One week of impressions.
Well after having my Ipod for a week now, I think I am prepared to give my impressions about it.
I decided to go for the 15GB model and being the purist that I am, ordered it directly from Apple's website (as there is no Appple store close to where I live). After about a weeks wait, the Airborne delivery man finally arrived with my new purchase.
First off, the packaging was great (yeah I know it's a trivial thing but it was really of cool to see how much effort went in to an inventive way to package it). As I held it for the first time, it seemed heavier than I imagined it would be.
As I was waiting for it to charge, I downloaded EphPod and made some last minute tweaks to the tags of my already ripped mp3 collection (I have about 50 gigs worth). I then loaded the software (opting out of the Musicmatch install) and proceded to connect my Ipod to my computer for the first time.
Ahhh... what a joy it was to see everything working correctly. The software formated it for windows and I was off and running putting some of my favorite mp3's on this little technological wonder.
Well, i started to listen to some music and almost immediately had to switch from the earbuds to my trusty headphones. Since comfort and noise isolation are more of a concern to me than sound quality, I ordered the Sony earbuds that everyone around here talks about. Overall, the music sounds good to my untrained ear.
Well, long story short (too late, right :) ) I thoroughly enjoyed my first week of experience with my Ipod. I have been gleefully listening to my mp3 collection on the go (eagerly awaiting the arival of my new earbuds). I am also planning on ordering a iskin as soon as i get around to it.
I did find that sometimes the buttons were unresponsive to my overly gentle and cautious touch. I also dislike the fact that if you turn on the backlight it will turn of after a certain length of time even though you might still be using it. I also seem to suffer from the same overnight battery drain if left in the dock as some other people around here (hopefully there will be a fix for this sometime in the future).
Aside for my few troubles above, all in all I am very pleased with Apple and my Ipod. I also plan on getting a PowerBook or IBook soon so I will be joining the mac community. I just keep telling myself to be gentle with the Ipod (i tend to be rather rough with my products) and hopefully my Ipod will stay with me for a long time.
[2534 byte] By [
loki102] at [2007-11-9 12:48:31]
# 1 Re: One week of impressions.
Didnt they fix that backlight problem in the newest firmware?
Update it and see, then your left with just the one tiny problem lol.
Glad you like your new iPod!
M@rK at 2007-11-15 15:11:50 >
# 2 Re: One week of impressions.
I don't think the newest update 2.0.1 fixed the backlight problem, at least for me.
# 3 Re: One week of impressions.
Yeah, it came with 2.0.1 and its still not fixed, hopefully the next update will take care of it
# 4 Re: One week of impressions.
i never had a problem with the backlight going out on me. i set it for 5 seconds and it would turn off after 5 seconds of being idle. i played parachute and the other games for 15 minutes at a time and the screen would stay backlit. this was using 2.0 AND 2.0.1. maybe i got lucky??
anyway, that one had to be exchanged because it had a bad problem with skipping. we'll have to see if the new one will have the problem you guys are talking about.
# 5 Re: One week of impressions.
Originally posted by torchedlh
i never had a problem with the backlight going out on me. i set it for 5 seconds and it would turn off after 5 seconds of being idle. i played parachute and the other games for 15 minutes at a time and the screen would stay backlit. this was using 2.0 AND 2.0.1. maybe i got lucky??
anyway, that one had to be exchanged because it had a bad problem with skipping. we'll have to see if the new one will have the problem you guys are talking about.
We're referring to the manually activated backlight, when the option for "Backlight Timer" is set to off, not the 5 seconds option you chose.
# 6 Re: One week of impressions.
sometimes i wonder if its worth sending in my ipod for a new one based on the slight battery problem i have and the firmware sucking on 2.0.1. but other times i realize a lot of people have worse problems than I do. What if i got a worse one??
# 7 Re: One week of impressions.
Loki,
would you ever work out with your ipod? I'm looking to purchase a pod, but I'd like to have the option of using it to lift weights with and do cardio (especially if it has playlists). What do you think? It sounds like from you first impressions that the IPOD may be too sensitive to take on work outs.
