22-07-2003 04:19									#1
	iPods Support Apolyton, buy Galactic Civilizations: Deluxe Edition

I need some help from you all that know something.

I have an mp3 and i could just buy a new card with alot of memory or just save a bit more and get an iPod for 300 bucks. What should I do? What are the pros and cons of iPods?

	22-07-2003 04:24									#2
	Remove this text

What is an iPod?

	22-07-2003 04:25									#3
	Support Apolyton buy from Amazon

a macintosh mp3 player

	22-07-2003 04:25									#4
	Support Apolyton, buy Alpha Centauri

Pros:
Lotso music
Looks cooler than generic MP3
Good, solid reputation

Cons:
TOO FRICKIN' EXPENSIVE!!11!11!:

	22-07-2003 04:29									#5
	Support Apolyton, buy Civilization 2

As MattH said, if you can afford one, then there are no 'cons'

	22-07-2003 04:37									#6
	Support Apolyton, buy Alpha Centauri

The only con is the price. I have one of the 5 GB ipods and I have had NO problems with it - I highly reccomend them. Save a bit more and get it, if you ask me.

They're also made for PCs too, now.

	22-07-2003 04:44									#7
	Support Apolyton, pre-order Civilization IV

I'm sure Asher will come along with a lengthy list of "cons" any minute now.

	22-07-2003 06:31									#8
	Support Apolyton or Terrorists Win

I could have sworn Asher said he actually had an iPod... ...a similar thread was done on this subject some months ago and I'm almost certain Asher participated sans anti-Crapple comments. I could be wrong, though... (EDIT#2: Asher corrected me: he has a Nomad Zen, not an iPod.)

Anyway, a PC-compatible version is coming out later this year. (EDIT: Never mind, seems to already be available. Guess the person who wrote the article I read a few days ago didn't both to check their facts) If I get my finances worked out I'll probably consider getting a new mp3 player. I've had 2 already...and they both broke. For lack of desire to fly into a fit of rage again over them, I'll just say they both sucked and shouldn't have been put to market. I've been eyeing the iPod ever since it came out, so the PC version looks like a contender to me.

Last edited by DRoseDARs on 22-07-2003 at 08:52

	22-07-2003 06:34									#9
	Support Apolyton buy from Amazon

I thought Windows-compatible versions were already out and had been for some time.

	22-07-2003 07:29									#10
	Support Apolyton, buy Civilization: The Boardgame

Well here at least one CON:

If you have a PC, make sure you have a Firewire connection. It doesn't work with USB... at least not yet.

	22-07-2003 08:45									#11
	Inflate your Upload Space

Yeah but that's also a pro - firewire is MUCH faster than USB

	22-07-2003 08:47									#12
	Browse Apolyton AD-FREE

I have a Nomad Zen. It's like an iPod, only for cheaper and more features (and up to 60GB).

The con for it is it's bigger than the iPod.
A pro for its biggersize is it's far cheaper, and uses a standard laptop HD so you can upgrade it or replace it on whim.

It uses USB2, which is the same speed as FireWire. You can also buy a FireWire variation of it and use it to transfer tracks directly between two Nomads.

	22-07-2003 08:51									#13
	Support Apolyton, buy Civilization: The Boardgame

The Zen.

	22-07-2003 09:01									#14
	Support Apolyton buy from Amazon

*DRoseDARs adds Nomad: Zen to his list...*

I just hope that if/when I decide to purchase my 3rd mp3 player I don't get effed over again. I spent well in excess of $500 for the previous 2 players (comprised of both players, a memory pack for one, and couple of blank media cartridges for the other). Hopefully, the quality of the industry's manufacturing processes has improved over the last few years to make the products more durible than Bill O'Reilly being taken to task over his hipocracy.

Won't change my position of vehemently opposing Rio and Iomega players, though...

	22-07-2003 09:02									#15
	Browse Apolyton AD-FREE

15GB iPod: $400.00
20GB Zen: $257.00

The choice is clear.

	22-07-2003 09:06									#16
	Support Apolyton, buy Galactic Civilizations: Deluxe Edition

*DRoseDARs scribbles in pencil over the word "iPod" on his list...*

Why pencil, you ask? Well, one never knows for certain...



Ok, well...maybe Asher does...

	22-07-2003 09:09									#17
	Help yourself to an AD-FREE life

For those interested, ExtremeTech has an excellent guide for how to upgrade the Zen's HD easily: http://www.extremetech.com/article2...,1186827,00.asp

I also love the title of their linked review: "Nomad Zen 60GB Eradicates iPod Envy"

	22-07-2003 09:14									#18
	Get a bigger avatar today!

quote: Originally posted by Asher The choice is clear.

Yes, buy the real thing, not the cheap, sleazy imitation. The ipod just looks better and has a better interface. It's also USB 2 compatible if you don't have firewire. The Zen is bulky and ugly, the ipod is less than the size of a packet of cigarettes. People admire ipods, the Zen looks like a piece of medical equipment.

Plus you can use it as a portable drive, store contacts on it, play games on it and use a calendar.

Anyway, the best thing to do is try both out and see which one you like.

Still cooler though:

	22-07-2003 09:18									#19
	Increase the size of your Attachments

quote: Originally posted by Agathon Yes, buy the real thing, not the cheap, sleazy imitation. The ipod just looks better and has a better interface. It's also USB 2 compatible if you don't have firewire. The Zen is bulky and ugly, the ipod is less than the size of a packet of cigarettes. People admire ipods, the Zen looks like a piece of medical equipment.

