Should I get an ipod?

[Daylene]

I have some money to spend (around $450 cdn) and was thinking of getting an ipod. I think it would be neat to have, and I like listening to music. I have some questions though.

1) How much is a 20 gb ipod go for in canada?

2) My computer has only usb 1 connections. Can I use the ipod with this.

3)Is it worth it to pay extra for the ipod, or go for the mini (I have around 700 songs, adding more)

Thanks

[Max Veteran]

1. $399CAD

2. Yes, but it will be very slow.

3. The 20GB iPod is well worth the extra cash IMO.

[vincent]

"Don't be a trend schmuck" -insanekiwi

pretty much sums up what ive got to say :/

anyways id go for creative, you'd be saving money and still be getting a damn decent player.

[Daylene]

How slow are we talking, for example, to put a 3mb song on to it?

[filcab]

bulio... Let's say... VERY slow... :D I don't remember the rates right now, but to fill an iPod it would take a while.

As for you, ripgut... You called the creative player a "decent" player... I think that sums it.

(btw... what creative player are you talking about?)

[Pink Floyd Veteran]

usb 1.1 is 40 times slower than 2.0

so make your calculation

[ZZOOzzoo]

I really recommend you installing USB2 or FireWire on your computer, because USB1 will be too slow to transfer music.

[Daylene]

I've transfered using 1 onto my mini disc player. It's slower than that?

[macman87]

If the average song you have is 3 MB and you have 700 songs then it means you have 2.1 GB of music.

USB 1.1 will transfer at 12 MegaBits per second meaning 1.5 MegaBytes per second.

So theoretically, it would take 1400 secs to transfer 2.1 GB of music. Which is about 23-24 minutes to transfer everything. However I would estimate it would something like 30-35 minutes.

[sim1]

it really depends of what u will do and what ull use ur mp3 player for... if you train while listening to music you better go with a flash player with no harddrive in the unit. if you wont shake it A LOT you can buy a hardrive player. then, it depends of how much YOU want and how much YOU need. that way, you can do a wiser buy than just buy whatever is "cool"...

i can suggest you a creative zen micro, i have one myself and i love it. it really suits my needs, the sound quality is good, the interface needs a little practice but its not a con, the battery life is so-so (10-12 hours) and its removable. it can store 5gb maximum. i think i put 20 albums in mp3 @ 192kbps and its using the half of my space so i think its really good. it also have a lot of "bonus" feature if you compare it to the ipod mini (fm radio-ecorder, voice recorder, calendar etcetc) and the programs are working really well.

check those links out:

http://reviews.cnet.com/Music/4520-7964_7-...html?tag=dir.bg

http://reviews.cnet.com/4521-6532_7-502143...html?tag=subnav

hope this helps :p

sim1

[Monkeh]

Do some research, see which DAP fits your requirements. The iPod should go for $370-400, depending if they take the levy off or not (dunno if it's in effect yet).

Other players offer more features for a more reasonable price. Unless you want the iPod as a fashion statement, prefer simplicity (to the extreme) or want to fit in with the crowd, I don't see why the iPod would be a better choice than other players.

I'll throw out some DAPs that might interest you. Toshiba Gigabeat F10 (you'll probably be one of 5 or 10 Canadians to own it... lol), iAudio M3, iRiver H300, iRiver H10, Rio Carbon, Rio Karma, Creative Zen Touch, Creative Zen Micro, Sony NW-HD3. All of these players have strengths and weaknesses, and they're all within your spending limit.

http://www.dapreview.net/comparisons/compared.html <-- A good comparison tool.

Are you the kind of person that would buy an Emachines from futureshop, rather than doing research and custom order/build a system? If yes, forget everything in this post and go for the iPod (Y).

[Xtreme $niper]

The levvy was in fact removed. Apple's site lists the iPod at 25 bucks less than it was before because the tax was lifted.

[phend-one]

I won an iPod over Christmas from the Pepsi challenge in Canada and paid $150CAN to get it upgraded to the 40Gb.

Anyways, I'm not putting it down or anything, because I love it to death, but I seriously think it's overhyped. The thing that bugs me the most about my iPod is how the "directories" are setup and how you can't really turn it "off". Things I like: capacity and how it can run as a hard-drive so I can transfer stuff around. It is also very easy to operate. After a while, you can just operate it from your pocket without looking at it.

If I were given a choice to choose again, I'd probably go try out the iRiver H340. It's got a color screen, great included accessories and functions.

