Me iPod's knackered - what else is out there.

davet010 · Post by **davet010** » Sat Aug 16, 2008 5:24 am

I use the train to get to work everyday, so my iPod (5th gen, 80gb) gets a fair usage. It's just under 2 years old and now the headphone socket has developed a fault, so one channel cuts out intermittently. I've tried the headphones on another system and they are fine, so it's deffo the iPod that's going wrong.

Now Apple want to charge me almost £100 for a repair, when i can get a brand new one for £150. Before I go doing that, is there anything else out there with at least 40gb capacity that I should take a look at ?

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Sat Aug 16, 2008 9:44 am

I have the same problem with mine Dave except if I rotate the headphone jack the other channel comes on. Have you tried another set of headphones with your ipod? You can also try spraying inside the headphone jack with some electrical contact cleaner. Most electronic or computer repair shops carry it.

Your other choices would Microsoft's Zune or Creative Labs Zen. The Zune looks really nice, comes in different colors and sports an FM tuner as well. From what i've read Microsoft relaxed it's DRM requirements with the player.

Ask PK, I think he owned a Zen.

wco81 · Post by **wco81** » Sat Aug 16, 2008 10:00 am

If you do decide to buy another unit, I'd wait about a month because there should be new models introduced from Apple, Microsoft and others before the Holidays.

Or there may be closeouts on existing models. Apple doesn't discount much but they will usually throw in gift cards or something, at least in the US. Zunes seem to sell for a big discount from the original at certain outlets.

Other thing is to search for third-party repair services. I noticed Google Ads on the left of this thread lists iPod repair services.

iPods are popular in the UK as well so there should be such services over there too, especially if Apple is asking such an exorbitant cost for repair. They obviously want to steer you towards new purchases rather than repairs.

vader29 · Post by **vader29** » Sat Aug 16, 2008 10:15 am

I've had the new 80gb Zune for the last few months now and love it, very nice player.

fsquid · Post by **fsquid** » Sat Aug 16, 2008 10:47 am

I have a Sansa that I live, but it wouldn't do the video you probably want.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Sat Aug 16, 2008 10:54 am

Dave:

I owned a Creative Zen Jukebox 40 GB, and my daughter and I both own Creative Zen V Plus 4GB (Flash-based). We've loved all of them.

Creative is a damn good iPod alternative. Their interface isn't as intuitive as iPod -- nothing is, really -- and no brand of player has the ocean of available accessories like an iPod. But the sound quality, size, reliability and most importantly, PRICE, of the Creative are a match or better than the iPod.

If I had unlimited budget, my next MP3 player probably would be a 160GB iPod Classic, just for the sheer capacity. But I heartily recommend Creative players if something in their line fits your needs and budget.

http://us.creative.com/products/welcome ... mc_id=8860

Take care,
PK

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Sat Aug 16, 2008 12:54 pm

If Video is important...you cannot go wrong with the iPod Touch. They are sweet players. Small capacities though at 8, 16 and 32gb. But its still a hellova lot of music and videos on your player at one time.

davet010 · Post by **davet010** » Sat Aug 16, 2008 1:01 pm

dbdynsty25 wrote:If Video is important...you cannot go wrong with the iPod Touch. They are sweet players. Small capacities though at 8, 16 and 32gb. But its still a hellova lot of music and videos on your player at one time.

I had a look at the touch, but even 32gb is too small (there's 55gb on this one) and video's not really important to me. I'll have a look at the Zune, tho I have had Creative Jukeboxes before and the software is awful. Still, thanks for all the advice.

wco81 · Post by **wco81** » Sat Aug 16, 2008 1:29 pm

Flash should be more reliable but of course you're not going to get as much storage, at least not yet.

For daily use, I have a 8 GB Nano which works for me because I listen to a lot of podcasts so I have to sync an swap in content just about every day.

If you want to just listen to music and have it all available, then the high-capacity HDD is the only choice.