Give me a break -- the new iPod's interface sucks. There is zero tactile feedback when you push the buttons, they're simply circles drawn on a touchpad thing to save Apple money and increase the already enormous profit margins.

quote: Plus you can use it as a portable drive

Somehow a portable 60GB drive for cheaper seems better than a portable 15GB drive.

The iPod can play AAC, WAV, and MP3 though, while the Zen can play WMA, WAV, and MP3.

As for the Zen being a "cheap immitation" -- Creative had the first HD-based player on the market.

The new iPod also ripped off features from the Zen, like creating playlists on the fly.

The scrollbar on the Zen is also more functional -- I can easily scroll through and change songs while it's in my pocket. That's not exactly possible when you need to spin your fingers around in large circles on the front.

And the Zen's blue backlight is just sexy.

	22-07-2003 09:19									#20
	Support Apolyton, buy Civilization 2

Had to laugh at that review. They showed the older model ipod which is bigger than the current models. I'd say that you can see where the money has gone, the ipod is well designed and compact, the Zen is a poorly designed knock off.

And the screenshot of the Zen's bundled software is just hilarious. Jesus Christ, what a hideous and unintuitive interface.

Anyway, if you buy an ipod you'll get to use itunes for Windows when it is released this year. Anything would be preferable to that joky cartoonish Zen software.

	22-07-2003 09:21									#21
	Full PM-box? Change here!

quote: Originally posted by Agathon Had to laugh at that review. They showed the older model ipod which is bigger than the current models. I'd say that you can see where the money has gone, the ipod is well designed and compact, the Zen is a poorly designed knock off.

The iPod ripped off its "new" software features from the Zen, and also stole Creative's idea of using a harddrive for a personal media player.

quote: And the screenshot of the Zen's bundled software is just hilarious. Jesus Christ, what a hideous and unintuitive interface.

I didn't even install the software.
Notmad explorer kicks ass. Or just transfer in WMP...

	22-07-2003 09:25									#22
	Support Apolyton buy from Amazon

I would get an iPod over the Zen if they were similarly priced.

But there's no way in hell I'd pay $150 more for the iPod. That's just ridiculous.

	22-07-2003 09:28									#23
	Browse Apolyton AD-FREE

Asher makes a good point on the pricing, but I must admit, that Ipod is rather nifty looking.

	22-07-2003 09:28									#24
	Support Apolyton buy from Amazon

quote: Originally posted by Asher Give me a break -- the new iPod's interface sucks. There is zero tactile feedback when you push the buttons, they're simply circles drawn on a touchpad thing to save Apple money and increase the already enormous profit margins.

It works just fine.

quote: Somehow a portable 60GB drive for cheaper seems better than a portable 15GB drive.

I'd buy the 30 gig model myself.

quote: The iPod can play AAC, WAV, and MP3 though, while the Zen can play WMA, WAV, and MP3.

Which means you can buy music through the itunes store.

quote: As for the Zen being a "cheap immitation" -- Creative had the first HD-based player on the market.

You mean that gigantic piece of crap they were selling a couple of years back.

quote: The new iPod also ripped off features from the Zen, like creating playlists on the fly.

The Zen is a flagrant attempt to copy the ipod, just like those coloured all in one PCs were flagrant attempts to copy the imac.

quote: The scrollbar on the Zen is also more functional -- I can easily scroll through and change songs while it's in my pocket. That's not exactly possible when you need to spin your fingers around in large circles on the front.

Get the remote.

quote: And the Zen's blue backlight is just sexy.

So is the ipods.

Anyway, compare the interface.

On the left we have the ipod's software, soon to be available for Windows users:



And on the right we have an interface disaster:

	22-07-2003 09:29									#25
	Support Apolyton, buy Civilization III: Complete

The reason the Zen is bigger is because it's actually affordable when you use a laptop HD over a 1.7" proprietary one like Apple does.

If you like wasting money, then go for the iPod and buy an iMac while you're at it.

If you actually like your money, it makes much more sense to get the Zen.

	22-07-2003 09:32									#26
	Put an end to popups!

quote: Originally posted by Agathon It works just fine.

It works, it just doesn't work very well.

quote: Anyway, compare the interface. And on the right we have an interface disaster:

I agree Creative's software is a steaming pile of crap. Which is why no one uses it. You can transfer files to it in Windows Media Player if you wanted, or most people use Notmad Explorer:

http://common.ziffdavisinternet.com/util_get_image/2/0,3363,sz=1&i=25841,00.gif
http://common.ziffdavisinternet.com/util_get_image/2/0,3363,sz=1&i=25842,00.gif

You can even access that last screen remotely from any computer on the internet.

	22-07-2003 09:33									#27
	Support Apolyton, buy Galactic Civilizations

I'm prepared to pay for style, size and functionality. Well made things cost more.

Anyway, I hope you aren't going to defend that awful looking software - that's clearly a disaster.

	22-07-2003 09:34									#28
	Tired of ads?

I've said I don't know how many times now that the included software is crap...

	22-07-2003 09:35									#29
	Inflate your Upload Space

Those pics are even worse.

Anyway, I don't think you need to use the scroll wheel on the new ipods, but I haven't had a chance to play with one left.

And those other pictures are nearly as bad.

Anyway, can you please change your sig - one "have a nice day" maniac on Apolyton is enough, don't you think?

	22-07-2003 09:36									#30
	Avatar Enlargement: We've got the solution

quote: Originally posted by Asher I've said I don't know how many times now that the included software is crap...

hi...

X post. Didn't see the others.

...have a nice day.