Buying Questionand URGENT before bargain?goes away!
HI! Greetings from the UK!
Am new on this board and am going to buy a new Ipod..but before doing that, i need some advise.
Here goes:
1) 170 Pounds for a 5Gb ipod for windows...refurbished product with one year warranty or 185 pounds 10Gb New 3rd gen ipod from US ebay auction and risk Custom charges. All prices exclude shipping but if i were to buy from ebay and have it shipped from the states, it would add up to 215 pounds...risking custom charges as well. Anyone bought from ebay US and escape customs??
2) IS a 5gb ipod enough? What is there to put into the ipod that requires so much space besides all your songs?? What other uses do you guys have for your ipods? I just require the player to play mp3s and be able to store a couple of CDs into the player..so i can listen to when i am out and about ..play..jogging
3) Is the 5Gb ipod easy to use? PC user here...not a natural talent at computers...software......the whole thing. I'm looking for something pretty much plug and play...
That's it for now i guess....Thanks!!
oh can i get a remote for the 5gb ipod?? since it's first Gen
[1172 byte] By [
kiki] at [2007-11-9 12:11:41]
# 1 Re: Buying Questionand URGENT before bargain?goes away!
welcome to ipodlounge, kiki! :)
1. not easy to answer. how much music do you want to carry around with you? the 10gb sounds the better deal, since it?s new, the newer model and the price isn?t that much higher. however, i?m always a little skeptical of buying expensive electronics over ebay. if you?re cool with that go ahead. you definitely need to read up on the differences between the 2nd and 3rd gen. ipods, to see which one you like better (the old one has better battery life - the new one is smaller, thinner f.e.).
2. most users simply have more than 5gb of music and want to take it all with them. that?s why so many have 15gb, 20gb and 30gb models. you must decide how much of your music must be portable.
3. both are fairly easy, once you get the hang of things; but we?re here to help :) . study the windows general forum and the faqs for tips and tricks on how best to set up your computer (tagging your mp3?s f.e.) and your ipod (do not install musicmatch jukebox! try ephpod, xplay or media centre 9 instead).
4. as far as i know, you can get a remote. check the classified section. some users want to sell their remotes.
i hope, i was of some help. if you have any further questions, don?t hesitate to ask. :)
m.r.m. at 2007-11-15 17:06:55 >
# 2 Re: Buying Questionand URGENT before bargain?goes away!
Also what are the added expenses if i buy a old 5Gb ipod for wndows (not mac)? I heard the new ipod is pretty much plug and play for PC users...
If i have to buy firewire adapter and software compatible with windows...i think for all the extra added expenses, i might as well get the new model.
kiki at 2007-11-15 17:07:55 >
# 3 Re: Buying Questionand URGENT before bargain?goes away!
Check out:
http://promo.euro.apple.com/promo/refurb/uk/
at 10am on Wednesdays mornings - you can beat any of those prices hands down (I got a 10gig Win iPod for 178 all in - including shipping (UK) and one year warrenty.
Have to be fast though - they disappear quite fast - I'm guessing all the refurbs on ebay are from people buying these ones cheap, and making a tidy profit from unaware ebayers.
As for additional expense, if you havent got a firewire card, you'll need one whichever version you buy (usb2 cable & firmware isnt released yet).
I have a 10gig gen2 (refurb) and a gen3 15gig, and they're both as easy to use as each other - just plug it in with the cable and upload/sync away.
# 4 Re: Buying Questionand URGENT before bargain?goes away!
oh - and software for windows wise, you wont use the package that comes with the windows ipod - its so absolutely terrible, you'll wish you never unpacked it!
use either one of the free packages (ephpod, ummm - sure theres more), or Media Center 9 (which is incredible - try the 30day trial - youll be amazed), or XPlay (never tried it).
Media Center 9 is my choice though - rips (LAME3.90), tags, and uploads are incredibly easy, good interface )once you understand the concepts behind it), and the smart playlists are pretty neat too!
