 | Apple iPod touch 8 GB (2nd Generation)
Good wi fi portable thingie, average music player, poor gaming machine -- 2009-01-06
Ok, here is the thing. I never owned Apple's ipod before. As some one that has played with mp3 players way before apple launched the first ipod I have always found a good reason to stay out of shopping one.
So let me start by explaining where I am coming from on this review: I was not looking for a good music player. If you are, then this is not for you. Go and look for a more economic player that will do the job as a music player better than this ( and that is not an ipod nano by the way). I wanted a large display device that could connect to my wifi network to navigate the net and check email, without firing up a laptop. Up to today, There are no devices out there yet that can do this as well and as portable as the ipod touch.
The device connected to the wifi network easily without fuss. the Browser is great. with finger gestures to zoom in and out on areas of interest, makes this unit may favorite to check quicly my emails and browse the internet before I decide that I need to fire my laptop. Playing my music, audible books, and podcast is a plus for an all in one device that fits in my hand.
Good:
- Wifi connectivity. No other mp3 player is as compact as this and can browse the interned with an excellent browser for a portable device.
- Apple Store: I love it. It is well populated with applications and some are free. I got a dictionary, and a game. but there are other things that pick my interest. No need to connect to a computer for this. Just connect to wifi network.
- keeping up with my podcasts without connecting to the laptop is another great thing. Well done.
Average:
- Music player: not a great sounding music player. Apple continues its philosphy that adding a good equalizer will confuse the poor apple sheep. This is not a big deal for podcasts and audible books. But again, if your first need is for a good music player then stay out of this one and do some reasearch on non-apple players. They do it better and you get more features for usually less money.
- Cover flow is just a gimmick. Looks nice in the adds but I ended prefering the old index listing way.
- Itunes: It has become a bloated software. My machine fires up quickly the windows media player when I want to sync my Sansa Fuze. iTunes will not give me an hourglass for a few seconds to let me know that I have double clicked the software to launch it. I have given it the avarage rating because after the program is loaded makes syncing as easy as windows media player (that is right: people that tell you itunes is easier to use than anything else are fanboys and a statement like that should dimiss anything else they have to say)
Bad:
- Gaming machine: I have loaded a game that is a really good time killer, and there are many games in the apple store that I might be tempted to try out. But here is the problem: The battery does not last as much as you would like for a gaming machine. The Playstation Portable has been hammered for its poor battery life compared to nintendo DS, but the Touch runs through the battery much faster. This might be because it has a much lower capacity battery in that slim body than the nintendo DS.
So I am not throwing away my other portable gaming machine.
- iTunes Store: My opinion on this one is basically my preference of opennes. I buy my music from DRM free sites like Amazon ( I should get discount coupon for this plug). Seriously, you want a library that can be moved across non-apple devices as I do, and pay less while you build it up, you should look elsewhere. iTunes is too expensive and that music is locked on an apple device only, unless you go through the trouble of re-ripping your music. I think not, I rather extend the life of my laptop cd player/bruner, I bet it is cheapy anyways so I dont want to stress it out.
What an excellent gadget! -- 2009-01-05
Ive been using my Ipod Touch 2.0 for three weeks now. So far, so very good! I love the applications and the iTunes store. Video and music is 9/10. The games are fun and easy on the memory. Utilities are so novel and useful. And the most important thing: thousands of applications are free. My favorite application is Safari and whoa, connecting to and surfing the internet with my Ipod Touch is simply fast, even FASTER than using my Intel Centrino laptop that has 802.11 b/g. I agree with another reviewer who said that internet connecting and surfing with the Ipod Touch is fast and stable. I connect to the internet thru the Touch's wifi at home (where I have a modem-and-router DSL setup), at work in a UPS store, in my college campus, at Barnes and Noble, Borders, and Starbucks. I can easily connect to protected WPA and WEP networks, so long as I am granted the passkey, as easily as I can connect to public open networks like in the City of Galt. I love the on-screen keypad which is so easy to use. My only gripe is that it does not (yet) open flash content on certain sites, but Im sure that this shortcoming is an update away. Now even my 71-year old dad, who borrows my Touch to surf to his favorite sites like CNN and FoxNews, wants one for his birthday! The Ipod Touch is so easy and fun to use for people of all age groups be they elementary school children, college students, adult employees, and even 70-year olds!
|
 | Apple iPod touch 16 GB (2nd Generation)
Good wi fi portable thingie, average music player, poor gaming machine -- 2009-01-06
Ok, here is the thing. I never owned Apple's ipod before. As some one that has played with mp3 players way before apple launched the first ipod I have always found a good reason to stay out of shopping one.
