Ipod or not 2pod

[Chip Chanko]

As far as the Best Buy warranty is concerned, I had my 2G upgraded to a 4G because I had it and just had 2 different ipods repaired through it...all in all I got way more than my money's worth and like having a 3 year warranty (4 years on my 2G).
 
 There are lots of alternatives to the iTunes store now. I'm most excited about Amazon's. Plus I think more artists and labels may start going the radiohead route.

[vansmack]

Originally posted by evilizac:
 
 1. Is the ipod really absolutely the cream of the crop out there in mp3land?
 2. How much can be held on the say an 8 gig nano?
 3. Does anyone own (or know the owner of one of these)?
 4. What sizes do SD cards come in?
 5. Main points, can tracks flow seamlessly into each other?
 6. Out of whatever products you own or have heard of what's the battery life like?  
 7. How long have you one without recharging?
 8. What is the sound really like on these MP3 players?
 9. Isn't that  part of human nature?
 

1. Each person is different and has their own preferences when it comes to players.  It seems that Apple has cornered the "convenience" market.  Personally, I haven't found MP3 player that has met all of my expectations.
 
 2. It depends on bit rate, but Apple claims  2,000 songs in 128-Kbps AAC format.
 
 3. I do not.
 
 4. You can get a 4 gig SD Card for about $50.  1 GB goes for about $10.
 
 5. Yes.  It's called gapless playback and the newer ipods support it.
 
 6. Battery life depends on how you treat and "train" battery.  If you charge it every time you come home (or worse yet, every time you get in the car), you will kill your battery life.  You should run your battery down as often as possible and no less than once a month.  This goes for all rechargable battery devices, BTW.
 
 7. Obvioulsy it depends on use, but I charge my iPod about once a week, maybe 2 (I'm not a heavy user - I tend to read while commuting).
 
 8. Sound is dictated by background noise.  I recommend upgrading the headphones that come with the iPod for background noise reduction.
 
 9. Apple is banking on it.

[vansmack]

Originally posted by evilizac:
  1.  What is the lifespan of the physical battery?
 2. Would buying a new one from best buy or somethign with an extended warranty cover battery life?
 3. Does anyone know?

1. I've seen them last as long as 3 years and as few as 1.5.
 2. Only a sucker buys the extended warranty.  Apple will replace the battery for around $70.
 3. I claim to.

[vansmack]

Originally posted by evilizac:
 
 Also I'd like to note that I don't think I'd be using itunes as a music store. Does that alter anyones thoughts... Probably not.

I've never purchased a song through iTunes either, but there are 4 iPods (1 mini, 1 Video, and 2 shuffles) in my household.  We also have one Samsung Napster player, one early creative Zen, and one Phillips Nike Mp3 player (none of them have been touched as an MP3 player in over 2 years.

[bellenseb]

Originally posted by amnesiac:
   

Originally posted by bellenseb:
   

Originally posted by beetsnotbeats:
  Is the split-screen feature selectable, i.e. can it be turned off?

No. It's forced on you. [/b]

I'm pretty sure you can turn it off in iTunes when your iPod is connected... [/b]

No, you can't!

[Arthwys]

This may sound like an amazingly dumb question, but I'm not at all tech-savy.  Can one put regular mp3's on an ipod?  Or do you have to convert them into whatever file type an ipod uses?

[vansmack]

Originally posted by Arthwys:
  This may sound like an amazingly dumb question, but I'm not at all tech-savy.  Can one put regular mp3's on an ipod?  Or do you have to convert them into whatever file type an ipod uses?

Regular Mp3s are fine.

[godsshoeshine]

where did all of the ipod haters go? they always made these threads better

[930clubber]

> where did all of the ipod haters go? they always made these threads better
 
 i don't hate the ipod -- i like to be alternative, so i own a creative vision:m.  i don't use itunes and have no complaints.

[bearman🐻]

I love my 80 gig. Had a lot more problems with my old 40 gig though.

[Arthwys]

I've got a 60 gig Creative Nomad Jukebox Zen Xtra.  Think they could've tacked on any more names to that sucker?  I basically bought it because I've never been an apple person and I could get a 60 gig for less than what the 40 gig ipod would've cost me.  
 
 Not sure if that makes me an ipod hater, but then again, I do feel like if everything apple exploded tomorrow, my life would be no different.

[godsshoeshine]

weak

[vansmack]

Originally posted by god's shoeshine:
  where did all of the ipod haters go? they always made these threads better

Sorry.  The wife had to have a pink Mini when they came out and I grew tired of keeping two databases of so I acquiesced - damn you Jobs!

[6949]

Originally posted by god's shoeshine:
  where did all of the ipod haters go? they always made these threads better

I'm back.
 
 I bought my ipod about 4 years ago and have used it maybe 20 times. My gripes-it takes too long to load my cd's to the computer then on to the pod (read I have no patience). I lost all of my music on my laptop when I replaced the hard drive so I don't even bother to download anymore.  I never have my ipod charged when I want to use it (just like my cell).  
 
 So what it boils down to is that I don't want to put any time in to the process.

[HoyaSaxa03]

Originally posted by 6949:
  So what it boils down to is that I don't want to put any time in to the process.

on the other extreme:  i've spent hundreds of hours tagging my music and making playlists ... kind of sad    
 
 anyone else really digging the new "Album Rating" tag on iTunes?  it's adding a great new wrinkle into some of my smart playlists