iPod or Bust?

[Noodle]

[COLOR=Navy][SIZE=2][FONT=Trebuchet MS] Well, for a while now, I've been thinking about buying an MP3 player. The question now is, which one to get?
I think we all know of the I Pod, which was my first choice. But, as I looked into it, the I Pod doesn't seem all it's cracked up to be. From what I've heard, I Pods aren't that fabulous. They cost alot, mainly because you're paying for the name, and you don't get really what you pay for. Then, I found the Zen player, from Creative. It costs less than the I Pod, has built-in radio, and(some) can hold pictures. There are also IRivers, Rios and about a million other MP3 players.
So, in your opinoin, which of the millions of players would be worth spending all that money for?[/FONT][/SIZE][/COLOR]

[eleanor]

[color=darkslateblue] There's a lot of hype about iPods, but there's also a lot of unnecessary rag on it. I've heard a lot of people complain about how they break easily and the batteries run out really quickly, but I really have no idea what they're talking about. I take good care of my iPod mini, and it's fantastic. I've had it for a year now, and no problems at all. And most everyone I know who has an iPod on some sort has never had any real problem with it.

But I think the iPod nano and shuffle are both lame, and it's a shame Apple discontinued the iPod mini and original iPod.

I don't know much about the other mp3 players, but the one by Dell is pretty nice. I used my friend's for a day once, and it was good. [/color]

[Corey]

[size=1]I've never had a problem with my iPod. I've dropped it on concrete and it still works fine. It also holds photos and is one of the last 30gig models ever made.
It's more music than I'm ever going to need, you should seriously keep that in mind when you buy an MP3 player.

Sure 40 or 50 gigs sounds nice, but that's more music than you're probably ever going to own. I have my entire music library, over seven days of music, and it barely takes up 9gigs.

If I wouldn't have gotten my 30gig iPod as a gift, I probably would have bought an iPod Mini. They're smaller, and just as good as the regular ones, with more realistic storage space.

And a little known fact about iPods, I'm not sure if it's true for all MP3 players, is that you can use them as a separate hard drive to store data and other things besides music.[/size]

[DeadSeraphim]

[size=1][color=indigo][font=arial]The problem with iPods is that, lately, it seems as soon as you get a model they release something new and smaller. Also, they're somewhat overpriced, especially when compared to other alternatives (Creative have always been a fantastic alternative) and, put simply, the Shuffle is a complete and utter joke. Only Apple could think they'd get away with an mp3 player without even a rudimentary screen, honestly.

If you want to be cost efficient, try something Creative puts out. They're comparable, and much better value. Otherwise, apart from questionable sound quality and some Apple particulars that are somewhat irritating, iPods are okay. I'll never buy one though.[/font][/color][/size]

[James]

[font=franklin gothic medium]There are only two real issues with iPods. First, they are overpriced (but so is every Apple product) and secondly, the standard earphones are terrible quality. Unless you're a major audiophile, the latter isn't going to be an issue for you, but the former definitely is. Other than that, there is no problem at all really.

If you are concerned about cost, then I'd definitely steer clear of an iPod. Frankly, there are a ton of cheaper alternatives out there that will do the job just fine. They may not all have the comparable quality, but as I said, unless you're a huge audiophile...it's not really going to be a major issue for you.

I'd probably go for an iRiver or something like that. I'm not sure how expensive they are, but I've read nothing but good things about 'em.

Having said that, the new iPod model supports photo and video, so this is something you may want to consider. But again, unless you're really into those things (unless you're planning to take episodes of TV shows everywhere with you, for example), it's not much of an issue.[/font]

[Raiyuu]

[color=DarkSlateBlue][font=Trebuchet MS]The Creative Zen Micro is an incredibly nice player for less money than an iPod. But in the end I think it comes down to how much memory you want. The 6GB of the Zen were plenty enough for my entire CD collection with room to spare for new stuff off Napster. But if you want to store massive videos, or have a really extensive CD collection, you might actually [b]need [/b]the iPod's 40GB.

