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[Alcibiades]

ok, I had made up my mind on an iPod Shuffle since I only wanted it for carrying around to listen to a few songs and some downloaded language lessons (Latin, but later Japanese or others)...

for $99, it was perfect for that situation (I never got it cause the website had a 2-3 week wait and Best Buy, Cicuit City, and Target were sold out)...

then I saw the $140 1-gig version on the education store, and I started to consider that maybe for only $40 more I'd get double the space...

then I heard the rumor about the $199 iPod mini, decided to wait, it came true, and now there's now way I'd consider the shuffle considering how much more space I get in the mini (not to mention screen + cool color)...

then I started to consider that if I forego a few pleasures, I could do another $100 and just get a TON more space, hmm...

then I saw the iPod photo (which could prove really useful w/ the new straight-to- iPod cable) for only $50 more and more space... sounds like a killer deal because I can keep a ton of photos there when I get a digital camera and not even have to mess w/ my computer (a 10-gig, 6-year old laptop that runs REALLY SLOW (then again my HDD is like 97% full or something like that, and if I alleviate space by putting files in the iPod it would run faster)...

then I started thinking that I'd pay $350 for a 30-gig device, but it would only be $100 for a 60-gig device, jeez, why not just go for that, it will totally help...

then I considered that for that matter I could just get a macMini for only $50 more...


W....T....F!

 

[DMczaf]

:lol :lol :lol

 

[Macam]

Ha! Well, regarding the Shuffle, I finally got mine and I have to say it's been nothing but bliss. I no longer have to suffer through shitty gangster rap (bye Nas) and pop princesses (bye Jessica Simpson) at the gym and it holds plenty of music for long study sessions without breaking a sweat in the battery life. I was able to dump my entire Thievery Corporation and DJ Shadow libraries onto it with room to spare in 2 minutes, and I wasn't even using AAC (the one downside is that downsampling songs takes forever -- about an hour and a half to fill mine up from 192kbps MP3 to 128kbps AAC).

Either way, depending on how much music you have and how much space you're looking for, they're great for a number of things. I have Japanese dialogues on mine, music, and some slight data as it is. And as a head's up, the 5th gen iPods will be coming mid-year, so expect further revisions this year.

Now then, let the "iPods are overrated, try this" recommendations commence.

 

[Alcibiades]

yeah, the problem is whatever I choose (shuffle, iPod photo, macMini) would be VERY, VERY useful to me right now, but the idea that there could be even more revisions/price drops later in the year irks me...

especially as I go to conventions and want to start keeping a photo log of what I do and where I go...

I think I'm settling on the iPod photo 60-gig (about $450 after taxes through education store), cause when I consider the macMini I load up the options (wireless, 80 gig HD, 512 memory, etc...) usually ends up around $1000 anyway, but then for only $200 more I could have a iMac 64-bit G5 with attached LCD... >:|

 

[Mason]

Apple has done this pricing thing intentionally, for this exact reason. There was a blurb about it on Gizmodo the other day.

 

[Macam]

yeah, the problem is whatever I choose (shuffle, iPod photo, macMini) would be VERY, VERY useful to me right now, but the idea that there could be even more revisions/price drops later in the year irks me...

especially as I go to conventions and want to start keeping a photo log of what I do and where I go...

I think I'm settling on the iPod photo 60-gig (about $450 after taxes through education store), cause when I consider the macMini I load up the options (wireless, 80 gig HD, 512 memory, etc...) usually ends up around $1000 anyway, but then for only $200 more I could have a iMac 64-bit G5 with attached LCD... >:|

In that case, I'd definitely go with a higher end iPod. The Mac Mini, while a good machine, is intended as an introductory machine and it's not truly portable. An iPod will give you ample HDD space for just about anything. The Shuffle is tiding me over for now whilst I wait for the 5G iPods (and PowerMac revisions).

 

[Mike Works]

:lol :lol :lol

dude, you don't have to quote the whole post if you're the first reply

 

[DMczaf]

dude, you don't have to quote the whole post if you're the first reply

Force of habit when replying to a post

 

[Alcibiades]

I wonder how much better the iPod 5th versions will be...

if the supposed lag on the current iPod photos will be eliminated and have color screens, that would be a pretty big improvement...

