iPod verses Others?
Discussion
So my daughter has decided that she needs an iPod, I've not go a problem with that as she must be the only kid when asked at Christmas what they want replies 'Nothing Really'!
So I'm doing some looking around, from what I can see iPods are just over the £200 mark and there are other makes available, I've seen This One which appears to have very similar specifications for around £150. Anyone with more knowledge than me care to comment on the comparison or provide alternatives to look at?
I'm not a badge snob so just because it has iPod on it I don't believe it is necessarily the best so that argument won't work
TIA.
So I'm doing some looking around, from what I can see iPods are just over the £200 mark and there are other makes available, I've seen This One which appears to have very similar specifications for around £150. Anyone with more knowledge than me care to comment on the comparison or provide alternatives to look at?
I'm not a badge snob so just because it has iPod on it I don't believe it is necessarily the best so that argument won't work
TIA.
Well that one won't go down as well at school.
Imagine everyone else wearing Prada blazers and your daughter going in with a Tesco copy of the same blazer.
Even though they both do the same job and are probably of equal quality the iPod just has the right cachet!
If you want a cheap iPod then go to the Apple Refurbished store (only Wednesdays from 10am) where you can get a 20gb one for £140 or so!
These are fully guaranteed the same as brand new ones, are are simply returned & repaired models, or unused returns.
Imagine everyone else wearing Prada blazers and your daughter going in with a Tesco copy of the same blazer.
Even though they both do the same job and are probably of equal quality the iPod just has the right cachet!
If you want a cheap iPod then go to the Apple Refurbished store (only Wednesdays from 10am) where you can get a 20gb one for £140 or so!
These are fully guaranteed the same as brand new ones, are are simply returned & repaired models, or unused returns.
beware with the 4th gen ipods (the latest ones) they have a bit of a hardware fault with them.
www.ipodlounge.com/articles_more.php?id=4776_0_8_0_M
Approximately 42% of responding iPodlounge users reported the audio defect in one or more of the 4G iPods they purchased or received in exchange.
so if possible stick to the 3rd gen one. for a kid, they are great and simple to use. also lots of accessories for them too.
www.ipodlounge.com/articles_more.php?id=4776_0_8_0_M
Approximately 42% of responding iPodlounge users reported the audio defect in one or more of the 4G iPods they purchased or received in exchange.
so if possible stick to the 3rd gen one. for a kid, they are great and simple to use. also lots of accessories for them too.
When you look for comparisons to the Ipod, I guess you want it to have a harddisk, so it can carry an entire music collection.
There are lots of offers, with lots of features; some geekier and some not.
I see a downside in the Apple and Sony(?) players, since they artificially limit the free copying of music. The Apple for instance doesn't allow you to copy the music you're listening to away from the Ipod. You may only listen to music which has been copied through Apple's own software. If you don't like this software, or don't have it installed on a computer you can't copy anything to listen to to the player.
Restricting the use of the Ipod with this software sounds dodgy to me (who knows if that software is collecting data about you music listening habits?).
I had been looking closer at two players:
The Iriver H340 has a 40GB drive and allows you to pull pictures from digital cameras with USB to free the space in the camera's memory. It also has a colour display, an FM radio and a recording function.
www.iriver.com/product/info.asp?p_name=H340
The Rio Karma has a 20GB hdd and comes with a dockingstation with ethernet port
copy files over the network without being limited to one computer.
www.digitalnetworksna.com/shop/_templates/item_main_Rio.asp?model=261
Both players support Ogg Vorbis playback and have upgradeable firmware.
There are lots of offers, with lots of features; some geekier and some not.
I see a downside in the Apple and Sony(?) players, since they artificially limit the free copying of music. The Apple for instance doesn't allow you to copy the music you're listening to away from the Ipod. You may only listen to music which has been copied through Apple's own software. If you don't like this software, or don't have it installed on a computer you can't copy anything to listen to to the player.
Restricting the use of the Ipod with this software sounds dodgy to me (who knows if that software is collecting data about you music listening habits?).
I had been looking closer at two players:
The Iriver H340 has a 40GB drive and allows you to pull pictures from digital cameras with USB to free the space in the camera's memory. It also has a colour display, an FM radio and a recording function.
www.iriver.com/product/info.asp?p_name=H340
The Rio Karma has a 20GB hdd and comes with a dockingstation with ethernet port
copy files over the network without being limited to one computer. www.digitalnetworksna.com/shop/_templates/item_main_Rio.asp?model=261
Both players support Ogg Vorbis playback and have upgradeable firmware.
Apple sell refurbished iPods on Wednesdays @ 10am for 30-45% off RRP.
http://promo.euro.apple.com/promo/refurb/uk/
http://promo.euro.apple.com/promo/refurb/uk/
Dude, do not listen to people paranoid about what the software 'might' do. It doesn't send your music habits back to Cupertino.
The reason to buy an iPod is because it is the best of its type. The easiest to use. One of the smallest. The software is the best, and easiest to use. See a pattern here?
Buy one. You won't regret it.
The reason to buy an iPod is because it is the best of its type. The easiest to use. One of the smallest. The software is the best, and easiest to use. See a pattern here?
Buy one. You won't regret it.
Possibly the cheapest 20GB player at the mo is this:
www.dabs.com/uk/channels/hardware/mp3mp4wavwmaatracplayers/productView.htm?quicklinx=3ftj
120 quid including VAT!
