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beverson · Mar 20, 2002, 10:40 PM

Alright, I've been jazzed to get an iPod for the last month now, and have patiently waited till MW Tokyo to see what would come about. I expected a 10 GB model, but at the same price point as the old 5 GB, with then a price drop for that model. Sadly, no dice. But the EQ and contacts and other software-based updates are very cool (and very good that they're available to current iPod owners too).

SO, here's my question: which one should I get?? I had been saving up for the $400 model expecting it to be 10GB. I want 10 GB so I can have lots of music and also room for files (and contacts now too -- my poor Visor). What are other people doing? Those with the original 5 GB model, do you find yourself running out of space already?

And please, if you want to flame Steve for not dropping the price, start a new thread. I really want some helpful opinions here. It is disappointing what they did with the pricing, but that can't be helped and I want to move forward now!

11011001 · Mar 20, 2002, 10:53 PM

Or whether tis nobler in the mind to suffer the arrows of a small HD. To die, to sleep: To wake, to listen. Ay, there is the rub.

Go 10 Gb, my collection will be past the 5 GB mark in a week. You say you want to use it for files too, then more space is a definite must.

poocat · Mar 20, 2002, 10:56 PM

clearly, if you have the money, go 10 gig.
you will obviously find something to do with the space.
now, if you're asking whether or not it's better to have a 5 gig than no ipod...
that's easy.

go ipod go.

poocat.

G4ME · Mar 20, 2002, 11:31 PM

I would go ten gig but I allready have one, so not going to get two. For space I never seem to be thinking" Man I wish I had the one great song thats on my computer." I have all of my good music on it that I like right now, so not really feeling the crunch for space. Now If I used it to store files then it would be a different story.

SOLIDAge · Mar 20, 2002, 11:40 PM

think apple will offer an upgrade? like they did for Ti owners when they introduced the DVD/CDR?

rjenkinson · Mar 21, 2002, 12:05 AM

Originally posted by solidage:
think apple will offer an upgrade? like they did for Ti owners when they introduced the DVD/CDR?

but if you want to upgrade it yourself, buy one of the toshiba drives and open the ipod up...

-r.

kidtexas · Mar 21, 2002, 12:14 AM

I feel you. I am in the same position, 'cept I don't have even the $400 saved up

I just blew all my "play" money on a guitar...

Anyway, I wanted an iPod bad, and my rationalization for the purchase would be that its also a firewire drive. I have probably 6-7G's of songs, with the potential for a lot more - I haven't gotten serious about the MP3 collection yet. If I had a player, then I would finish ripping the rest of my CD's... And since my Bruce collection, which MUST be on any iPod I purchase

, is already at 3.5 gigs (I still need to do about 10 more CD's), I don't there will be any more space left for a files with just 5G. Which was the rationalization. That's why I was waiting for a 10G to be released.

But can I really rationalize another $100? Cause I sure would like the space...

Maybe I'll save first and then decide

As for now, I got a nice new (old) guitar to keep me happy!

sanford · Mar 21, 2002, 06:55 AM

If you easily or reasonably have the extra $100, definitely the 10 gig. Double the space for a fourth extra. I'm going to get a 10 gig today and pass my 5 gig to my wife, so we actually have use for the second iPod. But, if you can only afford the 5 gig, no worries; the way I manage my iPod, I create an iPod playlist and just update that list. It's very, very, very easy to just keep a 5 gig subset of your music collection on your iPod and change it whenever you feel like it. You can even keep several different 5 gig playlists and just change which one updates the iPod when you want a whole different set of music.

Mar 21, 2002, 08:03 AM

I have 26 GB of MP3 that I've encoded myself with my iBook. I'll have around 30 GB when I'm finished.

Even 10 GB seems small to me these days. 5 GB is definitely too small if you're going to be using the drive for file transfers and the like too. I think 6 GB of songs, 2 GB of files, with some space left over is a reasonable amount.

Now all they need to do is add a calendar and notes section and they're all set.

zoe77 · Mar 21, 2002, 10:24 AM

don't even bother... you'll hate urself if your iPod dies on you 3 mths later and u have to cough out US$249 to repair it.

Max8319 · Mar 21, 2002, 12:06 PM

if you got 2 or 3 gigs, then go for the 5 gig

$500 is a lot of money (so is $400)

robgettier · Mar 21, 2002, 01:27 PM

My two cents:

If you are going to use your iPod for only music...buy the 5gb version. 5gb of music is all you need to be portable. Of course you probably have more than that on your Mac (as I do), but leave it there. Take only what you need. Create an iPod library in iTunes that is around 5 gigs and update your iPod to that playlist. If you update your iPod on any kind of regular basis, you will always have your favorites and some fresh stuff with you.

If you are going to use your iPod for music and for file storage (say to transfer video files, etc.) buy the 10gb version.

$400 was already a crap load of money for a mp3 player. $500 is even more out there. Yes, it is only a $100 difference, but that is what the marketers want you to think.

Buy what you need. Don't just buy it because it holds more music.

beverson · Mar 21, 2002, 02:49 PM

Thanks everyone -- I just now got my confirmation from the Apple Store on the 10GB model. On one hand I'm really excited, on the other hand I feel like a total sucker! Ah well, I'll get a lot of use out of this (for music and files both) when I start grad school in the fall.

