[Archived] Mp3 Or Ipod?

[den]

Which should I buy and why?

[rebelmswar]

Which should I buy and why?

Actually iPods are audio players that play MP3 and AAC Format Audio Files. But that doesn't neccesarily mean they're better than other MP3 Player, of course the iPods are cool but they're just the most popular. As in other devices.......PSP. But Apple's iPod is very cool but I've personally seen better. The link below allows you to see features of other MP3 Players that the iPod doesn't have as far as other audio formats and etc. But check out the link and look at the player for reviews on other cool audio playing devices. The PSP is awesome if you want a variety of things to do. Video, Internet, Music, Photo, Games, RSS Feeds and More to come.

click

[Flopsy]

I have a creative Vision M 60gb - it plays music and it can show videos and films on it. If you had asked 5 months ago I'd say go Creative because they were giving much more for a lot less.

However

The new generation of IPods appears to offer more than the Creative for the same price, ITunes is an excellent bit of software and you can get all the accessories for them.

However there are some issues with converting video so you can watch it on the IPod.

As for other MP3 players, I've heard the sony ones are good, but dont really know enough about them to make a full comparison.

[Paul]

Which should I buy and why?

I don't have either but am beginning to think I might get an iPod. When it comes to making the decision I think the key, perhaps espcially for us older folk, is to consider carefully what one wants to do. For example I have a very fancy phone, well it's a mini computer really, which has MP3, video, Excel, Word, Outlook, e-mail, web surfing, camera, GPS, gaming and loads of other stuff. It works really well, I can make most of it work, most of the time and I won't knock the piece of kit though the battery life is rubbish but............... it lives in the bottom of my rucksack and I have gone back to using my battered old Nokia 6230i.

Why don't I use this fancy phone? Because all I really want is to make phone calls and I don't like carrying this large thing around. After Christmas I shall be getting a new phone to do the one extra function I need, probably an iPod to listen to podcasts and a seperate device to run Excel on the one occasson each week that I need to do this.

Technology works best when one thing does one job rather than trying to be too clever. My wife can destroy a PC by walking in the room, she has an iPod. It works every time, it's really, really simple to use, it's small, lightweight and functional. Don't bother with all the whizz bangs aimed at 25 year olds, you will never use them, get something that is simple to use. Have you tried watching video on a 2" screen?

[stuwilky]

Ive got a pretty old IPOD 3rd gen thing.

Its brilliant, battery life is hit and miss occasionally (we're talking the difference between a week and 10 days so nothing hugely short!)

Easy to use, Itunes is a piece of cake, and updated is easy.

It was pricey though.

My dad bought a £20 basic MP3 player from Tesco, its just as easy to use, lasts him a few weeks on hols with his speakers, is easy to update and requires no specialist software.

Mine looks nicer though.

[Eddie]

I've said this before, stay away from ipods at all costs. Very pretty product and when they work perfectly they are fantastic, but the problem is they have a very high failure rate. The battery life is awful and the customer service is equally poor. Do whatever you can to find an ipod alternative, if you have the time to wait for it to come out in Europe, or are planning a trip to America, I would go for the new Microsoft Zune.

[AndyH16]

I currently have a 30Gb 5.5 Gen Ipod, had it for now just over a year and never had a single problem with it. I bought it after being given a Nano from work. I was happy with the way the interface worked and set up all my music and playlists nicely in itunes, so it just seemed easier to stick with it and upgrade to the 30Gb. Plus, I listen to podcasts almost daily which I find the ipod does well. I was tempted to get the Ipod Touch but it got some horrible reviews so I'll be holding onto this one for now

I had a Creative Zen before that and that was great but the PC software was awful so podcasts on that were impossible (and didn't work well on the player itself either), I doubt this is still the case though as that was about 2 years ago.

I'm not a Apple fanboy at all, in fact I hate stores that seem to separate Ipods and MP3 players as if they're completely different products, but the Ipod but does exactly what I need it to.

[Flopsy]

Den, go to a shop and say you want to buy an MP3 player - tell them the stats you want and then ask to play with players they give you.

Then buy them off the internet

[brfcjon]

Just dont get the ITOUCH. I own it and I get a lot of oohs and ahhs, but it is so limited. I mean you cant even use is as a usb hdd (you might be able to if its jailbroken, but apple might brick it and then its absolutely useless).

