Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion The Water Cooler iPod or another mp3 player + questions

Heres the deal. my brother is going buy an MP3 player for his upcoming vacation. Because I have such an extensive MP3 library , he wants to send it to me to load, so he wont have to import his music library which is almost identical to mine (he leaves next week and doesnt have time)
I use iTunes on a Mac.
He has a Dell. (and is somewhat computer illiterate)
My initial thought is for him to buy an iPod, but they are "assigned" for a specific PC or Mac. In other words once you load from one PC or Mac it cant be modified with more or different music from a different PC or Mac. He seems to think that is OK, because once I load it he plans on leaving it as is and thinks he wont want to mess with loading any further music. I think once he gets it, he'll change his mind about that.
So here's some questions
1. What other 20GB MP3 players are there that will work on PC or Mac?

2. Are they all assigned to a specific PC or Mac?

3. I know one way around the "assigned" thing for the iPod , and that is by loading the files in the storage area of the iPod letting him then download them to his PC and then in to iTunes and then back into the iPod as music files. I'm just not sure if he will want to or if he would even know how.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.
I have to give him a recomendation by Wed. A.M. 6/29.

Please dont bother with Mac or iPod bashing (I know you guys to well). Suggestions only please.

Here's a way around the conundrum, but it may be too involved for your bro.

1. get an iPod and connect it to your Mac in disk mode.
2. copy the mp3 files onto it in the Finder.
3. send iPod to brother.
4. tell brother to plug in iPod before installing software (so it will automatically use disk mode on his Dell -- hopefully it's running WinXP)
5. copy music from iPod to hard disk, then delete it from the iPod
6. disconnect iPod
7. install iPod software and iTunes and reboot
8. plug in iPod -- it will launch iTunes then ask to be associated with his computer
9. add the music to the library
10. sync the iPod

This is the easiest way I know to get the music onto his computer and still allow him to modify the contents of the iPod from his PC.

There are tons of players out there for the mac and PC.

The one reason why my player, despite being ancient, is the only portable DAP player I can tolerate.

iAudio's X5 will work on a mac and a PC. It has better sound quality since it does not have the bass rolloff iPods do into low impedance headphones. Here's a graph of the iPod's response into a 25 ohm load - pretty ugly. Not trying to bash, but since we're here, we probably share the desire for well designed hi-fi equipment.

The iAudio can also play videos. It has a radio, and tons of other features.

I like the Rio Karma for its gapless playback. Its rio DJ which will play music in order from most played to least, from least played to most, stuff I haven't heard in a week, two weeks, stuff I used to listen to a lot but haven't listened to recently, etc. It also has a parametric EQ in comparison to the iPod's dismal presets and every other brand's typical EQ. Not to mention the scroll wheel makes seeking through songs easier than I've had it with any other player.

The iRiver H320, while having its flaws(bad database in spite of nice file-tree browsing), has one of the prettiest screens I've ever seen, and can also play videos.

The iRiver H320, iAudio X5, and Rio Karma all support Ogg Vorbis, and the X5/Karma support FLAC: a better lossy codec, and a lossless audio codec for the purist nuts out there.

The Rio Karma has some pretty easy software. That in combination with a good GUI and interface would make it good for a newbie to DAPs.

I hope this makes the decision easier.

The link to the graph just shows the site logo. I think this link is what you meant.

Couldn't you just copy your MP3 library to a few DVD's and then have him download these onto his home computer?

That may in fact be the easiest thing... There are other answers; there is software out there (often shareware-please support the authors!) that will let you copy songs off of an iPod. Check out ipodding.com.

As a recent (6 mos) iPod convert and a recent Mac Mini buyer, I would vote for the iPod. I've had Rio's (2) and Muvo's (2) I strongly believe iTunes has done it right. W/ yesterday's addition of podcasts, it makes it even better. Especially if you like to listen to lonely geeks pontificate in the basement of their parent's houses, since this is pretty indicative of the majority of podcasts I've sampled... But the good ones are just that, good ones.

That being said, I would recommend Peter's suggestion of using the iPod as a hard drive rather than loading it via iTunes. He can then personalize it himself. Go to ipodlounge.com and you can see various people doing the same. Also on Apple's site there are user forums specific to the iPod that address this same question. A similar situation came up when I tried to move my MP3 library from an XP machine to a Mac but still preserve my playlists. My library, btw, is about 35 MB.

I agree w/ input about gapless playback. That is one thing that really bugs me. So, I still buy CDs when I really want to have an audiophile listening session, that way I don't worry about gaps and compression.

The new 20GB iPod color is only $299, same price I paid for my 20GB in December. [sigh]...iPod upgradeitis...

So you've got, what, 7 songs?

Yup, that's what happens when you use WMA. HA!

Heres what kills me. I bought my 40GB iPod a little over a year ago for 499.99 from an Apple Store., now I could get a 60 GB with color screen for 399.99.
My brother called today and said that he bought a 30 GB color screen iPod. I had told him to get the 20 GB model, but he said they didnt make that model with the color screen. Whats up with that? I look on the Apple Store site and they have the 20GB color screen for 299.99, but dont mention a 30 GB model. Hmmmmm.
Anyway, I am going to load it on the storage area. I "ve done that with mine several times, but when I explained it to my brother he thought it sounded like more trouble than he wanted to deal with. I'm sure I can talk him through it though.

