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80GB 5.5 Generation is here!
I'm not sure if people are still buying this now but I just wanted to let you know that you can get a brand new 80GB video iPod for 349.00 (381.00 after tax in TN). I love mine and couldn't be happier! Good little gadget, but not perfect The iPod came into my life about a month ago. Learning to use the iPod has been a battle at times, but overall, it's been a battle worth fighting. So far, the iPod itself works fine. It charges relatively quickly, and plays many hours on the battery between charges. I've heard the screens are easy to scratch, so I've been careful with mine, and I haven't had any problems with scratching to date. My main problem has been figuring out the software. On the same day I got the iPod, I also got a Sandisk 512 Mb MP3 player. Without reading the instructions for the MP3 player, in less than 15 minutes, I had it loaded with music from Jukebox software that came with my computer, and playing tunes on my new iFi system. It took the better part of 2 days to get that far with the iPod. I had heard that iTunes can screw up your filing system in your music folder, so I tried connecting the iPod to Jukebox. Several hours after starting the download to the iPod, the system froze, and I found that the download was aborted. Then I found that the iPod had put the music files from Jukebox into its Notes folder, and didn't recognize them as music. It seems an iPod will only talk to iTunes (although there was no documentation saying so in the packaging), so I had to install the iTunes software. Fortunately, the software does give you a choice about rearranging your folder system, so my initial fears were unwarranted. When I went to download my music from iTunes onto the iPod, however, the system reported that there wasn't enough space because of the files Jukebox had put in the Notes folders. I had already deleted those files by moving them to my desktop recycle bin, but some trace must still have been left in the file system. As I tried reloading the music from iTunes, the system froze. And the iPod froze. And the only way out was to reinitialize the iPod. Due to my unfamiliarity with iPod technology, it took several hours of studying the online instructions for such a procedure to understand how to do this, which buttons on the iPod to push and for how long. Finally, I got the iPod back to its initial state and could begin to download my music, which took 6-8 hours for 35 Gbs. Since then, the software has run more or less OK, although it's not very intuitive, and takes a bit of a struggle to figure out. I think Apple thinks it's cool to provide a minimum of signage or instruction and let people figure things out on their own. Perhaps the mystery of a device or software without instructions is supposed to be endearing, but I just find it frustrating. It took me several days to figure out how to turn on the shuffle feature on the iPod. As far as I can figure, every time you begin to play a shuffled playlist, you always have to start with the same first song. Stupid design, if that's true, and stupid documentation if it's not. I'll never figure out why people are so loyal to Apple anyway if this is an example of what customers have to put up with. Not only does Apple have an overwhelming share of the hardware market for music players, but they also rule the software, and through it, online sales. Smells of a vertical monopoly structure to me. Good for business, bad for customers. Since iPods are known to bad for your hearing, Apple has provided 2 volume "safeguards". The first is through the iTunes software which has a tool to analyze all songs and put them at the same volume settings. I tried this feature, and my music is still all over the place in terms of volume. If the software did anything at all, I think it amplified applause and drum solos. The other is a setting on the iPod where you can choose a maximum volume. It would be great if the iPod software could look ahead at a song and make sure that it doesn't play it back with a decibel setting over a certain level. Instead, the volume guard simply functions as a stop on the dial, so that you can't turn up the volume any higher than the setting you define. But since music can come into the playlist at a variety of levels, if you set the volume guard in a quiet piece, when a loud piece comes on, it will set your eardrums afire. And if you set the guard in a loud piece, you won't be able to hear the quieter pieces even with the volume turned up all the way. In other words, the feature is useless. Basically, Apple still hasn't done anything meaningful to address the volume problem, although a software solution wouldn't seem that hard to implement. The iPod ships with a set of earbud headphones (with little black sponge caps that are impossible to put on and fall off all the time), a faux velvet case for the headphones (not for the iPod itself, which I mistakenly assumed, so I ripped out the seams of the little case trying to stuff the iPod in it), a CD with the iTunes software, and a short cable for connecting the iPod to a USB jack. At a minimum, I would suggest investing in a tape adaptor for your car if you are lucky enough to have a tape player (the Sony tape adaptor works great, and is under $15), and a car charger. Not only are tape adaptors cheaper than FM adaptors for the car, but they also are a lot more reliable and don't have the channel changing problem as you drive long distances. You can connect your iPod to your existing stereo system with a Y-cable. Or get an iPod ready sound system with a built-in charger. Now that I've had this... for over a year I think I can give a fair review. Although this is a nice little machine it's got its problems, problems that shouldn't occur in such an expensive product. But first, the positive. I listen to alot of music, I've already had to delete about 10 gigs to make room for other music so the 80GB is looking pretty tempting right now. Actually, I heard that a 100GB is coming soon, I can only hope! Anyways, everything you might have heard about the iPod being hard to use with PC is untrue. If you have any computer skills at all it should come as no problem. iTunes is easy to use (although I hate all the music on iTunes), adding songs, pictures, movies and text are simple enough. When you first get an iPod you may struggle for about 2 minutes. The mp3s sound good although I with there was a function that kept all the songs at the same noise level. It sucks when you have it turned up very loud when a low sound level song comes on and then your head explodes when the next song comes on! Okay, so now some of the negative. First, battery life. I turn off my backlight because it will eat the battery in about 4 hours! I forget exactly how long it says the battery life is supposed to last, I think 12 hours, but it isn't close. And, it only gets worse the longer you own it. Okay, another thing that I hate. I'm not sure if this happens to everyone but my songs will duplicate, meaning that I'll have 2 of the same album instead of just the one. This is very annoying because, like I said, I put alot of music on this and having double of an album only takes more space that shouldn't be taken. I have to go through my iPod about once every 2 weeks to get rid of doubles. Sometimes when I try and turn off my iPod it won't respond. So I have to hold down play once...twice...thrice...foursies...five'ins...you get it. It'll respond after a bit, but this is annoying. And finally, my biggest complaint of all time, the 5GBs that you don't get to use!!!!! This is such a pain because I bought a 60GB not a 55GB!!! If iPod has to use 5 gigs to put memory crap on here then make it a 65GB and sell it as a 60GB! Don't cheat people out of 5 gigs, I need the space!!!!! Okay, I'm calm now. So, all in all this is a good piece of equipment if you've got a whole lot of music and don't feel like carrying CD books around. When I do get another MP3 player, I don't think I'll be going to Apple again though. Best IPOD ever! This Ipod is simply a joy to own and use. Plenty of storage, portable and no issues with ITUNES. The video quality is amazing considering the size of the screen. The only issue is with the earbuds - terrible sound and fitting issues. Great Sound First off--I'm old(ish) in my 50's and I watched my daughter using her iPod nano. Then she started playing me songs from her iPod, then I started really liking some of the songs, then I got jealous, so I asked for my own for my birthday. So I got the biggest and newest, and I love it. It has fantastic sound. I play it in my car. I also use it to listen to audiobooks. I can't wait to watch movies on it. It is also very easy to use. So I give it 5 stars. | |