But you may be surprised how much music even 8 GB last you, especially if organized with playlists. You do have to transfer music more frequently and if you're swapping out a lot of data, it could take 15-20 minutes.

Thing you'll also gain with flash is much smaller size, which works better if you go work out with the player.

Sansas are only flash, I believe.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Sat Aug 16, 2008 2:47 pm

davet010 wrote:I had a look at the touch, but even 32gb is too small (there's 55gb on this one) and video's not really important to me. I'll have a look at the Zune, tho I have had Creative Jukeboxes before and the software is awful. Still, thanks for all the advice.

Dave:

Most of the new Creatives are plug-and-play, recognized as a separate drive. My Creative Zen V Plus Flash-based player is strictly drag-and-drop -- a snap to transfer files.

Take care,
PK

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Sat Aug 16, 2008 2:50 pm

wco81 wrote:But you may be surprised how much music even 8 GB last you, especially if organized with playlists. You do have to transfer music more frequently and if you're swapping out a lot of data, it could take 15-20 minutes.

Exactly. That's why I sold my 40 GB HDD player and got the 4 GB Flash player. I did it with trepidation, as I thought I'd miss having all of my music at my fingertips.

Definitely not the case. I love the tiny size of the Zen V Plus, and I don't worry about an accidental drop anymore because it's a Flash player. Transferring songs back and forth from my external HDD -- which stores all of my music -- and the Zen V Plus is a breeze.

Spot on, WCO. A Flash player is just a hell of a lot more convenient. I got my 4 GB Zen V Plus for $45 from Creative during a special sale.

Take care,
PK

davet010 · Post by **davet010** » Sat Aug 16, 2008 4:34 pm

Nah, I still want a HDD one....this one's got about 850 CDs on it, and it's on shuffle, so anything could turn up as I walk from the station to my office.

Though given that I now work at a university that specialises in music, and of course to the academic staff there is little or no worthwhile music since about 1900, the idea of moving off 'shuffle' and having 'Anarchy in the UK' blasting down me lug 'oles as I walk through the door does give me cause for amusement.

I'll definitely try Rodster's ideas though.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Sat Aug 16, 2008 5:59 pm

Dave:

If you want an 80 GB or larger HDD player, you'll probably need to stay with Apple or go to Microsoft if you want reputable player.

The biggest Creative HDD player is 60 GB. WCO is right about Sansa's; they're all Flash-based, so the biggest is 32 GB.

Microsoft has an 80 GB Zune. But if given the choice between Microsoft and the proven Apple iPod, with its trainload of accessories and third-party software, I'd go for the iPod every time, especially since their prices are pretty comparable.

Screw it: Just go balls out and get the 160 GB sixth-generation iPod Classic. That will be my next HDD player, for sure, if I decide to return to that kind of device. But for now, I'm digging the portability and convenience of a smaller, Flash-based player.

Take care,
PK

jondiehl · Post by **jondiehl** » Mon Aug 18, 2008 12:19 am

Two 30GB Zune's here. I love them. Paid only $80 each for them as well (woot.com and buy.com about 10 months ago).

fsquid · Post by **fsquid** » Thu Sep 04, 2008 5:16 pm

My company just got an employee discount program going on with Apple. Question is, can I put any MP3 that I've downloaded on the Ipod Touch?

wco81 · Post by **wco81** » Thu Sep 04, 2008 5:40 pm

Any MP3 as long as there's no DRM or anything like that.

But they're going to announce new models on 9/9.

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Thu Sep 04, 2008 5:59 pm

wco81 wrote:Any MP3 as long as there's no DRM or anything like that.

But they're going to announce new models on 9/9.

Not necessarily...at the very least it'll be new pricing and higher capacities. They claim the Touch and the Nano will change in dimensions, but so few diagrams and leaks have come out, I'm skeptical. If they change, it will only be minimal and the added features likely won't make them worth the price. I suggested waiting until 9/9 and then getting the last generation if they do change them up. The new specs, of especially the touch, have been less than impressive.

