Should I buy an iPod?

I want to buy a digital audio player.  I hardly ever listen to cds anymore (too much trouble), but I would definitely listen to audio files.  My problem: I can't decide which player to buy!

I'm debating between the Rio Carbon 6g player, the iPod mini, and the iPod photo.  Reasons I'm dithering:

1. The Rio Carbon doesn't require iTunes.  I despise the iTunes DRM.  Why shouldn't I be able to move music freely from my iPod to my different computers?  Once I've bought it, I should be able to listen to it anywhere.  (And I do use several different machines; I've heard that the iPod only syncs happily with one machine.)

2. The Rio Carbon will play WMA format, which is reportedly better quality than AAC.  (And I don't like being forbidden to play a format b/c of corporate competition.  Make a better product and you shouldn't need to indulge in format wars.)

3. The Rio Carbon will make voice recordings without an extra piece of hardware.  I'm sure I would use this feature.

4. I already have a pda, so I don't need the iPod's various pda functions.  (And I wouldn't give up my pda because it surfs the 'net AND it syncs with my Groupwise calendar, very helpful to me & secretary.)

5.  The iPod photo will hold ALL my cds.  Wow!  The idea of putting all my cds on a hard drive is VERY attractive.  I keep daydreaming about it.  But it's expensive.

6. The iPod mini is the same price (at the university store) as the Rio Carbon.  Why buy an "off" brand if you don't save money?

7. The iPod is the machine everyone buys . . . can however million iPod users be wrong?  Plus, the machine's popularity brings many accessory options.

I'm sure I'm the last person in the universe without a digital audio player.  What sort of player do you have?  Do you like it?

Comments

[Dylan]

As an avid iPod user, heeeeeeere we go!

1. I appreciate the DRM issue, but I've had no quality issues with AAC. iTunes is, however, and exceptional piece of software, with some great features that make it worth it. As for the syncing issue, there are, um, ways around that. I'll give you some information if you end up buying an iPod.

2. WMA, Shmublyeu-MA. Once it is on the device, you don't care what format it is in, and the iTunes software lets you put all other types besides WMA on your iPod. Converting to AAC simply allows for a smaller file. But I agree with the sentiment of your concerns about corporate format wars.

3. I can't really speak to this. It isn't a feature I use on my iPod, so I haven't bought the device for it. If this is something that is important to you, then it is a definite plus for the Rio.

4. The PDA portions of the iPod are silly and useless.

5. It will hold all your CD's and then some. I've currently got close to 5000 songs on my 40GB iPod and I've got room for more than double that. The storage space is, quite simply, what makes the iPod worth it.

6. I'm not sure the Rio can be considered an off brand anymore, but if you are gonna go ahead and buy an audio player, I'd recommend going whole hog, simply for the storage space reason. There really is nothing quite as cool as having every song you would ever want to hear at your fingertips at any given moment.

7. It is popular... not sure if it means it is the best, but I'm more than happy with mine.

As an aside, owning my iPod has changed the way I listen to music. You can buy accessories which allow you to listen to it in the car, and it has allowed me to take songs that people recommend to me, toss them on my iPod, and have them at my disposal whenever I get around to them. I'm not saying you couldn't get that from the Rio, but that is what I love about my iPod.

As an aside, I don't know that I really understand the draw of the iPod Photo, except the 60 GB part of it. If you really feel like you'd take advantage of carrying digital photos around with you, then more power to you. If you don't, save yourself some cash and go with the 40GB regular iPod.

Let me know if you have any other questions.

[Scrivener]

I agree with Dylan. I have a 20GB iPod and I love it--it's got all of my music on it except for most of the jazz and is only a little over halfway full. I understand the format war thing and it is true that the iPod only synchs with one computer happily. I'd like to know how Dylan worked around that issue, btw--we tried out a shareware file at the iPod lounge which seems to work ok for allowing you to transfer fils from the iPod to another computer, but I'm not sure it's ideal, and we've been meaning to spend the $20 to buy a version of it that will allow us to transfer everything over (the trial version allowed 100 songs max), so if there's a better program I'd like to know.

Is there a 40GB iPod? I had thought there was too, but now I don't see one on the Apple store page. Do you think you'd use the iPod Photo for showing pictures? What is the appeal? I guess it'd be nice to be able to show pics of the kids? I don't carry a wallet, just a moneyclip, so I don't have pictures with me when I'm out--so maybe it'd be nice to hae some pics of the kids on my iPod? But 20GB has been all I need as far as music storage thus far.

