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whats the big deal with the iPod?

Sep 12, 2004 at 9:47 PM Post #61 of 124
The reason I can see the Ipod getting all the praise that it gets is because it is easy to use. You look at it and it just looks simple. It is totally minimalistic, and in being so it catches the eye. Basically it has an enormouse target audience because relatively anyone can pick one up and be content, compared to the other players that are targetted at specific groups.

The reason that I hate the Ipod is because everybody in the world and their brother's roomate (basically those evil mass media b*stards) believe it to be the end all be all device. They try to convince the public that their lives are not complete without and Ipod by saying things like, "Oh I can't believe I could breathe without my Ipod." If you talk about an Mp3 player to anyone other than a techie all they will know is the Ipod. Its like no other products seem to exist, and if they do they "definately" are not as good as the Ipod.
 
Sep 12, 2004 at 9:53 PM Post #62 of 124
Quote:

Originally Posted by Embio
I bought the 900 cos I think its more practical, with the battery and the 3 line screen on the unit in case i cant be bothered with the remote and I love it, played with a G4 iPod a few hours ago and thought 'is this it?'

you didnt really cover the VPT in your review bangraman, what are your impressions of it?


The main reason I left MD for the ipod is because of just HOW impractical minidisc is. The higher capacity is a step in the right direction, but the fact remains that I have to record the music on to discs. To begin with, the capacity isn't all too great. Storing 4 cds isn't that impressive. My ipod gives me the ability to carry around my entire cd collection. You may ask why I might ever need to do that, as I'll only listen to 2 hours a day at most. The thing is, I don't want to think about what music I want to listen to in the morning, which is what I had to do with MD. What happens if you're going on a trip? You take a collection of discs with you. Discs (in a case, hopefully), that float around, that can get lost, etc.

Finally, other players may be better in individual characteristics, but no other player offers as good of a total package as the ipod does. The fact that I could get it for $100 new didn't hurt.
 
Sep 13, 2004 at 3:40 AM Post #63 of 124
To those who have no difficulty commenting on my manhood and wits, shamelessly,
read my post again.

I can see how you'd be offended if you own and like an ipod, but that is not what I am saying.
And neither am I saying people should not buy macs, or that they are inferior.

What I'm saying is if the same product with identical specs and gui and looks etc. were released by Iriver or Creative, no way in hell would it have been so popular.
 
Sep 13, 2004 at 5:24 AM Post #64 of 124
Quote:

The reason I can see the Ipod getting all the praise that it gets is because it is easy to use. You look at it and it just looks simple. It is totally minimalistic, and in being so it catches the eye. Basically it has an enormouse target audience because relatively anyone can pick one up and be content, compared to the other players that are targetted at specific groups.


Exactly. simple, convenient, good looks and good sound.
 
Sep 13, 2004 at 6:54 AM Post #65 of 124
i hate the look. Its so plain and ugly to me. I used to think it looked cool. But now that every single dam person at school has it, its no longer that cool.
blink.gif
 
Sep 13, 2004 at 4:06 PM Post #66 of 124
Quote:

Originally Posted by Embio
whats the big deal with the iPod? c'mon ppl i want reasons


I own a 1st gen Nomad Zen usb/fire and recently bought an ipod mini.

The Zen clearly sounds better, and does a better job driving quality headphones. However, the Zen is pretty big compared to a regular ipod, and especially compared to my ipod mini. I bought the ipod mini for jogging. I'd planned to get a 256mb iriver, but then at $180, the additional $70 just didn't seem like much to go to the ipod mini.

Marketing and beauty aside, here are my reasons the ipod is such a big deal.

Ease of use. I'm a gadget guy, and the Zen never seemed to difficult to use to me. I enjoyed the interface, and have no problems with it or it's efficiency. However, in watching first timers play with my zen or play with my ipod, the people get to playing what they want to listen to a whole lot faster on the ipod.

Apple encourages stupidity in their designs. That's not to say that they don't make quality stuff, as they do, but one of their big selling points, is even a brain dead idiot could figure this thing out, and it's there that the ipod really excels. I hadn't though the Zen was tough to use until I used the ipod. It really is boringly simple to use. I like buttons and meters and lights, and the Ipod hasn't got any of that crap. It's minimilstic in it's design to avoid confusion.

Will I buy a 40gb ipod to replace my zen? I don't know, but itunes is certainly easier to use then the crap software creative sent. I've been using Notmad with my Zen the whole time I've had it as it's better software.