So let me start by explaining where I am coming from on this review: I was not looking for a good music player. If you are, then this is not for you. Go and look for a more economic player that will do the job as a music player better than this ( and that is not an ipod nano by the way). I wanted a large display device that could connect to my wifi network to navigate the net and check email, without firing up a laptop. Up to today, There are no devices out there yet that can do this as well and as portable as the ipod touch.
The device connected to the wifi network easily without fuss. the Browser is great. with finger gestures to zoom in and out on areas of interest, makes this unit may favorite to check quicly my emails and browse the internet before I decide that I need to fire my laptop. Playing my music, audible books, and podcast is a plus for an all in one device that fits in my hand.
Good:
- Wifi connectivity. No other mp3 player is as compact as this and can browse the interned with an excellent browser for a portable device.
- Apple Store: I love it. It is well populated with applications and some are free. I got a dictionary, and a game. but there are other things that pick my interest. No need to connect to a computer for this. Just connect to wifi network.
- keeping up with my podcasts without connecting to the laptop is another great thing. Well done.
Average:
- Music player: not a great sounding music player. Apple continues its philosphy that adding a good equalizer will confuse the poor apple sheep. This is not a big deal for podcasts and audible books. But again, if your first need is for a good music player then stay out of this one and do some reasearch on non-apple players. They do it better and you get more features for usually less money.
- Cover flow is just a gimmick. Looks nice in the adds but I ended prefering the old index listing way.
- Itunes: It has become a bloated software. My machine fires up quickly the windows media player when I want to sync my Sansa Fuze. iTunes will not give me an hourglass for a few seconds to let me know that I have double clicked the software to launch it. I have given it the avarage rating because after the program is loaded makes syncing as easy as windows media player (that is right: people that tell you itunes is easier to use than anything else are fanboys and a statement like that should dimiss anything else they have to say)
Bad:
- Gaming machine: I have loaded a game that is a really good time killer, and there are many games in the apple store that I might be tempted to try out. But here is the problem: The battery does not last as much as you would like for a gaming machine. The Playstation Portable has been hammered for its poor battery life compared to nintendo DS, but the Touch runs through the battery much faster. This might be because it has a much lower capacity battery in that slim body than the nintendo DS.
So I am not throwing away my other portable gaming machine.
- iTunes Store: My opinion on this one is basically my preference of opennes. I buy my music from DRM free sites like Amazon ( I should get discount coupon for this plug). Seriously, you want a library that can be moved across non-apple devices as I do, and pay less while you build it up, you should look elsewhere. iTunes is too expensive and that music is locked on an apple device only, unless you go through the trouble of re-ripping your music. I think not, I rather extend the life of my laptop cd player/bruner, I bet it is cheapy anyways so I dont want to stress it out.
What an excellent gadget! -- 2009-01-05
Ive been using my Ipod Touch 2.0 for three weeks now. So far, so very good! I love the applications and the iTunes store. Video and music is 9/10. The games are fun and easy on the memory. Utilities are so novel and useful. And the most important thing: thousands of applications are free. My favorite application is Safari and whoa, connecting to and surfing the internet with my Ipod Touch is simply fast, even FASTER than using my Intel Centrino laptop that has 802.11 b/g. I agree with another reviewer who said that internet connecting and surfing with the Ipod Touch is fast and stable. I connect to the internet thru the Touch's wifi at home (where I have a modem-and-router DSL setup), at work in a UPS store, in my college campus, at Barnes and Noble, Borders, and Starbucks. I can easily connect to protected WPA and WEP networks, so long as I am granted the passkey, as easily as I can connect to public open networks like in the City of Galt. I love the on-screen keypad which is so easy to use. My only gripe is that it does not (yet) open flash content on certain sites, but Im sure that this shortcoming is an update away. Now even my 71-year old dad, who borrows my Touch to surf to his favorite sites like CNN and FoxNews, wants one for his birthday! The Ipod Touch is so easy and fun to use for people of all age groups be they elementary school children, college students, adult employees, and even 70-year olds!
|
 | Apple iPod classic 120 GB Black (6th Generation)
Finally gave up waiting for my 3G to break... -- 2009-01-05
I exceeded the capacity of my 20 gig 3G a couple of years ago (BTW I quit using iTunes store years ago & have been buying content strictly from Amazon--VERY happy re this). I replaced the battery twice & even dropped it in a stream (fully under water for ~15-20 seconds, I pried open the case & got out a hair dryer) but it kept on churning out songs. After 5 years of being a very happy iPod user, and, having the most ancient iPod on the block, I bit the bullet and bought a new 120 Classic.