I also agree with Dylan that the iPod has changed the way I listen to music. Before I got mine, I was just a little skeptical of people telling me how cool it was. I mean, I'd had a walkman before, so what? But it is so amazing to be able to leave the house in the morning without having to make a decision about what I'd listen to all day, to just have my entire music collection at my fingers. So cool. I guess that applies to the Rio just as much, though, as far as your actual decision goes.

[Scrivener]

Oh, I agree that the PDA portions of the iPod are all but completely useless. I don't really use a PDA anyway, and I have made use of the calendar on the thing once or twice, but pretty much only on the level of checking what the date will be a week from Tuesday.

[Beth]

Apple doesn't make a 40g iPod anymore--I just called to check. :( The appeal of the iPod photo is more the drive size than anything. It would be fun to share pics of the kids, but I can do that with the pda anyway. When I remember to put the latest pics on it.

I'm leaning way more towards iPod the more time goes by, particularly if Dylan knows a way to get around the sync issues.

[New Kid on the Hallway]

I'll add another vote for the iPod. I have a mini, and I don't think it holds quite all my music (I'm very lazy about getting stuff onto it), but then, I have a lot of music I never listen to anyway. Space-wise, you're better off with the non-mini variety, of course, but I love my mini because it's so cute. ;-) I used one of the shareware programs out there that allows you to transfer music from the iPod back to your computer and it was absolutely seamless, so I would imagine there are ways around the syncing issues. Anyway, I have to confess that I adore the look, format, style, etc. of the iPod. Even if that makes me a sheep to what's "cool." :-) Now I just desperately want one of those Bose speakers things where you can dock your mini and play directly through the speakers...

[James Field]

I would say go with the iPod but don't buy your music from the iTunes store. Use allofmp3.com instead. Then you don't have the same DRM issue. I like the iTunes software, and I think AAC is a better codec at the bitrates you will use on an iPod (assuming you would use 128 or 192 kbps). WMA may be better at lower bandwith compression that you might use for streaming. i have a small shelf unit that also plays mp3 cds, so I tend to use mp3 anyway for compatibility sake.

[Dylan]

I didn't realize they'd stopped making the 40GB... that kinda sucks, but I guess it is a smart move on their part, to make you pay the extra money for the iPod Photo. The 20GB isn't bad though. Like I said, I have almost 5000 songs on 40GB and it is less than half way full.

Now, as for the syncing issues... The issue, it seems to me, is putting songs on the iPod and then taking them off onto a computer again. This article (http://www.engadget.com/entry/7166385640773718/) explains how to take music off of your iPod, which allows you to put it on another computer. The best way I've found is to install iTunes on the main computer you plan on using, but not on the other machines that you might want to connect the iPod to. After that, it is simply a matter of changing your iPod's settings to be used as a disc drive, and treat it like that. Drag and drop files from the other computers to your iPod. It isn't pretty, but it works.

[Lisa]

I have an iPod mini. I started with a Rio Sport and thought it was okay. I fell in love with iPod though. I have the 4G one and have over 500 songs and it's about 1/2 way filled. I have the adapter for the car wich is absolutely amazing. I like the size of the mini as well.

Good luck with your decision!

[rod stroud]

Hi

Could you tell me what pda and what software you use to sync your Groupwise calendar etc.

Rod

[Beth]

Hi Rod,

I have a Dell Axim X5 and I use Intellisync software to sync it. I don't bother syncing the email, tasks, etc., just the calendar, though supposedly Intellisync can sync the whole banana.

Are you looking to sync your groupwise too?

Beth

[Laura]

I was just searching for good prices on a Rio Carbon 6G and it came up with your blog...just want to say that I recently purchased a Rio CE2100 (like the Carbon but only 2.5G). It is awesome. I am the person in my circle that always helps people with their computer needs, so I've helped with my friend's Ipod and also my sister's Creative Jukebox and I will say that the Rio blows them away with it's simplicity. I bought mine for audible.com books, but ended up loading a ton of music and have been loving it. It is the best mp3 player I have seen.

