[dopeavy]

Yesterday, I placed my order for an iPod. For several months I have looked at getting an MP3 player. I looked long and hard at Creative Labs nomad 6GB and 20GB. The closest comparison is the 6GB and it costs $250. So, let's compare.

Like most people, I don't rush out and buy every new gadget as soon as it is released. In fact, as you can tell form the age of my Powerbook, I am confortably behind the curve for reasons of costs as well as technology. And this has implications across my lifestyle. For instance, I do not have a CD burner, my 1997 Mustang does not have a built in CD player and my 200W per channel 1985 era Pioneer stereo is starting to wear out (go figure). And what is so great about a CD burner? All you end up with is hundreds more CD's which you have to label and organize and store and hope the media doesn't go bad.

So, I have a couple hundred music CD's sitting in a rack under my window. When I get in the car, I want to play them, but I also want the choice of playing any of them not just one or ten. And I have several software CD's that I need as back up. And when I go hand gliding or hiking, I want to carry along music, not CD's.

So here is why the iPod makes so much sense, and why it is better than the Nomad or any other player I have seen.

First, transfer time between the Nomad and iPod doesn't even compare. The iPod is a clear winner. Who wants to take an hour to move their recent music from the computra to the player?

Second, the ability to turn CD music into MP3 files quickly and reliably and seamlessly via iTunes cannot be matched by Nomad. And the level of integration is increadible with the iPod. As for music quality - most people including myself cannot tell a difference between a 128 or 160kb MP3 and a CD file. Most meaning 99%.

Third, size weight and packaging are all advantages of the iPod. I can slip it in my pocket for gliding or hiking and slip it into the dash for use in the car. And since so much of the music world is in flux, I don't invest money in an outdated CD player for the car or memory stick from sony or whatever. What better way to weather a transition than with a good old fashiond 5GB hard drive the size of a deck of cards with fast transfer?

Fourth, from what I have seen of the two products, useability of the iPod is unmatched by the Nomad. I don't want to fumble for the controls at 4,000 feet in the air or going 80 MPH in the car. iPod is easy to use.

Fifth, I can now remove the stack of CD's under the window and safely place them in the closet. I can now take my entire CD collection with me in the car, on the trail, in the air, to a friends house and even from one room to another via a tiny, 5 oz. device. The Nomad can store the music, but it comes up short otherwise. Hey, how many people have a full spectrum home system with speakers in every room? Not many. But now I can move the music from the bedroom system to the den with a tiny device.

Sixth, charge time, battery life, and single cable connectivity are clear winners for the iPod.

Seventh, the ability to back up critical data on my iPod. Last May, I watched a friends house burn and several PC's inside as well. Backing up critical data to a 5 oz. device that can be carried with me is akin to backing up data at Fort Knox. It can't be beat. And, when time comes to upgrade to a Ti Powerbook, all I have to do is hook up iPod and move the data off the old one, sell it, wait on the new Ti and move the data over.

As for price, sure it's $150 more. But when I buy an electronic device, I buy one that is good for several years. And this one will be. The Nomad? Forget it. It's last years toy.

[jguidroz]

When you look at all the facts, the iPod is a good deal. It seems like people are just looking at iPod as an mp3 player, which it is not. Tell me, what other mp3 players let you save files to them? None. This is one main reason why I'm thinking about buying one. I, along with my friends, take road trips to watch LSU play football or baseball. Between me and two of my friends, we two powerbooks and an ibook. We usually always have a powerbook to watch dvd's with. Well if I have an iPod and we have an ibook or powerbook with us, I can work on files on my iPod using my friends powerbook or ibook. Or if I go to a friends apartment, I no longer need to email files, I can just bring them over in my iPod.

Secondly, when you factor in the 5gb hard drive inside the iPod sells for $399 by itself, the pricing of the iPod is actually damn good. I believe the price of the iPod will fall as the price of this drive will fall.

I'll order one as soon as I can find the money.

[Immortal K-Mart Employee]

Originally posted by jguidroz:
<STRONG>When you look at all the facts, the iPod is a good deal. It seems like people are just looking at iPod as an mp3 player, which it is not. Tell me, what other mp3 players let you save files to them? None. </STRONG>

No that is not true. My year old HipZip MP3 player holds files just fine. Sure it is only 20 megs but it is better then emailing things and I can put music on it also.

BUT, I am selling the HipZip and buying an iPod.

[Nebagakid]

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