[help] buying an ipod

hi, everybody!

i'm looking to buy an ipod for my gf for xmas. she's been wanting a 40gb 4th gen. ipod for a while and she keeps telling me about it (though she told me not to buy her one).

i've never even touched an ipod before, so i don't know much about them, let alone know how to judge them. is there anything i need to check to make sure i get the right one with the needed accessories, etc. to ensure her a good ipod experience?

also, what's a good place with cheap ipods? i've found some at buy.com and newegg.

thanks!

#227059

hm. what's your budget? the best way to impress your gf is to buy a photo ipod, but i doubt that you would dish that kind of crazy money out. the mini ipods are cute and should be suitable as a gift. it's like giving victorinox mini classic knives to my friends. i do not know your budget, so i'm thinking of recommending mini ipods. does she listen to music much? also, why don't you go to a local store, i do not understand the remoteness of your area, but in hong kong, there are nearlly a hundred stores that sells ipods, so........it's kinda convenient. try ebay or amazon.

#227066

hm. what's your budget? the best way to impress your gf is to buy a photo ipod, but i doubt that you would dish that kind of crazy money out. the mini ipods are cute and should be suitable as a gift. it's like giving victorinox mini classic knives to my friends. i do not know your budget, so i'm thinking of recommending mini ipods. does she listen to music much? also, why don't you go to a local store, i do not understand the remoteness of your area, but in hong kong, there are nearlly a hundred stores that sells ipods, so........it's kinda convenient. try ebay or amazon.

thanks for the reply.

budget? she wants the 40gb 4th gen. ipod, so i guess i'll be paying around $370+, right?

she likes music, but she wants to use the ipod as storage as well.

about local stores, there's an apple store nearby, but i figure i might be able to find it cheaper online. plus there's free shipping, and i could save money by not paying sales tax.

#227071

Storage for what? Keep in mind that iPod's HD was designed for short bursts of disk access and plays mostly from memory. So storing thing into the iPod and using it as an external HD would damage the iPod.

iPod is a great music player. I have a 20 GB iPod and frankly, I don't even get to listen to as many songs as it can hold. I have around 2,000 of which I probably listen to 200-300... the rest is just there.

I think the 40 GB one comes with the dock, and every other thing you might need to transfer files to it. I would recommend an iPod case as well, as they tend to scratch a lot (especially the screen).

Don't get the HP iPod though. Get the actual Apple iPod.

#227074

hmm well i'll just have a casual conversation about it with her and see. she probably just likes the idea of having a big drive.

i noticed the ipod from hp. is that just an ipod that's been distributed by hp? i'll make sure i get the real one.

#227081

So storing thing into the iPod and using it as an external HD would damage the iPod.

And where the hell did you find that little nugget of misinformation? It's a hard drive! It's designed to have large amounts of data stored on it and accessed regularly. Sod it, I've used my iPod to boot Panther a couple of times. It gets a little warm, but if you place it on a flat non-insulating surface (ie not a pillow) it's fine.

#227102

Make sure to get a good, safe case for it. Scratches make me sick and I'm 80% sure your girlfriend won't like them too

#227107

i don't know if she needs that big of a drive, though, but i'll look around.

any suggestions for the case, pe8er?

how about u.s. sites with a good deal on the ipod?

#227112

if you want to use it in the car, get an iTrip with it...

#227116

if you want to use it in the car, get an iTrip with it...

lol. you guys are telling me to add all of these things to my cart. i wonder what the total will be!

#227117

a total will be one happy gf

trust me about it

also take a look at www.ipodlounge.com

they are (most of the time) nice fellas. I`m Unbeliever there too, if you need any help

#227122

is there anything i need to check to make sure i get the right one with the needed accessories, etc. to ensure her a good ipod experience?

you asked, my friend... hey, you're the one with the cushy new job. you can afford it. :cool:

#227130

i was thinking of the bare essentials, like charger (didn't know if it was included or not) or case or dock or whatever you calls these things.

cushy new job? hardly cushy. plus i'm buying a car soon. must figure out a way to pay for it.

thanks, guys. i'll be sure to ask you online to find out more, e.g. the best place to buy one.