# 5 Re: Buying Questionand URGENT before bargain?goes away!
What are the chances of getting a gen 3 ipod that is refurbished? Did you get your new model at the refurbish site? I've set up an account at apple uk...one click setting is on...hopefully there are some good stuff on wednesday!! fingers crossed..........
kiki at 2007-11-15 17:10:59 >
# 6 Re: Buying Questionand URGENT before bargain?goes away!
gen 3 refurbished? chances arent that high - I've been looking, and none have ever come up. It is just a matter of time though! -but can you wait?! :)
BTW - got my gen 3 from John Lewis (grrrrr) - and the gen2 from Apple refurb (as a present for my gf)
# 7 Re: Buying Questionand URGENT before bargain?goes away!
Then this question is inevitable.........gen2 10gb for 178 pounds including shipping or......gen 3 10gb for 215 pounds including shipping from US...(asumming i would be caught by customs..what are the chances of that?!)
Anyone bought from the US before? Ebay perhaps? I'm eyeing one from ebay
By the way.....the size of the gen2 and gen3...i've seen pics comparing...but is there such a big differences?? Can you carry your gen 2 ipod around without problem?? I will be using it mainly in the Gym..jogging and when i am out and about in town...
kiki at 2007-11-15 17:12:51 >
# 8 Re: Buying Questionand URGENT before bargain?goes away!
I personally, would go with the gen 3. My reason being that i love how slim the 15gig is. the gen2 10gig is a tiny bit deeper, but I am a pedantic fool, who had been lusting after an iPod for years -and when the latest version appeared, lust got the better of me, and me and my credit card pounced!
I bought the gen2 after the gen3 (didn't want matching iPods for me and my gf) - and I am impressed with it - it is a tiny bit thicker (about 2-3mm is all I'm talking about here - see how picky I am? :) - I like then gen2 mechanical buttons as they work well through jeans (good for commuting on the tube and not drawing attention to yourself - although some people may give you an odd look when you caress yourself through your trousers!!! :D (I'm talking about adjusting the volume on the touch wheel of course! )
The gen2 has a longer battery life - which is a definite plus! usability is EXACTLY the same on both. I use them both on a laptop with 4pin firewire, and have never had any difficultis with either.
Of course, there are all the bugs with the gen3, but then, a firmware upgrade is just around the corner to make it just as nice to use as the existing gen2's.
Overall though, if you're going between the gen2 10gig and gen 3 10gig, I would say go for the gen2 - you get the remote and carrying case with the gen2, along with the other reasons above. If you get the gen3, you don't get the accessories, or the dock stand (which is darn fine, and would mean you'd want it, leading to even MORE expense) - and your gen3 would come from the states (never tried it, so may be good or bad).
Whatever you do, you'll love the end result!
# 9 Re: Buying Questionand URGENT before bargain?goes away!
aaaaaaarrrrgggghhhh - choices! - just noticed - ?185 without getting caught eh? The slimness of the gen3 makes it EXCEEDINGLY tempting! - and with the money you save (not getting caught), you can buy the dock (or even wait a while, and get the super snazzy wizzy dock everyones talking about (infra-red or something))
choices, choices!
Let us know what you go for!
# 10 Re: Buying Questionand URGENT before bargain?goes away!
I'm an american here, and I too am contemplating a 20GB Gen. 2 (refurbished, $270) vs. a 10GB Gen 3 (New, $300).
I'm thinking i'm going to go with the gen. 3, because with 10 GB, that is still...what, approx. 8000 minutes of music?
The beauty of the ipod is that you can alter what is on the Ipod at any one time, so if you have, say, 22 gigs of music on your HD (as I do), you theoretcially have the same amount on the ipod, just can't have it all at the same time...
...And, as I think about it, I really do not foresee a time when I am going to need a much larger ipod, at least in the near future. Unless I go on a long trip, but if I do that, i'll just deal with the music I have on it.
