Any reason NOT to buy an iPod right now?

Lindsay Lohan

Just wondering. The wife has about a 1 hr commute and I just took a job with about a 40 minute commute so we're both thinking about getting new MP3 players (she has a 512meg Creative Labs, I don't have one at all). She really seems to have her heart set on a pink Nano. However, my worry is that we'll buy them next weekend and Apple will have some press conference and announce "Hey New iPods!"

Are there any upcoming announcements I should worry about and are the Nano's as nice as they look (built well, good sound, etc?)

Drez

Isn't there a touch screen iPod coming out soon, or was that just hearsay?

I got fed up with the scratchability of the iPod screen and went with a Zune, which I'm enjoying now.

Senjutsu

Apple's big conference, Macworld, is on Tuesday.

So wait a couple days.

Corrosive Monkey

I think that was just hearsay, but you've only got to wait a couple of days for the news from the mac thing

Lindsay Lohan

Senjutsu wrote:

Apple's big conference, Macworld, is on Tuesday.

So wait a couple days.

NICE! We're shopping on Friday, so that works out well.

deadonthestreet

If you buy a Zune instead it'll piss Terrorbyte off.

Other than that an ipod is where it is at. Check out Apple's refurb store online

You can get an old black and white 40 gig ipod for $130. I dunno if you would ever use the video function but if not, this is an awesome deal. I mean the point of an ipod is to listen to music, right? Refurb 4 gig Nanos are $150.

Dashui

Even if you bought an iPod now, I see no reason why you wouldn't be happy with it. I just bought a Video and am loving it to death. I really don't care if there's a touch screen one coming out soon, as my Video does it's job and works perfectly.

Pheezer

I never used to use the video function of my 80GB iPod video, but I found a source for getting the AV cables dirt cheap ($5.56 for a 3.5mm to 3xRCA cable!) and now I'm getting used to watching things I used to watch on my laptop on the TV. So it's definitely useful for that, if nothing else. The thing is though, my source is very much a local one, and any other place I've seen those cables they've been $28-$40.

Jelloblimp

with a iPod, must you use iTunes for transfering files?

(Been looking at the shuffle if that makes any difference).

Dashui

pheezer FD wrote:

I never used to use the video function of my 80GB iPod video, but I found a source for getting the AV cables dirt cheap ($5.56 for a 3.5mm to 3xRCA cable!) and now I'm getting used to watching things I used to watch on my laptop on the TV. So it's definitely useful for that, if nothing else. The thing is though, my source is very much a local one, and any other place I've seen those cables they've been $28-$40.

I used my Video to watch Tombstone while camping for a Wii. Everyone was bored while I was watching Val Kilmer and Kurt Russel own the shit out of people. Good times.

LewieP

btw, is apple the one that will often release products on liek the day they are officially announced? ie, can we expect a load of new apple products to launch on Tuesday?

Rook

LewieP wrote:

btw, is apple the one that will often release products on liek the day they are officially announced? ie, can we expect a load of new apple products to launch on Tuesday?

Yup.

Pheezer

Jelloblimp wrote:

with a iPod, must you use iTunes for transfering files?

(Been looking at the shuffle if that makes any difference).

No, there is other software out there. If you're on Windows, MediaMonkey is pretty much the best iTunes alternative and it offers a whole tonne of extra functionality. If you're on the mac, I don't know. I just use iTunes because I like it, but that's me.

Dashui

pheezer FD wrote:

Jelloblimp wrote:

with a iPod, must you use iTunes for transfering files?

(Been looking at the shuffle if that makes any difference).

No, there is other software out there. If you're on Windows, MediaMonkey is pretty much the best iTunes alternative and it offers a whole tonne of extra functionality. If you're on the mac, I don't know. I just use iTunes because I like it, but that's me.

Does MediaMonkey run of bunch of processes in the background? If it doesn't, I'll probably install that instead of iTunes.

The Cheese

pheezer FD wrote:

I never used to use the video function of my 80GB iPod video, but I found a source for getting the AV cables dirt cheap ($5.56 for a 3.5mm to 3xRCA cable!) and now I'm getting used to watching things I used to watch on my laptop on the TV. So it's definitely useful for that, if nothing else. The thing is though, my source is very much a local one, and any other place I've seen those cables they've been $28-$40.

I use an S-Video and a 3.5mm to RCA cable for audio. Works great, and a lot of people probably have all the necessary bits.

Lindsay Lohan

Dashui wrote:

Even if you bought an iPod now, I see no reason why you wouldn't be happy with it. I just bought a Video and am loving it to death. I really don't care if there's a touch screen one coming out soon, as my Video does it's job and works perfectly.