I really like the size physically and storage wise of the ipod mini though. It fits easily into my pocker. My wallet is bigger then it. 4gb makes you think about what you might want to listen to that day, or for me, it allows me enough space to put new things I've been interested in on it, and do to the space limitations, little old music. So, it forces me to listen to the new stuff I have, and as a music lover, I'm always looking for way to keep myself finding new things, and not falling back on old staples.

That's all I've got.

The ipod isn't as great as they make it sound, but it's pretty great. Sony has made the first legit ipod killer do to it's size. Everyone needs to make players with user replaceable batteries though. How great would it be to have a spare for when you're out for a long time and it runs out?

Bill
 
Sep 13, 2004 at 10:44 PM Post #68 of 124
Quote:

Originally Posted by bangraman
I might have come off a bit harsh, and I'm sure they're billed as abx tests. However there's no information on how the results were controlled. Not a sausage. Got a link?


Bangraman, it's on HA... I can't find it now. The results are controlled through a specific program... if you mean that somebody could mix up results... well, maybe they could. But why should they? Everybody expected AAC or MPC to win and instead Vorbis came out on top, for instance...
 
Sep 13, 2004 at 10:53 PM Post #70 of 124
I don't like the look either.
But then again, I'm starting to fall into the abyss of hardcore goth, so that could be a reason too...
It's so white and shiny. It's not the white part that bothers me, it's the shiny part. Well, at least you can use the backplate as a mirror. But if I did get an iPod, I'd at least to have tattoo black Yakuza markings all over it before I would even dare to take it outside.

Apple just made a product that many, if not most people find attractive. Either apple knows enough enough about the human mind to rival that of psychological researchers, or they just got lucky.

recephasan, I see your point, but isn't that... a little generalizing... and a bit sexist?...

A man would get something to get a device because it is approved by women. He'd want to be regarded as a person who uses cool stuff, and cool stuff is equivalent to stuff that women use... I certainly hope that most of iPod owners, even the non techie ones, arn't like this.

When I show a girl my stuff, I don't care whether or not she likes it. I care about having her tell me the truth. After all, I am at home with a PC, and if she has a problem, grouping me into the nerdy club because I have one, then why would I even want to hang out with her? Hopefully people can see this point...

They would be popular if they came out with it first, and got the ads out. After all, Apple was the first to do this (if I'm remember), and it was a trend that caught on. With Apple's service and everything, they made the iPod the player that you can't really be unsatisfied with.
 
Sep 13, 2004 at 10:58 PM Post #71 of 124
Quote:

When I show a girl my stuff, I don't care whether or not she likes it. I care about having her tell me the truth. After all, I am at home with a PC, and if she has a problem, grouping me into the nerdy club because I have one, then why would I even want to hang out with her? Hopefully people can see this point...


I can't help but laugh out loud when I read the first few lines of this paragraph. I am sure you would feel the same if you reread it.
 
Sep 14, 2004 at 12:51 AM Post #74 of 124
Quote:

Originally Posted by Sczervok
People download music? And pay for it?...
C'mon. Seriously. You're paying for ones and zeros magnatized onto a disk. I'd never do that. That's why I buy CDs ...


So what's so much better about silver bits compared with brown bits? Data are colorblind
wink.gif
 
Sep 14, 2004 at 5:35 AM Post #75 of 124
SteveC... do I really have to quote myself?...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sczervok
Unless you can print pictures onto a CD, fill a CD full with the pictures and pamphlets that go in, and whatever else you get when you buy a CD, you're still missing something that you can hold. It's a visual proof of purchase. I'm not saying you can't make your own CD, and make it look just like what is on the shelves of stores, but I'm just not the kind of person to put in the effort to create CDs like that. I'd like to view my collection of music when situated on selves, CDs bundled in with their origional packaging, instead of something that I burned myself. If I spent the effort to make the CD and case look just like the origional, then that would be something to be proud of too, but I have neither the time nor resources for it.

Another little note, they are physically etched into the CD, as opposed to giving the material a little state change as used on most conventional computer CD burners. You can get a powerful CD etcher if you want, but it is impractical. A purchased CD will last as long as the CD remains intact, and is not scratched. A burned one will last around 35 years before beginning to deteriorate. Not like it starts to fall apart in your hand or anything, but ones and zeros start to change one by one at this point, and this process accelerates over years.

But as it stands, you don't get any of this when you download. As well, you don't get high quality downloads either... or not so last time I checked. Maybe someone has started letting songs be downloaded at higher bitrates or what not... but I still demand lossless.


 
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