iPODS and alternatives

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ok, i'm thinking of getting one of those ipod things, or maybe one of the alternatives by someone else, i'm quite happy to get a cheaper one and not line apples overpriced pockets.

so, advise please!

― gareth (gareth), Wednesday, 12 March 2003 09:50 (twenty-three years ago)

The iPod is expensive, but it isn't really overpriced... the small (1.8" vs the usual 2.5" notebook drives) form factor Toshiba hard drives they use cost quite a bit. If you tried to buy just the hard drive itself it would cost you as much as the iPod.

You could get a Creative Nomad Zen for a bit less, but the interface is terrible. They are supposed to sound a tad better though.

-fh

― fortunate hazel (f. hazel), Wednesday, 12 March 2003 10:02 (twenty-three years ago)

Was that Creative Labs jukebox zen not satisfactory?

< HYPNOSIS>YOU WEEEELLL BUY ANF IPOD, YOU WEEEELLL BUY ANF IPOD, YOU WEEEELLL BUY ANF IPOD, STEVE JOBS IS YOUR LORDS AND MASTER< /HYPNOSIS>

― Ed (dali), Wednesday, 12 March 2003 10:02 (twenty-three years ago)

I got a 10gb iPod last week and it's wonderful. I think you can get more bang for your buck (ie you can get a 20gb jukebox thing for the price of a 10gb iPod) from other brands - but the iPod IS such a lovely thing and very sturdy (eg no moving parts to fall off/get broken etc). Adding more songs this morning I noticed I had over 50 hours of music on there already - and it's still not half full. Freewheeling at random through every song you've ever loved is quite a liberating sensation.

However, I hear ominous warnings that the rechargeable battery begins to decay after a year (Can anyone enlighten me on this?)

― Jerry the Nipper (Jerrynipper), Wednesday, 12 March 2003 10:04 (twenty-three years ago)

My brother's had a 5Gb one for a year now and no battery decay so far. I think it depends on how you use it really.

― Ed (dali), Wednesday, 12 March 2003 10:06 (twenty-three years ago)

They let non Mac worshipers into the Ipod family? Stick with Izod

― Mary (Mary), Wednesday, 12 March 2003 10:32 (twenty-three years ago)

you can get a good chunk off the price if you get one at an airport. dixons stock them (at airports)

― Alan (Alan), Wednesday, 12 March 2003 10:34 (twenty-three years ago)

izods?

― Mary (Mary), Wednesday, 12 March 2003 10:36 (twenty-three years ago)

Sure iPods work with PCs. iPods are our way of recruiting PC users to the cause.

― Ed (dali), Wednesday, 12 March 2003 10:57 (twenty-three years ago)

I have an iPod and a PC. I'm Mac-curious.

― Alfie (Alfie), Wednesday, 12 March 2003 11:17 (twenty-three years ago)

haha

― Ed (dali), Wednesday, 12 March 2003 11:18 (twenty-three years ago)

My boyfriend now refuses to buy vinyl because he won't be able to import it for the iPOD. hah! It's GRATE. But sometimes it goes on a strike. Especially prone to freezing when *I* turn it on. That said, a GREAT machine.

― nathalie (nathalie), Wednesday, 12 March 2003 13:34 (twenty-three years ago)

Has he upgraded it to the latest software, (iPod 1.2 ithink) availible from apple's site? That fixed the occasional freezing problem.

Vinyl to iPod is easy.

― Ed (dali), Wednesday, 12 March 2003 13:36 (twenty-three years ago)

Sean C has both a Zen and a Jukebox 3 (hint, hint!) and should be able to fill you in on both, especially as they compare to the iPod.

Gareth I think it comes down to a) how much money you have to spend and b) whether you want to be able to record with the thing.

― mark p (Mark P), Wednesday, 12 March 2003 14:08 (twenty-three years ago)

can the jukebox zen record directly to mp3 without a computer?