I know I'd be happy with it, but if they announce a storage increase/price drop or something I'd hate to have missed it by a few days. Will it be one of those big keynote things on Tuesday announcing everything new?

Oh, and as much as I'd love to piss off Terrorbyte, I really don't want a Zune - too much storage for my needs.

Invisible

I'd be really surprised if they announced new generations of iPod Videos/Nanos/Shuffles. The new ones just came out in September. They could, but it would be a little odd.

Bionic Monkey

They just revealed a new line of iPods about four months ago. It seems to me they reveal a new design about every six to nine months, so you should be fine.

Lindsay Lohan

Good. Now which one matches my white DSLite the best

Dashui

Herby wrote:

Dashui wrote:

Even if you bought an iPod now, I see no reason why you wouldn't be happy with it. I just bought a Video and am loving it to death. I really don't care if there's a touch screen one coming out soon, as my Video does it's job and works perfectly.

I know I'd be happy with it, but if they announce a storage increase/price drop or something I'd hate to have missed it by a few days. Will it be one of those big keynote things on Tuesday announcing everything new?

Oh, and as much as I'd love to piss off Terrorbyte, I really don't want a Zune - too much storage for my needs.

I suppose it would be best to wait and see, but I don't think you'd fill a 40Gb or 80Gb iPod Video that fast. And if they do release a new one, it is probably going to be more expensive. But the announcement isn't that far off, so yeah, wait for it.

Sam

Somehow releasing a new iPod right after the holiday spendfest just doesn't seem...sane? Of course Apple doesn't really position new product releases like that, but early January seems like a really bad time to launch the next generation of their flagship product.

skippydumptruck

I don't know when this comes out, but it looks pretty slick.

Pheezer

The top-tier iPod videos are only $399 CDN. They're typically $70 more. That means there's an empty spot at the top of the price range. Any new iPod announcement will likely enter at that spot with no effect on the prices of the current iPods.

Sam

skippydumptruck wrote:

I don't know when this comes out, but it looks pretty slick.

There has been a lot of slick shit that makes the iPod look homely or at least conservative by comparison, but they tend not to last long. I'm thinking of an mp3 player that looked really similar except it had an orange motif instead of blue.

Lindsay Lohan

I'm not looking at the Video for the same reason I don't want a Zune. I want a 4 gig (give or take) really small MP3 player. I really was more worried that I'd buy the 4 gb version only to have Apple up the memory to 8 the next week or something.

Zoolander

pheezer FD wrote:

I never used to use the video function of my 80GB iPod video, but I found a source for getting the AV cables dirt cheap ($5.56 for a 3.5mm to 3xRCA cable!) and now I'm getting used to watching things I used to watch on my laptop on the TV. So it's definitely useful for that, if nothing else. The thing is though, my source is very much a local one, and any other place I've seen those cables they've been $28-$40.

Do you mean this kind of cable?

edit: oh it doesn't work with iPod

Bionic Monkey

Dashui wrote:

I suppose it would be best to wait and see, but I don't think you'd fill a 40Gb or 80Gb iPod Video that fast.

You'd be suprised. Converting the entire Batman the Animated Series, two seasons of Batman Beyond and a season of Doctor Who for my wife's iPod took about a week and 30 gigs. They fill up pretty fast when you're putting entire seasons on there.

Pheezer

Herby wrote:

I'm not looking at the Video for the same reason I don't want a Zune. I want a 4 gig (give or take) really small MP3 player. I really was more worried that I'd buy the 4 gb version only to have Apple up the memory to 8 the next week or something.

Changes within the current line right now are unlikely. If anything they'd add a new top of the line model that would have all kinds of nifty features you have no interest in.

Pheezer

Zoolander wrote:

pheezer FD wrote:

I never used to use the video function of my 80GB iPod video, but I found a source for getting the AV cables dirt cheap ($5.56 for a 3.5mm to 3xRCA cable!) and now I'm getting used to watching things I used to watch on my laptop on the TV. So it's definitely useful for that, if nothing else. The thing is though, my source is very much a local one, and any other place I've seen those cables they've been $28-$40.

Do you mean this kind of cable?

Yes. Now try finding it at a retailer you wouldn't be terrified to give your credit card number to.

Sam

Bionic Monkey wrote:

Dashui wrote:

I suppose it would be best to wait and see, but I don't think you'd fill a 40Gb or 80Gb iPod Video that fast.

You'd be suprised. Converting the entire Batman the Animated Series, two seasons of Batman Beyond and a season of Doctor Who for my wife's iPod took about a week and 30 gigs. They fill up pretty fast when you're putting entire seasons on there.

