[neilw]

No, seriously.

Received it as a gift, and I really love the thing, and *want* to keep it, but I need to be convinced that I'll actually use it enough to justify owning it. It will cause me pain to see it sitting unused, but at the same time I know that after the initial thrill I will not use it just for the sake of using it. If I return it I will probably get something like a digital camera instead, which I'm pretty sure I'd get a lot of use out of. Note that I currently do not own any type of portable music player.

So, let's see:

1) I would definitely use it on airplanes, buses, and trains, and in such situations I would be extremely thankful to have it (as much as I was unhappy not to have one when I flew coast to coast recently.) However, this would probably be at most 5 or 6 times a year.

2) It would make a great party tunes generator at home, but other than that (which would again be relatively rare), I can't think of why I'd ever use it at home.

3) I'm not sure I'd ever use it at work, except occasionally. I simply tend not to listen to music while working.

4) Using the iPod in the car is very appealing. If it could be done cleanly, I'd be all over it, but I'm not sure it can (tape adapter is functional but potentially irritating, and I don't know if I can get it wired directly into the head unit in my car without major surgery.)

5) I don't jog, or partake in any of the types of outdoor activity that allow simultaneous use of a music player (that I can think of.)

That's all I can come up with. I conclude that unless I use it in the car (which is hard to predict at this point), I won't use it *nearly* enough to justify it.

So please convince me otherwise. What's the killer app(s) that I'm not anticipating?

[seanyepez]

I think the topic was rather demanding. I think you should be reminded that we don't owe you anything, and you should be more courteous in asking for situations where you might use the iPod.

That said, here are my recommendations...

• when you're on pubic transportation and people are "picking up conversations" and you would rather be left alone than meet a stranger
• to increase your intelligence quotient by listening to classical music whenever possible
• to have as a conversation piece

That's all I can think of right now. As I said, be mindful of your words, but in retrospect, it was probably in good humor.

It's a cute little device. I suppose the question you have to ask yourself is: "Do I need an MP3 player?"

If the answer is yes, the iPod is it. If it is no, return it.

[tullamore]

The killer app is the built in game of brickout

[neilw]

It's a cute little device. I suppose the question you have to ask yourself is: "Do I need an MP3 player?"

I never even considered one until the iPod. It's the first that I know of that is both pocketably small and capacious enough for my whole music collection (well, not all, but enough.)

Plus it's just so damned *cool*, though that's more of a reason to lust after it than to actually own it.

[Captain Obvious]

Its a great device, no doubt about that. I would like one BUT the price is what keeps me away. I just couldn't justify having a $400 toy as a grad student.
I bought a Rio Volt because I wanted an MP3 player and so I bought it last summer. I was excited when I got it and used it all the time... for about a month. Then I realized its just too big and inconvenient to use, flipping buttons and adjusting for songs. So it sits on my dresser. I recently got a minidisc player, but that was a gift and I hope better results with that.

So if you have uses for it and its convenient to use then its worth the cash. With that said, if you can afford to keep it then I would. Its not that you NEED it but if you own one then you will have it when you WANT to use it.

[gaffa]

On the car front, you could get a small FM transmitter for your iPod, so you could tune your car radio into it. That should be clean enough for your liking. For example MK-90.

Cheers

Gaffa.

[iNeusch]

Everyone wants to have one!
Even if you use it once a week it's good...

Keep it!

[alauzon]

To neilw, You should keep your ipod to back up your data on your computer. That's reason enough... Back up, back up, back up your important data always.....

[Jerommeke]

keep it

backing up is indeed very handy

because of a problem i had to back up a very large amount of files, and the ipod was my mate.

except for that i recopmmend you doing some sporting, it's healthy for you

[Michael T. Doyle]

I love my iPod to pieces (although it conks out at temperatures below freezing, which is NOT an attractive feature here in the northeast during winter). But I say exchange it. It sounds like you just can't figure out when you would use it, and it also sounds like you really want a digital camera. Just because it's an Apple product doesn't mean you have to own one.

I'd say trade it in for a Canon Digital Elph instead

[seabrian]

Keep the ipod, lose the girl.

[kevcarl]

For me, the MP3 player is all about the car. I use a tape adapter, and as annoying as that is, it's still a great alternative to having tapes/CDs cluttering my car. Especially if your MP3 player can hold your whole CD collection. For my wife, the train commute is what clinches it. She can listen to audiobooks every morning and evening on the train.

But the bottom line is you have to have a time when you are mobile but want music/audio of some kind. If there is no such time in your life or if the tape adapter mess outweighs your need for versatile tunes, then you really don't need the iPod. Sell it to me. Yeah. That's it. You really don't want it. You want to sell it to me real cheap.

Seriously, if you don't have that kind of need for it, return it and go for something that has more usefulness for you. No matter how cool a device is, that will wear off if you don't use it regularly.

[Cipher13]

I'd get so many hours of use out of one it isn't funny; but I think I'd get a digicam first.

$895 is a *lot* for an MP3 player. I just need a digicam more, and for more important things...

Get whichever you want more. Which would you have bought, if you were given neither?

[seanyepez]

Cipher's talking about Australian dollars.

I would also get a digital camera before I bought an iPod. I really don't have enough tunes to justify the move to an iPod, but since I got it for Christmas, it's definitely a keeper.

As I said, if it were any MP3 player, it would be the iPod. The industrial design of the iPod is immaculate. Generally, Apple products (displays, mice, iPod) are years ahead of the competition in terms of styling. However, Steve Jobs is making a big mistake; allowing the iPod and Apple displays to connect to Windows machines would bolster sales.

