MP3 / iPod

[TLDV8]

The short story is i want to get a ipod or similar but don't know anything about them on a technical basis...i narrowed it down to a Sony MP3 or a iPod Mini 6GB.. is a iPod different to a MP3,if so is one better than the other,any disadvantages...do these units have quality audio? ..any info appreciated.

[SARGE]

The short story is i want to get a ipod or similar but don't know anything about them on a technical basis...i narrowed it down to a Sony MP3 or a iPod Mini 6GB.. is a iPod different to a MP3,if so is one better than the other,any disadvantages...do these units have quality audio? ..any info appreciated.

i ride with a Phillips Key Audio 256 mb MP3 player.. i get about 30 songs on it or so... good quality ( depends of course on the bitrate of the MP3..) very compact unit

Dick Smith - $198.00

[thealmightytaco]

I've got an ipod mini, 4Gb, works pretty sweet, get about 3 days? worth of music on there. Might be more actually, can't remember. The sony's have changeable batteries and stuff though, a major advantage cause if your ipod battery ever goes it's all but completely rooted, and apparently they do it pretty quickly. I got 3 year warranty from Harvey Norman though so that's covered the lifetime I'll use it for probably, there'll be something else super mega by then.

So I'd say, go sony.

[Badcat]

hey - you're right about the battery not being replaceable.... by apple.
there are lots of 3rd party companies making replacement batts for ipods.
talk to Ubertech in parnell auckland
09-358-3801.

k

[SuperDave]

The short story is i want to get a ipod or similar but don't know anything about them on a technical basis...i narrowed it down to a Sony MP3 or a iPod Mini 6GB.. is a iPod different to a MP3,if so is one better than the other,any disadvantages...do these units have quality audio? ..any info appreciated.

MP3 is just an audio format. Ipod stores music files in MP3 format. I believe the audio quality form both units are pretty much the same, although I've heard that high quality aftermarket headphones can give a much better sound output compared to the stock headphones.

I'm pretty sure that all Sony's use their own Sonic stage software which was a piece of shit when at version 2.0, which is what I had with my old minidisc player. The software was really non-userfriendly and had shit copyright protection things - I don't know if the software has changed much with later versions.

[Big Dave]

The short story is i want to get a ipod or similar but don't know anything about them on a technical basis...i narrowed it down to a Sony MP3 or a iPod Mini 6GB.. is a iPod different to a MP3,if so is one better than the other,any disadvantages...do these units have quality audio? ..any info appreciated.

Players is players. Choose the one that has the doohickeys you like.

I prefer the iPod because of the iTunes software you run on the PC to manage it.
It's a free download from apple. Grab it and have a play.
Rip (convert) some mp3's from CDs
Then all you have to do is plug the ipod in to a usb port and it auto updates. Turn on, bung in lugholes and rock.
I have a 4gb iPod mini and the battery lasts a full day's riding - just.

[britneys underpants]

Whatever you decide on buying, get a cable remote with it. Its a pain in the proverbs trying too change your playlist when your music player is in the deepist darkist depths of your jacket without one.

[curious george]

I'm waiting for the 4gig Nono's to arrive. (whoop, here now!)
A bit fragile, but very cool.
Sony software is nothing but arse munch. Go something apple if you can, or something similar to what Sarge has. You can get them with more memory (some expandable)if you so choose.
Iriver stuff usually gets good reviews, DSE have them, not bad prices either

[Badcat]

Whatever you decide on buying, get a cable remote with it. Its a pain in the proverbs trying too change your playlist when your music player is in the deepist darkist depths of your jacket without one.

try the airclick if you go for the iPod..
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...light=airclick
at the end of that thread is Nhuan's review.

ken

[sAsLEX]

no such thing as Ipod minis anymore! Ipod nano is the go now, will fit in that coin pocket in your jeans thinner than a pencil and available in 2 and 4 gig.

The standard Ipods are now 30 or 60 gig and have video capability so you can watch Lost on the go ( just dont do it while riding! )

[sAsLEX]

A bit fragile, but very cool.

not really http://arstechnica.com/reviews/hardware/nano.ars/1

oh and the vid ipod http://arstechnica.com/reviews/hardware/video-ipod.ars

[flash]

if your talkin about the minis, not the nano's......,
i think the minis have a harddrive in them, not a flash drive like the sony. this makes it easier to break because it has moving parts in it (which a flash drive dosnt), correct me if im wrong

[sAsLEX]

if your talkin about the minis, not the nano's......,
i think the minis have a harddrive in them, not a flash drive like the sony. this makes it easier to break because it has moving parts in it (which a flash drive dosnt), correct me if im wrong

umm kinda, minis aint made no more and have been replaced with solid state nanos! ps the sony ones are fairly crap and annoying to use

hm should study more.........

[onearmedbandit]

I've got an Ipod 20g colour, picked it up in Japan, the wife got a nano. Awesome units, no complaints here. Although I have had mine replaced, but that was, umm, user related. Holds about 5000 songs (i had about 3600 on it with about 6gig left on the hd). Huge range of aftermarket options as well, voice recorders, FM transmitters (I now have 3600 songs in my car!), etc.

[parsley]

if your talkin about the minis, not the nano's......,
i think the minis have a harddrive in them, not a flash drive like the sony. this makes it easier to break because it has moving parts in it (which a flash drive dosnt), correct me if im wrong

Theoretically yes, but hard disks are pretty reliable these days. I've had my 40 GB iPod for two years now and it's still going strong.
The Nano's had some bad press. Some people have said that Apple released it before it was fully tested, and they took out a class action lawsuit against them. You might want to wait for the second generation model to be released.