4th Generation Ipod audio quality???

[appar111]

What type of work, etc. were you trying to do on OSX? I only use my computer for internet access, burning cd's, playing mp3's and dvd's and using stuff like Word, Excel, etc. so it's really down to splitting hairs for me as to which OS would work better. Probably dead even nowadays with XP Pro.

 

[stymie miasma]

Quote:

Originally Posted by appar111 What type of work, etc. were you trying to do on OSX? I only use my computer for internet access, burning cd's, playing mp3's and dvd's and using stuff like Word, Excel, etc. so it's really down to splitting hairs for me as to which OS would work better. Probably dead even nowadays with XP Pro.

Similar stuff to you - Word, Powerpoint, GraphPad. Lots of internet use as there are tons of bioinformatics programs which we access via the web (NCBI, Blast, Clustal, PubMed etc). I think the layout of XP is more intuitive, particularly Windows Exlplorer. By and far the most frustrating thing with OSX was the OSX 'toolbar'. The Windows toolbar and Quicklaunch really outclass OSX in this regard, in my opinion.

Also bear in mind that I run XP Pro with the older "Classic" windows settings. Otherwise, XP tends to becomes almost as "gimmicky" as OSX.

Finally, I am not a tweaker. I keep things simple and I think that is why I don't have too many problems.

 

[lindrone]

I think I'll start another thread in member's lounge on day discussing what quirkiness of Windows XP I can deal with, and what quirkiness of MacOS X I can't bear...

Then we should have a all out flame war

For now, let's keep this one on the sound quality.. or at least keep it civil.. (which so far, it has been.. I'm just afraid.. you know..).

 

[Spad]

One of my iPods is a 2G/20 that I use solely for audiobooks. I'm intrigued by the 4G's ability to increase play-back speed, but only if the speed-up doesn't significantly alter voice pitch, etc. I assume it doesn't, but I'd like to be certain before I pop for yet another of these little jewels. Just being able to shave a couple of hours off an eight hour audiobook, all things being equal, is enough to justify the cost for me. Has any 4G owner listened to spoken word files at higher speeds? If so, what was the result?

Concerning OS preferences, if you really want to know which is "best" you need to own--or at least extensively use--both. Unless you're intimately familiar with each, how valid can your opinion truly be?

BTW, if you want to learn to love Apple just buy a little stock.

 

[stymie miasma]

Quote:

Originally Posted by lindrone I think I'll start another thread in member's lounge on day discussing what quirkiness of Windows XP I can deal with, and what quirkiness of MacOS X I can't bear... Then we should have a all out flame war For now, let's keep this one on the sound quality.. or at least keep it civil.. (which so far, it has been.. I'm just afraid.. you know..).

Yes...good call. Apologies for steering this thread OT

For what it is worth, once the dust has settled surrounded the release of the new iPod, I plan to purchase one in order to superseed my old Sharp MD. So keep the comments on audio quality coming!

Oh, and Spad - XP Pro is my preference. I gave OSX a 6 month, 6 day-a-week flogging, wanting to like it. Not saying XP Pro is better than OSX, just that it seems more intuitive to me.

 

[sno1man]

Well I'm glad to see I'm not crazy. I agree that the 4g ipods do sound a bit better than previous versions. It's not a huge difference in my case with my sony 71's or the shure e3's but it's noticeable. It's most noticeable in woodwinds and brass (Chicago or Blood Sweat and Tears for example). The sound is just a bit more open and crisp for lack of a better way of describing it.

I am getting much better battery life too. Just a shade over 11 hours which is not what Apple advertises but much better than my 3g which gets about 6.5 hours.

I'm very pleased.

As to the Mac Vs PC debate can't we just move on by now. Depending on where you look and what you do, they both suck or they are both the greatest thing since sliced bread. I have one of each and we use both constantly.

