ipod vs the competition

[monsterone]

so i want something that's basically a portable hd with play back capacities. the ipod gets the most hype, but i know dell and a few other companies make such devices. i'm weary of ipods (horror stories of grad students who lost a semesters worth of work when their ipods erased themselves) and mac products. so i need a few suggestions

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[Doctor Manhattan]

semesters worth of work on an iPod? more like a semester's worth of kazaa! :p

I know the iPod can be used as an external hard drive (esspecial for people who don't have 10,000 songs they really want to have with them at all times.)


In defense of iPods, you shouldn't depend on any single harddrive for critical data, especially one made to be that small and portable. In the design of the iPod your music files sit on your PC or Mac and get synced into the iPod. So if something happens you can just resync as the files remain on the PC or Mac

I'd have an iPod if they didn't cost so damn much. But if you have the means, they are good music players. Just make sure you have a copy of any critical data (any music is saved on the PC, I don't know why a college student would copy real work onto an iPod and delete the copy from the Computer.)

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This message was edited by SofaKingWhat on 12-10-03 @ 2:34 PM

[ADF]

I like the iriver hard drive player. It comes with an in-line remote.

Here's the link. (http://iriveramerica.com/products/iHP-120.asp)

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[kansei]

I have a Nomad Zen USB with about 3-4 months of R&F on it, some classic O&A stuff in addition to all of my CDs.

It has a 20 GB drive, although the new Nomads come in 20, 30 and 60 GB flavors. It is a little bigger than the iPod, but it's cheaper (around $250 for the one I have)

Mine works great, and I'd recommend it to others.

[TheKnicks23]

iPods have the best sound I've ever heard on any player, but here's the Dell DJ:
Dell DJ (http://gear.ign.com/articles/441/441625p1.html)

I hear it's pretty good.

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[monsterone]

alright, here's what i came up with:

1. fuck the ipod (atleast $100 more than the competition)
2. iRiver iHP-120 (still expensive but more features than the ipod)
3. Creative Nomad Jukebox Zen NX (i little more memory at a better price)
4. dell dj (die dell die!!! it's $275 for 15gb & i called to get it. dude, i got a dell for my pc, but i had to deal with some foreign fuck reading a script twice. so eat a dick dell- can't support that bullshit.)

AND THIS IS WHERE I ASK FOR YOUR HELP

5. Neuros HD 20GB MP3 Digital Audio Computer(IT LOOKS SICK AND IT'S CHEAP, BUT I'M UNFAMILIAR WITH THE COMPANY)
here's the features:

Intuitive navigation

Go anywhere size: 5.3" x 3.1" x 1.3", 9.4 oz.

20GB hard drive holds up to 5,000 songs (encoded at 128kbps)

Use as a portable hard drive to hold any file you want to take with you

Digitally enhanced FM tuner

Recording to MP3 format from internal microphone, FM tuner, and line input

High resolution, backlit LCD display and button controls

5 programmable preset buttons

10 hours of continuous playback with rechargeable Lithium Ion battery

Automatic firmware and software upgrades

Neuros comes with earphones, car power adapter, wall power adapter, USB cable and Neuros Synchronization Manager Software

the price: $199 (online or at compusa)


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[Reephdweller]

I've had an iPod for a few months now. I love it, it's easily one of the best things I've bought. I love being able to upload R&F shows to it, and having everthing in one. The sound is awesome. There's lots of accessories. The Dell mp3 player sounds cool, but iPod is awesome.

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[monsterone]

but reffe, did you see the features offered by the neuros? the dell dj and ipod require a car adapter or usb port in your car stereo. the neuros is wireless capable, has a voice recorder, and is $199 vs $399 for a comprabible ipod.

plus i distrust mac products.

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[JohnnyCash]

I love my ipod. I have a PC and it sucks so I have to use my chicks computer to do anything. Thats the only problem I have with it. But the sound is great and it holds a ton of music. Just make sure whatever you do buy is 100% compatable with your computer. I didnt and it sucks.