By far the most difficult piece of this was getting my iTunes directory cleaned up and getting cover art on every album (thanks Amazon).
Love the skip counts. Love being able to keep all my holiday music & classical music but NOT having Horowitz follow the Chili Peppers while I'm skiing (Option>skip when shuffling). I have run, show skied, and biked with a hard drive based player for 5 years and I have never had a skip or a burp.
I considered a nano but 16 gigs not enough and who wants to take a computer on vacation. If you do that they will make you work.
K.I.S = Keep It Simple -- 2009-01-04
The IPOD classic is a great device. I currently have the 80G Ipod I purchased almost 2 years ago. Everyone around me is getting the IPOD touch and claiming how HOTT it is. I will agree that it is very savvy but I like to keep it simple. I don't use my IPOD to go online, look at photos or play games with. If I were 16, that might be ok but I am a little out of that range. I picked up the 120G IPOD for music and occasional videos. If I am in the airport, I might want to look at a video to pass the time but mainly, I just listen to music. I like the fact that if I want to look at a video, I can especially on the 2.5 inch screen. (thus me not picking the Nano). It comes in two colors, silver or black. That depends on you, again, I am not a teenager so, a red or lime green device being pulled from my briefcase at work is not my idea of professional. Both colors are simple and all in all, the classic does the job. I listen to music and all I need is a device that allows me to do just that. If you are trying to decide if you should get a 120G classic, I say go for it if you want straight music. But if you want bells & whistles, the touch might be more your speed. YMMV...NEOSOUL06
|
 | Apple iPod nano 8 GB Black (4th Generation)
Good Accessibility -- 2009-01-05
I bought the 4G nano after reading about Apple's inclusion of accessibility features for blind users. While the implementation is not complete, it is good enough to allow me to operate the basic functions of the device.
When connecting through iTunes 8, you can turn on voiced menus. On a Windows machine, iTunes will use the system's default text-to-speech engine and settings to voice most of the menus and media on the iPod. Some menus not voiced, but the important ones are. After sync'ing, I have occasionally had an unvoiced podcast folder. The contents are voiced, just not the menu name. The next time I sync, this generally is corrected, and the problem is sporadic and not a huge deal.
I switched to the iPod after growing frustrated with Rockbox on a Sansa. While Rockbox had a much more comprehensive implementation of voice technology, the device crashed one too many times. The iPod hasn't got all teh bells and whistles of Rockbox, but it has been much more stable,... so far.
My Ipod just shut down -- 2009-01-04
I recieved my IPOD 16g 4G for a Christmas present, and woke up this morning to it completely shut down, Will not charge, turn on, or anything. It has died on me. I am so irritated with this device.
|
 | Apple iPod touch 32 GB (2nd Generation)
Good wi fi portable thingie, average music player, poor gaming machine -- 2009-01-06
Ok, here is the thing. I never owned Apple's ipod before. As some one that has played with mp3 players way before apple launched the first ipod I have always found a good reason to stay out of shopping one.
So let me start by explaining where I am coming from on this review: I was not looking for a good music player. If you are, then this is not for you. Go and look for a more economic player that will do the job as a music player better than this ( and that is not an ipod nano by the way). I wanted a large display device that could connect to my wifi network to navigate the net and check email, without firing up a laptop. Up to today, There are no devices out there yet that can do this as well and as portable as the ipod touch.
The device connected to the wifi network easily without fuss. the Browser is great. with finger gestures to zoom in and out on areas of interest, makes this unit may favorite to check quicly my emails and browse the internet before I decide that I need to fire my laptop. Playing my music, audible books, and podcast is a plus for an all in one device that fits in my hand.
Good:
- Wifi connectivity. No other mp3 player is as compact as this and can browse the interned with an excellent browser for a portable device.
- Apple Store: I love it. It is well populated with applications and some are free. I got a dictionary, and a game. but there are other things that pick my interest. No need to connect to a computer for this. Just connect to wifi network.
- keeping up with my podcasts without connecting to the laptop is another great thing. Well done.
Average:
- Music player: not a great sounding music player. Apple continues its philosphy that adding a good equalizer will confuse the poor apple sheep. This is not a big deal for podcasts and audible books. But again, if your first need is for a good music player then stay out of this one and do some reasearch on non-apple players. They do it better and you get more features for usually less money.
- Cover flow is just a gimmick. Looks nice in the adds but I ended prefering the old index listing way.