I want an ipod primarily to replace a portable cd player, and with a portable cd player i'd never bring more than 8000 minues of music (that would be maybe 700 discs...come on). So, considering the financial savings with the 10 gig (and the fact that I have to buy a product replacement plan, firewire card and firewire wire), it is the best of every aspect for my choice.
Plus, I got a serious gift card to get the gen. 3, but not the gen. 2... :)
Hopefully my insite of a person in the same predicament helps. If not, sorry for wasting your time ;)
# 11 Re: Buying Questionand URGENT before bargain?goes away!
I read somewhere there are 2 versions of the 10Gb gen 2 model one slightly slimmer than the other...Is this true?
kiki at 2007-11-15 17:17:03 >
# 12 Re: Buying Questionand URGENT before bargain?goes away!
I haven't heard this about gen2's - I think as there were two 10 gig ipods before the gen3, they had different sizes, and this may be the source of your infomation. Initailly, Apple released the 5gig pod, then later released the 10gig gen1.
When the gen 2 pods came out, the 10gig was slimmer than the gen 1. There has been a dicsussion about this on the boards, but I cant remember the thread. Basically, if its got a port cover, its a gen2, if not, gen1. Simple as that!
I don't think theres much chance of getting a gen1 off the refurbished section, and if you do, you can send it straight back (Apple even states this themselves! ).
Which pod are you leaning towards then? I've gotta say I don't use the remote or carrying bag at all on my gen3, so wouldnt miss them. All depends on how you use it, so maybe best not ruling it out before you've tried them!
# 13 Re: Buying Questionand URGENT before bargain?goes away!
Here's some info posted by Jackoniko about prices mainly, but shows the generations of ipods:
M8513: Original scrollwheel version 5 GB (Mac only) ?259
M 8541: Original scrollwheel version 5 GB (Mac only) ?259
M8709: Original 10 GB original scroll version (Mac only) ?329
M8513: 'New' scrollwheel 5 GB Mac version ?259 new, ?125 refurb
M8697: 'New' scrollwheel 5 GB PC version ?259 new, ?125 refurb
M8737: Trackwheel 10 GB Mac version ?329 new, ?178 refurb
M8740: Trackwheel 10 GB PC version ?329 new, ?178 refurb
M8738: Trackwheel 20 GB Mac version ?399 new, ?279 refurb
M8741: Trackwheel 20 GB PC version ?399 new, ?279 refurb
M8976: New 4-button 10 GB version ?249
M8946: New 4-button 15 GB version ?299
M8948: New 4-button 30 GB version ?399
And here is some info from c.c.r (Kurt):
Any 5GB is a Gen1. Any 20GB is a Gen2. Any 15GB or 30GB is a Gen3.
Therefore, the 10GB is the only one in question. So, if your 10GB iPod has:
A "dock connector" on the bottom -- it's a Gen3.
A firewire port cover and touch-sensitive wheel -- it's a Gen2.
A mechanical wheel and no firewire port cover -- it's a Gen1.
# 14 Re: Buying Questionand URGENT before bargain?goes away!
what are the disadvantages of gen1?
jonesy at 2007-11-15 17:19:58 >
# 15 Re: Buying Questionand URGENT before bargain?goes away!
I took advantage of the falling gen 2 prices and I'm not the least bit sorry i did. My iPod is perfect for me. I really don't care for the appearance of the gen 3 pods. I know it's superficial but it makes a difference to me. The latest is not always the greatest as evidenced by the shorter battery life of the new models. However i must admit the dock is pretty cool.
skippy at 2007-11-15 17:21:02 >
# 16 Re: Buying Questionand URGENT before bargain?goes away!
@Jonesy - I don't think there are any disadvantages of the gen1 - maybe the fact that its slightly thicker makes some people put it down. In some ways, the gen1 is becoming a bit of a collectors item as it has the original moving scroll wheel - strange what people collect!
@Skippy - yep - the gen2 looks good - and I wish I had the moving buttons (or even raised buttons) on the gen3 so I could tell which button is which when I use it through trousers, without pressing pause when I want to advance etc
At the end of the day, its an iPod! You just can't complain! :D