Posted from a Mac

 

[penbat]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sno1man Well I'm glad to see I'm not crazy. I agree that the 4g ipods do sound a bit better than previous versions. It's not a huge difference in my case with my sony 71's or the shure e3's but it's noticeable. It's most noticeable in woodwinds and brass (Chicago or Blood Sweat and Tears for example). The sound is just a bit more open and crisp for lack of a better way of describing it. I am getting much better battery life too. Just a shade over 11 hours which is not what Apple advertises but much better than my 3g which gets about 6.5 hours. I'm very pleased. As to the Mac Vs PC debate can't we just move on by now. Depending on where you look and what you do, they both suck or they are both the greatest thing since sliced bread. I have one of each and we use both constantly. Posted from a Mac

Lindrone suggests that sound quality improvement is quite large with headphone socket but less so with line-out. Any clarification of line-out sound quality improvement would be useful.

 

[intlplby]

one thing about windows that has made it unbearable to use has been the popup and spyware issues with it......

adaware is nice but not perfect and requires restarts into safe mode to get rid of some spyware, constant updating and stuff.....

with os x nothing can be installed without a password so the only real vulnerability in OS X is the user..... trojan horses are the only type of crap that really gets on OS X


what specifically do you use as a graphic designer that makes you prefer XP

i can't imagine going back to XP especially to use it for my work with photoshop, illustrator and indesign....


i've lost too much time because something crashed...... and constant saving isn't overly convenient when you are working with 250mb files


windows is only more intuitive if you grew up using windows.....

the only thing i find to be easier to use in windows is the file browser......

there are very few differences between the windows toolbar and the os x dock......

the only thing that a novice os x user might find frustrating is the lack of easy access to all installed programs since there is no start button menu..... all you do in that case is click on desktop and type apple-n and you get the applications folder.....

are you a power user in windows as well? i.e. do you regularly use keyboard shortcuts?

i simply don't see what you could be doing as a graphic designer that you prefer windows for


this isnt a flame war just civil discussion.... no name calling or nothing

 

[blessingx]

Getting back to the point of this thread, and based solely on sound, I think "OS X" is cooler to say than "XP".

Good read, lindrone. That review, along with $100 Audible discount and $50 Amazon gift cert. has me finally considering upgrading from my 1st gen.

 

[toaster]

Quote:

Originally Posted by lindrone Truth is, I hate Mac, but I love the iPod.

could not agree with you more. Apple is one of the worst companies i have ever known.

 

[plainsong]

See? Good thing Lindrone didn't post the review here... we just took the thread and made it about what we wanted it to be about.

But for my part, I've used Dos/Windows since the 8088 with no hard drive days, and every incarnation of Windows since. I switched to OsX two years ago, and it's the first time I've ever been completely happy with my computer. It's as easy or as difficult as you want it to be, basically.

But there's the caveat that the reason I switched was because I liked the NeXt type windows managers when my husband was using Linux. That was a major clue, and with Windows 2000/XP pro I used Windowblinds + Nextstart. So I sort of had a feeling for this kind of interface already.

It was a shock when I got the imac. Rushed home and sent the husband grocery shopping... and holy crap! There's a big Apple box in the living room!!

As Lindrone points out, it's all down to preference. My husband is also a graphics guy (not professionally, just his work is popular and he enjoys it), and prefers Windows, or perhaps Linux once they come out with some things he's been looking for. Meanwhile the most I can do with Photoshop is make "Swirly things".

 

[Sczervok]

I've used both macs and windows. And both suck. Equally.
Ok, not really, they're both good, and I don't have much of a favor to any of them. XP is easier to use, simply cause I grew in favor of it (I used both macs and pcs when I grew up).

Why I don't have a mac, is I simply can't stand their curvy ass white and shiny computers. Ok, and a little baby blue here and there. I just can't stand it. If I stick an flat black M92 on it, and it doesn't look right.. it's not for me.
Heck, Apple's appearance scares the crap out of me. Not really, it's just disturbing. I wouldn't want to sleep in the same room as an apple computer, for fear of it sprouting legs, and doing strange things in the middle of the night. ^^

Has anyone ever tried taking apart an iPod? It would seem to be an interesting player for me.. if I could paint it. Just stick a Yakuza silhouette on the front, and spray it black ^^
It would also be nice if it were totally UMS, and did not require iTunes (which nearly infested my computer last time) to load music...