# 8 Re: One week of impressions.
Originally posted by carlolove
Loki,
would you ever work out with your ipod? I'm looking to purchase a pod, but I'd like to have the option of using it to lift weights with and do cardio (especially if it has playlists). What do you think? It sounds like from you first impressions that the IPOD may be too sensitive to take on work outs.
personally, i would probably not work out with it, but then again i am OVERLY cautious with it. i see many people on these forums that say it is perfectly fine to exercise with it (especially as long as you don't run with it) but the thought of taking a $400 or $500 dollar piece of hardware and shaking it repeatedly just dosen't sit well with me. i guess it all depends on how much it will move around as you do your exercise routine (should be alright with weights and most cardio stuff if you can keep it moderatly stationary). if you do decide to workout with it, i would purchase it from a place that offers a good replacement plan like best buy (i belive it runs around $40).
# 9 Re: One week of impressions.
Thanks for the advice Loki!
I agree, spending $500 for the 30 GB may indeed stop me from running off to the gym with it. Now if only I could find a great mp3 player that holds more than 128 MB......
# 10 Re: One week of impressions.
Exercise with the iPod? Sure.
I have a bicycle mount on my handlebars, which my iPod clips into. I ride over cracks in pavement, bumps, etc. It's fine.
If you're lifting weights, use the remote and leave the iPod at your feet or clipped to your waist- or strapped to your bicep (marware.)
vmarks at 2007-11-15 15:20:55 >
# 11 Re: One week of impressions.
Originally posted by vmarks
If you're lifting weights, use the remote and leave the iPod at your feet or clipped to your waist- or strapped to your bicep (marware.)
Ack, ack, ack. Please don't leave the iPod at your feet if you're using freeweights at the gym. Come to think of it, don't do it period.
You think dropping a 50 pound dumbbell on your toe hurts? That's nothing compared to the pain of dropping it on your brand new 30 gig beauty.
(Not that I have, thankfully. I eagerly await the delivery of my Marware convertible jobby. :) )
# 12 Re: One week of impressions.
For lifting weights, you would have to use a belt clip or a arm band, or course. For cardio, I usually use machines, so I think putting it in a stationary slot would be fine.
Has anyone ever used a 30 GB IPOD at the gym? And also, on your arm? I really need to know if strapping a 30 GB on my arm at the gym is comfortable, and not annoying.
# 13 Re: One week of impressions.
Originally posted by carlolove
Loki,
would you ever work out with your ipod? I'm looking to purchase a pod, but I'd like to have the option of using it to lift weights with and do cardio (especially if it has playlists). What do you think? It sounds like from you first impressions that the IPOD may be too sensitive to take on work outs.
Well I thought about this but luckily I had spoken to a best buy rep the week before I purchased my Ipod. I was buying the Rios S35(which I have since returned) and he offered the protection plan. Which I said no but then he said if you drop it its covered.
I know there are other posts but its absolutley true. Drop your Ipod go into best buy and say its broke and they replace it with the plan. So I take it to the gym all the time. Its crazy to because all I have to do is select my workout playlist and off I go. When Im done I put it on a cruisin playlist as I cruise down the highway.
Taskman
# 14 Re: One week of impressions.
Taskman, I am in a very similar situation as you were in back at best buy.
I went & bought a Nike Phillips PSA player, pretty much just like the Rio you bought. My psa player is fine, I just don't feel too good about the fact that I spent $200 on something that holds 35 songs. But it is perfect to workout with cuz it's so small.
But ever since buying it, I think about returning it and buying an IPOD instead. I would pay about 400 additional however because of the protection plan and firewire card.
Have you ever used the IPOD attached on your arm? How do you like it at the gym? I'm usually not to crazy for things clipped to my belt, but I don't know. I do like the idea of the protection plan, plus i have a huge music collection that would be perfect for the IPOD. Let me know your thoughts, & same to anyone else reading this.