#227133

iSkin is very slick, check it out - www.iskin.com - they have some really fancy models (like glowing in darkness) + you get a set of special transparent display covers.

#227134

And where the hell did you find that little nugget of misinformation? It's a hard drive! It's designed to have large amounts of data stored on it and accessed regularly. Sod it, I've used my iPod to boot Panther a couple of times. It gets a little warm, but if you place it on a flat non-insulating surface (ie not a pillow) it's fine.

Its pure logics. That small of an HD is not designed to take the constant spinning that large files (not your regular 3 mb mp3's) acessed regularly or an OS (and especially Tiger) subjects it to. I told the thread-opener what I think will happen if used in such ways and I never claimed I'm the highest authority on this, therefore, my opinion is not obligative for dreamz.

You may or may not agree with what I'm saying, its a matter of personal opinion, but you need to take it easy dude.

#227156

dreamz, i wouldn't worry about the dock so much. it costs extra (not sure how much anymore). but i have a friend that has a dock and he doesn't use his that much. the cable that comes with the ipod works just fine. as for the case, the standard one that i have works just as well as others.

as for a place to buy one, zpod bought mine from best buy and it comes with a nice warenty.

oh, and i use my iopd to move papers, music, and even movies and games. nothing bad has happened to it and it works just as well as the day i bought it.

hope this helps

#227161

@ Gene - no it`s not a matter of personal opinion, it`s a fact

as u said it, it`s a HARD DRIVE, although a small one.

and one thing is it being used as a main drive but a use as an externad HD is ok and SUPPORTED by Apple. Why the do u think u can put iPod in a Disk Mode?

i use my Pod to store or move large files from one comp to another and (knocks on wood) there`s nothing wrong with it.

have u ever heard for "Home on iPod"?

u`ll be supprised when Tiger comes out

#227165

I know its used and I use it myself as a HD. I was just saying that if you use it as an external HD, meaning, if you plug it in, and play movies directly from the iPod it may damage the drive. Transfering files is something else.

Anyway, if its a fact then ok. Mine was just an opinion. I certainly don't claim I know better.

#227173

she's most likely going to use it to replace her md player, and maybe as a backup drive. i don't really know.

are all the ones being sold now 4th gen.? what's the difference?

thanks for all the comments, spygirl. i just checked best buy and it's about $400 for a 40gb one. if i find it online for cheaper, i might just get it online.

#227174

You might want to consider those Optrex skins by RadTech.

Edit:

The most obvious difference between the 3G and 4G iPods are probably the battery lives, as well as the design.

The 3G has a advertised battery life of up to 8 hours, and that's probably a very optimistic estimate. Or at least under the lab conditions testing. With lots of playing around with it during usage, it would normally just last about 4 hours, probably? Approximately. The 4G will perform much better at 12 hours.

The 4G is designed with the click wheel, as compared to the 4 buttons which you see on the 3G.

Guess that's it.

#227183

Trust me, the iPod Photo is an excellent present if you can afford it. With extended battery life and the color screen, it is definitely worth the 0.5 mm extra width

#227275

Trust me, the iPod Photo is an excellent present if you can afford it. With extended battery life and the color screen, it is definitely worth the 0.5 mm extra width

A good 15 hours it seems.

#227276

just saw the prices.

i'll have to keep researching. but maybe.

#227304

ipod minis are great gifts. consider buying them. i doubt that anybody will get 40 gb filled up so quickly. hell, i can't even fill 256 mbs of music on mine. i think 20 gb is good enough as a replacement for a md/mp3 player. with transferring files, i have never seen anybody transfer more than 1 gb. it's enough for everything. so 40 gb is way to much for me and for her.

don't buy redundant stuff. the dock's cool, but there are cheaper alternatives that can save you lots of money and can still keep your gf happy.

eg. why buy macafee when you already have norton installed on your computer? it's just a bit better so it's not worth the extra 39 dollars. norton should be fine for protection. you shoulden't buy the most expensive stuff just for a little benefit. that's why i will never by a mercedez benz even if i have the money. just buy a toyota or honda or at most, a ford.

#227380

well, i know she doesn't want a mini, but a 20gb might be good. i know her habits, and i doubt she could ever use it fully. but we'll see.

#227624