 

[Spad]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sczervok Why I don't have a mac, is I simply can't stand their curvy ass white and shiny computers. Ok, and a little baby blue here and there. I just can't stand it.

Really?

 

[chumley]

Quote:

Originally Posted by bangraman Lindrone, You always get worked up about the battles that rage here over which is best, etc propagated by iRiver fanboys, iPod fanboys, Ety fanboys, Shure fanboys, UE fanboys, etc. Chill out and let the misguided air their own opinions and ignore them if they get up your nose. Control of unreasonable posting is what the mods are for. I'm interested, plenty of other people who're just reading this post instead of posting are interested and not fanboys. I'm particularly intrigued due to austonia's post saying that the 4G was equal to the iHP-140 in terms of audio quality. While he has a definitive edge of DAP experience than both of us, I'm positive that we have a definitive edge in headphone/amp experience. So a comparison between the 3G and 4G would be very welcome.

First off, thanks Lindrone, for a review that's useful, clear, and informed!

As for the fanboy stuff, I just have to add here...ummm

As a 44 year old consultant, film maker, DV (actually, D1 and HD) and Audio Editor with a long freakin' time in the biz as a pro, I just want to say that *sigh*... I run G5 dual Macs in the shop, run 'em at home, run PowerBooks on the road, and work with professional musicians and sound crews as a matter of course going on 20 years now.

I respect anyone's preference of tools and toys, and I don't expect anyone to change their mind because of what I say/do/recommend. I respect XP Pro, love Windows 2000 Server, use Mac OS X 10.3 and 10.3 Server, 3 flavors of Linux, 2 of straight up Unix and 4 of Windows every_damn_day, 24/7. I network 'em, break 'em, fix 'em, and spec 'em for clients- from a guy in his den who needs to step up from his PII, to a 700 million company with operations on 3 continents that needs my IT and hardware consulting for a year... my personal preference is what works best for the job(s) at hand. That's it. For me, it's Macs, because Avid turnkey solutions can no longer keep up with Final Cut Pro and a few Mac workstations for my high-end HD work. Does that mean I would try to talk someone who's happy and productive with XP into buying a Mac? Um,... no. I'd rather help them get the most out of XP and their hardware if they asked, but why preach?

I believe in results. Which brings me back again to an ON TOPIC point, *finally*... as far as portable consumer audio goes, I listen to everything I can: before, during, and after owning and using 1G through 4G iPods, and, frankly, nothing I've heard is as good (as a road rig, anyway), to these battered ears, as good digital source via L/O from a 4G iPod through a Gilmore L. (and there are other portable amps that will do the job differently, and as well), then on to either ye olde Ety 4S's or my HD 650s... YMMV.

I find that the 3G has issues, particularly, as Lindrone mentions, at the headphone out with Bass and EQ that the 4G addresses pretty well. I want a SuperMono hooked up to this 4G's L/O asap, though! And maybe, just maybe, I can bring myself to use the iPod's H/O to the (new) Total Airhead and put the entire mess into the GigaBag that's collecting dust... something to use as the 'flyweight' rig until the SuperMono arrives...

The 3 things I'd most like to see in iPods asap: a) gapless, b) no buffer 'hiccups' on lossless files, c) a NO SURGERY user-replaceable battery.

Thanks again, Lindrone... and sorry, all, for the OT OS filler... couldn't resist...

 

[lindrone]

Quote:

Originally Posted by chumley The 3 things I'd most like to see in iPods asap: a) gapless, b) no buffer 'hiccups' on lossless files, c) a NO SURGERY user-replaceable battery. Thanks again, Lindrone... and sorry, all, for the OT OS filler... couldn't resist...

b) is pretty much answered, the only hiccup I've found is that one time.. very random. I haven't had any problem at all since.

And for the OS filler... hey, I couldn't quite resist it myself. I think I may just comment into this thread what I thought about some of the fundamental changes in MacOS X...