Is this a good time to buy an iPod Classic?

[Chone]

It's that same old question about buying technology thats rapidly improving with new models seemingly coming out every year. It seems like Apple has kind of streamlined the original iPod and is moving on to more flash oriented players like the Nano and the new iPhones and iPod Touches, but I still have that lingering feeling that the second I buy a new Classic that a new version might be right around the corner. I've already waited a while because it seemed like the responsible thing to do, but now my old 20 GB iPod can't fit my entire library, the touch wheel is becoming unresponsive, the screen burning out from the bottom up. It's still servicable for my needs, its just like I'm waiting for something to happen, for my old iPod to break or for Apple to release a new large-capacity affordable player or at least lower the price. Neither side will blink. I'd be willing to pay the $250 price tag gladly if I knew it was the right choice.

I know if there was some easy answer there wouldn't be such a thing as buyer's remorse, but I really have no feeling for these kinds of things at all.

 

[0roo0roo]

do you need more than 160gb?
can you wait till september?

most likely the drive based units will remain non touch. and i don't think flash units will have enough capacity cheap enough to make most harddrive ipod people happy within the next 2 years. 32gb flash players are out now, but they cost a pretty penny, double your price range. so i guess its pretty safe to get a drive ipod if you just want it for music. the improvements are in video playing and such. in about 2 years it'll be nice, finally have reasonbly priced flash players with enough space to carry your entire music library. 32gb still isn't quite enough considering the big price.

 

[PixelSquish]

id expect new stuff from apple announced this week. it is the WWDC, some event.


so hold out a couple days. my cousin who is a huge apple fanboy, said they should announce some things today on june 9th.

he was trying to dissuade me from ordering a zune 2g, which i did anyways and got last week

 

[Uncle Erik]

We might get new iPods today even. Looks like iPhone 2.0 will be out today, as well.

If not, I'd hold off to close to the end of the year. iPods will get some sort of bump for holiday sales. Price cuts and/or bigger drives are always likely.

 

[TheMarchingMule]

No, new major iPods will always be released 'round September time.

The iPhone 3G, now that's another story...

 

[PixelSquish]

well to be safe here is a liveblog covering the apple event.

starts at 1pm EST today

Apple WWDC Liveblog: Monday June 9

just in case any new mp3 players are announced, youll know.

 

[chris_ah1]

Well I just got my dad to get me a 160GB black ipod from the US - for $340.............................................. ...........If there is a new model, well that is a bummer.

But for £170 I save £60 ($120) over UK retail (being £230).
$120 can go to a new headphone that doesn't need amping like my UM2s.

Plus I'll still have the long battery life and huge HD of the classic.....What will a new device bring? More battery? I doubt it.
Better sound quality? We all know apple are going down in that department. More features? No thanks - i would rather turn most of them off.

there is very little for them to do to the classic other than make it smaller - moot point if I'm dangling an amp at the other end.

 

[bigshot]

With any technlogy, the best time to buy into it is when you are ready to use it. Get an iPod and use it a lot. If you don't plan to use an iPod between now and the end of the year, wait.

See ya
Steve

 

[Mike Wazowski]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheMarchingMule /img/forum/go_quote.gif No, new major iPods will always be released 'round September time. ...

Don't be too surprised if this doesn't happen this year. Remember new iLife every MacWorld Expo? Or, can anyone predict timing of new Macs anymore?..

To the OP:
it is a good time to buy iPod Classic now. It is a fairly mature product, so the chance of bad surprises is small. Apple's new designs often have bugs, sometimes nasty ones. I always give it at least couple of months after a minor upgrade, at least half year for a redesign. And don't get the new OS until it becomes at least a *.2 .

 

[Trastan]

I had the same question recently about whether to buy the Zune 80 now, or wait until the end of the year to check out the (potentially) new model(s). You can do either, but I'd recommend that you get the Classic now, as it (like the Zune 80) is about as good as it's going to get for DAPs in this capacity range until flash memory catches up. The traditional iPod/Zune design is, for all intents and purposes, a finely honed product, and, unless you need better battery life or larger-yet storage capacity, you'd have a very hard time going wrong with what's available now.

I chose to buy my Zune 80 now, and I'm as happy as I can be. The primary improvements made between old and new hard drive-based players these days are in battery life and storage space, so unless the Classic doesn't meet your needs in those two areas, I'd say pick one up. My guess is that it'll make you happy for a long time to come, and that's all that matters.

 

[LaBreaHead]

Bigshot touched on some good points. It's a device. Get one and use it -- unless you are now more interested in getting the latest thing, whatever that might be. But for music, you've already shown the willingness to get a lot of use out of your earlier "music" iPod -- so why not get a Classic now? Or maybe a factory refurbed Classic from the iPod online store right when or maybe just before the September iPods are announced -- you might find an excellent value for fully refurbed quality (when the 5th generation iPod Video came out, I got a 40GB 4th generation monochrome screen iPod to use as a home jukebox ... with the dock and with the pricey Apple charger -- all for I think $199 ... I use it for music, so I don't miss the video capability).

I sense that you might be wondering what I was wondering when the first Touch was announced -- how long will the traditional high-capacity hard-drive "legacy" or "classic" music-focused iPods continue to be offered? If you're concerned about that, get one while you know you can, and enjoy it. Life is short, and if Apple has shown one thing, it's that as long as profits keep rolling in, they're going to try to make you feel as though your current model is "obsolete" as they keep up the pace on the R&D.

 

[mrarroyo]

Last Sunday (6/7/08) I bought an iPod Classic 160 gB since I wanted more capacity than my iModded iPod Photo 60 gB. Now my iModded iPod is for sale!

 

[GreatDane]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrarroyo /img/forum/go_quote.gif Last Sunday (6/7/08) I bought an iPod Classic 160 gB since I wanted more capacity than my iModded iPod Photo 60 gB. Now my iModded iPod is for sale!

Why would you sell the iMod is SQ is superior...despite the lower capacity?

 

[mrarroyo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreatDane /img/forum/go_quote.gif Why would you sell the iMod is SQ is superior...despite the lower capacity?

Capacity is what I am after! although the sound quality of the iMod is superior I am tired of having to upload new playlists, 55 gB at a time takes way to much time.