 

[Alcibiades]

http://www.thinksecret.com/news/0501briefly2.html

this is probably pretty reliable, I guess I should make a decision soon as I probably won't feel ripped of if I got a good 6-month use of whatever I get before I upgrade...

5G iPod

Information pertaining to Apple's fifth-generation iPod is extremely scarce as Apple has gone to extraordinary measures to protect the confidentiality of its cash cow music player. The 5G iPod, which Think Secret doesn't expect will appear until the middle of the year at the earliest, will move away from the iconic white form factor towards a more silver enclosure that matches the Mac mini, PowerBook, and Power Mac products, sources say.

Apple is expected to tap Toshiba for the company's new 80GB 1.8-inch hard drive when it becomes available later this year, although more appealing is the single-platter 40GB hard drive Toshiba is also developing. Current 40GB iPods use a Toshiba drive with two 20GB platters, which accounts for that model's added heft compared to the 20GB iPod. A single-platter 40GB drive will enable a 5G iPod to be as thin as today's 20GB model.

 

[Lhadatt]

 

[tedtropy]

"Bwa ha hah ha. A year from now we'll add the video support the iPod Photo should've had...and the bastards will buy it again! We can't lose!"

 

[Alcibiades]

:lol

yeah, I think I'm just going to get the iPod mini and wait for a new set of iPods before I go for the photo one...

 

[Drozmight]

I have a feeling I'm going to be like one of those guy's still sportin' an eight-track only I'll have a CD player and everyone else a portable media player.

 

[Alcibiades]

well, I finally decided on an iPod mini, blue w/ my name on the back...

It'll definitely serve me well... I was going to go for the $99 shuffle, but for double that I get a ton more space + a screen so it seems like a good deal, especially I don't really care about taking my whole music collection with me (actually it's pretty small on my laptop, like less than 20 songs LOL), and it's spread out among quite a few CD's and another computer back home, so it won't be until I get a macMini computer that I'll start to consolidate everything into one...

For the next few months it'll be a few tunes + whatever language lessons I get...

 

[mpau25]

Hope you enjoy the iPod!

 

[alejob]

If you say "only $50 more" then you got the money to get what you want

 

[tedtropy]

well, I finally decided on an iPod mini, blue w/ my name on the back...

It'll definitely serve me well... I was going to go for the $99 shuffle, but for double that I get a ton more space + a screen so it seems like a good deal, especially I don't really care about taking my whole music collection with me (actually it's pretty small on my laptop, like less than 20 songs LOL), and it's spread out among quite a few CD's and another computer back home, so it won't be until I get a macMini computer that I'll start to consolidate everything into one...

For the next few months it'll be a few tunes + whatever language lessons I get...

Sounds like you made the wise choice. The iPod Photo is just too expensive for what it is - a heavier iPod that can show itty-bitty pictures. Woo. I just don't see the point in the function. Any digital camera worth its salt is already going to have a nice LCD with an equivalent resolution and it's not as though most people have any need for flipping through billions of small pictures. Plus I've heard alot of people complaining about the Photo's lagginess. Now if that sucker played video and had a slightly larger screen, they'd have something.

 

[mrklaw]

but just look at the prices......

ipod mini 6GB - £180. ipod photo 30GB - £250. Not a big jump for a lot more storage.

I think I'm going to play with smart playlists in itunes and see if I can create a good collection that hovers around 800 songs (ipod mini 4GB). If so, then I might just jump for that one.

 

[Ignatz Mouse]

The only point to the iPod Photo is the 60 GB version. Not for the itty-bitty pictures, but for a small 60 GB player.

I suppose they phased out the 40 GB regular iPod and intro-ed the 30 GB Photo in order to have the Photos eventaully take over the line. It wold not surprise me if next year all the regular-sized ipods were color only.

 

[Alcibiades]

yeah, the iPod photo would have helped me clear my drive to give me some virtual memory, but I'll live with that and hopefully get an external HDD soon anyway.

 

[tedtropy]

If you say "only $50 more" then you got the money to get what you want

Hah, not really. I use that type of logic all the time and it's a crucial part of why I'm constantly broke.

