Tell me about the IPod Touch

[golfgal]

DS17 asked for one for Christmas. Tell me the good, bad and the ugly about the IPod touch. Also, they have 8G, 32G, 64G, other than they can hold more, what are the advantages. He probably won't download any music but will most likely use it for games and surfing the net. You don't have to have an Internet contract like you do with a Blackberry, correct?

Is this also a good organizer-calendar, etc.? He is going off to college next year and I was thinking about getting him a blackberry but if this works just as well that would be fine too. He will be up for a new phone this summer so should I wait for the IPhone (we have Verizon, can you get an IPhone with them??). Can you do the same thing on the IPhone as you can on the IPod Touch??? Would another phone be a better choice that can do all the Ipod Touch/phone things???

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

DS17 asked for one for Christmas. Tell me the good, bad and the ugly about the IPod touch. Also, they have 8G, 32G, 64G, other than they can hold more, what are the advantages. He probably won't download any music but will most likely use it for games and surfing the net. You don't have to have an Internet contract like you do with a Blackberry, correct?

Is this also a good organizer-calendar, etc.? He is going off to college next year and I was thinking about getting him a blackberry but if this works just as well that would be fine too. He will be up for a new phone this summer so should I wait for the IPhone (we have Verizon, can you get an IPhone with them??). Can you do the same thing on the IPhone as you can on the IPod Touch??? Would another phone be a better choice that can do all the Ipod Touch/phone things???

I bought mine re-furb from Apple. My kids said they only make 8, 16, and 32g for the Touch.

2nd. generation is better than first I am told for battery life.

Internet service can be used in any hot-spot and not purchased. I have had great luck with the refurbished apple items and they now come in an Apple box and have a warranty. 16g is large enough for the games and you have to pay for upgrades. Many of the apps are free.

 

[golfgal]

I bought mine re-furb from Apple. My kids said they only make 8, 16, and 32g for the Touch.

2nd. generation is better than first I am told for battery life.

Internet service can be used in any hot-spot and not purchased. I have had great luck with the refurbished apple items and they now come in an Apple box and have a warranty. 16g is large enough for the games and you have to pay for upgrades. Many of the apps are free.

It looks like the 3rd Generation has the 32g and 64g. Anyone know if the 3rd generation is that much better than 2nd ??

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

It looks like the 3rd Generation has the 32g and 64g. Anyone know if the 3rd generation is that much better than 2nd ??

Shh... didn't know about 3rd. generation, please don't tell my kids. They must not be selling refurbished yet or weren't when we purchased.

But I am sure 2nd. generation 16g would be enough as my DS is a huge gamer and I asked him and he was satisfied with his. And he is really spoiled, so it must be true!

 

[taylor3297]

I would get the 3rd generation. There are always some sort of improvement. Also you cannot get use Verizon as your provider with an IPhone.

 

[WDWBarb]

The Touch is just like the iPhone, only without cellular service. Internet access is accomplished by using wireless networks (so you have to be within the range of an open network). If an upgrade to an iPhone was possible, I would suggest you wait (but only AT&T has the iPhone).

It has a very good calendar and is pretty much the handiest device on the planet.

But as far as the Touch is concerned, your best bet is to get the 32 or 64 GB versions because the 8 GB one doesn't come with voice control.

 

[golfgal]

The Touch is just like the iPhone, only without cellular service. Internet access is accomplished by using wireless networks (so you have to be within the range of an open network). If an upgrade to an iPhone was possible, I would suggest you wait (but only AT&T has the iPhone).

It has a very good calendar and is pretty much the handiest device on the planet.

But as far as the Touch is concerned, your best bet is to get the 32 or 64 GB versions because the 8 GB one doesn't come with voice control.

Ok, voice control is what??

Is there a comparable phone deal that Verizon has??? I am just thinking about carrying around a phone and a touch? I would think it would be simpler to just carry one-but that is me.

