Need MP3 player, ipod or something else?

jhelgesen · 08-09-2006, 05:52 AM

I want to get an ipod or similar device for my girlfriend. Should I go with the ipod (which model) or some other device.

She would use it while exercising or at her desk at work. Probably would look for using it in the car on the weekends on longer trips. Strictly audio and no video.

What do you guys like?

Thanks!

id10t · 08-09-2006, 05:57 AM

I'm really happy with my cheap ($40) walkmay style cd player that happens to play mp3 burned on cd...

craigster59 · craigster59's Garage

I have a 4 gig Ipod and the wife has a 30 gig. I tried some other mp3 players, but like the Ipod much better even though it's more expensive. I just put a new Alpine stereo in the 911 this weekend that has an interface cable that I ran to the glovebox for the Ipod. Now I have access to over 600 albums all through the Alpine head unit.

JavaBrewer · JavaBrewer's Garage

Hate to admit but I'm *still* leaning towards the iPod... On the plane ride home last week the middle seat guy had the 30GB version and the window seat guy had a Sony PSP with a big memory stick. PSP supposedly is compatable with upcoming PS3 and you can surf the web. Humm....the only stumbling block is size and A/V hookup with car stereo and home stereo.

austin552 · austin552's Garage

John,
Sherri has a Creative MuVo TX FM and loves it.
Like $40 at Wmart.

vangndy · 11:44 AM

i second the muvo tx fm, my girlfriend liked it so much she went out and bought one too

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16855102168

jhelgesen · 08-09-2006, 11:42 AM

mmmm, 600 albums, thats the ticket. Everything she wants to listen to in one spot. Any differences between the 30 and 60 gig ipod, other than another 30 gigs?

craigster59 · craigster59's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by jhelgesen
mmmm, 600 albums, thats the ticket. Everything she wants to listen to in one spot. Any differences between the 30 and 60 gig ipod, other than another 30 gigs?

30 should be more than enough if it's being used for music. The 60 gig is if you are also going to store a bunch of pictures, podcasts, videos. TV shows (which isn't practical due to the size of the screen). The Alpine car stereo #9865 (?) is probably the best ipod interface in car audio since you can search album, artist and song right thru the head unit as opposed to just playlists, which you are limited to with alot of other units. Also, the Bose 'soundock" is worth looking at for home/garage listening. HTH

Dave L · 08-09-2006, 03:25 PM

I have a 30GB ipod, all of my music is in there. I use it primarily in the car. The issue that I have is the interface to the car. I currently have a monster ICarPlay cable (charger / FM tuner) but it picks up a lot of interference in the city. I will probably upgrade and get a head unit with an interface like Craigster59 has suggested.

Other than the FM tuner I think its great, easy to use and accomplished exactly what i was hoping (not changing CDs on car trips)

jyl · jyl's Garage

iPod works great, is competitively priced at equivalent capacity, has by far widest selection of cases/accessories/peripherals, and increasingly new cars are coming with factory option iPod interface. BMW was the first, but many more have signed up.

bell · bell's Garage

the super small ipod (nano?) is really cool, and very very light which she would appreciate while working out imo.
if she has a computer she can learn to transfer songs to it since it won't be 30gig.........make her work a little

red-beard · red-beard's Garage

I like my Palm Lifedrive, since it doubles as a short term laptop replacement. It has a 4gb harddisk and I have a 4 GB SD in the slot. I can play MP3s, Videos, check e-mail, surf the web (Wifi&bluetooth),etc). Plus, it has a speaker, so I can actually play a movie and have others watch, or listen to a new song.

I can also work on Word Documents, Excel, and Power Point and show native PDF files.

$399

ricwon · 08-09-2006, 05:16 PM

I have the Creative 1 gb Nano plus. $60 from ZipZoomFly w/rebate. Easy to download music from Windows media player. Fm also works good. Included was a cable to copy from a generic cd or cassette player. Hard to beat for the money.

elwood-914 · 08-09-2006, 07:46 PM

My buddy just got me the 30 gig Ipod, love it. He got it for me for a future hospital stay.....I can't beleive all the songs...holds 7500 of em!!

jhelgesen · 08-10-2006, 04:25 AM

Okay, trying to pick between a 4 gig nano or a 30 gig ipod. I see the battery life of the 30gig is 14 hours, but don't see a battery life on the nano. Anyone have experience?

svandamme · svandamme's Garage

i have a 2 gig nano
and frankly , no need for more

once in a month , i refresh the contents, and i'm good to go again

it does take some time to get bored of every album in a 2 gig disk

a 30/60 gig to me seems more of a hastle , a lot more sorting and browsing to get what you wanna hear...

jyl · jyl's Garage

Advantage of 30GB or larger, for me, is
1. No need to decide what goes on the iPod. The whole music collection gets automatically synchronized.
2. Room for audiobooks, podcasts, movies//TV shows.

deathpunk dan · 08-10-2006, 06:50 AM

I bought my sister the ipod nano for her birthday and she loves it. I have a 6 gig Zen Micro mp3 player which is also really good.

Yellowbird RS · 08-10-2006, 10:49 AM

I have a 30 Gb 4G Ipod and the girlfriend have a new 30 Gb video ipod. And we love them.

fastpat · 08-10-2006, 03:00 PM

In my opinion, everyone needs one iPod on which to transcribe all your CD's. After that, via iTunes, you can burn disc's which are playable in any of the new in dash units that play mp3's from burned CD's. I have an iPod interface for one of my indash units, but no longer use it. Since I can burn 4-9 hours of music on one disc, which I can cheaply replace if damaged, why subject an expensive iPod to the car environment?