good moment for buying a mini (6gb)?

I'd like to add mine too if no one minds...

How much space is there on a 4gig and 6gig after formatting?

well, I'd really like to get one, but my common sense tells me not to.

the problem is that you really pay for the brand, not for value (we don't have to discuss that. there are good alternatives for the iPod mini).
I mean: I pay 249 for the device, then I need a fireWire cabel (cuz firewire IS faster, uses LESS cpu power AND I don't have USB 2.0). A case like the Agent18 mini shock would not be bad either. The power adaptor is not a must, I suppose. But all in all, I have to pay 300, which is aprox. 387 $ - just for basic equipment which SHOULD be included from the beginning!!! For that price I can get the fat and ugly 20 GB version, which can barely hold 10 hours of playback. It is not just the money, it is APPLE what makes me sick. Paying 100 bucks (same here, equals 130 dollars) for a battery that runs out in 1-2 years... What are they thinking? That are the reasons why I will surely never buy an apple product even though I think the design and the hype is fascinating.

Just my 2 cents.

There are a couple of problems with that statement. The power adaptor is not a must, as it charges from the computer. And the reason why you can get the mini that cheap is because they chip away the cost by cutting down on the accesories. The battey doesn't run out in 1-2 years, it's how you take care of the battery.

Why did you make this thread if you were just going to complain about Apple anyway?

Originally posted by Jay_T
I should have known that it is a dumb idea to post criticism in an apple-lover forum. what I did say is that the charger is NOT a must. The only reason (except the missing FM/AM tuner, the voice recorder and several other things compared to iRiver etc.) why I am not buying an iPod is the price which is way to high here in Europe. For the same stuff I have to pay 30% more (even if the Euro is very strong compared to the weak US $). And only cuz apple captures the prices 1:1 from the US to the European market. If I would only have to pay 300 $ for an ipod mini, case and cable, which equals 230 Euro, then it would be OK. But I have to pay around 30 % more. And this is too much, even for the apple brand on a really simple mp3-player.

just my 2 cents.

p.s.: and by the way: " The battey doesn't run out in 1-2 years, it's how you take care of the battery." Sorry, but that's not completely true. If I use my iPod regularly (which means I have to charge it regularly), the lithium Ion Battery is run down after 500 cycles. Of course it COULD be that it can still hold 30-40% of the full capacity then, but let's be honest: Do you want to drive a car that only does 30-40 miles an hour? Or do you take it to the garage and replace the parts that are worn out?

p.p.s: "And the reason why you can get the mini that cheap is because they chip away the cost by cutting down on the accesories"

See above why the iPod is everthing but cheap. But apart from that: Do you think a silly FireWire Cable costs 25 $/20 Euro (!) in production? Well, if that's what you meant by cutting the price = cutting of accessories... Then you might re-think this statement. The 1G mini was exactly the same price as the 2G mini (4GB) and has no charger, no Firewire cable ...
So, cutting away accessories is just another way to make fast money.

Any mp3 player lithium ion batter WILL DIE OUT over time regardless of how you take care of it unless you use battery packs and always have them plugged in so the mp3 player bypasses the built in battery.

It's a fact of life EVERYTHING DECAYS

ipodmods.com can replace your battery for $45. You can probably get one for even cheaper on eBay.

would be interested if you still think that way after your battery is completely run down :)

there is a saying that says you should rather buy a rising company's shares than buying their product. figure it out for yourself. I won't get any apple product unless they re-think their price management for the EU market.

Originally posted by Jay_T
Hi guys,

I am currently thinking if I should buy a mini. What I would like to know is:

Does the battery really last 18 hours? I still see ppl (with a new 2G mini) who complain about 9-10 hours of battery stand by :(
The next thing is: There are rumors that the sound quality is not as good as the shuffle's. What do you say to that?

And the most important questions: Will there be a 3G mini in the next few month? When can we expect a new generation with longer battery (25+ hours maybe) and a 10 gig HD? If the 6 months update period continues, we could see a new gen in august!?

Thx in advance.

Jay_T

To answer your original questions (before you decided you couldn't wait for answers before giving your opinion)

1. The battery should last 'at least' 18hrs. I get around that time and others have got more. Something to consider is that with a battery that lasts more than double that of the 1G mini, then the battery should have a much longer life. Based on charging every 3 days, as I need to do now, the battery should last 4-5 years. I think that the average battery life will now outlast the average ownership lifespan of the mini.

2. From what I've heard, the sound quality is equal to the shuffle.

3. Where did you get the idea that the mini is upgraded every 6mths? There was approximately 13mths between the release of the 1G and 2G in US. If you were somewhere that didn't get the 1G Ipod until summer 2004, that was only because there was an worldwide order backlog.

PS, I don't think you were ever "Thinking if I should buy an Ipod." You already had your mind made up

Originally posted by Jay_T
well, I'd really like to get one, but my common sense tells me not to.

the problem is that you really pay for the brand, not for value (we don't have to discuss that. there are good alternatives for the iPod mini).
I mean: I pay 249 for the device, then I need a fireWire cabel (cuz firewire IS faster, uses LESS cpu power AND I don't have USB 2.0). A case like the Agent18 mini shock would not be bad either. The power adaptor is not a must, I suppose. But all in all, I have to pay 300, which is aprox. 387 $ - just for basic equipment which SHOULD be included from the beginning!!! For that price I can get the fat and ugly 20 GB version, which can barely hold 10 hours of playback. It is not just the money, it is APPLE what makes me sick. Paying 100 bucks (same here, equals 130 dollars) for a battery that runs out in 1-2 years... What are they thinking? That are the reasons why I will surely never buy an apple product even though I think the design and the hype is fascinating.

Just my 2 cents.

I agree, except that I am going to buy a 6GB mini ANYWAY.

I sure hope it is a good time, because I'm dishing in about $330USD for a iPod+HP Mini 6GB, USB AC Adapter, and iSkin case.

Exactly right about how that would be about the price of a 20GB COLOR! But the Mini--it's so MINI, and...

...I just can't help myself...

:)

Originally posted by Zaltexx
i bought my 6gb off ebay for 200 bucks. Its nice and cheap off ebay. I got free shipping too

Zaltexx, what's the sellers user id? I'm thinking of getting one for my GF's Bday next week. Thanks.

Check out Apple's refurb, it comes with a wall charger, but make sure it's G2.

Buy the iPOD but look eBay for accessories. I just got me a FW cable (0.99 + $12 shipping), and I had an old PDA wall charger (USB out) that works just fine.

Yes, iPODs are more expensive, but don't buy BMW if one's gonna be grippping about it I say.

might be a 3rd generation in october