 

[mrklaw]

The only point to the iPod Photo is the 60 GB version. Not for the itty-bitty pictures, but for a small 60 GB player.

I suppose they phased out the 40 GB regular iPod and intro-ed the 30 GB Photo in order to have the Photos eventaully take over the line. It wold not surprise me if next year all the regular-sized ipods were color only.

But the 60GB is bigger. It might not be much, but it can be noticable. Two guys at work have a 20GB and 40GB mono ipod, and the 20 feels much slimmer than the 40. Reality isn't much, but its enough to make me not want a 40GB.

 

[tedtropy]

But the 60GB is bigger. It might not be much, but it can be noticable. Two guys at work have a 20GB and 40GB mono ipod, and the 20 feels much slimmer than the 40. Reality isn't much, but its enough to make me not want a 40GB.

And most of that extra bulk has to do with the added color LCD and capabilities that Apple feels you also have to pay for in order to have additional capacity. I think there should be a normal 60GB iPod, and a more multi-media aimed 60GB or more iPod with a larger LCD that supports video, music, etc. Maybe even some PDA functionality. It can be the Newton Redux. Although they may not want to go with that tainted name.

 

[Ignatz Mouse]

The 60 GB is bigger (same size as teh 30 GB adn 40GB Photos, but bigger than the b/w 40GB iPod)-- but it seems downright tiny compared to the Zen I was toting around.

It is thicker and heavier-- but it's still a small player for the storage you are getting.

 

[Jim Bowie]

But the 60GB is bigger. It might not be much, but it can be noticable. Two guys at work have a 20GB and 40GB mono ipod, and the 20 feels much slimmer than the 40. Reality isn't much, but its enough to make me not want a 40GB.

This is truth. While the 40 GB iPod is like a deck of cards, the 20 GB is like a deck of cards minus 20 cards. The first time I picked it up and examined it, I thought something was wrong with my friend's iPod

That being said, they're seriously weightless, and the difference between two is like an ounce or so, so I don't see why you shouldn't splurge for the 40GB. I mean, I guess it depends on how much music you have, but I have shit tons of music, so the 40 GB seemed like the best deal. But if you're worried about the weight/cumbersomeness of said iPod, worry not.

 

[Ignatz Mouse]

And the Photo is like a deck of cards + a millimeter. Barely noticable.

 

[Aruarian Reflection]

Apple fans are hilarious :lol

 

[missAran]

That's a great problem to have, good old Apple. Anyway, I'm having some issues with my PowerBook -- it's at the doctor's right now. So I'm on this loner iBook. This is thing is clunky as heck! ARGH!

 

[tedtropy]

That's a great problem to have, good old Apple. Anyway, I'm having some issues with my PowerBook -- it's at the doctor's right now. So I'm on this loner iBook. This is thing is clunky as heck! ARGH!

Ah, the clam. Do you ever feel like it'll just suddenly snap close on your hands while using it?

 

[Vark]

Just to let you know, with the lastest update my old 40gig G3 ipod now has a 'photo import' option so speculation is that ANY ipod will be able to use the camera connector. You just can't view the photos, but as a card dump, it should work fine.

 

[Phoenix]

That's a great problem to have, good old Apple. Anyway, I'm having some issues with my PowerBook -- it's at the doctor's right now. So I'm on this loner iBook. This is thing is clunky as heck! ARGH!

Ah the old purse. Whomever designed that needed to be fired.

 

[Phoenix]

Just to let you know, with the lastest update my old 40gig G3 ipod now has a 'photo import' option so speculation is that ANY ipod will be able to use the camera connector. You just can't view the photos, but as a card dump, it should work fine.

Sweet. Now I can pair it with this:

 

[mrklaw]

John lewis in the UK have a good deal on the 40gig photo. only £20 more than the 30. But same size as the 60.... Might go for that one. I guess that will still work with the new camera connector?

 

[tedtropy]

Ah the old purse. Whomever designed that needed to be fired.

They just tried to transistion the whole iMac look to a laptop. It wasn't pretty.

 

[xsarien]

Just to let you know, with the lastest update my old 40gig G3 ipod now has a 'photo import' option so speculation is that ANY ipod will be able to use the camera connector. You just can't view the photos, but as a card dump, it should work fine.

