new ipod owner's experience

[nsx_23]

I thought I'd start a new thread just to see how others are finding the new ipods.

I got a 4GB nano to replace my 4GB mini, which I sold to a good friend of mine. I have to say that I really like the new nano, and the screen isn't bad for watching medium-length video clips. Battery life is also quiet good, though sound quality is still average. A definite improvement on the previous nano, but could do better. Just a bit pissed off about not having a case for it yet, since I don't want to scratch the back chrome panel.

What experiences have you guys had so far?

[saints]

I bought the ipod classic 80gb version, my first apple player ever.
Likes
Battery Life, playlists, album art browsing, sq is quite good, price, grey colour, capacity

Dislikes
Itunes (needing cable internet to run it), retagging to suit itunes, album art appears on one song only, firmwares huge 50mb, the box was bare (contained ipod, earphones and usb cable only), accessories expensive, price fixing, not being able to play an album and let it go to the next in line without using a playlist (just stops unless you repeat), being told Ive sold out

[Mike]

So, I'm curious: what's the sound like with the new Apples (and especially the Classic)? I've read that it is "average"--how does it compare to the iRiver H1xx and H3xx players?

[hedgomatic]

Saints-
Please expand on the "itunes requires cable internet" comment. Is high-speed specified, or does it just not run well without it? What features were you using that required the high-speed connection.

[saints]

Originally Posted by Mike

So, I'm curious: what's the sound like with the new Apples (and especially the Classic)? I've read that it is "average"--how does it compare to the iRiver H1xx and H3xx players?

I dont think anything will compare to the iriver h100 and h300 players but its adequate

Originally Posted by hedgomatic

Saints-
Please expand on the "itunes requires cable internet" comment. Is high-speed specified, or does it just not run well without it? What features were you using that required the high-speed connection.

As you dont get a disk in the box you have to download itunes 49mb (try doing that on dial up) and apple put in a firmware (good) already thats another 50mb.

Yes it runs without it but id be frustrated without cable speed.

[nsx_23]

I reckon the sound quality on my nano is better than the X20, but no way will it compare to my H320 or even my Sony NW-HD5.

I agree with apple not packaging much accessories with the iPods. I mean, how much does it cost them to burn a copy of iTunes onto a CD? Also, even though I didn't get a charger with my mini at least they threw in a belt clip thing. All you get now is a USB cable, headphones which are shit and a piece of plastic for the docks, which most people don't have.

I'd rather have a cloth bag than the stupid dock adapter anyday.

[Mike]

Very interesting to hear the opinions, and the fact that sound quality may be being overlooked in the press of design and new features.

[hedgomatic]

is anyone able to compare new ipod sound quality to an iaudio, a zen, and a zune?

[Step666]

Originally Posted by nsx_23

I agree with apple not packaging much accessories with the iPods. I mean, how much does it cost them to burn a copy of iTunes onto a CD? Also, even though I didn't get a charger with my mini at least they threw in a belt clip thing. All you get now is a USB cable, headphones which are shit and a piece of plastic for the docks, which most people don't have.

They cite environmental reasons and, to be honest, you can sort of see why - so much of their business comes from people buying their 4th, 5th, 6th iPod or whatever, so how many of those CDs with iTunes on would just be thrown away?
As for the dock adaptors, better you just need a new adaptor for your new iPod than a whole new dock.

It ain't perfect but that's life unfortunately.

[nsx_23]

Well, I'm sure that for the price of a CD they can include a cloth bag instead, and have some copies of iTunes on CD in store for others who don't have high speed internet

[Dommo]

As said the idea is to prevent waste, also it reduces the size of the packaging (which is why iPod shuffles and nano's have tiny boxes).

But, another thing is that most people have high-speed internet, and when you install iTunes off the cd, it'll probably be out of date and you'll be told to download a new version, especially when a brand new iPoo generation is released, so there's no point. And the money they lose from people saying "I'm not buying it because there isn't a cd", is less than the money they save by not burning the discs and the amount of iPoos they can ship about (which is what all the fuss over the tiny boxes is for).

[saints]

There maybe alot of high speed internet consumers but most have small download plans and buying an ipod may use most of their monthly usage in one shot.
Maybe a solution would be to load itunes onto the pods themselves, plug it in and it installs itunes there and then. While its charging you can build your library and continue to scratch your head why the songs are all over the shot and why album art is all wrong

[jumbuck]

Originally Posted by saints

While its charging you can build your library and continue to scratch your head why the songs are all over the shot and why album art is all wrong

LOL
No need to ask what your doing this weekend .

[saints]

Originally Posted by jumbuck

LOL
No need to ask what your doing this weekend .

Yeah really
Actually have been doing an hours work a day to get it all right, another problem ive found is you can use itunes to find your album art and you click through the songs in that album (in itunes) it finds it but once synced some of them have black art, so then you have to highlight all the songs and manually add it from wherever, ahh................

[pachinkoman]

Why Saints - you've sold out !!!

[BBD]

We should start a support group....

[nirajp]

How I wished the iPods had folder navigation. If so I think i'd have a Classic 80GB in my hand.

[andrewmel]

If you buy the 5.5G they do have folder navigation, with Rockbox installed.

a

[saints]

Originally Posted by nirajp

How I wished the iPods had folder navigation. If so I think i'd have a Classic 80GB in my hand.

Ah once you have tagged your songs correctly, navigation in the classic pod is as close as it gets, takes some work though

[Step666]

Originally Posted by saints

Ah once you have tagged your songs correctly, navigation in the classic pod is as close as it gets, takes some work though

How badly were your songs tagged?

I never had to change a single id3 tag when I switched to my Nano and that was just using EAC's in-built tagging capability.

[pachinkoman]

Originally Posted by hedgomatic

is anyone able to compare new ipod sound quality to an iaudio, a zen, and a zune?

About the same as the Zen, and iaudio, Zune sounds better to me.

All strictly my opinnions, and when you really get down to it, it's all subjective.

[saints]

Originally Posted by Step666

How badly were your songs tagged?

I never had to change a single id3 tag when I switched to my Nano and that was just using EAC's in-built tagging capability.

Only about 8 cds worth that the d2 read ok in id browsing but itunes didnt, so not so bad

[Step666]

So it's not quite as bad as you seemed to be making out then.