Discussion
If you really want an iPod (as opposed to some of the other top brands) then go for the 20Gb model. It's only a fraction of the size over the mini and a fraction of the cost over that of the mini, for 5 times the memory.
Mine's still running fine (Sept last year, no battery issues yet :touchwoodsmiley
Paid £219 for it from Dixons, who were about the same as everywhere else.
I'm now in the sorry state of wondering what to delete off it, in order to put new purchases on.
Mine's still running fine (Sept last year, no battery issues yet :touchwoodsmiley
Paid £219 for it from Dixons, who were about the same as everywhere else.
I'm now in the sorry state of wondering what to delete off it, in order to put new purchases on.
Personally I won't touch another Apple product after the poorness that was my iPod.
I bought it back in May 2003 and it's a 3rd generation 15gb unit. Not only was the buying experience terrible (the apple store took my money and then promptly changed the delivery date back 2 months) but customer service is appaling as well.
I look after my iPod, it's the most expensive gadget I own and there isn't a scratch on it after 2 years and been in my pocket all the time. But, the hold switch died, the battery life disapeared and the hard-drive started to make funny noises about 2 days after my warranty died - apple wanted £159 + p&p to even look at the damned thing, never mind fix it. It eventually went to a 3rd party place recommended by Domestic and General (who weren't apple to be fair) and came back after 3months (!) with similar problems. I still use it now, but it's certainly nowhere near the quality it should be - it strikes me that it's designed to be a throwaway-when-it-breaks type object, expecially with the inbuilt battery but at the money it costs...
Apart from the actual player, the bundled software is crap (iTunes on the PC was and probably still is abismal), I know they have replaced the dials but mine doesn't work well, the remote's wire has come away from the socket etc.
When I got mine it was the only viable option but there are so many more nowadays I'd strongly urge you to look past the marketing hype & the "style" and check out the others. Creative, Archos & Sony are the big names, the later players look much nicer than the iPod IMO as well.
then again, there are a lot of iPods sold, and they continue to do so. You take your choice and pays your money
I bought it back in May 2003 and it's a 3rd generation 15gb unit. Not only was the buying experience terrible (the apple store took my money and then promptly changed the delivery date back 2 months) but customer service is appaling as well.
I look after my iPod, it's the most expensive gadget I own and there isn't a scratch on it after 2 years and been in my pocket all the time. But, the hold switch died, the battery life disapeared and the hard-drive started to make funny noises about 2 days after my warranty died - apple wanted £159 + p&p to even look at the damned thing, never mind fix it. It eventually went to a 3rd party place recommended by Domestic and General (who weren't apple to be fair) and came back after 3months (!) with similar problems. I still use it now, but it's certainly nowhere near the quality it should be - it strikes me that it's designed to be a throwaway-when-it-breaks type object, expecially with the inbuilt battery but at the money it costs...
Apart from the actual player, the bundled software is crap (iTunes on the PC was and probably still is abismal), I know they have replaced the dials but mine doesn't work well, the remote's wire has come away from the socket etc.
When I got mine it was the only viable option but there are so many more nowadays I'd strongly urge you to look past the marketing hype & the "style" and check out the others. Creative, Archos & Sony are the big names, the later players look much nicer than the iPod IMO as well.
then again, there are a lot of iPods sold, and they continue to do so. You take your choice and pays your money
Hi,
I know that lots of people might not agree but if you are looking at hard disk mp3 players pleas look at all the others available. I know the ipod is so pretty and cool but the battery life is really pore (I used to get 6 hours), there also some reasonably well publicised faults with the battery, the warranty is only 90 days I believe. The remote is pants i.e. no LCD screen like a miny disk.
So pleas have a look at the other players available to you and see if any of them would be better for you many are the same size as the ipod, have better battery life, radios, you can even play game boy games on one of them.
www.advancedmp3players.co.uk
has a good selection they also sell ipods
I have no affiliation with the above web sight
I know that lots of people might not agree but if you are looking at hard disk mp3 players pleas look at all the others available. I know the ipod is so pretty and cool but the battery life is really pore (I used to get 6 hours), there also some reasonably well publicised faults with the battery, the warranty is only 90 days I believe. The remote is pants i.e. no LCD screen like a miny disk.
So pleas have a look at the other players available to you and see if any of them would be better for you many are the same size as the ipod, have better battery life, radios, you can even play game boy games on one of them.
www.advancedmp3players.co.uk
has a good selection they also sell ipods
I have no affiliation with the above web sight
docevi1 said:
Personally I won't touch another Apple product after the poorness that was my iPod.
I bought it back in May 2003 and it's a 3rd generation 15gb unit. Not only was the buying experience terrible (the apple store took my money and then promptly changed the delivery date back 2 months) but customer service is appaling as well.
