MP3/iPod Query

[chris h]

I'm off to the middle east for a few weeks in April and have decided to retire the portable CD player and go mp3. Looking at a variety of players obviously the iPod gets a lot of publicity despite a raft of other models on the market. Any iPod users on here, any comments as regards reliability or other observations.


Thanks

[chrishoggy]

I hear the creative labs players are very reliable and user friendly ( http://www.creative.com/products/mp3/ ). Ipods are OK, but I have read some quite bad reviews on reliability

What ever you do, don't get any of the Packard Bell/NEC range or AKA Spirit MP3 (if they sell them where you are). They are full of firmware bugs/glitches and build quality isn't up to much.

[chris h]

Thanks for the quick response I could look at dedicated sites but if theyve bought em they are probably biased towards them anyway! The Rio Carbon has good reports although many I know of were bought just for their internal microdrive(Seagate) which will work in a digital camera.

[studioj]

Ipod rules!, you can share a lot of things with an Ipod

I have one, I love it!, I'll buy the computer, but never the Ipod.

Well, also, if you don't want to spend a lot of money, any mp3 player will work just fine for a few weaks

[chris h]

Does your iPod have a standard socket (3mm) so you can use any headphones or is it some special size?

[NancyJ]

iPods are not worth the money unless you intend to go in for the whole iTunes deal, podcasts etc.
My mate at work had endless trouble with an iPod shuffle he got as a christmas present. It was really slow transfering files and it had horrendeous stability issues. He got another one and it was the same story. He ended up sending it back and buying a little creative one at less than half the price.
IMO if you're going to spend that amount of money you'd be better off with a PSP. You can game on it, surf on it, watch movies, play music and have multiple memory cards with music and stuff on it. You can also geta solar powered charger for it - which is handy for travelling - everywhere has sun (OK baring whichever pole gets night of months at a time )

[studioj]

Well, I have a Ipod Video, and if you use it on Mac, it's great, It's don't take long to copy all to the Ipod and the stability it's great, but if NancyJ said that her mate had troubles, trust her.

Yes, any headphones can be used.

Mexican asking: What's "IMO"?

[Doug Nelson]

I went through this exact same thing and decided to go the Creative route (mostly due to the non-replaceable ipod batteries).

[chrishoggy]

Many of the people I've helped out with Packard Bell MP3 player problems (they number in their 1000's), have traded them in and gone to creative products.
Another alternative that I use is...... .........wait for it................ ALBA

Now don't laugh, as they are bottom of the range 128MB £19.99 players. BUT the player has an SD expansion slot that will take 1 GB SD cards. It's never failed me, or my son who has the same one. It's not something somebody would rob you for. And if you loose it, it only costs £19.99 to replace. You can have collections of music on different cards, and swap them as your mood changes Also they are ideal for in your car (if your stereo has an audio input), as nobody will brake in to your car for a cheap MP3 player Good on battery life and only takes 1 AAA battery

[RL Design]

I recently bought an iPod shuffle and I love it!

It takes regular headphones, does not skip, hold a ton of songs (got the 1 GB version), and plays perfecly clear and for a long time.

I did extensive research before buying and the iPods seemed to always come out on top.

[cazubi]

I agree with studioj...ipod rules. I have the ipod video also. I have down loaded many podcasts which were all free. The Photoshop User magazine provides podcasts and video free which are great learning tools. I also have a whole library of audio books (audible.com) which are great when you commute. I use a Mac, but the rest of my family are PC users and have no trouble with their ipods. I did have a battery issue with my first ipod, but Apple replaced it.

Cathy

[Swampy]

I have a Nano and love it! Holds 1000 MP3s which is more than enough for variety. No connection or stability problems, great sound, good with earphones (standard mini jack) or ear plugs (I like the extended soft rubber plugs). I did get a lanyard attachment which is very nice for "no hands necessary" usage and I wear it on the treadmill.

Since my car doesn't have an MP3 CD player, I also have an FM tuner/charger for long trips. Audible books are great on long trips!

This week I had a customer give me a $100 iTunes gift certificate as a thank you for going the extra mile. I appreciated that more than flowers or perfume!

[chris h]

Thanks for all the comments and information. I'm leaning towards a 30gb iPod video but I'll trawl the other makes as well.

[chrishoggy]

This may help Here