[disgruntled]

I don't have either but am beginning to think I might get an iPod. When it comes to making the decision I think the key, perhaps espcially for us older folk, is to consider carefully what one wants to do. For example I have a very fancy phone, well it's a mini computer really, which has MP3, video, Excel, Word, Outlook, e-mail, web surfing, camera, GPS, gaming and loads of other stuff. It works really well, I can make most of it work, most of the time and I won't knock the piece of kit though the battery life is rubbish but............... it lives in the bottom of my rucksack and I have gone back to using my battered old Nokia 6230i.

Why don't I use this fancy phone? Because all I really want is to make phone calls and I don't like carrying this large thing around. After Christmas I shall be getting a new phone to do the one extra function I need, probably an iPod to listen to podcasts and a seperate device to run Excel on the one occasson each week that I need to do this.

Technology works best when one thing does one job rather than trying to be too clever. My wife can destroy a PC by walking in the room, she has an iPod. It works every time, it's really, really simple to use, it's small, lightweight and functional. Don't bother with all the whizz bangs aimed at 25 year olds, you will never use them, get something that is simple to use. Have you tried watching video on a 2" screen?

Sounds like an iPhone might be right up your street Paul, though Excel is shocking on a PC so on a phone it isn't going to be much better I'm sure.

brfcjon, isn't there a 'disk mode' you can turn on? I know that is one of the updates that is planned, but I'm not sure what is to be gained by doing so.

Those dissing an iPod obviously haven't used them, and until they have they really aren't in a position to form an opinion. Den, get an iPod Nano, download iTunes, stick in a CD, it'll convert it for you and then when you connect your iPod it'll copy the tracks over to it.

When you are ready to get into more complicated issues like video conversions then just post a message and I'm sure many will be able to help.

[brian_gallagher85]

Have had a Sony and Creative Zen Micro in the past, apart from the poor/complicated software they both use they never gave me a problem, apart from a slight phone jack fault in on the Zen

I now have a Creative Zen Vision M...which is simply brilliant. The screen is much better than any Ipod I've seen, the battery life is good, but the main plus point is that you don't have to use Itunes which I don't like and you can simply copy and paste/drag and drop the files onto.

Not sure about the new Ipods, but have heard several horror stories with the older ones, and the Sony software etc. is a little annoying.

So in short if you want an Ipod by an Ipod, but if you fancy something different give a Creative Zen M a try

[benhben]

Ipod. Once you get used to Itunes theres so much more stuff available for them. Also easy to Edit your albums so there all neat and tidy.

[Paul]

Sounds like an iPhone might be right up your street Paul, though Excel is shocking on a PC so on a phone it isn't going to be much better I'm sure.

You surprised me there. I had the iPhone down as a trendy bit of kit for people 30 years younger than me!! I'd better have a look. Without diverting the thread, why do you say Excel is so bad. It seems to work OK for me every time? Currently using 2007 after upgrading from 2000. I don't do anyhting especially complicated.

Those dissing an iPod obviously haven't used them,

I'd very much agree with this. When my wife wanted one it was at the time Apple was getting plenty of stick in the press. As it was a 50th birthday present I was nervous about the purchase. The first one I got was a real bugger to get going. I spent hours trying to get it work and eventually took it back to Argos. I think I was unlucky because the replacement simply plugged in and worked. My youngets boy also has one, both have worked very well without any glitches.

I found Argos had the best prices but be aware they don't include iPods in their 14 day return ploicy. I had to push the "not fit for purpose" bit to get my replacement.

[tcj_jones]

I absolutely love my IPOD. Having bought MP3 players made by Samsung, Creative, Archos, Sony etc, the IPOD always wins hands down.

The menus are so easy to use, the scroll wheel too and Itunes is superb and very easy to use. Everything about the IPOD is ace.

Saying that, while mine is being fixed, I got a Zen Creative Stone. It's 2GB and absolutely tiny. They're selling them half price at £30 in Currys Digital at the moment and you won't find a better value MP3 player. Downside is that there is no screen.

[LeChuck]

Saying that, while mine is being fixed...

And there is the only problem with iPods, without that they would win hands down.

Having said that, I've had my fourth generation Photo one for two years now, and it was second hand when I bought it. The battery life is still superb, I can use it for around a week without having to charge it. The only slight problem it has developed is that it keeps trying to import photos for some reason, which sometimes stops the music that is playing. Aside from that though it has been flawless, and I've taken it to numerous parties etc. where it has had a few scrapes.

