[Maflynn]

OK, so what's everyone's opinion.
the threads on this board seem to indicate a mostly negative reception to the new ipods while macworld's forum seems mostly positive.

The new iPod gives you more software ability less battery life smaller form factor

I've been holding off and I maybe able to find the old one discounted (or not maybe just available) at my local apple store so whats everyone's $.02 on the new iPods.

[mdc]

i like the new ones, like them enough to have ordered a 15gig last night. this is my first ipod. i have 5 gig of aac files. so 10 gig free on an ipod is fine with me. and i like the audio out on the new ones.

i am impressed with them

[derekn]

I like it too and will be grabbing one Friday wherever I can. I've never owned an iPod either and I've been waiting for these since Christmas. The featureset is nice, the new interface is nice (albeit proprietary), the new sizes are nice. Overall just a great little gadget that I'm really looking forward to getting.

[GORDYmac]

From what I can see, it sums up this way:

Own an iPod already: "It's okay, not buying one soon. My iPod better get the same software soon!"
No iPod: "I already bought one!"

[turk.o]

I know the Apple site says app. 8 hours now, but quite frankly i never got much more than that with my old iPod (two different ones, i ordered my third, the 30GB, yesterday) as i change tracks/playlists quite a lot, use the back light, etc.. I am hoping that the 8 hours reflects Apple giving a more realitsic time estimate rather than shooting too high as usual and the practical time being like 7 hours or something. we'll see.

the deciding factors for me were the dock, the extra 10 GB of storage, the improved headphone and separate remote jack (mine always came loose making the remote not work until i pushed it down--very annoying) and the backlit touch keys. also the new software that will apparently only be available on the new pods is nice, esp. the playlist on the go doohickey.

also have you folks seen the belkin aa battery add-on ? it basically suctions on the back of the pod and plugs into the bottom port and provides app. 12-15 hours more battery time from 4 AA batteries., and the AAs can easily be replaced. i always wanted something like this with my old pods for long road trips, camping, etc when you are far away from outlets. this is a considerable advantage for the new ipods

i likeed the way my old ones looked, but i think i like this new design also, i imagine the rounded edges will make it feel much less bulky, especially in a pocket, for instance, and it is light and smaller than my 20GB. of course the jury is out until it is in my hand, which will hopefully be very soon.

turkish oval

ps: if you think all my reasons are lame, then please go check out my 20 GB on eBay . . the old 20's are still quite viable in relation to the new pods, plus if you don't liek the new design, etc. .

[Maflynn]

Well frankly the battery life is my biggest concern they went with a smaller battery and I'm not what the real world performance will be.

Mike

[Luca Rescigno]

I used to own a 5 GB, and it almost always got at least 10 hours of life, sometimes even more.

Now I'm going to order a 15 GB. They look awesome! Also, I think the switch to a multipurpose port on the bottom is good. With the previous iPods, if the battery died, you were screwed. Either send it in to Apple or, if it was out of warranty, try and sell it on eBay or something... maybe salvage the hard drive. With the new battery pack, it won't even be that bad if the battery dies because you have another way to get power. That makes their long-term use a lot more promising.

[slider]

It's not an all around better iPod. There are pluses an minuses, which I have posted in one of the 10 other "New iPod Posts"; can't keep track of what I posted were anymore. But you lose somethings and gain somethings. I mean you have to carry around the firewire adaptor to be able to use it on any computer. Before any firewire cable would have done. But I guess it's important to keep in mind that this is an Music Player first, I was about to say MP3 player, but it's not just that anymore is it.

[BrunoBruin]

Originally posted by slider:
I mean you have to carry around the firewire adaptor to be able to use it on any computer. Before any firewire cable would have done.

That's my one real complaint, since I carry files from home to work with mine and it's handy to be able to use any FireWire cable. Still, for me that's just a matter of a second $19 cable so I can leave one in the office. I'll almost certainly get the new 30GB to replace my old 5GB.

[hempcamp]

Originally posted by Maflynn:
OK, so what's everyone's opinion.
the threads on this board seem to indicate a mostly negative reception to the new ipods while macworld's forum seems mostly positive.

The title of this forum made me chuckle. There is *NEVER* a concensus when Apple releases a new product.

There will be plenty of bitching, plenty of hyping, but no concensus.

My gut feeling is that the new iPod is great for those of us who haven't bought one yet. I particularly like that I can cradle my iPod and not have to worry about plugging in a wire to connect it to my stereo each time.

I also am rather fond of the new AAC format aside from what the self-proclaimed "audiophiles" say. The 128kbps sounds as good as the CD to these quasi-audiophile ears, although I'm ripping new additions at 192kbps AAC for safety's sake.

As for people who just bought an iPod... well, yeah, it sucks to be you. No different than when I bought my iBook (16 VRAM) and the 32 VRAM + 100Mhz bumped ones appeared a month or two later. Such is life! Get over it.

--Chris

[SomeToast]

Originally posted by turk.o:
ps: if you think all my reasons are lame, then please go check out my 20 GB on eBay . . the old 20's are still quite viable in relation to the new pods, plus if you don't liek the new design, etc. .

"On the left is a list, provided only as an example, of all the songs that are currently on my iPod, and take up about 11GB, meaning that it can hold almost twice as many albums as you see on the left. I will not erase the iPod before sending it so it is the recipient's duty to erase all this music upon receiving it."

Oh, that is oh so very wrong!

[Amorya]

I don't like the new ipods. Here's why:


Good things

Extra capacity. Always good.

AAC. Doubt I'll use it (no music store in the UK), but it's good to be there I guess. The firmware upgrade includes it too, luckily.

New games (again, limited use for me but still good) and interface features.

On the go playlists. I might use that sometimes. Then again, I might not.

Bad things

Dock. I don't like that at all, although since you don't have to use it then I guess it's not so bad.

Non standard port on the bottom. I know they supply a cable, but if I'm at college and want to hook the 'pod up to one of the imacs, I can't just dig out one of the college standard firewire cables. I'll never know in advance when I'll want to do that - should I really have to bring in my cable every day?

Lower battery life. Weight isn't an issue for me, so I'd rather have more listening time.

The look. Sorry, but I hate it. The buttons round the wheel on the old pods looked classy, but these (IMO) look a bit slapped on. This looks like an imitator of the ipod, not like a classy Apple product.



That about covers my initial reaction. Put simply, there's currently no incentive to upgrade. I've not filled my 10GB pod yet, and there's no other extra feature that the new ipods offer and mine doesn't that would be a benefit to me.

Oh well.


Amorya

[Maflynn]

Well I think GORDYmac summed it up the best, regarding owning and upgrading vs buying new, which is my situation.

I'm leaning to bying a new one now the question is does the 15gig plus extra's warrent the extra $$

I currently only own 6 gig worth of music so I'm not sure.

Thanks for all of your input
Mike

[clarkgoble]

My big question is about the buttons. I've not played with one yet, but I really love the way the buttons are on my old iPod. I question whether the buttons on the new iPods can be pushed by your thumbs as easily.

Beyond that I don't see anything bad about them. Smaller is always better, although to be honest the old iPods were already at a "small enough" stage.

I do wish they had microphones though.