That option's always been available with the 3G, all the update did was force it to the main menu. Previous to the 2.3 firmware, you had to go into the options and toggle the setting for it to be visible.

 

[Tsubaki]

W....T....F!

You know, this type of conundrum would have merit if all Apple portable music players:

1) Were the same size
2) Were the same weight
3) Had the same features
4) Had the same accessories
5) Use the same memory medium

But they don't. Any direct comparison with simply cost vs MB/Gig storage is missing the point.

 

[Mad Hatter]

And most of that extra bulk has to do with the added color LCD and capabilities that Apple feels you also have to pay for in order to have additional capacity.

Not quite. It's bigger because of the sizes of hard drives. It has something to do with the 60 and 40gb hard drives being double platter hard drives (not sure what that means, but the new 30gb is a single platter hard drive and apparently that is why it is so much smaller).

 

[Shogmaster]

Not quite. It's bigger because of the sizes of hard drives. It has something to do with the 60 and 40gb hard drives being double platter hard drives (not sure what that means, but the new 30gb is a single platter hard drive and apparently that is why it is so much smaller).

This is a diagram of a 3.5" HD, but it's the same idea with the 1" and 1.8" HDs. More platters, the thicker the hard drive becomes.

 

[Burger]

Sweet. Now I can pair it with this:

Whats the point of the LCD hanging off the side ? Looks silly.

 

[Pochacco]

Whats the point of the LCD hanging off the side ? Looks silly.

It flips out - you can rotate it once it's flipped out.

 

[Spazbiohaz]

well, I finally decided on an iPod mini, blue w/ my name on the back...

What will really twist your nipple is what is supported with the Mini versus the ipod 20-40, and then the ipod Photo 30-60. itrip, stereo support, adding a Mic (ipod only no mini), a case (what fits your style). But all in all you MUST BUY THIS...

A Must Buy !!!

 

[Memles]

I have a 4GB Silver Mini coming sometime in the next 6-10 days. I was looking at the blue, but I thought it was kind of lame looking in the pictures I saw...still too pastel for me.

I didn't get it engraved, either. Just couldn't think of anything insanely witty, and also didn't want to tarnish it with my name. I don't have the money to justify anything larger, even the 6GB at this point. When I'm older, with more music and more disposable income, I'll look into a larger one.

 

[automagnus]

The Photo ipods are useless in my opinion, seriously when have you had the sudden urge to look at photos while listening to music. The screen is too small anyways

/apple rant

 

[Ignatz Mouse]

People who keep saying the Photo is useless seem to know where to find other very small 60 GB players.

Let me know where.

 

[tedtropy]

People who keep saying the Photo is useless seem to know where to find other very small 60 GB players.

Let me know where.

The iPod Photo qualifies as 'very small'? You're likely right about it being the smallest player of its capacity at the moment, but I doubt it'll remain that way for long.

 

[SteveMeister]

Wow, I never saw that picture before! What an amazing and original find!

 

[belgurdo]

Requesting edits for DS and PSP

 

[Ignatz Mouse]

The iPod Photo qualifies as 'very small'? You're likely right about it being the smallest player of its capacity at the moment, but I doubt it'll remain that way for long.

Very small for any player > 6 GB is capacity. Granted, it is larger than the 20 GB iPOd, but not hugely so, and it's still smaller than the rank-and-file players.

The only other 60 GB players use a larger size disk (like the Zen) and are much bigger than the iPods.

 

[Kung Fu Jedi]

The iPod (orginal/mini/photo) are cool, well done products for sure, although I think there are other mp3 players that have more features, sound at least as good, and cost less out there. Rio Karma and iRiver players come to mind. But why someone would buy a Shuffle is beyond me. If it had a screen, I could understand it, but without the screen it's mostly useless for me. I don't want to listen to one long playlist or a random list, I want to hear albums or specially made playlists. The Shuffle doesn't give you enough options for this. But, it has iPod in the name, so they'll sell a shit load of them. For the same price you can get a Sandisk player with a screen, and FM receiver I believe, that gives you a lot more options on how you listen to your music.