waxwabbit

Hi guys

After some advice on the ipod.

My iriver 256mb mp3 broke down on me, so i need a new one, and im looking at the ipod mini.

First things first. Can I download songs off my pc onto the ipod, or does it only allow the apple itunes format? ( I think they have a different format from my iriver 256mb from what my memory serves me). I ask, coz I know when I tried downloading an itunes song onto my iriver mp3 player, it would not play back as it was not a supported file format.

I tried looking at what format the songs on my pc are, and it just says mpeg layer 3.

Otherswise from what I see of it the ipod looks great

cheers guys

dbj1000

Apple iPods play two major music formats (and one other). Tracks purchased from the iTunes music store are AAC (which is really copy-protected mpeg4) and will only play on an iPod and your PC. Songs you've ripped from CDs or which you downloaded are most often in mp3 format, which will play on any mp3 player (hence the name!) and any PC or Mac, since they are not copy protected. The iPod also supports Apple's uncompressed format, which is supposed to give the best audio reproduction for audiophiles (but the file sizes are HUGE). What the iPod does NOT support is the Windows Audio format, but that's no great loss.

Hope this helps. There's no questions that iPods are far superior to the many competing players on the market, so you can't really go wrong with a mini.

Taffyles

I've just signed up with Blockbuster online- they do the same service as Netflix only a bit cheaper- and, I've been told, the DVD's arrive quicker so you should get your money's worth.

Bob

Bit of an old thread to bring back from the dead...but anyway, iPods have trouble or just won't play music bought from other sites other than iTunes, which can be a problem, also don't like the fact that you have to buy everything extra for them, much better value for money are the iRiver hard drive jobbies...don't know if they play Ogg files though, but that would be handy.

Magenta

Have heard the Sony NW-HD3 might be a better bet - apparently has better battery life than ipod - anyone have any experience of this?

dbj1000

Buying a Sony, or any other MP3 player other than an iPod is like buying a... a... hmm... well comparisons fail me. There is no other MP3 player on the market that is anything other than an iPod knock-off. What you gain in battery life you lose in support, operability, interface, software, ease of use, design and quality.

By the way, would you seriously buy a Sony when this is the company that until last week didn't actually support the MP3 format, and rather demanded that you convert all your tracks to a format that only they support?

Ah yes, buying any MP3 player other than an iPod is like buying a Sony Minidisk player (note the Sony link). It may look like it has some minor advantages, but it's really just another dying gasp of a company that was once a leader and now simply a producer of half-baked proprietary technology. Look for their ATRAC digital music format to disappear somewhere around March of next year, never to surface again

Oh, and I quite like the iPod, if that's not clear yet

Bob

iRiver...it's kicks it's arse, it's better built, as many features, better sound quality, as easy to use, better price value, more hd space for money....

and the sony toy ain't bad either, mini disk players are great though.

USBound

well I looked at about 5 different mp3 players over the space of about a week.... the ipod IS the nicest one I saw....

I got the 20gb one for $230 from a friend via ebay (he double ordered)...

I love it... I have about 5GB of music on it... and I use the rest of the space as a portable drive for taking things 2 and from work.

great peice of kit.

dbj1000

You bought an iRiver?!?

It may sound better (must say, you're the first person I've ever seen who commented on the sound quality, given the compression levels of MP3), but I'd have to put a paper bag over its head to hide the horror of its appearance and interface

But I've already state my pro-iPod bias!

Bob

Nope, ain't bought one, but have a couple mates who have....sound quality is better though....and better value for money with what you get with it, and mate uses it as a spare hard drive too. The prob with the ipod is, well as nice as it is, just looks a tad naff and girly.

Magenta

Many thanks for your detailed reply - I will have to do further research!

nbaki82

Before going to iPod which I thought buyins as well, I suggest looking at the new sony NW 3000 or 1000, that actually made me turn back on ipods. I think you can see it at --SPAM DELETED-- Maybe you like it better.

fatbrit

Two posts, one on OZ and the other on US. Both advertising Sony. They may well be the best thing since sliced bread, but you my friend, are a nasty little spammer!

kevntrace

Can't comment on the delivery times since I haven't compared. But Blockbuster also give you 2 coupons per month to rent a movie for free from your local store. Netflix can't compete with that.

kevntrace

Yeah, I would have to do more research too if I was in the market for one. The iPod is being pushed far too much in my opinion, so much so its uncool to go and buy one.

Plenty of alternatives out there, and you won't be one of the "sheep" buying one just because everyone else has one.