― Ed (dali), Wednesday, 12 March 2003 14:11 (twenty-three years ago)

being able to record direct would be a definite plus

― gareth (gareth), Wednesday, 12 March 2003 14:12 (twenty-three years ago)

it would probably swing it for me too (do you hear me Mr Jobs, sound in on the next iPod please).

― Ed (dali), Wednesday, 12 March 2003 14:13 (twenty-three years ago)

Of the three, only the Jukebox 3 can record. Pair it up with some good mics (I've heard *amazing* samples made with a Jukebox 3 and a set of powered binaural headphone mics - very discrete) and you've got an extremely powerful field recorder on yr hands. Plus you can use the JB3 to record interviews, FM broadcasts, etc - another bonus.

If the iPod had this functionality, it'd be a dream machine, but I'm too skint to get an iPod AND an MD, so right now the JB3 looks like the best buy out there...

― mark p (Mark P), Wednesday, 12 March 2003 14:19 (twenty-three years ago)

MP3/CD-R player - £49.99
Blank CD - £0.30

― nick.K (nick.K), Wednesday, 12 March 2003 15:59 (twenty-three years ago)

suffers from same problems as portable cd when walking and can't record.

Hi, nick, long time not see.

― Ed (dali), Wednesday, 12 March 2003 16:00 (twenty-three years ago)

iPod = good. Let it be your salvation.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 12 March 2003 16:02 (twenty-three years ago)

However, I hear ominous warnings that the rechargeable battery begins to decay after a year (Can anyone enlighten me on this?)

Can't offer any anecdotage (I'm deeply jealous of your iPodding, JtN), but I do know it uses a malleable lithium-polymer cell which is manufactured by Sony and should be replaceable. Not sure how much these things cost though. General advice on Li-polymers is not to let them drain completely, and top them up often. I presume, like Li-Ion cells, they have no memory effect and don't suffer if you subject them to frequent partial recharging.

It will die eventually, though. I do hope Apple's attitude on this isn't similar to that of mobile phone manufacturers (another major user of Li-polymer technology) - i.e. by the time the battery dies, you'll want a new unit anyway.

I'd love to get an iPod for PC - but how to do the firewire thing when my PC is determinedly stuck in the past?

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Wednesday, 12 March 2003 16:44 (twenty-three years ago)

if you buy and iPod for PC they throw in a pci firewire card.

― Ed (dali), Wednesday, 12 March 2003 16:45 (twenty-three years ago)

information here.

― Ed (dali), Wednesday, 12 March 2003 16:47 (twenty-three years ago)

Thanks, Ed. I now know what I want for my birthday. Even if I have to buy it myself.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Wednesday, 12 March 2003 17:01 (twenty-three years ago)

If you get a iPod for a PC, get Ephpod. The MusicMatch software that the PC version comes with is a right pain.

― Alfie (Alfie), Wednesday, 12 March 2003 17:06 (twenty-three years ago)

naive question: do ipods sound loud enough when you crank them up? my mac shop hasn't yet managed to give me a demo, which has made me suspicious.

― Clare (not entirely unhappy), Wednesday, 12 March 2003 18:31 (twenty-three years ago)

all three models have exceptionally loud upper ranges, more than enough to crank.

― mark p (Mark P), Wednesday, 12 March 2003 18:31 (twenty-three years ago)

great. need to compress the favourites in my music collection for travel and overseas living. ta.

― Clare (not entirely unhappy), Wednesday, 12 March 2003 18:48 (twenty-three years ago)

Also, any clue when the theoretical 40G iPod will be coming out?

― Chris P (Chris P), Wednesday, 12 March 2003 18:51 (twenty-three years ago)

Ed to thread!