- Itunes: It has become a bloated software. My machine fires up quickly the windows media player when I want to sync my Sansa Fuze. iTunes will not give me an hourglass for a few seconds to let me know that I have double clicked the software to launch it. I have given it the avarage rating because after the program is loaded makes syncing as easy as windows media player (that is right: people that tell you itunes is easier to use than anything else are fanboys and a statement like that should dimiss anything else they have to say)
Bad:
- Gaming machine: I have loaded a game that is a really good time killer, and there are many games in the apple store that I might be tempted to try out. But here is the problem: The battery does not last as much as you would like for a gaming machine. The Playstation Portable has been hammered for its poor battery life compared to nintendo DS, but the Touch runs through the battery much faster. This might be because it has a much lower capacity battery in that slim body than the nintendo DS.
So I am not throwing away my other portable gaming machine.
- iTunes Store: My opinion on this one is basically my preference of opennes. I buy my music from DRM free sites like Amazon ( I should get discount coupon for this plug). Seriously, you want a library that can be moved across non-apple devices as I do, and pay less while you build it up, you should look elsewhere. iTunes is too expensive and that music is locked on an apple device only, unless you go through the trouble of re-ripping your music. I think not, I rather extend the life of my laptop cd player/bruner, I bet it is cheapy anyways so I dont want to stress it out.
What an excellent gadget! -- 2009-01-05
Ive been using my Ipod Touch 2.0 for three weeks now. So far, so very good! I love the applications and the iTunes store. Video and music is 9/10. The games are fun and easy on the memory. Utilities are so novel and useful. And the most important thing: thousands of applications are free. My favorite application is Safari and whoa, connecting to and surfing the internet with my Ipod Touch is simply fast, even FASTER than using my Intel Centrino laptop that has 802.11 b/g. I agree with another reviewer who said that internet connecting and surfing with the Ipod Touch is fast and stable. I connect to the internet thru the Touch's wifi at home (where I have a modem-and-router DSL setup), at work in a UPS store, in my college campus, at Barnes and Noble, Borders, and Starbucks. I can easily connect to protected WPA and WEP networks, so long as I am granted the passkey, as easily as I can connect to public open networks like in the City of Galt. I love the on-screen keypad which is so easy to use. My only gripe is that it does not (yet) open flash content on certain sites, but Im sure that this shortcoming is an update away. Now even my 71-year old dad, who borrows my Touch to surf to his favorite sites like CNN and FoxNews, wants one for his birthday! The Ipod Touch is so easy and fun to use for people of all age groups be they elementary school children, college students, adult employees, and even 70-year olds!
|
 | Apple iPod nano 8 GB Blue (4th Generation)
Good Accessibility -- 2009-01-05
I bought the 4G nano after reading about Apple's inclusion of accessibility features for blind users. While the implementation is not complete, it is good enough to allow me to operate the basic functions of the device.
When connecting through iTunes 8, you can turn on voiced menus. On a Windows machine, iTunes will use the system's default text-to-speech engine and settings to voice most of the menus and media on the iPod. Some menus not voiced, but the important ones are. After sync'ing, I have occasionally had an unvoiced podcast folder. The contents are voiced, just not the menu name. The next time I sync, this generally is corrected, and the problem is sporadic and not a huge deal.
I switched to the iPod after growing frustrated with Rockbox on a Sansa. While Rockbox had a much more comprehensive implementation of voice technology, the device crashed one too many times. The iPod hasn't got all teh bells and whistles of Rockbox, but it has been much more stable,... so far.
My Ipod just shut down -- 2009-01-04
I recieved my IPOD 16g 4G for a Christmas present, and woke up this morning to it completely shut down, Will not charge, turn on, or anything. It has died on me. I am so irritated with this device.
|
 | Apple iPod nano 8 GB Purple (4th Generation)
Good Accessibility -- 2009-01-05
I bought the 4G nano after reading about Apple's inclusion of accessibility features for blind users. While the implementation is not complete, it is good enough to allow me to operate the basic functions of the device.
When connecting through iTunes 8, you can turn on voiced menus. On a Windows machine, iTunes will use the system's default text-to-speech engine and settings to voice most of the menus and media on the iPod. Some menus not voiced, but the important ones are. After sync'ing, I have occasionally had an unvoiced podcast folder. The contents are voiced, just not the menu name. The next time I sync, this generally is corrected, and the problem is sporadic and not a huge deal.
I switched to the iPod after growing frustrated with Rockbox on a Sansa. While Rockbox had a much more comprehensive implementation of voice technology, the device crashed one too many times. The iPod hasn't got all teh bells and whistles of Rockbox, but it has been much more stable,... so far.