If you do go for the iPod, never go for the latest model. They always release a new one, find something wrong with it, then fix it. So it's worth going for the older models, because they've already found and corrected any problems. Examples: the first iPod had battery issues, and the Nano is so skinny that the screen tends to cracks if you put it in your pocket and walk around.
[/font][/color]

[Guest memu]

Yeah i just got the new iPod with the video in it and its not all what i expected. Battery life suffers alot when you play a tv show.

[James]

[QUOTE=Raiyuu][color=DarkSlateBlue][font=Trebuchet MS] Examples: the first iPod had battery issues
[/font][/color][/QUOTE]

[font=franklin gothic medium]Funnily enough, the replacement battery was worse than the original. They swapped Lithium-Ion for Lithium-Polymer (or the other way 'round, I forget). The end result was less battery life on the second generation model.

I think you'll find that if you get an iPod at all, the latest one is the best way to go...if only because of the extra functionality. But if you are only going to use music, you're better off going for something cheaper.[/font]

[Sage Kaley]

I have to second James when he said the iPod earphones are awful. I actually just use my bulky normal ones rather than the earbuds ^^ It doesn't bother me at all. I still listen to my music just fine without earbuds.

I only know about iPods and about the one I have. It's a 20gbs one and he (yes I named him a guy's name so ha) works great but I will be honest and say that two weeks after getting it, it broke. I don't know why, it just wouldn't turn on at all. I knew the battery was fine because I let it charge all night. We took it back to Best Buy, they plugged him in, he turned on. I have no idea why. I know a few friends who also have random iPod breakdowns like that but then others don't.

The bad thing is the guy at Best Buy told me that after 30 days, if I had a problem with my iPod I couldn't get a new one. They'd just have to try and fix it. That really bothers me but I still have the same one and it's been 30 days. He seems to work fine now.

So yeah, it all depends on how much you want to spend and how much music you have.

Oh and another thing I like about my iPod is that it can play my songs on a radio, like in the car or whatever. It costs a bit more but it's been very useful ^^

[Ellerby]

[QUOTE=Lunox][color=#0055ff] I've heard a lot of people complain about how they break easily and the batteries run out really quickly, but I really have no idea what they're talking about.

But I think the iPod nano and shuffle are both lame, and it's a shame Apple discontinued the iPod mini and original iPod. [/color][/QUOTE]

[color=#333333]What? I have an iPod Shuffle. I love it. It holds 100 songs and I never actually get that many songs because when I put new ones on, I just delete the old ones.

I've accidently put my iPod Shuffle (headphones and all) through the [i]washing machine[/i] and all it did was kill the battery. So, I just popped it into my USB Port for 2 hours and it was fully charged again.

But honestly I would take either an iPod or Creative Zen. They both have their pros and cons. The Creative Zen (the one I saw) has touch pads instead of buttons. The iPods look a [i]lot[/i] nicer (in my opinion).

And on that note, what's so bad about the ear phones? I have no problem with them. The sound is very crisp and clear and they can go fairly loud. If you get them in your ear right (most people stick them in wrong) then even if you tug on them they don't fall out.[/color]

[Sage Kaley]

[QUOTE=Lrb][color=#333333]
And on that note, what's so bad about the ear phones? I have no problem with them. The sound is very crisp and clear and they can go fairly loud. If you get them in your ear right (most people stick them in wrong) then even if you tug on them they don't fall out.[/color][/QUOTE]

Ah well I just don't like having things in my ear. They are sort of sensitive to that sort of thing. Plus my ears are small anyway and the default ones are huge! At least for me. But I know plenty of people who like the earbuds just fine. It's a matter of preference I suppose.

I still get perfect sound on my headphones though. It just works for me.