Are you in Canada? Go to Futureshop or Best Buy and go try out all the different ones (Try not to talk to the sales rep as they don't give a sh!t, only making as much commission as possible, and will try to sell you the most expensive product). Do some homework too!

Good luck with your purchase! I'm sure you'll be satisfied with whatever product you choose.

[kirk26]

How slow are we talking, for example, to put a 3mb song on to it?

585323070[/snapback]

700 songs should take about a minute or two to transfer over.

[Max Veteran]

700 songs should take about a minute or two to transfer over.

585328191[/snapback]

On USB 1.1? You must be joking! It takes about 5/10 minutes for 700 songs on firewire.

For 700 songs I would say an hour.

[Razorwing]

it takes me 2 secs or so on USB 1.0

[Martyn]

it takes me 2 secs or so on USB 1.0

585328409[/snapback]

really?

[Xtreme $niper]

Uhhh dude, lay off the caps lock and make ur sig smaller.

[The Better one]

I GOT A 20GB IPOD AND ITS BRILL. I GOT AN ITRIP WITH IT AND CAN USE IT IN THE CAR AS WELL THROUGH THE SPEAKERS. I WAS ALSO IN UR SITUATION WITH THE USB PORT AND I JUST GOT A FIREWIRE CARD. IT IS CHEAP AND VERY QUICK.

[joshpo]

it takes me 2 secs or so on USB 1.0

585328409[/snapback]

Either:

A. You are talking about 2 secs for each song (still not possible)

B. You infact have USB2

C. You have no concept of time

[skybl4ck]

Are you an audophile? If you are you will need really expensive headphones or a nce cmoy headphone amplifier for that extra awesome boost of sound quality. I have a 20 gig 4G, its great in all but I kinda wish i saved some cash and bought like a creative micro or something from irive.

[MonkeyClaw Veteran]

well i have a 20 gig U2 and i think it was worth every cent. I havent had any issues and its just a wonderful simple and easy to use player. Its really a matter of opinion though, i would go and try different players. Dont listen to the fools who say that the rechargable battery goes dead after a year cause they dont know what they are talking bout. U prob will wnat new headphones if u do get one, even though i like them for some reason, lol. But yea, if u decide against it, then go with the iRiver or a creative, i prefer the iPod but its all a matter of personal preference and opinion and really u should just try stuff out.

[Bwizzel-B]

well i have a 20 gig U2 and i think it was worth every cent. 

585329456[/snapback]

Get one if you like to:

Pay too much

For less features and compatibility

but

Have to have one cuz they are so cute and all.

Really, there are much better deals on players that support more music formats with less hassles, for much less. :yes:

[MonkeyClaw Veteran]

well bwizzel i said i think it was meaning it is my opinion, i guess where u are from people cant have formulated opinions. i love my iPod, not cause its cute and all, but because i like the simplicity and design of it. and 300 dollars isnt a lot, i have a theory u are a stereotypical anti apple person and that if the iPod was a different brand you wouldnt open your mouth to waste any air.

Get one if u like:

Simplicity

Design

Functionality

Quality

The iPod supports plenty of music file formats, i havent had to hassle with mine at all cause its so easy to use that my grandma could use it, and the thing is that of quality, nothing that feels cheap in your hand. But thats my opinion, 300 dollars is too much for some people, i dont think its that bad for what u are getting, so again go with what u try out and like.

[ZZOOzzoo]

well bwizzel i said i think it was meaning it is my opinion, i guess where u are from people cant have formulated opinions.  i love my iPod, not cause its cute and all, but because i like the simplicity and design of it.  and 300 dollars isnt a lot, i have a theory u are a stereotypical anti apple person and that if the iPod was a different brand you wouldnt open your mouth to waste any air.

Get one if u like:

Simplicity

Design

Functionality

Quality

The iPod supports plenty of music file formats, i havent had to hassle with mine at all cause its so easy to use that my grandma could use it, and the thing is that of quality, nothing that feels cheap in your hand.  But thats my opinion, 300 dollars is too much for some people, i dont think its that bad for what u are getting, so again go with what u try out and like.

585336755[/snapback]

Who in the right mind would choose iPod for 'functionality'??

I own iPod myself, and I like its look and simplicity, but it's still lacking in many parts.

No matter how many unpopular formats iPod supports, you can't play many of popular formats such as WMA or OGG on iPod.

But then again, if your music collection is all in MP3, and you don't need voice recording and FM radio, and you can bear with relatively short battery life, go for iPod.