 

[OK!]

Rumors keep cropping up that the iPhone may be available through Verizon sometime in the relatively near future, but I wouldn't bank on it being imminent. For right now, it's AT&T only. Luckily for me, I have outstanding service with them and therefore absolutely adore my iPhone.

As far as capacities go, if your son doesn't plan on using the Touch for music (or for a lot of music, movies, and/or videos) 32 GB should be more than adequate. However, if finances allow, I think I personally might opt for the 64 GB just because tastes change and he could suddenly decide that he now wants to use it as a multimedia device in addition to using it for internet access and gaming. I'd love for there to be a 64 GB iPhone, but i doubt that will happen anytime soon, so I'm making 32 GB work for me now.

 

[LoraJ]

I love my touch. I am DISing from it right now. I have the 2nd gen 32gig. I mostly use it to listen to podcasts to help me sleep. We have wifi at home so I can download podcasts right from the touch.

 

[goofy's friends]

Love my Itouch! One other thing it doesn't do that the Iphone does is take pics. No camera.

 

[Blue.Fairy2]

Check out my thread for free apps they can be downloaded now and stored in your itunes account until you get an iphone or a ipod touch....



http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2330141

 

[crazelion]

The Driod by Verizon suppose be similar to the IPhone.

 

[bengalbelle]

I know you can't get the iphone with Verizon, but I would try to get it all in one with the phone, if possible. Would he want to carry 2 devices around? My niece had a touch along with her cell phone for awhile, but she had a purse to carry them around in.

I had a Blackberry before my iphone and I rarely used anything other than the email and phone part. I didn't like surfing on it and really hated that I wasted the money.

It died before my contract was up so my DH brought me an extra iphone from work to try. I loved it and as soon as I was able to renew I upgraded to an iphone as my birthday present. I love it. I use it all the time now. It's so much easier to use than my BB.

It does have a calendar. I also use the notes feature a lot. I have lots of fun apps and of course the ipod feature. I love that .

I know nothing about the Droid but the commercials make it look really interesting. It may be something to check into.

http://phones.verizonwireless.com/motorola/droid/#/home
http://features.csmonitor.com/innovation/2009/11/16/verizon-droid-makes-a-strong-first-week-showing/

ETA: you asked about the data plan for the itouch. You don't have to have one, but you do if you buy the iphone (I wasn't required to have it with my Blackberry). Just something to consider if you do decide to go the all in one route.

 

[MulanUSAF]

The iTouch 2nd generation and 3rd generation aren't really that much different. The newer one has a built in microphone and only comes in 32GB or 64GB. I have a 2nd generation 8GB and it's more than adequate for my needs. I use it mainly for apps and music, you only need the large capacity ones for storing videos. Most applications are only a couple MBs, so you can have lots of games and other things and it would only take up a couple GBs. I transfered all my music from my 4GB Nano and have several pages of applications, and there's still over 3GBs of memory free on mine.

If your son's future college campus is fully WiFi enabled, then having an iTouch is really awesome since it's basically a little computer in your pocket for checking emails and stuff. If he doesn't have constant WiFi access, then the iTouch is basically a fancy iPod with some cool games. Many applications need WiFi to work to their full potential.

The screen is very delicate, I cracked the screen of my first iTouch when it fell out of my pocket. Luckily I had the accidental protection plan so it was replaced. But I'm super careful with it now and if your son is the type that's always dropping his cell phone, you may want to consider the protection plan.

Oh yeah, one more thing. The 2nd generation iTouch's operating system is different from the 3rd generation's. If you want to upgrade it for some of the newer apps to work, it costs $5 through the iTunes store.