― mark p (Mark P), Wednesday, 12 March 2003 18:52 (twenty-three years ago)

We do this every couple of weeks it seems. I'm too tired to do this again in full but the executive summary:

iPod: expensive, beautiful, great interface, sturdy, no audio recording, internal battery, FireWire only

Jukebox 3: cheaper, utilitarian, okay interface, audio recording, removable battery(s), FireWire or USB 1.1

Zen: mid-price, utilitarian, okay interface, no audio recording (yet), internal battery, Firewire and USB 1.1 model and USB 2.0-only model

― Sean Carruthers (SeanC), Wednesday, 12 March 2003 19:01 (twenty-three years ago)

also:

ipod -> tiny
zen -> smallish
jb3 -> big (still smaller than a discman tho)

― mark p (Mark P), Wednesday, 12 March 2003 19:05 (twenty-three years ago)

I will testify to the sturdiness of the Nomad Jukebox. I dropped mine from a height of about 5 feet onto a tile floor and it didn't seem to bother it at all (it shut off but started right back up again). I won't let that happen again, though.

― Bryan (Bryan), Wednesday, 12 March 2003 19:08 (twenty-three years ago)

Rumours have it that new iPods are imminent. However, Mac rumours sites are prone to get things wrong and the most reliable haven't trailed anything yet. However 5Gb iPods are no longer in the supply chain so that suggests that they are about to bump iPods down the price bracket making room for a 40Gb model.

However Apple's music service, trailed in the LA Times, may hold this up a simultaneous launch.

Rumours have included bluetooth on IPods for Ad hoc sharing with others on the move, but these sound more like wishes than rumours but given apple is investing a lot in Bluetooth so its not that wild a speculation although the ad hoc sharing might not be available.

I'd like to see sound in even as a plug in to the firewire port option.

Someone has managed to get Debian Linux running on their iPod, not do anything useful with it, but they've got it running.

― Ed (dali), Wednesday, 12 March 2003 19:14 (twenty-three years ago)

He's actually got further he can now telnet to his iPod.

― Ed (dali), Wednesday, 12 March 2003 19:17 (twenty-three years ago)

This Jukebox 3 is intriguing me, because I need an audio recorder, and I've got issues with Minidiscs. What's the quality like? Are the levels set automatically or can you adjust themselves?

― slutsky (slutsky), Wednesday, 12 March 2003 19:19 (twenty-three years ago)

After answering slutsky's q can comeone tell me if it's possible to listen to aiffs on an iPod? weird question but there it is.

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Wednesday, 12 March 2003 19:52 (twenty-three years ago)

As I understand it, Slutsky, the latest firmware revisions have improved recording to the point where you can now adjust line-in levels, gain, etc. The quality would depend on your mic, but I've heard some phenomenal binaural samples with relatively cheap mics ($200 CDN) that sound just as good (if not better) than most MDs.

Tracer: The iPod plays MP3/WAV/AIFF.

― mark p (Mark P), Wednesday, 12 March 2003 19:54 (twenty-three years ago)

Well, that is great news. Though if I buy this thing & Apple puts out a recordable iPod I will probably be a little upset.

― slutsky (slutsky), Wednesday, 12 March 2003 20:00 (twenty-three years ago)

My birfday is coming up. And there are like 100+ active ILx0rz HINT NUDGE WINK NOD.

― Leee (Leee), Wednesday, 12 March 2003 20:21 (twenty-three years ago)

Sorry gareth if I seem overly crusty here, it just feels like we've done this a few times before. I put down much more thorough info in a few of these other threads

― Sean Carruthers (SeanC), Wednesday, 12 March 2003 21:18 (twenty-three years ago)

PC users can use Ipods! What is the world coming too? Why can't Mac users use Soulseek?

― Mary (Mary), Wednesday, 12 March 2003 22:37 (twenty-three years ago)

because mr jobs is kind and benelovent and lets the pc users into our world where as the nasty pc users won't port their toy for us. ALL HAIL STEVE JOBS. ALL HAIL THE WOZ.

― Ed (dali), Wednesday, 12 March 2003 23:09 (twenty-three years ago)

ah that explains it:) ipod sure is pretty

― Mary (Mary), Thursday, 13 March 2003 00:15 (twenty-three years ago)

go play with gareth

― Ed (dali), Thursday, 13 March 2003 08:33 (twenty-three years ago)

godamned murkins making me drop my conjugations.

Go and play with gareth.