~ Carlo
# 15 Re: One week of impressions.
Taskman, I am in a very similar situation as you were in back at best buy.
I went & bought a Nike Phillips PSA player, pretty much just like the Rio you bought. My psa player is fine, I just don't feel too good about the fact that I spent $200 on something that holds 35 songs. But it is perfect to workout with cuz it's so small.
But ever since buying it, I think about returning it and buying an IPOD instead. I would pay about 400 additional however because of the protection plan and firewire card.
Have you ever used the IPOD attached on your arm? How do you like it at the gym? I'm usually not to crazy for things clipped to my belt, but I don't know. I do like the idea of the protection plan, plus i have a huge music collection that would be perfect for the IPOD. Let me know your thoughts, & same to anyone else reading this.
~ Carlo
# 16 Re: One week of impressions.
Originally posted by carlolove
Taskman, I am in a very similar situation as you were in back at best buy.
I went & bought a Nike Phillips PSA player, pretty much just like the Rio you bought. My psa player is fine, I just don't feel too good about the fact that I spent $200 on something that holds 35 songs. But it is perfect to workout with cuz it's so small.
But ever since buying it, I think about returning it and buying an IPOD instead. I would pay about 400 additional however because of the protection plan and firewire card.
Have you ever used the IPOD attached on your arm? How do you like it at the gym? I'm usually not to crazy for things clipped to my belt, but I don't know. I do like the idea of the protection plan, plus i have a huge music collection that would be perfect for the IPOD. Let me know your thoughts, & same to anyone else reading this.
~ Carlo
I dont have my action jacket yet so I havent tried the ipod on the arm. However I do use the i-skin. For the gym its great of course when lifting weights. The main problem seems to be the skipping. I havent been able to test the ipod when running due to a stress fracture injury, but from reports I am reading the Ipod does start skipping if there is to much movement. It has an internal memory buffer but it runs out after about 20 minutes.
However one inventive runner did discover a neat trick. The arm belt can easily be adapted for your wrist. So its easy to hold onto when running. This seems to have fixed the skipping problem.
The only reason I bought the rio was because my old mp3 player died. Honestly I dont see anything special in the rio or the nike mp3 player to make the price worth it. I would check out the MPIO DMK if you can still return the nike. You can get the 128mb version for 120 bucks and its half the size of the nike and rio. I used mine for over a year and the only reason it stopped working was because I tripped while running and hit the ground on my side. Even then the thing worked for a week even though the LCD was shot. I should have gotten it in the first place but I thought I would use the fm tuner and stop watch in the rio. I didnt because its a pain to look at the rio when its on your arm. Plus FM is not good.
However I have to admit having the pod is a major improvement for the gym. When I get there I just select my workout playlist and off I go and whats even better is once I am running again I use a seperate playlist for running and now I dont have to constantly load playlists because I am no longer restricted by memory.
AND to make it even more cool. I an upload notes showing how much I did the last time I lifted. So I Dont have to lug a notebook around.
Generally speaking the ipod improves so many parts of your life its almost a no brainer to buy one. I've only had it for 2 weeks and already it has made work so much easier, driving is alot more fun, parties are great with the que playlist, even going to the mall or hell even grocery shopping is better.
So if you can return the PSA do it. I mean if you dont like the pod you can always return it.
Taskman
# 17 Re: One week of impressions.
I've been using my 30gig for running for a month -- it hasn't skipped once.
The only potential annoyance is that my hand wraps around the unit such that my fingers occasionally graze the control buttons and accidentally forward the track to the next tune.
Obviously, the way to prevent this is to set the little orange lock on top, which makes operating the controls difficult -- I have to slow to a walk. But this is minor, and well offset by having 150 CD's at my disposal on a long run.
I wouldn't hesitate to take it running. I even got caught using it in a drizzle -- no problems.
# 18 Re: One week of impressions.
Thanks for the replies guys.
I bought the 30 GB and it is charging as I write. I do more cardio machines than actual running, so I think (and hope) my ipod will be safe. Looking so foward to working out with it.
