Just got an Ipod any advice ?

[KingDox]

I just ordered a 15 GB Ipod from apple.com and it's due in a few days. Any one have some advice for me ? I'm running windows and am wondering if there are any 3rd party apps that make the thing work cooler then the pack in software. Also I'm thinking about getting a doc to put the ipod in. Is it worth the 35 bucks ? Hope everything goes well.

[Scrubking]

Sell it!

[EggViper]

the dock isn't worth it if u can handle the wires, they basically do the same job. the money could just b used in better ways, i.e. more mp3's. but if u want to just really acceserize ur ipod than go for it.

[Ledhed]

If you do really plan on keeping such a ridiculously overpriced piece of hardware, then I suggest you spend that $35 on a set of casings for it. After all, it's pretty easy to drop it when one hand is thumbing through the easy listening section and the other is holding a latte. And no, I'm not bitter.

[Acidevil]

Return it. iPod is trash. I've had mine a little over a year now and have already started having the infamous battery problems. iPod has given me nothing but grief and frustration. Certainly you can find a better mp3 player for the same price or less. I'm just waiting for it to die so I can have fun and take it apart.

If you do keep it, you'll probably need to visit sites like www.ipodlounge.com and www.ephpod.com to seek the advice you are looking for and download the homebrew software you will need to make iPod work properly on your Windows machine.

[jeffreyjrose]

KingDox... the Ipod is a fine purchase. There is a reason that it's the most popular mp3 player on the market. The pack in software will do everything that you need it to. The dock isn't worth the money because it's not necessary... save the $35. Also, if you go to a school: high school or college, you can get educational discounts on the entire Apple website.

[b3b0p]

Return it. My brother has one. It is 9 months old and died 6 months ago. Save your self the cash and get a CD MP3 player, a Dell HDD based MP3 player, or a minidisc. Use your new savings on a crapload of games.

[SS4Brolly]

Its popular because its new to most people. I got a Dell MP3 player a few weeks ago, and I dont know how many times I've been asked "Is that an iPod?". Some people dont know that the iPod is not the only MP3 player on the market. Its simmilar to some non-computer people referring to all PC's as a 'Dell' instead of even simply a 'computer'.

[bruce_pwns_j00]

I have advice, tell us how to get that much money or share the wealth.

[JSweeney]

Its popular because its new to most people. I got a Dell MP3 player a few weeks ago, and I dont know how many times I've been asked "Is that an iPod?". Some people dont know that the iPod is not the only MP3 player on the market. Its simmilar to some non-computer people referring to all PC's as a 'Dell' instead of even simply a 'computer'.

Yep. It's just like the IMac. It's a computer for morons.... I mean, regular people :)

[Mr. Anderson]

I want an iPod because it synchs so well with iTunes. Also, Apple is replacing the battery for free/discounted price now.

[Acidevil]

Apple only replaces the battery for free if the iPod is under warranty. Otherwise, its US$99 to replace an iPod battery through Apple which a bit steep and quite shady considering most batteries are failing after the warranty period. I could spend $50 and do it myself or have someone else do it. But I guess that's better than their old policy of "purchase a new iPod, sucker/Mac Addict". http://instagiber.net/smiliesdotcom/otn/confused/shrug03.gif

The bottom line is that power solutions for portable devices really sucks right now.

[Quackzilla]

You could sell it on ebay for full retail price and buy a competitors product which is just as good for one fourth of the price.

[karmapolice]

I loved my ipod but my friend dropped it and now its broken...actually im glad its broken...If your an audiophile like myself your ipod wont hold much...I had a 30 gig and it was half full with 1900 songs...Its supposed to hold 7500...But I used AIFF or OGG VORBIS because the sound quality is SOO much better...MP3's are crap...most people just think mp3 is the only way you can convert audio into a file since its was the first widely introduced...and most people dont like music enough to care...who cares if linkin park sounds worse? It already sounds like crap to begin with...My suggestion is take the ipod back, get a nice CD player NOT AN MP3 ONE! Get a 150 pair of headphones and just enjoy GOOD sounding music...

[Quackzilla]

wave files > mp3 compression

[Gothic Walrus]

My advice? Give it to me because it might be possessed. I know how to deal with those things. :D

[cruster]

Man, there's a lot of Mac-user baiting in here.
I have a first-gen iPod that I got when they were initially released. 5 measly gigs. I've never had a problem with it, and the battery is still good. Going on 3 years of ownership. It has been dropped more times than I care to admit and has never had a problem. They are pretty durable devices.
I speak as someone who was a big proponent (and still is) of minidiscs...it's a great format, but the iPod is dead solid EASY TO USE. It's worth the money for the convenience. Yeah, there are other MP3 players on the market, but the iPod's internal software just ROCKS - things are where you expect them to be.
I wouldn't trade mine for anything other than a newer model.
Oh, and battery replacement can be done for...around $50 if you do it yourself, or you can go through macresq.com and pay $69 including overnight shipping both ways. Not a bad deal considering the batteries are not as fallible as people have made them out to be as of late.