― Ed (dali), Thursday, 13 March 2003 08:34 (twenty-three years ago)

Just adding myself to the iPodded roll call. I've got the 20gb model and it's seriously the greatest geek toy ever. Totally essential for me now and take it everywhere - the CD changer in my car is basically superfluous now.

BTW, Soulseek for the Mac is getting there

― Chris Barrus (xibalba), Thursday, 13 March 2003 08:57 (twenty-three years ago)

5Gb iPod has been quietly phased out, see Mac User for details.

― Ed (dali), Thursday, 13 March 2003 18:20 (twenty-three years ago)

ok, so it looks like

JB3 vs Zen.

― gareth (gareth), Friday, 21 March 2003 14:40 (twenty-three years ago)

Skipping 80 messages at this point... Click here if you want to load them all.

Grrrr. Jealous jealous jealous grrr cozen grrrrr ipod jealous grrrr grrr

What do you want?

*sulk*

― Nordicskillz (Nordicskillz), Saturday, 26 April 2003 14:53 (twenty-three years ago)

Next thing you'll be telling me you have a munki, too.

http://www.ifihadamonkey.com/monkeyangry01.gif

― Nordicskillz (Nordicskillz), Saturday, 26 April 2003 14:55 (twenty-three years ago)

firewire cards are very cheap, see Dabs for details,, search for firewire pci, they have a lucent card for £10.57.

― Ed (dali), Saturday, 26 April 2003 15:03 (twenty-three years ago)

start getting yr mp3 house in order - you'll love the thing, but your ID tags must be accurate. don't bother with the musicmatch crap that comes with it - unusable. go straight for ephpod, and get the newer beta version (haven't looked lately but i have 2.60f).

so it's definitely a windows ipod? there is a way to go from apple to PC ipod, but it's not an officially supported method, i'm told.

again, i am recommending exact audio copy to rip. nero was chopping the ends off all my files, among other things. apparently that's a quite common feature of mp3 software, god knows why

get into the habit of making lots of playlists for different occasions - you can't cue up songs manually on the ipod itself (i think this is its major drawback). you can play by artist, album, genre(if you use 'em) etc. actually, most often i just have the whole thing on random.

last night i ordered an itrip, will report back after i give it a try

― ron (ron), Saturday, 26 April 2003 18:14 (twenty-three years ago)

Ron - that sounds scary!

I dunno if it is a 'windows iPod', the competition just said 'iPod', if this is an important distinction I presume the competition runners will ask my preference eventually.

― Cozen (Cozen), Saturday, 26 April 2003 18:17 (twenty-three years ago)

ah shit, sorry. bottom line is you'll love it. there are so many sites on the net where you can get help and tips about how to use it :)

― ron (ron), Saturday, 26 April 2003 18:30 (twenty-three years ago)

Speaking of stoked re: the iPod etc., is anybody else getting all hot and bothered by the swiftly approaching special announcement on Monday? Yipes!

― Millar (Millar), Saturday, 26 April 2003 18:45 (twenty-three years ago)

is this supposed to be an ipod-related announcement?

― slutsky (slutsky), Saturday, 26 April 2003 18:47 (twenty-three years ago)

DH: also, check here for firewire cards that will work with the ipod, some chipsets have problems, apparently

http://www.ephpod.com/help/hs290.htm

― ron (ron), Saturday, 26 April 2003 18:51 (twenty-three years ago)

dunno. 'Music to your ears' is the catchphrase.

― Millar (Millar), Saturday, 26 April 2003 19:10 (twenty-three years ago)

Rumours say the iPod won't change that much, I could be worng, but Apple will launch their music service.

― Ed (dali), Saturday, 26 April 2003 20:58 (twenty-three years ago)

My iPod imports songs in the wrong order, does anyone have the same experience? I have them in iTunes correctly (i'm talking about the running order on a complete CD), but once they're on my iPod many of the albums have the songs in the wrong order. I enjoy hearing an album in proper sequence; any advice anyone?

