My new toy...

[Claus]

I like music everywhere... (http://www.apple.com/ipod/userinterface.html)

[Jopin]

The iPOD looks fantastic. What about the sonics?

[KLM]

My Dad just bought one of these little babies. He was listening to NPR and also saw some articles in the Wall St. Journal that said it was the one to get. Supposedly, it has the most memory, is easiest to use and the best design (and yeah it has the "COOL" factor going on). He is using the new model specifically designed for PCs and has had a couple of problems.

Now realize he is no computer whiz and I frankly don't have the interest, knowledge or time to help him with it either. Apparently, when using a PC, the IPOD works best with windows 2000 (which he doesn't have). He was able to buy an inexpensive (around $30) software package from CompUSA which initially got him running. He later had some other software problem that a new IPOD software update fixed. He has been back and forth to the Mac store many times and they have been very helpful.

I just wonder, given the premium price, is the IPOD worth it and is it that much better than the RIO, Sony and other MP3 players out there? I know if he had a MAC based system, it probably would be a no-brainer and he wouldn't have the problems he's experienced. Thoughts...

[GabeG]

One aparently little known fact about the IPOD is that you can store and play WAV files on it. Even on the 5GB model you can store several CDs worth. I'd be curious about the sound quality when used in that capacity.

- Gabe

[RetroSmith]

I have the PC IPOD and let me tell you, its FANTASTIC.

The sound quality is great, my only gripe is that I wish it went a little louder, but then again, I'm deaf!!

The really nice thing is that the battery lasts a really long time (weeks) before you have to recharge.

ANd it IS a really cool looking thing.

[Claus]

It's just the best mp3 player on the market (available for Mac/Win)... the finish is great. I will replace the headphones... with a nice pair of Bang Olufsen... check this link: http://www.bang-olufsen.com/sw711.asp

[Jopin]

Claus, I have a pair of those. They sound very nice and look terrific. But it took me some time to figure out the best way to wear them. BTW: Did you recognize this: in the movie "Minority Report" they cut off the cable of the B&O headphone and used one of the pair as a new type of mobile phone. Very funny when you recognize it.

[d.r.cook]

I got an IPOD and the Bose noise-canceling 'phones for b'day about 9 months ago. Fantastic products, both. Especially nice since I'm on Mac; lightning-fast transfer of tons of music, including mixes, etc. I have the 10G and I think there's a 20G now, though I can't imagine needed more than what I have now at any given time.

If you're into pure "payload" for the dollar, there are other MP3 players worth looking at, but ipod is just an amazing piece of industrial design--as is just about everything Apple does. (The new laptops are incredible.) The Wall Street Journal tech writer raves about all the Apple stuff, in spite of the fact that his audience is probably 98% WinTel.

Claus, how much to the B&O 'phones go for? I got a $30 set of SONYs for working out, but those look enticing.

Doug

[Claus]

@Doug

The B&O's are very expensive... appr. $ 60 in Germany. Yesterday I have tested the comfort... fantastic and the sound is very good... better than Apple's own speakers or others.

[Chris Desjardin]

For Christmas I got a Creative Nomad Zen mp3 player - just like the ipod (same size and features), but with a 20 gig hard drive! The best thing was it was only 300 bucks! I have been converting music to mp3's (variable bit rate) for a month, and still have a long way to go until that thing is full. It holds about 5,000 songs (even more if you're into oldies like me). The sound on this thing is really amazing. Ain't technology wonderful!!??

[Claus]

There are rumours Apple will upgrade their iPods with a 30 GByte MP3 player in spring. I also like the feature I can carry my files as a mobile harddisk.

[Claviusb]

Very cool, Claus!

[RetroSmith]

Actually, i heard that Apple is going to introduce a NEW IPOD that has :

1)30 Gig HD

2) Color 2 inch by 2 inch screen

3) Ability to play MPEG 4 VIDEO files

That would really be something. You could watch "sienfeld" on the train going to work!!!

[Claus]

January 22, 2003
New iPods With FireWire 800 Coming
According to sources inside Texas Instruments, that company is shipping a new low power FireWire 800 (IEEE1394b) bridge chipset to Apple. As the only portable product made by Apple to use such an HDD bridge is the iPod, clearly Apple is preparing to launch new iPod models that implement the twice-as-fast FireWire standard.

MacWhispers Analysis
We believe we're about to get an updated 'Pod lineup... really soon... within 45 days or so. However, the new 'Pods will be remarkably like the present iPods. Our guess is that Apple will use this update as a chance to tidy up a few minor circuit details, maybe add the solid state scroll wheel to the 5GB version, to add the blazingly fast 1394b interface ("FireWire 800" in Apple's terms), and to pump up the ARM processor to a newer, somewhat more powerful version. And, whether it's Hitachi's or Toshiba's, we expect to see the new 40GB 1.8" drive make an appearance at the top of the new line.

The enclosure design will remain precisely the same, with the exception that a hard anodized aluminum back will go on the 'Pod, and the shiny stainless steel will go away. The revised 5GB budget model will get white polycarbonate on the back.

We expect a 4-model lineup:

5GB @ $199 - white polycarbonate back
10GB @ $299 - anodized aluminum back
20GB @ $399 - anodized aluminum back
40GB @ $499 - anodized aluminum back

If video features appear on an Apple branded portable product, it'll be on a completely new product, not tacked onto the iPod. And, sorry, but no voice recording, no FM radio, and no all-out PDA features, either. Just the world's best HDD-based MP3 player.

[Irwin Mainway]

Wow! 40 gigs. That's a ton of music.

I have had a 20 gig iPod for 4 months now and I absolutely love it. I sync it with my old (1998) PowerBook and it works great.

Absolutely the premium portable mp3 player on the market.

I'm going to have to get some decent headphones soon. Earbuds just don't do it for me.