Thanks to Reefdwella for the great Sig Pic.
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[JohnnyCash]

...double post

Thanks to Reefdwella for the great Sig Pic.
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This message was edited by JohnnyCash on 12-21-03 @ 10:55 PM

[monsterone]

steve jobs is a nazi

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[ChickenHawk]

THERE IS NO COMPETITION. THERE IS ONLY iPOD.

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[monsterone]

hawk, do you only use a mac?

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[ChickenHawk]

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MAC ONLY! THERE IS NOTHING ELSE!

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ORACLE NEVER!!!
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[monsterone]

here's my problem with macs: you have to but their over priced parts, all sw now is only for OSX (you're screwed if you have anything earlier), they changed up their OS so much, they offer classes to learn it at mac stores.

hawk, don't fear pc's b/c they are foreign to you. sure they're a lil slower btwn apps, but are more stabe, cheaper, and soon your fear will be replaced by love.

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[ChickenHawk]

All joking aside, I don't fear PC's because they're forgeign to me. I'm actually very familiar with PC's. I wouldn't call my abilities with PC's "advanced", but they are above average. However, I've been a Mac user my whole life. I'm just a native Mac user. I've been an Apple customer since the IIGs and I've just ALWAYS preferred their products and their operating systems.

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[monsterone]

how do you feel about OSX? i use 9.0,2 at work, but tinkered with a friends laptop, b/c when she upgraded to 10, she can no longer connect to the internet. very, very unlike pervious versions and i couldn't sold her problem.

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[ChickenHawk]

I love OS X. It took me some time to make the switch and adjust, but it's great now. It NEVER crashes. I think at this point, there's no excuse to still be using 9. X is almost 2 years old now.

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[monsterone]

my company has taken over my budget, which used to be $50 a month. i was able to save and get illustrator 10 before it was discontinued, but from here on out, all 7 mac will never get new sw. boy are they fucked.

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[TooCute]

here's my problem with macs: you have to but their over priced parts, all sw now is only for OSX (you're screwed if you have anything earlier), they changed up their OS so much, they offer classes to learn it at mac stores.

How is this different from any other time a new OS comes out, Mac or PC? It's been out forever. If you're still using OS 9, it's your own fault that there's no software. That's like saying, they came out with the gamecube two years ago, and now you're screwed if you still have an N64!!!! Wow, how awful!!! Also, I doubt that there is anyone who was comfortable with OS 9 or 8 (I can't recall 7, unfortunately, to guage how different it was, but I honestly don't recall much of a difference in any of the OS's up to 9 ever since the Mac first came out) who can't figure out how to use OS X within a minute or two. It's not difficult, and apart from certain things being named/accessed differently it doesn't function all that differently - than OS 9 or than any Windows environment. Argue all you want, but nobody can tell me that a Mac user can't get on a PC and instantly know how to do 99% of everyday things they want to do or vice versa. Of course, if you ever get stuck in OS X the built in help will tell you everything you want to know. I imagine that the most recent Windows has built in help too; I don't use PCs often so I don't know.

my company has taken over my budget, which used to be $50 a month. i was able to save and get illustrator 10 before it was discontinued, but from here on out, all 7 mac will never get new sw. boy are they fucked.


Of course if everyone used macs, all tech support people would be out of jobs.


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[Bill From Yorktown]

If the IRIVER is built as well as the solid state one (128Mb) I got last year - go for that. Thing works great.

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[JustJon]

here's my problem with macs: you have to but their over priced parts, all sw now is only for OSX (you're screwed if you have anything earlier), they changed up their OS so much, they offer classes to learn it at mac stores. As opposed to all the phone calls I get from friends and relatives for their PC problems. Hell, CompUSA offers Windows classes, the only difference is that the classes come from the actual manufacturer. There are huge differences between Win98 and WinXP, but they look similar on the surface.

Mac moves from a native to a UNIX core from 9 to X. Win moved from a Win95 to WinNT core for XP (this is a huge diff and most home users used 95/98).