― Sean (Sean), Saturday, 26 April 2003 22:13 (twenty-three years ago)

That's odd, Sean. I've never had that happen. Download the new iTunes, if you can, which has the new column for an album's song order. Then, after you import something into yr iPod, check through iTunes, and if it's out of order, just sort via that column? It seems like that could fix it.

― Yanc3y (ystrickler), Saturday, 26 April 2003 22:19 (twenty-three years ago)

It's not out of order on iTunes (I have the latest version), only once it gets onto the iPod.

― Sean (Sean), Saturday, 26 April 2003 22:21 (twenty-three years ago)

Right, but I'm suggesting sorting your iPod within iTunes. You know what I mean? Or are you saying that when you view yr iPod within iTunes it's in order, but once you unplug yr iPod it's out of order?

― Yanc3y (ystrickler), Saturday, 26 April 2003 22:25 (twenty-three years ago)

If you're saying that you can sort what's on your iPod from your Mac within iTunes when it's plugged in, I didn't know you could do that.

― Sean (Sean), Saturday, 26 April 2003 22:35 (twenty-three years ago)

Maybe you can't. I just tried and it seems like I can only do it within a playlist.

― Yanc3y (ystrickler), Saturday, 26 April 2003 22:43 (twenty-three years ago)

i dont know how itunes works, but do the files have the correct track numbers in their tags? i'd also recommend not using id3v2 tags, i had some problems with those

― ron (ron), Saturday, 26 April 2003 23:52 (twenty-three years ago)

has the ipod clone changed gareth's life?

― Mary (Mary), Sunday, 27 April 2003 02:21 (twenty-three years ago)

I think I may have had that problem when testing the iPod, Sean. See if you can check your ID3 tags to see if they're properly tagged by track number (from the original CD), and if not, try to edit them to have the right running order to see if that helps.

― Sean Carruthers (SeanC), Sunday, 27 April 2003 02:25 (twenty-three years ago)

iPod hackers report that the new iPods have a recording facilty, its just not activated at the moment. Information here and here, along with a rumour that apple will offer a mic/line in dongle sometime soon.

If this appears I will buy an iPod.

― Ed (dali), Saturday, 3 May 2003 08:03 (twenty-three years ago)

iTrip Review for those that wanted to know.

― Ed (dali), Saturday, 3 May 2003 08:13 (twenty-three years ago)

i'm glad to hear the great review of that itrip.

― ron (ron), Saturday, 3 May 2003 16:47 (twenty-three years ago)

two weeks pass...

My ipod is being delivered SOMETIME tomorrow. It is quite literally all I can think about. I am so excited I can't sleep...

― Nordicskillz (Nordicskillz), Thursday, 22 May 2003 22:32 (twenty-three years ago)

Yay ipod bliss. :-)

― lyra (lyra), Thursday, 22 May 2003 23:09 (twenty-three years ago)

It's TODAY! No ipod yet, but I have one ear cocked for a knock on the front door...

― Nordicskillz (Nordicskillz), Friday, 23 May 2003 06:10 (twenty-three years ago)

you could be waiting all day, godamn courriers don't get up early enough.

― Ed (dali), Friday, 23 May 2003 06:18 (twenty-three years ago)

IT'S HERE

It really is so beautiful I feel like crying. Excuse me...

― Nordicskillz (Nordicskillz), Friday, 23 May 2003 11:34 (twenty-three years ago)

I want one so bad, but I also want a new pc.

― Chris V. (Chris V), Friday, 23 May 2003 11:38 (twenty-three years ago)

Not like I'm getting carried away, but can you get the itrip anywhere in the UK yet?

― Nordicskillz (Nordicskillz), Friday, 23 May 2003 12:20 (twenty-three years ago)

STOP ALL TALKING ABOUT iPODS OR I WILL HAVE TO BUY ONE WITH MONEY THAT IS NOT MEANT FOR SUCH A THING.

― N. (nickdastoor), Friday, 23 May 2003 12:21 (twenty-three years ago)

Too bad Nick - mine should be coming early next week. Nord I will soon join you in ipod bliss!!!