However, there really is only one route - Buy an iPod. Bought a 20Gb 4th gen recently, and love it. I have been using that thing far more than any other walkman type device I've had in the past. The interface is inspired - intuitive, simple and logical.
The mini is a little cheaper, and very cool right now, but I think 4 gig might end up a little limiting.
www.dabs.com/uk/channels/hardware/mp3mp4wavwmaatracplayers/productView.htm?quicklinx=3ftj
120 quid including VAT!
However, there really is only one route - Buy an iPod. Bought a 20Gb 4th gen recently, and love it. I have been using that thing far more than any other walkman type device I've had in the past. The interface is inspired - intuitive, simple and logical.
The mini is a little cheaper, and very cool right now, but I think 4 gig might end up a little limiting.
m-five said:
Well that one won't go down as well at school.
Imagine everyone else wearing Prada blazers and your daughter going in with a Tesco copy of the same blazer.
Even though they both do the same job and are probably of equal quality the iPod just has the right cachet!
Well college actually but same point. Although luckily she is the kind of kid that doesn't give a toss what others think
Anyway the refurb sale looks a good idea - I'll take a look into that.
very good thread which I'd like to expand on if you don't mind Mark
When looking at alternative to the I-pod, my first requirement would be that it can be played in the car as the I-pod can do
So with a min 1.5gb requirements, what can people recommend that will be a genuine alternative?
When looking at alternative to the I-pod, my first requirement would be that it can be played in the car as the I-pod can do
So with a min 1.5gb requirements, what can people recommend that will be a genuine alternative?
adamc said:
Dude, do not listen to people paranoid about what the software 'might' do. It doesn't send your music habits back to Cupertino.
The reason to buy an iPod is because it is the best of its type. The easiest to use. One of the smallest. The software is the best, and easiest to use. See a pattern here?
Buy one. You won't regret it.
Completely agree with this.
Had a play with one with these at the weekend. - www.dealtime.co.uk/xPC-Archos_AV120_21778404
We had it connected to the TV and were watching videos. Good quality. Stores and plays MP3's, videos etc
We had it connected to the TV and were watching videos. Good quality. Stores and plays MP3's, videos etc
pmanson said:
Had a play with one with these at the weekend. - www.dealtime.co.uk/xPC-Archos_AV120_21778404
We had it connected to the TV and were watching videos. Good quality. Stores and plays MP3's, videos etc
Now that looks pretty useful.
Could do with one of those myself!.Mark said:
Had a play with one with these at the weekend. - <a href="http://www.dealtime.co.uk/xPC-Archos_AV120_21778404">www.dealtime.co.uk/xPC-Archos_AV120_21778404</a>
We had it connected to the TV and were watching videos. Good quality. Stores and plays MP3's, videos etc
Now that looks pretty useful.
IIRC correctly (It was a friend of a friend and I had been drinking) it was about £200 from Amazon. He had the 20gig model. Looking around on dealtime you can get ones with a build in screen. dvd on the go!
The video quality was impressive and plugs into the tv using either scart or s-video and even came with a remote control!
adamc said:
Dude, do not listen to people paranoid about what the software 'might' do. It doesn't send your music habits back to Cupertino.
The reason to buy an iPod is because it is the best of its type. The easiest to use. One of the smallest. The software is the best, and easiest to use. See a pattern here?
Buy one. You won't regret it.
No doubt, the Ipod is the best known and most desired "compressed music" harddisk-player on the market. The styling is excellent, and the software and the player's interface allow people to use it without having to know what they're doing. Good design and good marketing sells! (which is good, because I'm living from that)
The argumentation that these are the only criteria to judge about the competitiveness of a product reminds me on people who vote for Blair and refuse to think about the consequences before
What the software **might** do is one thing. What it already does is described in my post. For some buyers, the possibilty to share music with their player, or to play many different file formats with higher quality might be more important than the look of the hardware/interface or the social image of the product
It's the same with buying cars: some buyers buy the styling and the colour; others value a car by its performance, features and availability of operating supply items. I don't think I'm "paranoid" as you described in your post. This is your judgement, and not to most polite approach to other people. My assumption is based on common practise with proprietary multimedia-software. Apple already uses their itunes software to control the user, so why shouldn't they use it to follow their proprietary interest like Microsoft does with the Windows Media Player?
>> Edit: Adamc, just read your profile. I'm terribly sorry, now I understand: "Sell Apple Computers"
How could I dare to criticise Apple products?? >> Edited by Bodo on Tuesday 28th September 13:56
squirrelz said:
Apple sell refurbished iPods on Wednesdays @ 10am for 30-45% off RRP.
http://promo.euro.apple.com/promo/refurb/uk/
or buy one today.
http://promo.euro.apple.com/promo/ipod_special/uk/
pmanson said:
IIRC correctly (It was a friend of a friend and I had been drinking) it was about £200 from Amazon. He had the 20gig model. Looking around on dealtime you can get ones with a build in screen. dvd on the go!
The video quality was impressive and plugs into the tv using either scart or s-video and even came with a remote control!
Been looking in to this a bit more - anyone know why I can see one in the flesh? Google doesn't come up with much.
I swear by my iRiver - yes i've tried the ipod but to me it's just not a good in terms of sound quality or user friendliness. As an earlier post hinted, each to their own.
The new iRiver is reviewed here:
www.pcpro.co.uk/reviews/reviews_story.php?id=61885&searchString=iriver
The new iRiver is reviewed here:
www.pcpro.co.uk/reviews/reviews_story.php?id=61885&searchString=iriver
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