My friend was less lucky with hers, and has had to perform a few life saving procedures on it...including freezing it then banging it, and taking it apart with a credit card and fiddling with bits.

I'd still recommend an iPod to anyone, but do be prepared for something to go wrong. The iTunes factor is irrelevant really as you can get iTunes to work with nearly any mp3 player using this simple guide.

If you do get an iPod, just be sure to get some new earphones for it, the ones provided by default are horrible. Like with most electronics, you get what you pay for, but these will be a big improvement over the Apple ones, and at £4 delivered you can't complain. Personally I have Sennheiser CX300's which are great.

[tcj_jones]

Ah, I should have been more specific, LeChuck - mine is being fixed because I trod on the screen and made a huge crack. Fortunately, I took out insurance with Currys.

I've never actually had an IPOD long enough for it to bugger up because I seem intent on wrecking every one I buy! Dropped in the toilet, put in the washing machine, dropped in a drink and now, being trod on...

However, people that I have spoken to, who have had theirs sent back to Apple to be fixed, have had nothing but good words to say. Most of the time, Apple will just replace the old one with a brand spanking new one. One friend had a replacement at his door within 48 hours.

[Paul]

Which should I buy and why?

Got an iPod Nano for Christmas. Smaller than a credit card with 4Gb storage. Astonishing really. I'm very pleased.

[Flopsy]

I have to say that IPod have stolen a march on Creative's now, after looking at my 60gb comapred to the new Ipod 80Gb there is no comparison, IPod all the way baby.

[Paul]

I give up! I have wrongly named my iPod in iTunes and cannot discover how to change this! I know it should be simple. HELP.

[Eddie]

I now have a zune 80, so far so good.

[AndyH16]

I give up! I have wrongly named my iPod in iTunes and cannot discover how to change this! I know it should be simple. HELP.

As far as I'm aware it should be like renaming a file in Windows. First, highlight the ipod in itunes, then single click on the text (the name of the ipod) and the text should highlight so you can edit it. Either that or highlight and press F2.

[Paul]

Man's a genius. Thank you.

[Paul]

If you do get an iPod, just be sure to get some new earphones for it, the ones provided by default are horrible. Like with most electronics, you get what you pay for, but these will be a big improvement over the Apple ones, and at £4 delivered you can't complain. Personally I have Sennheiser CX300's which are great.

LeChuck - still delighted with the iPod but not the supplied earphones. I'm tone deaf so the sound quality seems to be OK but the fit is very poor. If I'm doing anything active one tends to fit less well and so the sound is unbalanced, plus the ear pieces are just too big. I've looked at both the ones you've mentioned. There's a huge price difference, £5 against £36. Will I get £31 worth of improvement?

[LeChuck]

Hmm...from what you've said about the comfort and unbalanced sound, the 'in-ear' variety will be best because they come with 3 different sized ear buds which you can easily change yourself to find the right fit. Do be aware though that they take a little bit of getting used to, almost purely because they block out background noise like ear-plugs. I've had a few different makes of this variety though and they've all been very comfortable, often I'll wear it up to 3-4 hours on a long journey and I don't suffer from any discomfort.

The Sennheiser's that I have are here for £17.99 delivered. I can't vouch for these personally, but the reviews are excellent, and being Creative they should be excellent quality: £7.99 at Amazon. The only problem there is that they won't qualify for free delivery, but if you can think of any other small bits you might need to bring it up to the £15 qualifying price then they'd be a bargain.

I think you'd change your mind about the sound quality being OK from the Apple ones too, quite a few people I know said that, but they all changed their mind after a few listens of mine.

Edit: Sorry, forgot to mention the ones on Play. Personally I'd spend a little bit extra and go for the Creative's, then add some blank DVDs/film I want etc. to bring it up to the £15 free delivery price. The material for the earbuds will probably be much poorer quality on the ones from Play, and the reviews on the website seem to suggest very poor sound.

Edit 2: Last point I promise...whichever you choose, only buy directly from a trusted site. i.e. Don't go through eBay, or the Amazon Marketplace thing. There are plenty of knock-offs from China around and it'd be a big risk buying from an independent seller.

[Paul]

Thanks for that I'll have a proper look later.