iPod users...need info

[tinkerrn]

Thinking about getting hubby an ipod for christmas. What do I need to know about them? Like, what kind to get? How to download music? Anything else would be appreciated. It seems like he would like something like this. To use when he goes to the gym, in the car goign to work, etc.

Ok, what is the difference between the iPod and an MP3 player???

 

[jody]

I'd like to know too!

 

[crcormier]

The iPod is a music player like any other MP3 player. It's not called an MP3 player because they use a different technology by default for storing their music.

You will need a computer with a USB connection (preferably USB 2.0, which it should have if it's a newer computer) and iTunes, which is free to download from the internet. You can either import your own music into iTunes or buy it from their store for $.99 per song.

There are three types of iPods:
1) The iPod Shuffle

A tiny player that lets you put up to 240 songs on it and will play them randomly.

2) The iPod Nano

This player is small with a screen that lets you scroll through music, can store up to 2000 songs depending on what size hard drive in it you get.

3) The iPod

This player can store up to 20,000 songs, but can also display photos and can play movies. (I have this one, it's great to keep my 3 year old entertained when necessary.)

If you want movies, games and photos, then you want the 3rd one.

If you want just music, lots of it, get the 2nd one.

If you want a little player that will let you load and randomize, then go for 1.

Let me know if you have more specific questions.

 

[Fitswimmer]

I've got the iPod, and I just bought a Red Nano for my niece and a silver Nano for my Dad.

I had an MP3 player from Dell, and the sound quality on the IPOD is miles away superior. I downloaded some TV shows for my last plane trip and that worked great too. The software is very easy to use, I've uploaded a TON of my CD's to the player with no difficulty at all.

 

[tinkerrn]

So, you can take your own CDs and download them to the ipod?

 

[Melwood23]

You need to load the songs you want on the computer. The iTunes software will help with that. That is how I load all mine. I have like 1000 songs on the computer, and just alternate whenever I get tired of my current selections. Plus I just found my lost CD case that has more .
Right now have just all Christmas playing.
I have the Nano also, the 2GB but that is fine for me. Best investment I have ever made in the music player area

 

[tinkerrn]

I think he would like the nano. He has soo many CDs. So what happens when you dowload the maximum amount of songs?

 

[nsyncraider17]

I bought a 30g ipod video last year, and I absolutely love it. I use it everywhere... walking to class, waiting between classes, at work, and with an adapter in the car (that might actually be my favorite use for it when I'm at home and driving a lot, because my car doesn't have a cd player).

I got the 30g instead of a nano because I wanted to be able to put all of my music on it. (I have about 14g of music now, so it all fits with plenty of room to add more). The photo and video functions aren't really necessary for me, but I do use them occassionally and they are cool to have, especially video. Also, if I remember correctly, there wasn't a very big price difference between the 4g nano and the 30g video, and it seemed like the only thing that nano had going for it was a smaller size. Just seemed like a no brainer to me to spend a little bit extra for 7 times the space.

 

[crcormier]

I think he would like the nano. He has soo many CDs. So what happens when you dowload the maximum amount of songs?

You would have to remove some. You can also change the settings on it to lower the sound quality and store more than the 2000 song list that they claim without really losing the quality in listening to the songs. I have the 60Gb with 4000 songs on it (some being 8 hour audiobook files) 165 videos (about 40 full length movies, a bunch of Disney shorts, and several TV shows, and 2517 pictures. It would take 3 weeks for me to listen to all the audio files I have on my iPod.

If you got the 8Gb Nano, and had average 3 minute length songs on it, you should be able to fit 2000 at highest quality, or about 2700 on it at average sound quality (CD).

 

[Frantasmic]

If you want him to have ALL his songs available to him, get the video IPOD. I doubt he has 60 gig worth of songs.

You can't reach a "limit" with downloading songs; it is only in uploading them. Your limit is your player's memory capacity.

1 gig = roughly 240 3-minute songs. So, go with the video IPODs.

 

[ValDisney]

My DD just got the nano. she loves it. It's so much easier then carrying arounf her cassete player and tapes. How do you delete songs already on there?

 

[Robinrs]

Check the Apple.com site for their refurbished models, great deals with a warranty! They come up usually early in the morning and people on the Budget Board go after them quick! I got the shuffle for myself for $29 and the Video 30g for $179 for my son. Check often, they bring in inventory regularly.

http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore.woa/wa/RSLID?mco=2ACE5063&nclm=Certified