I look after my iPod, it's the most expensive gadget I own and there isn't a scratch on it after 2 years and been in my pocket all the time. But, the hold switch died, the battery life disapeared and the hard-drive started to make funny noises about 2 days after my warranty died - apple wanted £159 + p&p to even look at the damned thing, never mind fix it. It eventually went to a 3rd party place recommended by Domestic and General (who weren't apple to be fair) and came back after 3months (!) with similar problems. I still use it now, but it's certainly nowhere near the quality it should be - it strikes me that it's designed to be a throwaway-when-it-breaks type object, expecially with the inbuilt battery but at the money it costs...
Apart from the actual player, the bundled software is crap (iTunes on the PC was and probably still is abismal), I know they have replaced the dials but mine doesn't work well, the remote's wire has come away from the socket etc.
When I got mine it was the only viable option but there are so many more nowadays I'd strongly urge you to look past the marketing hype & the "style" and check out the others. Creative, Archos & Sony are the big names, the later players look much nicer than the iPod IMO as well.
then again, there are a lot of iPods sold, and they continue to do so. You take your choice and pays your money
Ouch, bad luck Stefan.
I've had a couple and they've been problem free. I still believe they are the ultimate MP3 player, IMHO, though my mate has one of the Sony ones and they are pretty slick (although the controls are very tiny and less ergonomic than iPod (again, IMHO).
Also, the battery issue. Replacement of a built-in battery is going to be problematic and expensive for any electronic device.
I'd counter your idea and say perhaps with inferior, cheaper devices, people are more inclined to treat them as disposable, whereas because the iPod is a shade more expensive than their competitors, people actually do go down the replacement battery route (and no rechargable battery lasts forever) and then are surprised that its quite expensive. Once again, IMHO.
I agree though, if you're going to use it on a PC, iTunes is a horrible bloated port of the Mac version and should be avoided at all costs. On the other hand, on the Mac, its unbeatable. For PC, see www.ephpod.com for a better solution.
Personally, I wanted to steer clear of the Ipod due to it's 'cutesy cutesy gotta have one now' image. I went for an Iriver h340 which I adore. I use it for videos, music and photo images and the battery life is great too. There's a good net community about them and they are still releasing new firmware to update the controls, playback, etc.
Horses for courses but i much prefer the iriver design too. More techy looking than the trendy Ipod looks.
Horses for courses but i much prefer the iriver design too. More techy looking than the trendy Ipod looks.
I have had no-problems with my 40Gb 4th Gen Ipod; battery last 10-12 hours regularly (I listen to it on the journey into work, at work then on the journey home).
Itunes works fine on my laptop; even use the Ipod as extra storage (though with 25Gb gone on music on ly leaves me with just over 10 spare).
Transferring music is easy if itunes is the favoured media player (just copy the folders across onto the hard drive and get itunes to import the folders). I can't be the only lucky one.
Itunes works fine on my laptop; even use the Ipod as extra storage (though with 25Gb gone on music on ly leaves me with just over 10 spare).
Transferring music is easy if itunes is the favoured media player (just copy the folders across onto the hard drive and get itunes to import the folders). I can't be the only lucky one.
Just did a search on the iriver one and turned up this review of the older model. No comment on the player, I just had to post a link to the review. Do these people actually exist? On planet earth?
www.advancedmp3players.co.uk/shop/product_reviews_info.php?products_id=290&reviews_id=1378
>> Edited by neil.b on Friday 15th April 08:55
Review said:
this player lets u watch videos on its 2" screen so u dont have 2 look out the window or some bum tryin 2 be cool.I have seen csi season 1,2 and im on 3 pic is not dvd quality but its watchable.the sound coming from this machiene is euphoric had a zen which is very tinny but iriver h320 is awesome with a eq which u can modify so u hear it as u want it like a true techno terrorist.
www.advancedmp3players.co.uk/shop/product_reviews_info.php?products_id=290&reviews_id=1378
>> Edited by neil.b on Friday 15th April 08:55
My wife works for Apple so we have a range of I-pods that have been either freebies or very cheap. I think that the design is fantastic - they are very "cutesie" as someone mentioned above, though I do think that a design with a removable and replaceable battery would have been better.
Have just started using an I-trip with the I-pod - it plugs into the top of the I-pod mini and transmits the output on a selectable FM frequency. Dead handy in the car coz you just tune in your radio appropriately and listen to your playlists without wires hanging around, and then take it with you when you leave the car so there nothing nickable.
Have just started using an I-trip with the I-pod - it plugs into the top of the I-pod mini and transmits the output on a selectable FM frequency. Dead handy in the car coz you just tune in your radio appropriately and listen to your playlists without wires hanging around, and then take it with you when you leave the car so there nothing nickable.
I, Pod. Therefore I am. 
Apple site (as said earlier) is a good source... also worth checking;
www.aria.co.uk
www.microdirect.co.uk
Apple site (as said earlier) is a good source... also worth checking;
www.aria.co.uk
www.microdirect.co.uk
Gassing Station | The Pie & Piston Archive | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff