Around Thursday I answer the question that could get me an iPod. That Question is:
Do I want an iPod for X-Mas?

If I did say Yes, it would be my only X-Mas present from my Parents since we are a bit on the poor side.

So to help me answer my question I need some questions answered.

1. How is the sound quality of the iPod?
2. After a year of using an iPod how many does the battery have per charge?
3. What does the iPod dock do?
4. How are Apples headphones that come with the thing?
5. How is the case that comes with the iPod?
6. What accessories do you recomend for the iPod?
7. Overall how do you like it?


Thanks for reading.

Adam

i have the 4G 20GB

i think the sound quality is fine, no 3d audio like my old iriver but still
N/A
you can hook it up to your computer by just inserting itinto the dock, and it has a better audio cable
the headphones are okay... well they are tinny
case comes with the 40GB and photo only... get an iSkin
i love mine!!!

Dude believe it or not... I'm on the same situatio nas you... but I have another choice: a Sony Ericsson K700i... only one of this...

And the iPod is a Mini... so I'm more in the K700i side but an iPod sounds SOOOOOOOOOO COOL! oh whatever It is still 1 month and 3days until X-Mas

1. The sound quality of the iPod is fairly good, you need to have very sharp ears (not like me) to notice the difference between sound quality
2. only got it yesterday
3. the ipod dock is basically a small base where you can insert your iPod to keep it upright, charge up, connect to pc/mac and also used to hook up the ipod with external speakers
4. Apparently they are pretty poor, get some other ones, you don't want to be mugged because of your white revealing cords going into your ear!
5. Case doesn't come with the 20GB version, get an iSkin!
6. If you don't get a remote, would be a good idea as it saves the time to go and change a song. Different Headpone and the iSkin are something which I am about to purchase.
7. The best £219 I have spent!

Hope it helped dude!

i think the ipod is great. i have a 3g 20 gig and a 4g 20gig... i have yet to run into any battery problems with either one. i think they are a good investment. i often use mine for storing school work and other large files that i like to move around. the headphones are decent but if you're really into your audio i would recommend upgrading those. the only accessorie i really recommend is an iskin or case. i don't think you need the dock.. you should just ask for the 20gig. thats plenty of room and you save some money.

I dunno if i should ask for applecare or an ipod

Maybe I'll get the ipod for christmas and then buy applecare later

yeh you can always get the applecare later... lol i don't even have apple care on my ipods.

hmm.. That gives me another question:

Is Applecare worth the price?

personally... i don't think applecare is worth the price for small things like the ipod. for their computers.. i think it's a pretty good idea to spend the extra money just in case. the way i think of it.. my ipods will last for a pretty decent amount of time. in the event that they do break.. im sure apple will come out with something newer and better which will make me want to go out and buy the latest. also.. if the battery craps out... you can replace those yourself or have someone do it for you for cheaper than it would cost to purchse applecare.

1. How is the sound quality of the iPod? Very good, i couldnt really expect less or better from it.
2. After a year of using an iPod how many does the battery have per charge? After nearly using it for a year i still get 5-8hrs of playback, depending on what i do.
3. What does the iPod dock do? Its more of a mount, but you can charge through it or upload music through it, nothing special.
4. How are Apples headphones that come with the thing? If you are not bothered about headphones these will do you good, but i would suggest getting a pair of sony headphones.
5. How is the case that comes with the iPod? Pretty good, but its annoying taking it out all the time to change tracks, but then again you have the little remote for that. Iskin is better for a case.
6. What accessories do you recomend for the iPod? Iskin, Belkin Battery Pack, and maybe an iTrip
7. Overall how do you like it? Its a really good piece of kit, you will only understand the true power of the iPod when you buy it. I give it an 8.5/10

The dock has a line out port. It's better to use that for external speakers than the headphone port. The earphones are crap...imo. Im sick of mine and im going to get a new one soon. No bass, uncomfortable, meh. Case is good but dust/dirt might get in it which will scratch the back. Get a case. First thing you do when you get it. I <3 my iPod.

or you could brush the back of the ipod to avoid showing scratches and smudges.

u said ur on the poor side , so u probably dont have a mac. Let me just say that the ipod interface witha PC is total crap.. also

STOP BEING A FUCCCKING SHEEP.

the only reason you or anyone else wants an ipod now is because "anyone who is anyone" has one. regardless of what people say about sound quality, if your paying $300+ for a musci device it better be pretty damn good, not just "fairly good" ... strike one. the ipod is eye candy, but is pretty barebones with half the features as a lot of mp3 players out there at almost double the price! ... strike 2. And finally with a finite battery life, overpriced peripherals and apples overpriced "apple care" the ipod is just not worth it.

The ipod was made for yuppies looking for social status, do yourself a favor and buy an iriver 120.

looks like someone had a bad childhood, and has a horrible resentment for other people Way to wreck the thread!

Ya big idiot

Tell me how it's crap. I use my iPod with a Windows PC and its perfectly fine.