― Nathan W (Nathan Webb), Friday, 23 May 2003 12:25 (twenty-three years ago)

Yay! (sorry N)

― Nordicskillz (Nordicskillz), Friday, 23 May 2003 12:52 (twenty-three years ago)

I am only buying one if I get this new job, so I really really really hope it comes through for me. My current mp3 player only holds an hour of songs! One lousy hour, people.

― Nicole (Nicole), Friday, 23 May 2003 12:56 (twenty-three years ago)

What color is it, Nordic? I want a cheery little blueberry one.

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Friday, 23 May 2003 12:59 (twenty-three years ago)

Ha ha Nicole - there was me thinking - 'Hmm... maybe a 2nd hand 5GB one from ebay isn't really enough. I mean that's only 2 days worth of music.'

― N. (nickdastoor), Friday, 23 May 2003 13:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Hey Nicole-- I'll sell you my old Nomad Jukebox for cheap. (I'm getting an iPod this weekend...heheheh.)

― Aaron W (Aaron W), Friday, 23 May 2003 13:07 (twenty-three years ago)

Thanks Aaron. I am kind of holding out for an iPod, but if I don't get the job maybe I will buy it off you.

― Nicole (Nicole), Friday, 23 May 2003 13:21 (twenty-three years ago)

Mine should be through soon. Which is good because I'm typing my first ever ilxor post from my new iBook which came today. It didn't have 128MB RAM in it as first thought: my uncle fitted it with 640MB (an extra 512 free)!!!!

― Cozen (Cozen), Friday, 23 May 2003 13:23 (twenty-three years ago)

No prob, Nicole. :) I just realized I have it to sell. I'll prolly put it up on eBay.

― Aaron W (Aaron W), Friday, 23 May 2003 13:24 (twenty-three years ago)

from my itrip order:

The iTrip is now shipping on a first ordered, first shipped basis. We have
received a large amount of orders for the iTrip, so we can't give an
accurate delivery date at this time. :(

frownie is genuine part of the email

― ron (ron), Friday, 23 May 2003 16:11 (twenty-three years ago)

what's iTrip?

when i got my iPod in the mail (a year ago today, actually!) i opened up the cool packaging and when i got my first glance of the thing i actually said (involuntarily), "HOLY SHIT!"

― Yanc3y (ystrickler), Friday, 23 May 2003 16:13 (twenty-three years ago)

All the iPod love here is making me very happy.

― Chris Barrus (Chris Barrus), Sunday, 25 May 2003 02:17 (twenty-three years ago)

Dastoor needs his money for buying dead snails, which he then licks.

― Mike Hanle y (mike), Sunday, 25 May 2003 03:02 (twenty-three years ago)

Wait a minute, they don't come in colors now do they?

― Sean (Sean), Sunday, 25 May 2003 04:48 (twenty-three years ago)

If you're saying that you can sort what's on your iPod from your Mac within iTunes when it's plugged in, I didn't know you could do that.
Ooooh! I just figured out (I think) the problem with being unable to change the song orders on playlists.

make sure that you're not viewing the list sorted by time or artist (do this by clicking to sort in the first column that has the song number)
then check to make sure you don't have random play set-- you can look at the button on the bottom left; if it's lit, you're in shuffle play, and itunes won't let you change the order. so just turn it off

― lyra (lyra), Monday, 26 May 2003 22:21 (twenty-three years ago)

whoaaaa i'm iTrippin my nut sack in a frenzy of dik play

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Monday, 26 May 2003 23:30 (twenty-three years ago)

eight months pass...

ipod sure is pretty

-- Mary (maj23...), March 13th, 2003 7:15 P

Oh god, what was I thinking?

― Mary (Mary), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 21:42 (twenty-two years ago)

Different.

― N. (nickdastoor), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 21:45 (twenty-two years ago)

If you are looking for something simple for today's living.I believe it will help create more fun while using the ipods of today.

Check out my new product for aim at ipod users called smartwrap.It help manage the length of the cord for ear phones.

http://www.sumajin.com/smartwrap.html

― marcus, Saturday, 14 February 2004 06:04 (twenty-two years ago)

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