[Laura]

I was just searching for good prices on a Rio Carbon 6G and it came up with your blog...just want to say that I recently purchased a Rio CE2100 (like the Carbon but only 2.5G). It is awesome. I am the person in my circle that always helps people with their computer needs, so I've helped with my friend's Ipod and also my sister's Creative Jukebox and I will say that the Rio blows them away with it's simplicity. I bought mine for audible.com books, but ended up loading a ton of music and have been loving it. It is the best mp3 player I have seen.

[Ronaldo Werthington III]

There are other mp3(4) players other than iPods? Why bother!? Buy the iPod! Go hog wild and get the 60GB iPod Video!!!!!

IMAGINE!!!!!!! ALL OF YOU MUSIC!!! AT YOUR FINGERTIPS!!!! plus.... PLUS!!!! MOVIES!!! TV SHOWS!! IT'S W-I-L-D I TELL YOU!!!! WILD!!!

[Jeff]

One way around all of these shortcomings is to consider a Palm Treo.

Why carry around a phone, a PDA, an MP3 player, etc, etc? Treos have it all, and frankly, they are very good at *each* of their many functions.

You get:
A phone, with speakerphone (yes, its a phone!)
An organizer / to-do list / calendar (PalmOS, can't be beat)
A camera (only 1Megapixel, but good for those times you need a snapshot)
A video camera (yes, records videos)
Can play MP3, WMA, etc, etc, etc - so many formats (yes, its an MP3 player!)
Can play a wide range of movie formats, too (even comes with RealPlayer installed) (Yes, it is everything that an iPod Video/Movie has)
A web surfing tool (you can surf the web *anywhere* you have a cellular connection! Even on a streetcorner, or in the middle of a cornfield comeplace) (oh, and download music from that corn field, too!!!)
Almost identical size of iPod Video/Movie. (Yes, even with a camera, videocam, wireless web surfing, a real PDA and phone function!)
Its operating system accepts software (often free!) for games, etc, etc. (PalmOS)
Easy to use.
Recognizes your handwriting (yes, you can write and draw directly on the tablet, if the keyboard bores you)
Has a QWERTY keyboard.
Accepts files and data transfer via USB or BlueTooth(tm) or SD memory (those little camera memory cards, which can also increase your Treo's storage capacity, or act as "quick swap" data cards)
Multifunction calculator (with scientific and advanced calcs, and also measurement and conversion calcs)
Oh, and the screen is bigger and sharper than iPod Movie.

I don't know what I'd do without my phone/organizer/calendar/calculator/MP3player/videoplayer/notepad/scribblebook/websurfingtool/

I carry just one device with me, wherever I go. And my one device does more, and usually does it better, than the 2, 3 or 4 devices my friends lug around.

The downside?
Only two things:
1) Not as much built-in memory. Yes, I can only store a couple hundred hours of MP3 with my current memory card. That or about 8 hours of video. But I don't have a very big card, and I can always buy another card (they're cheap!!) And can you expand an iPod's memory with a card you can buy at any computer or camera store? I think not.
==Update: Industry is announcing 80GB SD cards in the coming year==

2) The camera could be better.

I know I might sound like someone who is in some kind of "Palm Treo cult", but this is not the case. I researched PDAs and phones and MP3 Players for weeks and weeks before I decided.

The decision was hard going, until I realized that I personally carry a phone at *ALL* times, and I carry an MP3 player at *ALL* times.

When I saw that, it was a no brainer: Get an MP3 playing phone with expansion capability... ... ...then I saw that I could get a PalmPilot with camera and wireless internet tossed in, and well, how could I say no to that!?

Jeff

[Beth]

Jeff, thanks for all this info. I'll definitely be looking into a Treo when my gadgets get dated (which will be in a few hours, lol). 80gb SD cards will be a real plus, too.

[Chris]

Hi, I have had an iPod 60Gb Photo for a year and a bit. It decided one day to pack it in - nothing I did, just gave up the ghost - and of course is just outside warranty. I have tried EVERYTHING to fix it, and finally decided to investigate the price of getting it fixed... £165!! I can get an iPod Video 80Gb 5th Gen for $150 from the states.... My advise is try and break it before your warranty ends!

Having said all that, I did love having >10000 songs at my fingertips! arrgghhh! why do they always do this?! make a great product but ensure it needs regular replacing/repairing so they can make more money.. as if the item isn't overpriced in the first place!

I'm certainly going to look around before I replace my iPod - definitely not paying to have it repaired.