[DeadSeraphim]

[size=1][color=indigo][font=arial][quote name='Lrb']And on that note, what's so bad about the ear phones? I have no problem with them. The sound is very crisp and clear and they can go fairly loud. If you get them in your ear right (most people stick them in wrong) then even if you tug on them they don't fall out.[/quote]Crisp and clear? Have you [I]ever[/I] tried your iPod Shuffle with [i]other[/i] headpbones? Stock headphones are usually muddy and horrid qualityand iPods headphones are one of the worst quality stock headphones around. It's one of the biggest complaints about the system.[/font][/color][/size]

[Morpheus]

I'm going to get a 5th Generation Ipod (60GB Black Video to be exact) and this is really the frist time I have been interested in Ipod. I'm going to at least carry around lots of [URL=http://redvsblue.com]RvB[/URL] and about a gig and a half of music, and about 300 megs of photos. This player is right up my alley, and there really isn't much to add by now.

iPod Shuffle is a terrible choice for a flash player. Not only is it more expensive than other models, it has no screen. I've spent $80 on my current 128mb RCA Lyra (with a 512mb card) and it beats ipod shuffle no contest.

[Retribution]

[QUOTE=René][size=1][color=indigo][font=arial]The problem with iPods is that, lately, it seems as soon as you get a model they release something new and smaller. Also, they're somewhat overpriced, especially when compared to other alternatives (Creative have always been a fantastic alternative) and, put simply, the Shuffle is a complete and utter joke. Only Apple could think they'd get away with an mp3 player without even a rudimentary screen, honestly.

If you want to be cost efficient, try something Creative puts out. They're comparable, and much better value. Otherwise, apart from questionable sound quality and some Apple particulars that are somewhat irritating, iPods are okay. I'll never buy one though.[/font][/color][/size][/QUOTE]
[size=1][B]Don't. Ever. Buy. A. Creative. Product. Ever. Never. Never. Ever.[/B]

I bought a Zen Micro, thinking that it would pwn the heck out of an iPod Mini. What I failed to do was check the support forums at Creative, and see that there is a manufacturing default with the headphone jack. Apparently, it's not properly soldered, and it falls out after approximately one month of usage. I treated mine like a newborn baby, and it still stopped functioning. I've been dealing with their horrible support about it... *grumbles*

Besides, the headphones the Micro came with broke on day three. The right earpiece didn't output sound anymore.

Creative fails. Don't buy it. Go to its support forums, and read the eighty page topic complaining about the headphone jack defect. You'll change your mind.[/size]

[sakurasuka]

[quote name='Retribution][size=1][B]Don't. Ever. Buy. A. Creative. Product. Ever. Never. Never. Ever.[/B'][/size][/quote]

[CENTER][SIZE=1]Agreed. Seriously, that was the worst waste of money ever. I had so many problems with mine, and I only had it for about two and a half weeks. Though... I'm not exactly gentle with that stuff... But even so, it just didn't hold up to my average wear-and-tear.

Now, personally, I see absolutely nothing wrong with a CD player. Mine fits in the pocket of my hoodie or in my purse, and I can listen to it just like an MP3 player. On average, you don't listen to more than 20 or 30 songs in a single outing, so just make a few mixed CDs of your favorites and bring along a different one depending upon your mood. $25+cost of blank CDs and Lime Wire. The cheapest way to go.

If you REALLY like the nifty-ness of the MP3 players, though, get a Samsung one. I've had mine a few months, and the only problem I had with it was it froze a few minutes when I accidentally droped it on the floor and yanked the cord out of it (While transphering all my Green Day CDs to it). But I really don't think any other MP3 player would have faired any better, honestly.

Mine costed $150, and it has radio capabilities, more space than you'll EVER need, can hold pictures and vidio, etc. The battery life [i]could[/i] be a bit longer,though, but it's not bad. Smaller than an i-pod, too, but not as thin. The earbuds that come with it are really uncomfortable, and they stick out wierd and make you look Frankenstien-ish. But... I always choose headphones over earbuds, anyways.[/SIZE][/CENTER]

[Raiyuu]

[color=DarkSlateBlue][font=Trebuchet MS][quote name='Lrb][/font][/color][color=#333333] And on that note, what's so bad about the ear phones?[/color][color=DarkSlateBlue'][font=Trebuchet MS][/quote] Quite apart from the problems everyone else has pointed out, white headphones scream [b]"MUG ME, I'VE GOT £200 WORTH OF ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT IN MY POCKET!"[/b][/font][/color][color=DarkSlateBlue][font=Trebuchet MS]

[quote name='Retribution][/font][/color][size=1][b]Don't. Ever. Buy. A. Creative. Product. Ever. Never. Never. Ever.[/b][/size][color=DarkSlateBlue'][font=Trebuchet MS][/quote] Oh, shoot.