Yesterday, I installed a game on my WinXP machine, but guess what? My video card wasn't compatible with that game. You claim PC parts are cheaper, but I have to buy more of them to keep upgrading to play my games. Never had to on any Mac I've ever owned.

As for software only supporting OSX, wanna try installing my OfficeXP in your Win95 machine? Microsoft does the same thing. They officially stopped supporting Win98 last month.

hawk, don't fear pc's b/c they are foreign to you. sure they're a lil slower btwn apps, but are more stabe, cheaper, and soon your fear will be replaced by love.
Love of rebooting and crashing? Trust me, the Mac is far more stable.

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[Orallo]

Yeah iPods are great except when after 12 to 18 months your battery dies and you call Apple and they instructuct you to throw the thing away and kindly buy another one... F Apple.

Ipodsdirtysecret.com (http://Ipodsdirtysecret.com)

Peace & Hugs,



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[Doctor Manhattan]

This turned into a Windows VS Mac thread. And Mac OSx vs OS9. iPod doesn't run OSx or 9.

NWA! Cool!

And is it unreplaceable or irreplaceable?

from the "iPod's Dirty Secret" link above:
my brother Van and I made the short film "iPod's Dirty Secret" After we finished production of the film, but not necessarily in response to it, Apple began offerring a battery replacement program for the ipod for a fee of $99 and an extended warranty for the ipod for $59.

What do the other MP3 player makers with rechargable batteries charge for a new battery?

Apple is an evil company on some level's despite this. There sales staff are informed not to tell customers about new products that are about to come out. And they don't lower prices on items when a newer version is about to come out. So lots of people purchased a 3rd generation ipod with 15GB or 30GB of HD space and the next day the 20GB and 40 GB came out for the same prices. Even people who asked about any new models were told "No these just came out"
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This message was edited by SofaKingWhat on 12-22-03 @ 3:00 PM

[JustJon]

Apple is an evil company on some level's despite this. There sales staff are informed not to tell customers about new products that are about to come out. And they don't lower prices on items when a newer version is about to come out. So lots of people purchased a 3rd generation ipod with 15GB or 30GB of HD space and the next day the 20GB and 40 GB came out for the same prices. Even people who asked about any new models were told "No these just came out"
Not all mp3 players have removable batteries, so the price varies player to player. The big problem with the battery dying after a couple years like that is that you can't replace the battery yourself. The ipod has a few bad features (moving parts, etc.). No one said it was perfect.

And what company ever tells you about upcoming products before the press releases? If you purchase a mac product and a new one is announced within 30 days, you can upgrade for free or for the difference price. Hell, my dad bought a Verizon camera phone in November. Rebates came out in December and they wouldn't give them to him because a month had elapsed since he purchased it. They also wouldn't tell him about other camera phones coming, even though the Audiovox came out this month and a Samsung and Motorla are being released, but prolly not till beginning of next year.

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[TooCute]

Well, my ipod's battery is still going strong...

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[Reephdweller]

I have windows and it works fine on my pc. I have Win XP and firewire setup. I use the apple updater software along with musicmatch and iTunes and everything works fine together.

I initially had a problem with the dock not always getting recognized when windows would start, but the latest update seems to have fixed that problem.

The only mac program I'm not crazy about is QuickTime, the latest version of Media Player seems to have fixed that problem for me though, but as far as the iPod is concerned, it's been a pleasure.

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[monsterone]

sorry to harp on the mac hatred. for some reason, my computer at work(a g3), every time i push the start up button, it starts for 5 seconds and crashes. unplug the power cord, push again, and the repair window comes up. grrrrr....

so i bought the neuros mp3 player. do check it out. i am soooooooo psyched that i'll be able to drive around, listening to the buddays again.

this fucking thing is pretty damn versitile and has a lot of features no other mp3 players are offering.

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[JustJon]

I have windows and it works fine on my pc. I have Win XP and firewire setup. I use the apple updater software along with musicmatch and iTunes and everything works fine together.
The USB2.0 cable came out a couple months ago, but anyone who doesn't have firewire in their pc really should look into getting a pci firewire card. I much prefer it over usb.

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