Best Price on IPODS?

[strasfamily]

Sorry if this has been brought up before=

I am looking to get my hubby an IPOD for our anniversary. I really don't know anything about these. Do they ever have sales on these? Where is the best place to buy one? Where do you buy the music after you have one?

 

[Papillon]

I've been thinking about buying an iPOD myself, but now I'm backing down from it. The 20G (I think) goes for $299, and it is NEVER on sale. Plus, I am getting the impression you have to buy lots of other stuff to go with it. A dock, better download software, carrying case, etc. It looks like a never-ending hand-in-my-pocket thing. The Apple website has a legal music store to download tunes for the princely sum of .99 each. That can really add up. Even the Dell store sells tunes for that much. The Dell MP3 players are a bit cheaper, buy about $50. I also discovered that you can't play your tunes in random order on the original iPOD. That's really important to me, so I'm holding back on buying one until the price comes down, and it comes with more standard features. I'm sorry that this was probably not very helpful, and I really don't want to rain on your parade. There are websites, just Google "iPOD", to help educate you more. Good luck!

 

[Forevryoung]

I know three people who have Rio's and they LOVE them. One is the ultimate tech buff and did a lot of research prior to his purchase. They are cheaper than the IPODs and have more features and are cheaper. You can also put whatever songs you want on them and organize them the way you want. The IPODs are expensive because they have an OS inside (like a palm pilot) so they can technically function as an organizer/planner thingy. I dont think most people use it as such. The Rio's come with everything they need including the docking station and headphones (not the "cool" white ones though). The software is easy to use also. They are not as slim as the ipod's but fit in a pocket. Definitely something to look into.
-K

 

[starwood]

There was something on the news the other night that I wasn't aware of. The battery only lasts for about 18 months. You can't buy a replacement battery. You can send the Ipod back to Apple for $99 and they will (supposedly) replace it. However, people are reporting they are not getting their Ipod back. They are getting used ones. Some have even said they were sent back without their music transferred to the replacement unit.

 

[HayGan]

I know three people who have Rio's and they LOVE them. One is the ultimate tech buff and did a lot of research prior to his purchase. They are cheaper than the IPODs and have more features and are cheaper. You can also put whatever songs you want on them and organize them the way you want. The IPODs are expensive because they have an OS inside (like a palm pilot) so they can technically function as an organizer/planner thingy. I dont think most people use it as such. The Rio's come with everything they need including the docking station and headphones (not the "cool" white ones though). The software is easy to use also. They are not as slim as the ipod's but fit in a pocket. Definitely something to look into.
-K

I have a Rio and I LOVE it!!! I just got a cheap unit at Costco for ~$50 and bought extra memory cards for around $40. I like the look of the Ipods (especially the pink mini ) but I got much more bang for my buck with my Rio. The $150+ I saved sure pays for alot of songs

 

[antbritt]

I was so close yesterday to buying my DD an Ipod but kinda talked myself out of it due to the extras that you need to purchase. Glad I did not buyit!
Below is the info from Apples site on Battery replacement. Seems that you dont get back your Ipod you sent and you do lose all your songs.

"iPod Out-of-warranty Battery Replacement Program
Frequently Asked Questions

What is the iPod Battery Replacement Program?
If your iPod requires service only because the battery’s ability to hold an electrical charge has diminished, Apple will replace your iPod for a service fee of $99, plus $6.95 shipping. Be sure to follow all of the battery troubleshooting steps before submitting your iPod for battery replacement.

How much does it cost to participate in the program?
The program costs $99, plus $6.95 shipping. The total program cost is $105.95 per unit.

How do I send in my iPod for battery replacement service?
Easy. Just complete our iPod service request form. Please review the service terms and conditions. Then, follow the on-screen instructions to participate in the program.

Will the data on my iPod be preserved?
No, your songs and files will not be transferred to your replacement iPod. Please backup important files, and remove all data from your iPod before sending it to Apple.

Will my iPod personalization be preserved?
If your original iPod was personalized by Apple, your replacement iPod will be automatically personalized with same text. If your original iPod was custom laser engraved by another company, your replacement iPod will not be personalized.

How long will it take to receive my replacement iPod?
If your iPod is not personalized, your service will take approximately one week from the date we receive your iPod for service to the date you receive your replacement iPod. If your iPod is personalized, your service will take approximately two to three weeks from the date we receive your iPod for service to the date you receive your replacement iPod "

 

[strasfamily]

Wow - that is unbelievable about the battery. I am so glad I asked. How do the batteries work on the Rio? Is the docking station so you can hook it up to speakers to play the music through speakers?

 

[HayGan]

Wow - that is unbelievable about the battery. I am so glad I asked. How do the batteries work on the Rio? Is the docking station so you can hook it up to speakers to play the music through speakers?

I don't have a docking station for mine so I can't answer that question. However, in terms of batteries, mine takes 3 AAA batteries. I can replace them any time I need to

 

[strasfamily]

Now DH was mentioning IRiver. Anyone familiar with this?

 

[Wish I lived in Fl]

DH researched and shopped for weeks and bought a Creative Zen Micro and is very happy with it.

 

[CarolA]

The battery thing is NOT really a big deal. All your music must first be on the PC, so you would just reload. Mine is a year old and the battery seems fine. I did do some research and most batteries do last longer then 18 months. A lot depends on the user. (And I did see a review from one guy who complained that he got his IPOD back with a new battery... He thought he should have gotten a new improved model LOL!)

I bought an IPOD just because it can be used as a "hard drive" of sorts. I took it to Europe and downloaded about 1,000 photos on to it from my camera. Worked great. Couldn't find as good a reviews on comparable prodcuts.

Mine does play songs in random order.

