i am dying to get an ipod...are they really worth it?

Question

I was thinking of getting the ipod video 30 gb but I have heard good and bad things about it so I need to know if it's a worthwhile thing to buy or if there are suggestions for better video-playing mp3s out there....i just like that it's compatible with itunes and about a million other products...what should i do?

Answer 1

I've got both an Ipod (60 GB) and a generic Mp3 player (256 mb)... I really dislike the ipod, and spend most of my time using my mp3 player. The positives of the ipod is that it can hold tons of information. The negatives, for me, are:
- You cannot move the information off of your ipod. Information flows only in one direction - from your computer to your ipod, no where else. My mp3 player is simply a flash drive - so i can take my music, as well as necessary documents everywhere I go.
- I need additional wiring in order to hook my ipod up to the computer. My mp3 player has a built-in USB 2 that plugs and plays into any computer (mac and pc - it comes up as a new drive).
- My ipod seems to only be able to be used with the computer that I have Itunes on. I mean, I have Itunes on my laptop also, however, I cannot connect my ipod to my laptop (since it has already been connected to my desktop). The ipod seems to only recognize the one computer.
- While the ipod can be re-charged, and you save money on batteries - it's more convenient for me to travel and go running wiht the mp3 player and carry an extra AAA battery. I used to have problems trying to re-charge my ipod while on an airplane. With the extra battery (which lasts 20 hours), i feel like I can pretty much go anywhere.
- Regardless of how many playlists I set up... I still have to scroll through thousands of songs to find the one I want to listen to. While the ipod lets me carry all the songs that I have - it takes me a long time to actually find them and play them.

Well, anyways, that's just me. I paid $50 for the mp3 player (which is smaller than a tube of lipstick). I paid $500 for the ipod I never take anywhere.

Answer 2

There are other alternatives, some are even better than the IPOD but the IPOD is so mainstream you can find tons of accessories and compatible equipment. For instance, car stereos have IPOD hook ups that works the IPOD from the stereo itself, if you have another MP3 player, you would have to use the aux in jack and work the IPOD from the IPOD, etc (the FM transmitter suck). Other good things is ease to use and the Itunes thingy. There are other ways and some better but ease of operation goes to IPOD. Archos makes a good video/audio player too with a bigger screen. Have fun and ROCK on!

Answer 3

I have a nano, and I use it all the time!! I've rarely had problems with it, and when I have, it's been easily fixed. Prior to purchasing an iPod, I had a memorex mp3 player, and I came to find that it lacks the capacity and features I desired. I'd say definitely go w/ an iPod! It's worth the money, and the storage is unbeleiveable! Don't pay for more than what you'll use, but I say, the more gb, the better!

Answer 4

I have researched mp3 players very thoroughly and i don't think an ipod is worth it. I would check out the Zen V Plus, available august 22nd http://us.creative.com/products/products.asp?category=213&subcategory=214&product=15306
I read multiple reviews, and this is much better than an ipod. I am saving up for one right now. Along with music, videos, and photos, it stores a contact list, a caleander, and it has an fm tuner. Although the feature i think is coolest is that all you have to do is plug it into a cd player, and you can rip music directly to your player, no computer involved.

Answer 5

I have a 30gb iPod and I'm quite happy with it, BUT, I think the most important question is: are you going to use it? My personal experience tells me that the moments where I use my iPod the most is when travelling, commuting in public transportation, at the gym and sometimes at home, but using it with accesories on my home stereo (additional expenses). I'm a music fan and have like 5,000 songs in my iPod, but I have many friends that bought iPods just because they thought it was cool but they barely use them now. Also, I have a 5th generation iPod, color screen but no video and its no problem for me since I don't know what video could I watch on its small screen. I downloaded all my digital pictures in it when I just got it but soon after I realised I almost never watched them, so finally I deleted them from the iPod to have more space for music.

The new truly video iPod will appear early next year and it will have a full size touchscreen, maybe HD and itunes will sell movies to watch in it, so if you are not that fan of music I suggest you to wait for the new one or buy an iPod according to your budget and your music library (for many people a 4gb nano is more than ok).

About choosing between and iPod or any other mp3 player, I will get the iPod because of the huge offer of accesories on the market, something other devices don't have. On the other hand, Microsoft will release before year end its iPod competitor, the Zune, and according to the rumours it will have wi-fi connectivity, so I´m looking forward to see it.

A great website for iPod fans, with tons of information: www.ilounge.com

Answer 6

NO Don't Get It. Get a Creative Zen Vision:M. It's 30 GB as well, probably cheaper, has better sound/picture quality, has a lot more features, and is unique. If you really want a video iPod just wait until the next one comes out because in a couple months you will regret not waiting for the newest iPod.

Answer 7

Unless you really have the money to spend, i bought a small 512 mp3 for $100, and it has radio and everything, and i love it.

If you really need tons of storage space, the ipod is the best way to go, either that or the creative zen, that someone else mentioned, they are pretty much the top two

Answer 8

I wouldnt recommend a ipod because of the following reasons:
poor batter life,scratches easy,freezes up in the future,Itunes is a pain to use,computer wont recognize it when its plugged in, in the future. I got one from ebay and it wont play the songs for a while..

Get a creative zen microphoto 8gb...its so much better,you can take out the battery,has better sound quality,better looker,more colors.

Answer 9

The Video isnt worth it, you can only watch like a half hour of a show then its out of juice. If you want to get an ipod get a nano or a mini.

Answer 10

uhh yah the guys at the top is right creative zen vision m is the 6thy g ipod its better. also the vision m has 262k color screen 4 hr battery for video 15 hr battery for music. it has muhc much much beter audio quality then the ipod. better screen quaioty iits like 10x brighter and crisper display.