But hey, my dad got one before I did and his has lasted about five months now without any problems. But I'll probably handle mine with a lot more care from now on...
[/font][/color]

[Baron Samedi]

[QUOTE=Retribution][size=1][B]Don't. Ever. Buy. A. Creative. Product. Ever. Never. Never. Ever.[/B]

I bought a Zen Micro, thinking that it would pwn the heck out of an iPod Mini. What I failed to do was check the support forums at Creative, and see that there is a manufacturing default with the headphone jack. Apparently, it's not properly soldered, and it falls out after approximately one month of usage. I treated mine like a newborn baby, and it still stopped functioning. I've been dealing with their horrible support about it... *grumbles*

Besides, the headphones the Micro came with broke on day three. The right earpiece didn't output sound anymore.

Creative fails. Don't buy it. Go to its support forums, and read the eighty page topic complaining about the headphone jack defect. You'll change your mind.[/size][/QUOTE]
[size=1]Maybe next time you'll check out the mp3 player before you buy it, lol. A clever consumer always checks out what they're going to buy before buying it.

I have a Creative Zen Neeon, and I'm fairly happy with it. I've used around half of the space, and I have 490 songs on there. It isn't going to hold the 1500 that the spiel on the front promises, but when they're talking about 64kbps, they're never going to. The thousand songs will last me more than long enough. There are some things about it that I don't really like [the click wheel, folder organisation] but for the price, it's not that bad. Much better than an iPod, even if the system on the iPod is easier to use.[/size]

[Lafleur]

[COLOR=DarkRed]I must ask: whatever happened to a discman? Are we all to lazy to take a disc out and put another in? Seriously. The MP3 game is rediculous. They break. They're complicated. They're expensive. Discmen don't break! I've had my Sony for 5 years and it still works great! I've thrown it againts concrete walls, stepped on, ran over it with a tractor, this thing is so banged up its incredible. But it still works fine! People are all caught up in the hype of MP3s but, right now at least, they're just not worth it.

LONG LIVE OLDSCHOOL CDS!

But if you really want an MP3 player... don't get an iPod, iStoleit, or a Zen. Get a Sony. I tell ya, the Japanese make a durable machine.[/COLOR]

[Raiyuu]

[color=DarkSlateBlue][font=Trebuchet MS]Discmen are all very well and good, but I've just moved from home to University Halls of Residence, and I far prefer having a tiny MP3 player sitting on my shelf than a Discman and seven massive piles of CDs. Having it all on the MP3 means less things in my room to get stolen, and less luggage when I move in and out.[/font][/color]

[Morpheus]

[QUOTE=Lafleur][COLOR=DarkRed]I must ask: whatever happened to a discman? Are we all to lazy to take a disc out and put another in? Seriously. The MP3 game is rediculous. They break. They're complicated. They're expensive. Discmen don't break! I've had my Sony for 5 years and it still works great! I've thrown it againts concrete walls, stepped on, ran over it with a tractor, this thing is so banged up its incredible. But it still works fine! People are all caught up in the hype of MP3s but, right now at least, they're just not worth it.

LONG LIVE OLDSCHOOL CDS!

But if you really want an MP3 player... don't get an iPod, iStoleit, or a Zen. Get a Sony. I tell ya, the Japanese make a durable machine.[/COLOR][/QUOTE]
I thought about just using my cd player first, but within a minute I had enough cons to make it pretty useless:
[list]
[*]Too big for a pocket (or just a really uncomfortable fit)
[*]You have to carry the cds seperate (also too big for pocket)
[*]Bad Music/Bulk ratio (1 CD in thin case is 2 oz. Player is 4-8 oz.)
[*]No photos or video
[*]Skipping
[/list]
Cost is about the only pro I can think of, and by the time you add up the cost of batteries and CDs over the course of a few years that part is pretty much negated, even with a $30 low-end Diskman compared to a $300-400 video ipod.