[scargums]

i have the 3rd gen ipod, but the 10 gig version they dont sell anymore and i love it. ive always been a windows user and have always hated apple and mac and so forth, but mine works great, its easy to use, the sound quality is fine (i'm no audiophile but i could tell that the 3rd gen does sound much better than a 2nd gen and it does sound just fine). also, ive found that the whole battery issue can be resolved by just not using the backlight or built in equilizers that you dont need. i think people are more critical of ipod than is probably justified because lots of people hate apple to begin with, but people also tend to be critical of the top dog far more than the underdog in virtually every situation. its just easier to justify bashing the ipod because it sells so well and at a high price than its less sucessful competitors. the only thing i have ever had a problem with is scratching the screen, which is insanely easy to do, but i solved that by keeping my ipod in my palm pilot case. havent scratched it at all since i started doing that. also, like eveyrone else said, the dock is useless so dont bother, just keep it plugged in while your computer is on and it will charge before you leave again. i think its definatly a worthy purchase if you dont mind not being cheap for once (theres a first time for everything!)

[racerman8]

Rip some songs from your CD collection for you iPod.

[icruise]

Don't let these guys get to you -- the iPod is a fantastic device. I think I detect more than a little jealousy.

Half of what makes it great is iTunes -- once you know how to use it properly, it's incredibly powerful and flexible. You only need 3rd party software if you want to extract songs from iPod back to a computer, but that's not normally necessary.

Smart playlists are one of my favorite features. You can set them to only include songs of a certain genre, artist or whatever, only songs you've never listened to, or only songs with the word "blue" in the title if that's what you like. They even update live on the iPod, so you can have a playlist that includes only unplayed music, and it will delete a song from the list once you play it.

Enjoy your iPod.

[MrBadExample]

There is a lot of hate for Apple considering there 3% market share. I've worked on both and would not trade my Mac for anything.

[bignick]

Man, there's a lot of Mac-user baiting in here.
I have a first-gen iPod that I got when they were initially released. 5 measly gigs. I've never had a problem with it, and the battery is still good. Going on 3 years of ownership. It has been dropped more times than I care to admit and has never had a problem. They are pretty durable devices.


Its the same thing with the thompson drives on xbox. People have no clue. My friend had an ipod. It got fried through the firewire port though. I must say, they are very sexy and the software on it it very user friendly. Its like cell phone batteries. I would bet %90 of people dont let them charge first before they start using it. That can cause major problems. IMO they are too expensive.

[karmapolice]

People that hate macs only hate mac because they dont know any better, or they dont have enough money to buy a good one and only have experiance from shitty ones you used at school...There is no reason to hate a mac other than envy,jealousy,or ignorance...I know plenty of computer savy and hackers and they both hate windows operating computers...Its Linux or Mac all the way...Dont hate something you cant afford or have no experiance with...I have used Windows on MANY occasions and I never liked em...I gave them a chance but everytime I saw a little hope something brought it down...

[alongx]

I just ordered a 15 GB Ipod from apple.com and it's due in a few days. Any one have some advice for me ? I'm running windows and am wondering if there are any 3rd party apps that make the thing work cooler then the pack in software. Also I'm thinking about getting a doc to put the ipod in. Is it worth the 35 bucks ? Hope everything goes well.

Since nobody seems to have given the advice that you asked for, I'd recommend going with iTunes 4.2 (or higher if it's out yet) for transferring music to your iPod, iTunes is infinitely better than using MusicMatch with the shitty plugin that Apple gives you. I'd recommend a cover as well, although I didn't bother with one. I wouldn't bother with a base unless you don't have a FireWire card. It's slightly more annoying, though, because you have to charge the iPod before transferring files, whereas the dock allows you to transfer files and charge simultaneously.

[karmapolice]

Yeah 4.5 is out...ohh is it sweet...actually theres almost no dif.

[Javery]

Can I go running with an iPod or will sweat/rain ruin it?

[MauMauProductions]

I'd advise ditching the pack in headphones (those shitty unstylish white plugs) and get yourself a Sessheiser (SP) pair of earplugs or a nice pair of noise cancelling headphones. IMHO, Ipod is not the EASIEST or BEST Mp3 player on the market (I've owned several Mp3 Players, and the Ipod is fine unless youre a little shitty audiophile like I am) You'll like your Ipod most likely.