So
I've had a 20GB Apple iPod
for a couple weeks now. I've been using it on and off enough that I
feel like I can offer my thoughts on the device.
On the plus side:
- The size and weight are very good. It's a little heavier than my Walkman but almost identical in size.
- Synchronization with the TiBook is great. FireWire is sooo much faster than USB.
- Using iSync I have a good backup of my contacts, schedule, and todo list.
- Battery life seems quite good so far.
- It has a switch to disable all the controls for those times when you don't want to accidentally turn it on/of/whatever. Even the "remote" has one. That blew me away.
- The sound quality is excellent.
- It's very easy to use. It Just Works.
On the negative side:
You cannot change the volume without using the supplied remote. Apple really needs to add software volume control. The remote is cool, but it's really not necessary otherwise (most of the time).(See comments.)- The touch-based scroll wheel control works in the opposite direction from what I'd expect. I'd like an option to reverse the direction of it. (This is probably related to be being partly left-handed.)
The bottom line: It's a great device. I'll be giving my old Diamond Nomad Jukebox (6GB) to Kasia when she visits California next week. To paraphrase Ferris Beuller: if you have the means, I highly recommend it.
Posted by jzawodn at January 14, 2003 06:00 PM
Ummm, dude, spin the wheel. Volume control is on the wheel whilst playing.
The remote control is optional, only happens to come with the 20GB unit. :)
Well, I'll be damned. I almost always use it with the lock switched on, so I never noticed.
Heh.
.. and kasia is very grateful as having an mp3 player will make running at the gym a much happier experience :)
Hey! Don't call her a dumbass. You'll never get a date doing that... :-)
I always wondered how:
jogging + hard disks = good
cars + rough roads + hard disks = good
I mean, all it takes is one slip & fall, or one large pothole, and... [sound of drive heads crashing into platters]... you just lost 20GB of music.
The treadmill I use has a little pocket where you place your cd/mp3/whatever-the-heck-you-use player..
I'm too chicken to run outside (particulary in 15 degree weather).
So it's safe!
Well, Basil, the iPod has a big chunk of RAM, so it only needs to touch the disk very infrequently (every 5 songs or so), so you ahve to be really unlucky to drop it during one of the rare disk-spun-up moments.
Also, you haven't lost 20GB of music - It's all backed up at home in iTunes on your Mac's HD. If you manage to kill your iPod, when you get the new one from AppleCare you just sync it up again in short order and are rigth where you were.
Ipods are for people who care about music. Basil Hussain, if your domb enough to drop your ipod you should go back yo cassets then all tou can lose crap quality and 80s music.
ReJect
I'm using the creative zen and I've used an ipod before AND its sooo much better!!
No everyone thinks iPods are so wonderful. Take a look at http://www.dukebox.com/ipodtrash.php for a scathing comparison between iPods and other mp3 players. That being said many still believe iPods to be the best and if you are one of them Amazon seems to be the cheapest place to get them from. Go for the 60GB iPod Photo - if your going to spend the king of money required to get an iPod then do it properly. If cost is an issue (with whom is it not?) then http://www.geocities.com/free_lunches/FreeiPods.html is worth a look.
yeah you can. just import it into iTunes then on to the iPod.