Do you really get around to using the video functionality all that much though? I can't see myself doing so. I like it and everything, and I'd rather have it than not, but I haven't put anything new on there for months.

Zoolander

pheezer FD wrote:

Zoolander wrote:

pheezer FD wrote:

I never used to use the video function of my 80GB iPod video, but I found a source for getting the AV cables dirt cheap ($5.56 for a 3.5mm to 3xRCA cable!) and now I'm getting used to watching things I used to watch on my laptop on the TV. So it's definitely useful for that, if nothing else. The thing is though, my source is very much a local one, and any other place I've seen those cables they've been $28-$40.

Do you mean this kind of cable?

Yes. Now try finding it at a retailer you wouldn't be terrified to give your credit card number to.

I've bought component, HDMI and network cables from them and received them no problem.

Invisible

Herby wrote:

I'm not looking at the Video for the same reason I don't want a Zune. I want a 4 gig (give or take) really small MP3 player. I really was more worried that I'd buy the 4 gb version only to have Apple up the memory to 8 the next week or something.

They have an 8 gig Nano. It only comes in black though.

Pheezer

Zoolander wrote:

pheezer FD wrote:

Zoolander wrote:

pheezer FD wrote:

I never used to use the video function of my 80GB iPod video, but I found a source for getting the AV cables dirt cheap ($5.56 for a 3.5mm to 3xRCA cable!) and now I'm getting used to watching things I used to watch on my laptop on the TV. So it's definitely useful for that, if nothing else. The thing is though, my source is very much a local one, and any other place I've seen those cables they've been $28-$40.

Do you mean this kind of cable?

Yes. Now try finding it at a retailer you wouldn't be terrified to give your credit card number to.

I've bought component, HDMI and network cables from them and received them no problem.

But... but they're based out of Cucamonga!

Okay, and they appear to even ship to Canada. They just made the bookmarks.

Icemopper

How likely is it that a new MacBook might come out soon? Maybe not new, but with new features or awesome updates?

Zoolander

pheezer FD wrote:

But... but they're based out of Cucamonga!

Okay, and they appear to even ship to Canada. They just made the bookmarks.

If you can, avoid orders over $20, to be exempt from customs charges.

MegaMan001

One concern you may have is the battery half-life of the iPod. I don't know if this is any concern today, but I recieved an iPod 20gig 3 years ago and the battery is pretty much kaput. It runs fine while plugged into the PC or the wall, but it only has about 45 minutes of charge before dying anywhere else.

I'm basically using it as an external hard drive now.

JWFokker

pheezer FD wrote:

Zoolander wrote:

pheezer FD wrote:

I never used to use the video function of my 80GB iPod video, but I found a source for getting the AV cables dirt cheap ($5.56 for a 3.5mm to 3xRCA cable!) and now I'm getting used to watching things I used to watch on my laptop on the TV. So it's definitely useful for that, if nothing else. The thing is though, my source is very much a local one, and any other place I've seen those cables they've been $28-$40.

Do you mean this kind of cable?

Yes. Now try finding it at a retailer you wouldn't be terrified to give your credit card number to.

Monoprice is THE place to get cables for cheap. I'm not sure where else I'd want to buy them from.

CrossBuster

pheezer FD wrote:

Zoolander wrote:

pheezer FD wrote:

I never used to use the video function of my 80GB iPod video, but I found a source for getting the AV cables dirt cheap ($5.56 for a 3.5mm to 3xRCA cable!) and now I'm getting used to watching things I used to watch on my laptop on the TV. So it's definitely useful for that, if nothing else. The thing is though, my source is very much a local one, and any other place I've seen those cables they've been $28-$40.

Do you mean this kind of cable?

Yes. Now try finding it at a retailer you wouldn't be terrified to give your credit card number to.

The Apple Store here in San Francisco has iPod AV cables for $20. Not a bad deal.

projectmayhem

Herby wrote:

I'm not looking at the Video for the same reason I don't want a Zune. I want a 4 gig (give or take) really small MP3 player. I really was more worried that I'd buy the 4 gb version only to have Apple up the memory to 8 the next week or something.

8gig Nanos are 249.99

Variable

It does make sense for them to release something new now. It seems like they release the new ipod for early adopters, and then around the holiday re-release it in a shiny new package.

If nothing is announced on Tuesday I'll be surprised but I'm expecting something big within the next few months to knock down the zune, and I don't want to miss it.

4rch3nemy

1. Buy an 80gb iPod video. Black too.

2. Never look back.

3 .Ignore naysayers. The iPod is just something they wish they had and don't. It just isn't for them.