[Advice] Do I need an iPod? Help Oddball decide...

[theoddball]

OK, so here's the deal. I've been debating this with myself ever since the iPod appeared, and I can't seem to get anywhere close to a final decision. Therefore, dear comrades, I call on your valued opinions, in hope that I can settle this issue once and for all, because, honestly, it's been bugging me big time.

I'll outline below in short and concise (I hope) bullet points the nature of my relationship with music. Please feel free to ask any questions if you feel you need to know more.

• Music is an extremely important part of my life. I'm a music lover in every sense of the word. Been "properly" listening to and appreciating music for at least 25 years.
• Add to that the fact that I also play music. Guitar, keyboards, and rookie level drumming.
• I listen to music most of my waking hours. Mostly at work (constantly with my headset on), in the car, at home either relaxing or on my laptop browsing, doing research and working.
• The way I listen to music has evolved greatly over the years. From radio style variety and chart/hit music during my younger years, to more artist-focused listening, and further to more album/concept-focused listening. I can go for weeks listening to a single album, and little else, over and over.
• I have accumulated over the years a massive (and I mean massive) repository of music (mostly in mp3 format). Last count was something close to 21 GB spread over several HDs and DVDs - all easily accessible from the home network. The music spans almost every genre of Western music you can think of, including classical.
• Having said that, I'm a person who spends a considerable amount of cash on buying original CDs, whether it's directly from music stores or through online order. The reason is that I seek and acquire music as a complete work of art, consisting of the music and any related concept art and design/packaging. Case in point: I recently forked out, without any hesitation, a juicy £40 for the limited edition box set of Radiohead's "In Rainbows".
• Having said that, I still rip all my original CDs into high quality mp3s for ease of access at home and work. I usually leave the physical CDs for the car.
• Also, in light of the last two points, I have not, so far, purchased digital music (iTunes and the like). I'm not against the concept, but I still prefer buying albums in physical CD form. Old fashioned, maybe? Dunno.
• Last but not least, IF you think I SHOULD get myself an iPod, keep in mind there is no limitation on the budget, as prices vary with features, especially storage capacity, as you very well know.

Well, there you have it. Let's get the ball rolling on this thing. Eagerly awaiting your input!

[X.]

Oddy, here's what I think:

1) From the length and content of your post, it's very clear that music is an essential part of your existence. Based purely on this stipulation, acquiring the best MP3 player on the market is simply a no-brainer.

2) I understand all too well the vagaries of being a "collector." You collect CDs and I'm afflicted with DVDs. It's not a disease, it's not an addiction: it's a passion. For your album sleeves and packaging are important; for me, it's the DVD cover artwork and the packaging. MP3s have changed the way people buy and store music. That has already happened. In 5-7 years, after Blu-ray, the future of movies will be servers -- they will be digital files that can be downloaded directly to our new-fangled TVs or laptops. It is going to happen, and as much as I see a problem with letting go of collecting the beautiful packaging, it is a fanciful notion I will eventually let go. You must too, with CDs, because the future is here and now as far as music is concerned.

3) Podcasts. Once you've got your iPod, you can't imagine a world without them. Trust me.

4) I would like to end by suggesting you invest in a high-capacity iPod. I have a 100GB iPod Video and it's future-proof (well, for at least another 3 years, until something more mind-bending comes along). Apple has the new iPod Classic range with the 80GB and 160GB models. Either of them should serve you well.

Oh, don't worry about additional posts. Just press that little "X" on this window, grab your car keys and go buy one. It's really that simple.

[theoddball]

Thanks a lot, ak. You make a strong case for the "yes" camp. However, I'd still like to read opinions from the rest of the gang.

[X.]

Your call, dude. It's not a tough choice though.

[kaytee]

Im not a big music guy, like listening to soft rock or some Norah Jones once a while.

I myself dont have an iPOD, so I cant really be of any help dude.

[fizz]

I don't own an IPod, so I can't be trusted to give any opinion about the device. I personally own a nice Creative Zen Micro Photo (8GB) and it fits my needs. I listen to a lot of music as well, its the only thing that sustains the nearly 3 hour driving routines I am faced with on a daily basis. It is a basic necessity for my drive time and sometimes, when I start listening to an excellent album like In Rainbows or the Into the Wild OST (or perhaps even my massive Pink Floyd collection), I even look forward to spending time behind the wheel. That said, your selection of an mp3 player is subjectively tied to your criteria. Mine were (in no particular order): Price, capacity and quality.

Pricewise, Creative was definitely the winner (while not compromising on quality). Cnet reviews state that they are about as good (in some cases better) than Ipod's in terms of quality. Again, this is subjective, but I have no quality issues with my player, offering the standard array of mp3 options (photo viewer, equalizer, playlists creation etc etc). Capacity wise, for my budget at the time, 8GB was affordable. This was almost a year and a half ago and since then drive size on even the most basic players have really shot up. Creative and Iriver both offer the same capcities that any other players do. In fact, Iriver is usually touted as being the best mp3 player (without the hype!).

Having said that all that, while no expert on Ipod, the interface of your typical Ipod is supremely "rivetting", if I can use that word. It is intuitive to user needs (I've played around with it) and its form factor or size is just, well, appealing. One disadvantage is Apple's insistence on using their ITunes software as the application of choice for music transfer (I use it for listening to mp3's on my PC and don't like it - too lazy to search for a free alternative!). With my creative I get the advantage of using my Creative on a folder level and even as spare portable drive (not sure if Ipod can do the same, i have a feeling it can).

Good luck finding the right player, and remember, in the end, its a subjective choice!

P.S. I get around the limited 8GB size by rotating (though not too constantly) my album list. I can put about 100 albums easily. More than enough for a few weeks.

[fizz]

P.S. Podcasting is a fantastic alternative to listening to music. I've accumulated a list of useful sites on this thread here. Obviously Ipod's initiated the concept, but they are nothing more than mp3's that can be downloaded for a player.

[ozzylogic]

Get a Creative, with a 30 GB capacity. User friendly interface, user friendly player, excellent sound quality.

[X.]

With my creative I get the advantage of using my Creative on a folder level and even as spare portable drive (not sure if Ipod can do the same, i have a feeling it can).

There is an option you can check in iTunes that allows your iPod to be managed "manually" ie, you can literally treat it as an external drive and dump any kind of file on it. I rarely use this feature for mp3s because syncing music and podcasts via iTunes is a breeze.

[ozzylogic]

iTunes is a major resource hog.

[theoddball]

DONE!!

This morning, I went out and purchased a 160GB iPod Classic. Top stuff. I can already sense that the way I approach and "consume" music is going to change -- or shall I say evolve.

Thanks guys for pitching in with your valuable opinions. AK, it seems that at the end of the day your argument was too strong to refute.

(Writing this while listening to Thom Yorke's brilliant "Analyse" from The Eraser.)

[X.]

Sir, you've made a considerably wise choice.

[X.]

Oddy, I think it strange when you claim "music is an extremely important part of my life," then not contribute any album reviews, or participate in the discussion.

One of the things I'm hoping to really help develop is the Musika section; I have a feeling Fizz is going to jump into the fray as well. So why shouldn't you?

Or you?

And you?

And...you, hiding in the back there?

[X.]

Tsk, tsk...shame, shame!

[theoddball]

I will soon, I promise. The thing is, I just prefer discussing music in "real time" (face to face) as opposed to writing reviews.