My Ipod just shut down -- 2009-01-04
I recieved my IPOD 16g 4G for a Christmas present, and woke up this morning to it completely shut down, Will not charge, turn on, or anything. It has died on me. I am so irritated with this device.
|
 | Apple iPod nano 8 GB Silver (4th Generation)
Good Accessibility -- 2009-01-05
I bought the 4G nano after reading about Apple's inclusion of accessibility features for blind users. While the implementation is not complete, it is good enough to allow me to operate the basic functions of the device.
When connecting through iTunes 8, you can turn on voiced menus. On a Windows machine, iTunes will use the system's default text-to-speech engine and settings to voice most of the menus and media on the iPod. Some menus not voiced, but the important ones are. After sync'ing, I have occasionally had an unvoiced podcast folder. The contents are voiced, just not the menu name. The next time I sync, this generally is corrected, and the problem is sporadic and not a huge deal.
I switched to the iPod after growing frustrated with Rockbox on a Sansa. While Rockbox had a much more comprehensive implementation of voice technology, the device crashed one too many times. The iPod hasn't got all teh bells and whistles of Rockbox, but it has been much more stable,... so far.
My Ipod just shut down -- 2009-01-04
I recieved my IPOD 16g 4G for a Christmas present, and woke up this morning to it completely shut down, Will not charge, turn on, or anything. It has died on me. I am so irritated with this device.
|
 | Apple iPod classic 120 GB Silver (6th Generation)
Finally gave up waiting for my 3G to break... -- 2009-01-05
I exceeded the capacity of my 20 gig 3G a couple of years ago (BTW I quit using iTunes store years ago & have been buying content strictly from Amazon--VERY happy re this). I replaced the battery twice & even dropped it in a stream (fully under water for ~15-20 seconds, I pried open the case & got out a hair dryer) but it kept on churning out songs. After 5 years of being a very happy iPod user, and, having the most ancient iPod on the block, I bit the bullet and bought a new 120 Classic.
By far the most difficult piece of this was getting my iTunes directory cleaned up and getting cover art on every album (thanks Amazon).
Love the skip counts. Love being able to keep all my holiday music & classical music but NOT having Horowitz follow the Chili Peppers while I'm skiing (Option>skip when shuffling). I have run, show skied, and biked with a hard drive based player for 5 years and I have never had a skip or a burp.
I considered a nano but 16 gigs not enough and who wants to take a computer on vacation. If you do that they will make you work.
K.I.S = Keep It Simple -- 2009-01-04
The IPOD classic is a great device. I currently have the 80G Ipod I purchased almost 2 years ago. Everyone around me is getting the IPOD touch and claiming how HOTT it is. I will agree that it is very savvy but I like to keep it simple. I don't use my IPOD to go online, look at photos or play games with. If I were 16, that might be ok but I am a little out of that range. I picked up the 120G IPOD for music and occasional videos. If I am in the airport, I might want to look at a video to pass the time but mainly, I just listen to music. I like the fact that if I want to look at a video, I can especially on the 2.5 inch screen. (thus me not picking the Nano). It comes in two colors, silver or black. That depends on you, again, I am not a teenager so, a red or lime green device being pulled from my briefcase at work is not my idea of professional. Both colors are simple and all in all, the classic does the job. I listen to music and all I need is a device that allows me to do just that. If you are trying to decide if you should get a 120G classic, I say go for it if you want straight music. But if you want bells & whistles, the touch might be more your speed. YMMV...NEOSOUL06
|
 | Apple iPod shuffle 1 GB Silver (2nd Generation)
Worst player I've ever used -- 2009-01-05
The shuffle is the perfect size to use while running and that's why I chose it. Unfortunately its a horrible player.
It doesn't allow use of a standard mini-USB cable to upload songs. It requires the special base that you will need to tote from location to location to access the player and you have to use iTunes software rather than just simple drag-and-drop. Also finding a song can be a pain - you may have to click and listen, click and listen.... over a hundred times to find your song. I prefer my previous mp3 player that is also very small but allows you to drag and drop, uses a standard mini-USB, doesn't require a special base, doesn't require proprietary software, and has a small back-lit display to help find specific songs and has an FM radio and was cheaper.
I can only recommend the shuffle if you like iTunes software and only need to access the player from one single computer where the base is located.
my favorite ipod -- 2009-01-03
This is my favorite Ipod because it best for working out, which is when I use it. It's small and I like the "shuffle" feature, since it lets me listen to new music each time I plug it into my computer for a charge. The 1GB size was plenty for my use and holds enough music for 4-5 hours at least.
|
|
|
|
|