 

[Blue.Fairy2]

The iTouch 2nd generation and 3rd generation aren't really that much different. The newer one has a built in microphone and only comes in 32GB or 64GB. I have a 2nd generation 8GB and it's more than adequate for my needs. I use it mainly for apps and music, you only need the large capacity ones for storing videos. Most applications are only a couple MBs, so you can have lots of games and other things and it would only take up a couple GBs. I transfered all my music from my 4GB Nano and have several pages of applications, and there's still over 3GBs of memory free on mine.

If your son's future college campus is fully WiFi enabled, then having an iTouch is really awesome since it's basically a little computer in your pocket for checking emails and stuff. If he doesn't have constant WiFi access, then the iTouch is basically a fancy iPod with some cool games. Many applications need WiFi to work to their full potential.

The screen is very delicate, I cracked the screen of my first iTouch when it fell out of my pocket. Luckily I had the accidental protection plan so it was replaced. But I'm super careful with it now and if your son is the type that's always dropping his cell phone, you may want to consider the protection plan.

Oh yeah, one more thing. The 2nd generation iTouch's operating system is different from the 3rd generation's. If you want to upgrade it for some of the newer apps to work, it costs $5 through the iTunes store.

where did you purchase accident protection? Just ordered DS a refurb from Apple and i think knowing him he needs accident protection

 

[OK!]

where did you purchase accident protection? Just ordered DS a refurb from Apple and i think knowing him he needs accident protection

There's a company called Square Trade that offers accident protection for lots of different devices. Several of my friends have used them for iPhone accident insurance. They don't list the iPod Touch as one of their specific devices they cover, so it might be worth a call or email to them to find out for sure. They're a lot cheaper than, say, one of Best Buy's monthly protection plans, though.

But anyway, if you google something like "ipod accident protection" you should be able to find some info out there. Apple does offer AppleCare, but it's only for product defects, NOT accident coverage, and I'm not sure exactly how they deal with refurbs.

 

[MulanUSAF]

where did you purchase accident protection? Just ordered DS a refurb from Apple and i think knowing him he needs accident protection

www.squaretrade.com

They offer awesome warranty coverage, better than Apple Care IMO. I remember the accidental coverage was only like $15 on top of my 3 year warranty for something like $30. But you do have to pay a $50 deductible when you file a claim for accidental damage. I think it's only for new items, though I'm not 100% sure on that.

They also cover other things like TVs and computers.

 

[Blue.Fairy2]

www.squaretrade.com

They offer awesome warranty coverage, better than Apple Care IMO. I remember the accidental coverage was only like $15 on top of my 3 year warranty for something like $30. But you do have to pay a $50 deductible when you file a claim for accidental damage. I think it's only for new items, though I'm not 100% sure on that.

They also cover other things like TVs and computers.

TY I did a quote and it came back 34.99 for refurbished ipod for 1 year same price for new but new gets 3 years.

Will have to think about it since Apple refurbished products are treated by Apple as new they get the same warranty as new and are basically a new product. If this was for 2 years I would go for it but only 1 when new gets 3 I dunno, have to give it a think, ty though for the reply.

Not sure they even offer the accident coverage sent them an email to find out this is just a regular warranty.

 

[OK!]

TY I did a quote and it came back 34.99 for refurbished ipod for 1 year same price for new but new gets 3 years.

Will have to think about it since Apple refurbished products are treated by Apple as new they get the same warranty as new and are basically a new product. If this was for 2 years I would go for it but only 1 when new gets 3 I dunno, have to give it a think, ty though for the reply.

Not sure they even offer the accident coverage sent them an email to find out this is just a regular warranty.

Their coverage covers accidents like drops, water damage, etc., which Apple's coverage does NOT. (If Apple even catches a whiff of water damage (at least on iPhones...I'd assume it's the same for Touches) they will not service the device, regardless of what the problem may be. Water damage = not Apple's problem = too bad, so sad, dear customer.)

Basically, I'd seriously consider getting supplemental insurance. I'm still irritated with myself that I didn't contact ST within the allotted period of time after getting my iPhone. I'm paranoid that something will happen and I'll be SOL.