And at least my credit card has one of those 0% financing deals through August....

sanford · Mar 21, 2002, 02:59 PM

Originally posted by beverson:
Thanks everyone -- I just now got my confirmation from the Apple Store on the 10GB model. On one hand I'm really excited, on the other hand I feel like a total sucker! Ah well, I'll get a lot of use out of this (for music and files both) when I start grad school in the fall.

And at least my credit card has one of those 0% financing deals through August....

Consider it a treat before your years of impoverished misery in grad school. Better to get what you can now; it will make eating mac and cheese a little more bearable!

art_director · Mar 21, 2002, 05:06 PM

I'll sell you my 5GB iPod for $350. That way I can go 10GB.

Sean2068 · Mar 21, 2002, 05:22 PM

Damn. I really wish people didn't bother with the 10GB at all.

It is seriosouly overpriced and we all know it and in order to force the price down we have to hold out a short while.

I am as desperate and in need of a 10GB iPod as anyone but their is a price point I am unwilling to pay and 500Dollars is ludicrous.

If the price isn't reduced soon im afraid ill have to go with a competitors player once the field catch up. I've really though of going to the 5GB but my library is at 4.25GB now and is likely to skip over the 5 mark in a couple of months.

I'm waiting, but not forever, so Apple better stop living in cuckoo land on this.

sanford · Mar 21, 2002, 05:54 PM

Originally posted by Sean2068:
Damn. I really wish people didn't bother with the 10GB at all.

It is seriosouly overpriced and we all know it and in order to force the price down we have to hold out a short while.

I am as desperate and in need of a 10GB iPod as anyone but their is a price point I am unwilling to pay and 500Dollars is ludicrous.

If the price isn't reduced soon im afraid ill have to go with a competitors player once the field catch up. I've really though of going to the 5GB but my library is at 4.25GB now and is likely to skip over the 5 mark in a couple of months.

I'm waiting, but not forever, so Apple better stop living in cuckoo land on this.

Actually the iPod in both 5 and 10 gig versions is price competitive with other portable firewire hard drives in this category, and you get well-designed MP3 device with quality audio in the iPod, in addition to the portable storage. iPod is expensive for an mp3 player, but it is NOT expensive for an MP3 player of the size, capacity, quality and battery life it has. Buy a competing product: it will be cheaper, and heavier, bigger, harder to use, less integrated, but it will definitely cost less.

MSME · Mar 21, 2002, 05:59 PM

I'd have to agree that $500 is pricey. I'm quite happy with my 5 gb iPod. I have a little over 10 gb of mp3's in my library right now, but I just swap out the stuff I'm not listening to in favor of other songs, when I need a change. I find that having 5 gb of my favorite songs is enough to carry around at one time, but then again I don't mind manually updating the iPod's contents. I guess if you'd really hate manually updating, the 10gb model may be worth the extra money.

On a side note, I really reccomend buying an extended warranty (CompUSA sells them for around 30 dollars, I think). I was glad that to have it when my Ipod died after only 3 months of use.

art_director · Mar 21, 2002, 06:02 PM

For me the 5GB drive is big enough. Of course, I bring my Ti PowerBook with me so I have no need for the extra storage.

Sean2068 · Mar 21, 2002, 06:03 PM

I know that its good value compared to current mp3 players but their aren't any other portable HD mp3 players out so their is nothing accurate to compare it to, but 500dollars certainly doesn't sound cheap for something that is essentially meant to play music. Apple should understand this, but if people are crazy enough to pay I guess it doesn't matter.

In the meantime i'll be waiting for all the nutters to finish buying their 500dollar iPods so that I can finally get my 399 dollar 10GB iPod.

Did I mention im impatient and bitter?

Tristrami · Mar 21, 2002, 11:28 PM

It's like buying a soda at a fast-food place. A (relatively) small increase in price for a large increase in product.

Do the math: $500/10 GB = $50 per gig

or

$400/5 GB = $80 per gig

But only buy the big one if you're going to use it all. Just like the soda, it's a waste if you pay for the extra and don't need it.

G-mac · Mar 21, 2002, 11:49 PM

"5 GB or 10 GB...?"

Wish I had enough money to experience the same dilemma.

I would go with the 5 GB if you want it just for music. You can get a 5 GB from Apple refurbished for $339. Probably even cheaper elsewhere. If you're going to be doing a lot of file sharing, go with the 10 GB.

Max8319 · Mar 21, 2002, 11:51 PM

actually, it's not too ridiculous of a price (from a business standpoint):

i believe that the 5gig HD that is in the ipod is selling for $400 right now. i know apple's probably got a deal on them, but you still got all of the other components to pay for.

if anything, i'd look for the ipods to go down maybe $50 at the next revision, or corresponding with a drop in price that toshiba sells the drives for.

i wouldn't go for the 10gig myself. my 5gig is awesome and i don't really care about the laser engraving, except to have my name on it incase it would be lost or stolen.

the only problem i have with the ipod is that it shows every little scratch. if you use your ipod everyday, stuff it into and out of your pocket a few times, in a week your ipod will be really scratched up.

fortunately i have gotten over it since it otherwise has a lot of capibilites and is the best mp3 player

oeyvind · Mar 22, 2002, 12:16 AM

IMHO, my 5GB iPod is just fine... 10GB is nice, but its battery life is just the same as before... the battery can't even last thru half of my songs now unless I plugin the AC adapter.

Don't get me wrong 10GB is nice, but the 5GB iPod works just as well for now....^^

[ 03-22-2002: Message edited by: oeyvind ]