Confused! Which ipod / MP3 to go for?

mrtg0525

While everything you need hardware-wise is in the box that the Nano comes in (even though it is a very small box), you still need to download iTunes...

The one - ok, make that two - accessories I would recommend as very useful are:

• Some kind of cover for it to prevent you from damaging or scratching your new toy. I've just got a smaller leather case for my wife's Nano off ebay for very little money - should do the job nicely
• Better earphones. OK, I'm a bit of a Hifi buff but even in my wife's opinion the enclosed earphones are not very good. Do yourself the favour and spend 20-odd quid on a set of vastly better ones. Unfortunately I can't recommend any as I've got rather more expensive ones...

converse

I think mine did come with a CD with iTunes on, but I could be wrong, it's very easy to download from www.apple.com/itunes right now. Everything else is in the box, which is as well designed as the product itself.

You can't go wrong with an iPod, I'll second all the comments on them. The sound quality is excellent, if you are into your music seriously some Shure or Sennheiser headphones make a great upgrade - http://www.headphoneworld.com/c/In_Ear_Headphones.htm
but certainly aren't essential.

mrtg0525

Older iPods did come with iTunes on CD - my 60GB Video definitely did - but my wife's 3rd gen Nano didn't. There was no way the could've fitted a CD into the box either .

Muppet81

If I go for the 3rd gen nano, will I be able to dowload and watch videos and films and download podcasts or would I need a "better" ipod to do that.

I have looked at the Comet online site which says you can watch videos etc on it but then in the spec list, there is a red circle with a cross against alongside vides and photos. Heavens but am i confused today!!!!

mrtg0525

Podcasts, most definitely. And according to the Apple site here (http://www.apple.com/ipodnano/), video and photo as well.

pepsi_max2k

the new 3rd gen (much squarer) ipod nano does play video, but only of H.264 standard, and you'll likely only get those through itunes. anything off p2p or other websites is likely not to play (it'll be mpeg-4 divx or xvid or wmv)

but please do look around at a few other makes before hand. ipods have never had the best audio quality (cowon or sony models will be better) and are generally more expensive and lesser featured than other media players.

and if you do get one, shop around online as currys (dixons / pcworld) also sell them for much more than other online stores due to their high street presence (and at the very least please DO NOT buy in-store as the store prices can be up to 50% more than their website one).

edit: 8gb nano = £130. you'd be crazy not to get a 4GB (extendable by sd card) archos 405 for the same price. it has many many many more features.
here's a small selection of stuff you can get for the same price:
http://www.advancedmp3players.co.uk/shop/advanced_search_result.php?categories_id=1&pfrom=90&pto=140&sort=5a&list&page=1#guide_result
http://www.advancedmp3players.co.uk/shop/advanced_search_result.php?categories_id=1&pfrom=90&pto=140&sort=5a&list&page=2#guide_result
http://www.advancedmp3players.co.uk/shop/advanced_search_result.php?categories_id=1&pfrom=90&pto=140&sort=5a&list&page=3#guide_result
the cowon iAudio D2, sansa, iRiver and ZEN players would deffinately be worth looking at...

donnajunkie

cowbutt wrote: »

Alternatively, consider getting a mobile phone with built-in music player; I've got a 4GB card for my Sony-Ericsson K800i and with a HPM-70 headphone adaptor so I can use my favourite headphones, it works pretty well if I don't want the 40GB of music and bulk of my H340.

this is a good idea. i have the sony ericsson w810i myself and it seems fine. the software that comes with it is a drag and drop type and quite easy to use although i dont have a clue what the different transfer rates that can be set are all about.
i have never had a mp3 player before so i dont know how they compare to walkman phone. when i was looking at some recently the sony and samsung mp3 players looked good to me. some of them even have bluetooth. i do think that one with a screen is the best way to go rather than one that is like a pen. ipods are generally considered good and reliable but i dont like them, i think they are ugly. so its purely superficial what i dont like about ipods because i have never had one so can only go on what i hear regarding how good they are.

cowbutt

mrtg0525 wrote: »

The one - ok, make that two - accessories I would recommend as very useful are:

• Some kind of cover for it to prevent you from damaging or scratching your new toy. I've just got a smaller leather case for my wife's Nano off ebay for very little money - should do the job nicely

Agreed

• Better earphones. OK, I'm a bit of a Hifi buff but even in my wife's opinion the enclosed earphones are not very good. Do yourself the favour and spend 20-odd quid on a set of vastly better ones. Unfortunately I can't recommend any as I've got rather more expensive ones...

Sennheiser are a pretty safe bet at this sort of level. The ones Apple supply with their iPods are apparently low-end Sennheisers. The MX400/MX500 are a decent upgrade. The in-ear-canal CX300s may suit some, and for those that don't, the MX55 might be a good bet (note, though, that the cartilege clamps made my ears a bit sore for a couple of weeks, but my ears got used to them!)

Finally, consider getting an LCD remote - Logic3 do one for the iPod, and it's available from Maplin. Saves pulling an expensive gadget conspicuously out of your pocket in a dodgy part of town...