LAking · Post by **LAking** » Thu Sep 04, 2008 8:03 pm

dbdynsty25 wrote:
wco81 wrote:Any MP3 as long as there's no DRM or anything like that.

But they're going to announce new models on 9/9.
Not necessarily...at the very least it'll be new pricing and higher capacities. They claim the Touch and the Nano will change in dimensions, but so few diagrams and leaks have come out, I'm skeptical. If they change, it will only be minimal and the added features likely won't make them worth the price. I suggested waiting until 9/9 and then getting the last generation if they do change them up. The new specs, of especially the touch, have been less than impressive.

http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/04/yet- ... e-why-not/

This is what the new nano looks like, it's a forgone conclusion. There have been so many leaks it's not even funny. The touch will likely go down in price to bring it more in line with the iphone.

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Thu Sep 04, 2008 9:05 pm

LAking wrote:http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/04/yet- ... e-why-not/

This is what the new nano looks like, it's a forgone conclusion. There have been so many leaks it's not even funny. The touch will likely go down in price to bring it more in line with the iphone.

Who wants a Nano? He was talking touch. Capacity will go up, price down. That's all I'm talking about.

Edit: Haha...I brought up the nano. Idiot I am. I'm on cold medicine, leave me alone! Anyway...I was referring to the Touch only. There are rumors of speaker, cameras, volume buttons...but whatever. The current version is so good, it'll be cheap when the "new" version comes out. That's what I MEANT to say. Damn that Nano is UGLY.

fsquid · Post by **fsquid** » Thu Sep 04, 2008 9:31 pm

yea, the touch looks good. Work discount can get me the 8GB for $160, maybe I should wait just a tad longer

FifaInspected · Post by **FifaInspected** » Thu Sep 04, 2008 9:47 pm

New Touch and Nano should be released next week .... Along with NHL 09!

wco81 · Post by **wco81** » Wed Sep 10, 2008 11:34 am

Well they introduced the new models. Nothing earth-shaking but the Nanos look to be a good value.

I bought an 8 GB 2G Nano two years ago for $250 and now, you can get a 16 GB one which plays video and some games, with a bigger screen, better battery life, for $199.

Of course, if I buy that, next year, they'll probably turn the Nanos into mini Touches.

The other thing is they're trying to push the Touch as a gaming platform, a lot of lip service to it. They demo'd Spore Origins but it hasn't gotten good reviews.

The soccer game is new, I guess from a Euro developer (Gameloft) but not one associated with sports games, are they?

Of the 100 million downloads in 2 months from the App. Store, how many were free apps?

Oh and they turned the classic into one model, 120 GB for $249. Apparently there weren't too many takers for the thicker (double platter) 160 GB model.

HDD players days seem numbered.

vader29 · Post by **vader29** » Thu Sep 11, 2008 6:26 pm

We finally get games on the zune in the new update next Tuesday with 2 free games, Hexic and Texas Hold'Em.

http://www.microsoft.com/Presspass/pres ... atePR.mspx

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Thu Sep 11, 2008 6:54 pm

vader29 wrote:We finally get games on the zune in the new update next Tuesday with 2 free games, Hexic and Texas Hold'Em.

http://www.microsoft.com/Presspass/pres ... atePR.mspx

People own Zunes? I have NEVER seen one in public. Technologically they are a nice product, I just didn't know of any being sold.

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Wed Jan 07, 2009 7:09 pm

I'm actually thinking of getting another MP3 player. I'm interested in something other than an Ipod. I own one and i'm looking for something with the following features:

1) An MP3 Player you can actually turn off instead of putting to sleep. My Ipod has problems going to sleep which drains the battery.

2) Good sound, wireless hookup.

3) FM tuner maybe AM as well.

I know the Zine has all three with the exception of AM. Is there another player that has those features along with an AM tuner?