It's probably another iteration of his ego, but I like the exclusivity sometimes. I think they could engineer better products (even Macs) with the extra income they would get by satisfying drooling PC users.

[David Thompson]

I didn't think that I'd use it much either. I'd sort-of gotten away from listening to music and hadn't ripped a significant portion of my music library into iTunes. The iPod has changed that. I ripped the remainder of my 250 cd's and selected a subset of that into playlists. I replaced the earbuds with the Sony MDR-EX70LP in-ear headphones.

1. I do a fair amount of walking/running and the iPod goes with me.
2. I play it while reading and can do so at volumes that won't disturb my neighbors.
3. I put in into sleep mode and drift off that way ...

I can go through my (defective) battery's charge in a day. The question is: can I survive the period I'll be without it when it goes in to Apple next week!

[Marook]

Hi All.

OK, here is my point of view on this subject:

First of all, there is the great feature of having most of your music library with you. I hav ebeen using MiniDisc's for years, and love the small portable design. The only drawback of MD's, is that you have to make MD's with the music your like to hear Right Now.
The iPod makes it possible for me to carry the most popular portion of my library with me, in my pocket.

The iPod also makes room for some file transfers, with a very fast interface.

There is still room in my music world for the MiniDisk, since it allows quick editing, and I use this when making gymnastic programs for shows, but I will now use the iPod to bring with me the music for warming up.

Hope it helps....

[The Placid Casual]

If you decide you want to sell it, drop me an email

marc

[ 12-29-2001: Message edited by: Marc2211 ]

[phantomdragonz]

KEEP IT! i need acase before i'm going to take it anywhere (school,buss to/from work and school buss, uhhh homework time in class, uhhh give mp3's to my friends (you need a invisible file reader program is use a program called jahos it can make invisible and make them visible) uhhh HARD DRIVE!!! i put stuff on it i want to give to my friends. ohhh here is a good one. get a fm transmitter and go to work (i am grossly assuming you work at a cubicle farm) and you can get all of your coworkers to listen to your music. uhhh i'm going to use it in my car and my friends car and in study hall and EVERYWHERE I CAN!!! ahhh i love da ipod.

P.D.

[zac4mac]

If you ever were, but aren't "into music", you will be once you get an iPod.
My case hasn't arrived from SF Bags yet, so primarily I use it in the car. 15-20 minute drive into Boulder every day I can listen to half a CD with no commercials or "humor" that is so prevalent on the FM rock stations here. Everybody's been bought out by "Clear Channel", they remind me of News Factor Network waayyy to much.
I have a pretty large work area and have tunes on the speakers of my Mac, but I'm looking forward to having tunes when I'm running around too. Just pick up where iTunes left off with my 'Pod. Since I have the same music at work and at home, I can sync to either Mac. 10 minutes and it's done.
I haven't brought a zip disk with data home since November, FW disk mode is great.

But if you really don't want it, you should have no trouble getting rid of it.

[Cucumber Jones]

leave the ipod....

...take the cannolis.

here is what i use mine for:

*I Bass Fish alot, and many times will go alone. It really passes
the time between bites. However i don't fish at all 3-4 months out
of the year due to cold weather.

*I use it to backup all my important files

*I use it in the car for roadtrips (with casette adapter)

*I use it to kick back at home and listen to MP3's. Got a Keyspan
Digital Remote for Christmas so i can sit back and control it without
the iBook being right in front of my face.

with that said,
I am finding more and more that i am using it less and less and it just
sits there on a counter or something. I am thinking about selling it because I think i don't get a $400 usage value out of it anymore.
I am thinking i can get at least $300 for it as it is in very good condition and only a few months old....

we'll see what i decide. i'll probably wish i had it when spring arrives thoough...

[Apple Pro Underwear]

just return it then.


it's a just a mp3 player.

[Cipher13]

Originally posted by seanyepez:
<STRONG>Cipher's talking about Australian dollars.
</STRONG>

My point remains the same...

[neilw]

I think this is my most successful thread ever.

Thanks for all the responses. The iPod is probably going back to the store, though it will hurt me to do so. Perhaps there is one in my future.

Happy New Year, all!

[iMan]

I bought mine the day it came out. My family rushed me up to Chicago CompUSA I stood in front of the door ten minutes before it opeed I rushed up the escalator(I think thats how you spell it). I love mine it is very nice i've owned lots of MP3 players but this one takes the cake. If you think you will use it I would keep it,


What a nice Christmas gift!

[Shadowfax]

Originally posted by neilw:
<STRONG>4) Using the iPod in the car is very appealing. If it could be done cleanly, I'd be all over it, but I'm not sure it can (tape adapter is functional but potentially irritating . . .</STRONG>

I use it in the car all the time, and I find that the tape adaptor is not in the least annoying (I had feared that it would be). Now I never need to listen to cr*ppy radio broadcasts again, and my only internal conflist is whether to go with iPod or NPR.

Liam

[craigthomas]

Use it in the car with the tape adapter. When I get my iPod, that's what I'll do. I know a guy that uses it to listen to self-help info after he encodes them from the CD to his computer. I'd also use it to listen to keynote speaches or the MacShow. Don't forget that it is a HD as well. Use it to back up your important data.

On the other hand, if you must decide between a digital camera and an iPod, I'd go for the digital camera. I use mine all the time (I have 3 kids). Both would be best for me.

[tobster]

I'm not gonna convince you to keep it. Rather I want you to send it to the following address:

Þorbjörn Guðmundsson
Hellisgata 24
220 Hafnarfjörður
ICELAND

hmm... no my name is not Þorbjörn Guðmundsson... no i do not live at He...


- tobs