[Baron Samedi]

[size=1]Morpheus just basically summed up why mp3 players are way better than discmans. Imagine 1000 songs. How many CDs would that take up? If you exaggerate, and say that most CD's have 20 songs, then that is 50 cd's, which, if you have a big case, is fine.

Now, you put your 50 cd's, discman and three packets of batteries in your pocket.

What? Can't fit them in?[/size]

[Guest Tigerkittin]

[FONT=Comic Sans MS][COLOR=DarkSlateBlue]Hylo!

Well I agree with that one as much as I wish my cd player would would fit into my pockets but it's just not happening. I'm way to small for that though I do like to use it if i'm stationary for very long periods of time. As much as they advertive skip protection it still doesn't always work when you need it to. Sometimes you just don't feel like searching for a song and putting it on your mp3 player, I have days where I just want to chuck my mp3 player at a wall. :animeangr

Then there are days where I feel like putting on an alter and worshiping it I know with cd players I had a terrible time with batteries, I couldn't seem to keep a pair. Plus I couldn't play mp3 cds which hold like 100 songs nor certain kinds of burnt cds in my cd player it was just that bad. :mad:

As far as getting a mp3 player though just my preferance I wouldn't get an IPod I think that is just way too much money for way to much space. Most of the time I don't even listen to all the songs on my mp3 player now which isn't even a gig. I think whatever a person gets though just stick with it till the bitter end, most things you have to break them in before they work just the way you like anyways. :D [/COLOR][/FONT]

[Kura-Chan]

[COLOR=Indigo][FONT=Comic Sans MS]i dont actually own either an mp3 or an ipod lol i have a discman which, tho its 2 big and you cant carry music in it, is just fine for me :catgirl: But i am lookin into buying an mp3, not an ipod, no way.never lol Not for any of the technical reasons but simply because with an mp3 u press play and your off, with an ipod you hafta press the middle to get your menu, scroll around, click, scroll, click until you FINALLY reach the song/album you want then if i want to turn it down/up your off scrolling again! I find it a lot less time consuming to press play and left/right tbh :animesmil [/FONT] [/COLOR]

[Baron Samedi]

[quote name='Kura-Chan][COLOR=Indigo][FONT=Comic Sans MS]i dont actually own either an mp3 or an ipod lol i have a discman which, tho its 2 big and you cant carry music in it, is just fine for me :catgirl: But i am lookin into buying an mp3, not an ipod, no way.never lol Not for any of the technical reasons but simply because with an mp3 u press play and your off, with an ipod you hafta press the middle to get your menu, scroll around, click, scroll, click until you FINALLY reach the song/album you want then if i want to turn it down/up your off scrolling again! I find it a lot less time consuming to press play and left/right tbh :animesmil [/FONT'] [/COLOR][/quote]
[size=1]Actually, I'd consider the iPod navigation system to be one of the best. Trust me, just pressing "Next" until you find what you're after is a pain. Even with 30 songs, nevermind any more than that. Besides, you can just have Play All with the iPod anyway. It's way better, lol. It's not like it takes any appreciable amount of time to find a song anyway. I don't really know what you're complaining about.[/size]

[Lafleur]

[QUOTE=Baron Samedi][size=1]Morpheus just basically summed up why mp3 players are way better than discmans. Imagine 1000 songs. How many CDs would that take up? If you exaggerate, and say that most CD's have 20 songs, then that is 50 cd's, which, if you have a big case, is fine.

Now, you put your 50 cd's, discman and three packets of batteries in your pocket.

What? Can't fit them in?[/size][/QUOTE][COLOR=DarkRed]

Do you honestly [i]need[/i] a thousand songs? Do you even like a thousand songs? Jeez, once you get past song 300 your gona have to put in songs you dont like just to take up space! My trusty discman gets the job done and never breaks.[/COLOR]