I've got two iPod Minis. One I got free from a vendor as a gift. The other I got as a b-day gift from a friend that I assume forgot I had one already.

I'm giving one to my Dad because he has been eyeing an MP3 player for a few months and asked for my help in purchasing one.

If I were to by a player on my own, I would probably end up with an iRiver or Creative unit.

Just got off the phone with my brother. Because of time limits, I'm going to load it ready for play for now. Next time I'm in Colorado (which I hope will be soon) I'll take my 120GB hard drive filled with MP3s and redo it on his computer.
Still wondering why the Apple Store site doesnt offer a 30 GB iPod.
I found them online elsewhere.

The 30gb iPod is discontinued...and the Apple store just sells the latest. I think there is a refurb section, and that may have older models.

The 30GB with a color screen is already discontinued?

Yup.....

In reply to:

---

The iPod and iPod photo lines are merging, creating a single line of white iPods that all feature color displays with the ability to view album artwork, photos and play slideshows in stunning color. The simplified iPod lineup features a 20GB model, holding up to 5,000 songs priced at just $299 and a 60GB model, holding up to 15,000 songs priced at $399. [Jun 28, 2005]

---

http://www.apple.com/hotnews/

[rumor]
...and not too far down the line, you'll be able to purchase movies from the iTunes Store and view them on your iPod.
[/rumor]

Yeah, 'cause I want to watch a 16x9 movie on a 2 inch screen. Riiiight.

Stay tuned...

Apple DVR

iFlicks


Yeah, the 30GB iPod Photo is gone. The colors are now called iPod COlor. The discontinued models are now sold only at 3rd party vendors.

Apple's got a good HD story. They have the new H.264 Quicktime and it looks great on my Mini, even via VGA. Not sure if an iPod Color could ever handle a firmware upgrade to handle video though.

So I take it that the iPod is the way to go? I'm looking at getting something also but all I want is something that works decent when I'm in my van via a FM transmitter.

I was going to put a MP3 stacker in my van but the idea of something portable that I can take with me, is a little more appealing. I don't need a 20 gig player but it has to be a fair size. I have a little over 10,000 MP3's on my home computer and 95% of them are at 320 or higher. However with that being said, I don't mind swapping out the songs every few day's which is why it doesn't have to have a huge hard drive.

Do the FM transmitters work worth a darn or is it a waste of money?

That depends on 3 things:
Are there a lot of radio stations near where you drive?
How close to the antenna will your iPod be?
Do you have an assistant to set the frequency when needed?

They work OK. Me, I got some adapters for the CD Changer in connectors (available at Crutchfield!), then plugged in a minijack to RCA cable. Works great! Note that I have 3rd party radios in both cars.

so what are 1st and 2nd party car radios?

For the most part, FM transmitters don't work well. The best sound you can get is a good FM radio sound. And that gets worse if you are in radio heavy territory, like LA or NYC.

For me, I use the cassette adapter. Ideally, you'd want to use an AUX input if you're radio has it. Some have used a direct FM modulator into the radio but that can get $$ if you have to install it.

I'm waiting for this to get released.

Smartdeck

That way I can use the radio controls on my steering wheel to control the iPod. Granted I can only forward/rev but that's enough for me. And it's relatively cheap.

Uhhhhh... good question.

Hey guy's can someone take a peek at E-Bay auction #5786003175 and let me know what you think? Good, bad etc..............Thanks

$155 for a 512 MB unit, even with a transmitter, seems a bit steep to me. But that's just me.

WAY too steep, heck you can get a used iPod for less than that. FM transmitter can be had for around $20.

Well I think I'm going to end up going with the iRiver H10 or the new 20 ig iPod that is coming out. Unless I get side tracked, it will be one of those two but for the life of me I can't decide which way to go.

Go for an iPod. As much as I think there are better sounding/working options out there for less, I don't like the way iRiver is going.

Their H120 was finally getting a gapless firmware that supported other formats, yet was discontinued. The H320 is close to getting this from an open source firmware developer, and was discontinued in favor of the H10. This has far less features(no video, no recording, less outputs, etc), and you have no choice but to use its slow database opposed to a file tree browsing mode. iRiver's DBs are really slow. They crippled the H320, made it smaller, and sell it for the same price. It's as if they try to cripple progress - outside of the color screen, their 2 year old player is better than what they're selling now.

Well I went for the iPod. I ordered the new 20 gig color version that just came out with the new FM transmitter that is also relatively new. Hopefully it will work well enough for what I want it to do. It came it and more money then I wanted to spend, but time will tell if it was money well spent.

Thanks all for the suggestions!

Let us know what you think of the FM transmitter. I've had so so success. I'm waiting for the Griffin Smartdeck to come out so I can use my steering wheel controls to forward/reverse the iPod.

go for the ipod, i got the 60gb and im lovin it...u might want to get a case too, check out www.iskin.com for a good deal

I 2nd the iSkin. Still keeps the low profile and it's rubberized. That way, you can keep a better grip and not drop it.

I took your guys advice and ordered a carbon iSkin eVo2 today. It seems $$$$$ to me for a chunk of rubber but if you guys say it's the way to go, so be it!

iPod accessories is a good market to be in these days...

This is also pretty good.

Egrips

I use it for my Treo 600 after I dropped that $400 phone about 3 times, skidding across the parking lot...