norwich36 | technology question

As some of you already know, in some areas (specifically music) I am a technological dinosaur. About half my music collection is still on cassette tapes! But lately I have been considering moving into the 21st century and getting an ipod or other sort of mp3 player. And I was wondering whether it's worth the money to actually buy an ipod, or should I go for something cheaper. Those of you who own these new-fangled devices, what are the pros and cons of ipods v. cheaper devices? Any suggestions for the complete novice in these things?

In other news, HAPPY PREMIERE DAY! I had to go with a neutral icon so as not to privilege Smallville or Supernatural, as I am equally excited about both these days, and therefore must give equal weight to that "when you see this, quote from the show" meme going around. And look, I even tied it thematically to the first part of this post:

Smallville: Chloe (to Jimmy in "Static"): "Wow, I knew you were a gadget junkie, but this stuff looks like it's from the Jurassic era."

Supernatural: Sam: "Dude, you gotta update your cassette tape collection."
Dean: "Why?"
Sam: "Well for one they are cassette tapes."

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I have both a 1GB iPod shuffle and a 4GB Samsung Mp3 player (http://www.tech2.com/media/images/2007/Jun/img_8353_samsung-u3.jpg), and I have to say that paying for the iPod name is definitely not necessary. I like my Samsung actually better than the ipods. Holds about 1000 songs and has ca. 15 hours of battery life.

oh, forgot to mention, a big plus with the Samsung is that you can plug it into any usb port on any computer without a special program and drop and drag the music. iPods are fussy and you usually need to use the itunes program.

Thanks. That's good to know.

I guess, it's all about perseonal preferences - and about your bank account. ;)

I have a 4GB iPod nano and I'm utterly in love with it. The sound quality is great - nothing compared to the cheaper one that also works, but I mostly use it as an extra USB stick.

True is, for an iPod you'll need iTunes, although it's also possible to drag&drop it with something like WinAmp... at least, that worked for my old iPod shuffle. Since I'm mostly using my MacBook these days, I don't care much about it. And, I'm already considering buying the new iPod nano because I like the new features - which are completely superfluous, but neat *g*

However, when you're working with ~~Windoof~~ Windows some other player might be more easy to handle - unless you have to install a myriad of drivers.

If I were you, I'd go and test a few MP3 players and then buy the one you like the best.

Thanks for the advice.

I have (and adore) an 80GB video iPod, and haven't ever been tempted to try anything else. But then, I also obsessively use itunes for my music collection and I've had one or more Mac computers the entire time I've had any kind of mp3 player, so it was a logical choice for me. It may be worth looking at other brands for a cheaper deal if you don't use itunes/mac computers.

Hmm. I'm not a Mac person--I wonder if that makes a difference?

Not a Mac person as in you just don't own one (in which case, I don't think you'd have a problem, as I believe iTunes for Windows works reasonably well and my iPod owning friends who use PCs have never complained to me about compatibility), or not a Mac person as in you dislike Apple products/Mac computers? In which case I'd be considering a non-iPod music player, as iPods feel just as Apple-y in design to me as other Apple products.

Mostly, I think it depends what you store your music in on your computer. For me an iPod was a logical choice because my computers were Macs and so I was already using iTunes to store, sort and play all my digital music, therefore the least fussiest music player was the one made to integrate with iTunes software. My housemate has grown up with an anti-Mac techy father, and so she never used iTunes when the rest of us started using it, and so a Windows Media Player compatible player made more sense for her. 'Friad I can't give advice on non-iPods and the easiest music library software to use as I went for the laziest and most logical combination, but I think your choice of library software probably has a lot more bearing than whether you use a Mac or a PC.

One other potential point of interest, just from personal experience in comparing myself and my anti-Mac housemate, is that I've only ever had my video iPod and I've seen her go through practically a bazillion different players in the same time frame. Can't remark on the brands/make/quality of the actual players she's used, but for whatever reason her choices seem to wear out on her while my iPod just keeps chugging along. Not to mention, changing between new players/brands means a new player seems to require her to sit there and swear at her screen while trying to get the hang of the new syncing/playlist system if it doesn't accept Windows Media Player playlists and whatever else. Just one comparative experience though, and disclaimered by my love of my Apple products.

Oh, not a Mac person as in I compute on PCs. But I have iTunes, and am definitely not anti-Mac, and this is good info, thanks.

Well for one they are cassette tapes."

*giggles*

And then, last night, with the IPOD PORT!!!!!

It was almost like it was a sign, or something.

That icon is haunting, btw.

It's cool right? I was using it for the premire.

taliosi_x made art for the SpN Big Bang and this icon is from that. I looooooove her stuff!

I have an 80GB Ipod (07 Xmas Pressie) and I would never be ANYWHERE without it. I have my favourite fan fics stored (big ones too like over 300 pages long) and a couple of novels on it so I can read them anywhere anytime. I have Seasons 1 through to 5 of SV on it (still gotta update for S6 and S7) plus I have all my fav fanvids on there including the cracktastic Things that Maye You Go Hmmm fanvid, plus I have around 2000 songs on there. Then there's the games it comes with which I occasionally play. You can load entire movies onto the thing and still have room for more. I am currently at 38.7GB space used.
Ipod is teh way to go if you want the space and by now the 160GB is as chaep as the 80GB one year ago. Hmmmm....I may have to upgrade. *vbg* If you just want a handful of songs on it then I don't think the name matters. BY handful I'm talking around a 1000 I guess.

You can read things on that tiny screen? I'm a little too old for that, I think. My eyes are not what they once were. But thanks, this is very helpful information.

well, depends on how much money you have, and how sensitive your hearing it, and what quality requirements you have on the output, and do you need to impress others??

seriously, all my colleagues have Ipods and when I asked one, whether he hears a difference between his 300 Euro state of art ipod (what ever that thing is), and one for 50 Euro, he said, the ipod is also there for bragging. brand name and apple seemingly makes the difference *g*..

I have a lowlife, cheap no name mp3 player. works for me. dont need brand name to boost my ego ;D
but then I only listen to my music on it, like twice per week or so.

Well, I was thinking of things like how hard is it to import music libraries, and how easily it fits into other gadgets (like stereos), etc.

Get a Zune. For serious. Best thing ever. Unlike an iPod, you don't really have to pay per song; for $14.95 per month you have access to tens of thousands of songs in their maketplace (a few you have to pay 79 cents for due to licensing, but generally, that's a rarity). I find the interface more user-friendly than an iPod, it's easy to hook up to your car or home stereo with the right cables, and it's generally very intuitive. I don't know how I lived without mine.

Sounds like a good deal, but I assume that once you stop subscribing you lose access to the songs, yes? I definitely want something that lets me keep the songs.

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