 

[funnygarcia]

If the regualr I pod price- and battery issue- is bothering you .. consider gettting an Ipod Shuffle. They are $99 , ready to go from the box after using the CD included. They have an extra accesory ($25) to add a battery pack (AAAs) to it in the future if you wish. Has a longer lasting battery between charges compared to the regular I pods. Holds about 130 songs.
You can choose which songs to put on it via the FREE itunes software or choose to autofill from anything in your Itunes library. We put all the CDs we own into our Itunes library - plus they have free songs each week for downloads (brand new and popular songs too!!) and can get free songs thru various promos.

We have a regular I pod but it seems too bulky to carry when you are walking/exercising. The IPod Suffle is the weight of 4 quarters and small as a 5 stick pack of gum - it uses a USB port to download/charge and can be a portable drive if needed.
It doesn't have a screen to see what song you are listening to - but its way easy to skip forward by pressing the buttons.

You CAN set a regular I pod to shuffle thru entire library or thru specific play lists that you create- that is typically how we use the Ipod in the car. Having the Ipod in our car has been a blesing on those long road trips when the radio can't pick out stations well and tired of switching thru all your CDs.
You can use any car/cassette adapter with the Ipod/Ipod shuffle - it's cheaper than the Apple branded one.

The one real problem with the shuffle: Availability! We called daily for two weeks at local stores and finally drove to Mall of America's Apple store- bought the last two in stock!

 

[Okiemom]

How do the Rio's work? Do you download the songs from the computer like you do the Ipods?

 

[Tabetha]

ipod minis just went down in price.

 

[SylviaL]

DH has an old iPod that he loves (he's a Mac addict). For his bday, i bought him the iPod shuffle which he also loves. He uses the shuffle for mowing the lawn and other strenuous activities b/c it's lighter and has a less chance of breaking.

 

[Onceler]

Plus, I am getting the impression you have to buy lots of other stuff to go with it. A dock, better download software, carrying case, etc. It looks like a never-ending hand-in-my-pocket thing.

That is very much not true. Everything that you need for an iPod is included in the box. You can buy extra stuff for it, but you don't need anything else. The dock is not necessary at all. You can simply plug the included cable into the iPod. The download software is free and works very well for most people. You don't need a carrying case but if you decide to get one there are many 3rd party options available in a range of prices.

The battery replacement program from Apple is pricey. But there are other places around that will replace it for less. Or you can do it yourself for about $30. Even the more expensive options can be cheaper than constantly replacing AA and AAA batteries. Also, the 18 month figure tends to be the exception rather than the rule. If you use an iPod all day, every day then the battery will run out sooner. But most people don't use their iPods that much. So most people have been getting much longer than an 18 month battery life.

The Apple website has a legal music store to download tunes for the princely sum of .99 each. That can really add up.

True. But paying $16 for a regular CD just to get one or two good songs adds up faster.


When looking for an mp3 player, the best thing to do is go around and try each one out. Everyone has different needs and some players will be a better fit than others. Some mp3 players have interfaces that are extremely difficult to use. This is especially true with the lower priced ones. Other players have better interfaces. The iPod has one of the highest rated interfaces. Ease of use should play a big role when making a decision. After all, would you like to be able to easily switch between songs or would you rather futz with an annoying interface just to do simple things?

Getting back to the OP's question, if you like listening to audio books, one option (whether you get an iPod or another player) is to sign up with Audible.com for a year. If you sign up with them you get $100 off the price of an mp3 player at buy.com. It's a pretty good deal all around. The audible.com membership costs $15 per month and you will be commited for 12 months. For that price you get to download one audio book per month (plus one magazine or newspaper each month). The good thing is that you can download just about any book that they have, even those that normally cost as much as $70 or more. So the $15 per month can be a really good deal. Then you get $100 off an mp3 player of your choice. If you like audio books and are looking to buy an iPod or other type of player then this is a rather good deal.

More information about the audible deal can be found at: http://www.buy.com/retail/computers/specialty_store_1.asp?loc=50019

 

[Forevryoung]

The Rio's work like the Ipods and I am almost positive that with some models you can hook your speakers up to them. The Rio software is really easy to use too. I actually like my "system" better and I have about 8gigs of music on my computer- I bought a cheap mp3/cd player from Target. Sure, it's the size of a cd player but it only cost me $29 and I can put hundreds of songs on a cd (in MP3 format). I can even do playlists and shuffle and it has a screen that tells me what song it's playing and the artist. It takes 2AA batteries just like regular cd players and I dont have to put all my cd's on the computer! If I was to get a tiny MP3 player I would get a Rio though.

 

[hilltopfamily]

My DH (the musician) has an iPod that he uses daily, & absolutely LOVES it!!!! Very much worth the $$. He has nothing but great things to say about it. He did buy a case/cover for it to protect it and has also bought the iTrip so he can use it in the car on trips---but this is not a necessary "extra"---just something he decided later on after the original purchase that he'd like to have.

My DD14 has a Rio Cali that we got her. She loves this and uses it a lot (it runs on a AAA battery) but it is not NEARLY as nice as the iPod. Of course, it also cost less than 1/2 of what the iPod did. (She's now working on the deal where she can get a free iPod with 5 referrals from friends!)

 

[Cindy B]

And if you are a teacher or a student (college or k-12), you are entitled to a discount as well.

I got $30 off the 20G ipod for my hubby.

Yoou dont really need extras. We haven't bought any extras besides a $7 cable so he could play the Ipod through his car stereo. (The car stereo has a plug)

 

[jekjones1558]

Regarding iPod Shuffle:
It also comes in 1 gig size that holds 240 songs and costs $149. Both the $99 and $149 models are available at Target. I just bought one of the cheap ones there on Sun. Feb. 27. I bought no accessories. It is unbelievably light and easy to use. It will be great on trips and when walking. Love it!