apple has tried changing this on the newer iPods, but there are always people out there who figure out how to get the devices open without damaging it.