And youre basing this off of what? You know what happens when you ASSume? Yeah, that's right. Sorry I had to do it. Ignorant people like iconboy just erk me.

Features are everything nowadays arent they? Is this some sort of bells and whistles competition? Or a better personal music device? Get over yourself. You think just because the iPod doesnt offer more included things that other players have that its a barebones player? Please. Save your whining.

And show me a hdd player that has twice the features as the iPod but half the price.



Yet again another assumption. -_-

dude iconboy you're a tool

oh come on, the only reason people want the ipod is because everyone else has one, if thats not being a sheep i dont know what is. If you dont think the ipod was used for social status then your naieve. im not pointing at anyone in particular, just stating my opinion. The very fact that this person feels like they are "poor" and what something like an ipod which they believe that rich people can only afford is something i feel very sad and sick about.

So i wont say anything else. Just know that there are better players out there at better prices. Sooo... all of you go out and buy an ipod, i hope it makes you feel better, ..... hope it make you feel "rich"

how does that even help? change my mind about the ipod? or even say anything good about the ipod?

people don't buy the ipod because it's a item of social class which you are stating. the reason why the ipod owns like 90% of the market is because apple did a very good job of marketing and pioneering the hard drive mp3 player. when the hd mp3 player first came out.. the clean and simple no frills design caught the attention of lookers. now when someone thinks of an mp3 player... apple is at the top of everyones list because people associate apple ipod with mp3 player.

btw the ipods are priced competitively with any other hd based mp3 player.

Better players. Opinion. Correct? Yes. There is no better player. It's all a matter of personal preference anyway.

And by the way, please shut it with the 'rich' or 'sheep' stereotyping. The 20GB is priced at $300 which is very reasonable if you tell me. It's pretty much a comparable price to other 20Gb players. (other than older models or the dell dj which is a great value buy)

$300 is alot for an mp3 player I got my 20 gb creative for $120. I would look around befor just sayn I want an apple Ipod. I tested a Ipod and it was ok . Just look around look at some reviews and then buy.

1. Sound quality isn't the greatest.
2. I'm guessing that it should still hold at least 85% after one year.
3. It acts as a charging device when hooked up to a firewire or USB 2.0 port, and also has a line-out connector for hookup to speakers. It will auto-sync with iTunes when connected. You can also use the firewire cable to hook up to the AC adapter.
4. Typical quality for included earbuds; at least they look cool. Warning! "Thieving Bas-turds" keep an eye out for these earbuds.
5. Cases no longer come with the iPod. I highly recommend the Contour Showcase.
6. Contour Showcase, Belkin Auto Kit
7. Sound quality is lacking, the casing is just too scratch-prone. Excellent interface and syncing with iTunes. No optical input or output. I don't give a rat's scrawny butt about FM radio.

Don't forget that apple offers a student discount, and possibly free engraving.

Erm, didnt read through all the posts but noticed that some say you get a remote and case with the 40GB 4G. This is not true. Mine only came with the dock, usb 2.0 cable, firewire cable, 40gb ipod and software.

Have you used the Mac version of iTunes? I thought iTunes was good when I used it on my PC. Ever since I got my mac, I stay away from the pc version. In my opinion it IS crap. I have a pc with a gig of ram and its sluggish.

But the iPod is worth every penny!

I don't think I can get the educational discount. It appears it's only for staff.

Oh and Icon Boy:

Obviously like anyone I take the design in mind when I chose the iPod. I wanted something fairly light, small. The iPod matched all of those requirements. Obviously I would have loved a removable battery but if I find I will need a battery I will install it myself and risk harming my iPod. By then though I'd probobly just get a new one if it comes down to it.

The 2nd consideration I took in was Ease of use. I looked at the iRiver and I found it very hard to use. The joystick thingie was pretty cool but I couldn't figure out anything on the damn thing. The iPod had it's click wheel and everything I needed was just a 1/2 turn away.

I could go on with explaining but why.

Well of course the Mac version is better. But yeah I experience no problems here. About 9 gigs of music with Athlon XP 1800 and 512mb ram.

(/me saves money for pbook)

back on topic, here's my spin:

1. good, most normal users won't give a flip. iriver h120 has better sound quality.
2. i've had mine for a little over a year and i'm kind of dissappointed in the battery life. but mine is the original, glitchy 10gb 3g model, i'm sure the new ones are far better. i get on average a little over 2 hours of battery life on full charge, but i just bought a new battery so it's all good.
3. interface with computer, charges it, and also has line out for speakers
4. crap. $10 sony's are better.
5. mine didn't come with one, so i bought a silicone skin. works great.
6. case is a must if it didn't come with one, and that's about it.
7. i don't see how i could live without it, but i might replace it with an iriver when it dies.

I am sick of people telling others that they are just getting an iPod just to be cool. Have they ever considered the fact that maybe its otherwise?

I have seen the iRivers and yes, they have more features than the iPod but for me personally I didn't find them too useful, and I think in the area of ease of use, the iPod was a clear winner and a winner in my book. But I suggest you look at all of the other alternatives to see what features you want and weight them for yourself.