IPods

We are thinking about getting the MIL an Ipod for Christmas as she has recently joined the gym and she loves her music. 

Are they really that good? Are they easy to use for an older non techie person?  Any recommendations for where to buy one?

Thanks

I couldn't function without my Ipod! We're actually a three Ipod family even!

We have a big one that we share (which has about 2/3 of our collections) and then we each have a Shuffle.

The merits of the ones that hold loads of songs is that you can put whole albums on them and then pick and choose songs. The tiny ones (like the Shuffle) I only load up with my very favourite songs so that I never feel the need to choose what I'm listening to. I sort of think a Shuffle or a Nano would be better for the gym - 'cause you'd assumably want to listen to particular songs rather than albums. Audiofiles would probably be better off with the ones that hold more....

We got our Shuffles at John Lewis - we shopped around a tiny bit and found that there wasn't a huge difference in price. Though you might get a deal on Ebay?

I used to love them until mine decided to repeatedly crash for no reason and deleted 20 gigs of music.  Hurrah!

They are relatively easy to use I suppose although setting up the software to do what you want it to do might be a bit iffy.

Hi there,

Yep, Apple itunes software can be awkward and fiddly from what I've read in reviews. So the transferring of music etc can pose head scratching for non techy people when it goes a bit pete tong.

Personally, I hate the fact Apple 'lock' you into their system - it's the reason I'll never buy an ipod as you have to buy stuff from their store only - funny when Microsoft dominate an area (eg Internet Explorer) lots of people get bent up out of shape yet when Apple dominate AND lock you into it no one seems to be quite as bothered!

The Creative Zen media players are just as good as ipods and play allsorts of media files without having you locked into one supplier only...    might just get one for chrimbo ! so Sadie, you might want to look at the ipod's competetion as well

Cheers! DtM! West London & Slough UK!

The Creative Zen media players are just as good as ipods and play allsorts of media files without having you locked into one supplier only...    might just get one for chrimbo ! so Sadie, you might want to look at the ipod's competetion as well

I have a Zen Micro and it rocks!!! I never considered getting an iPod ... for all the reasons you've mentioned.

I have a first generation iPod nano that I got for my birthday two years ago...I've not had that many problems with it and it's fairly straightforward, I think. However, the battery life (which wasn't that great to begin with) has now  become absolute crap within the last few months...it barely holds a charge, it's ridiculous. So I'll be looking around for a new mp3 player soon.  But it was good while it lasted!

Um, for the record, you can load mp3 files into an ipod. You don't HAVE to buy your music from the iTunes store. If you buy it elsewhere online, just make sure you buy mp3 format, and if you buy a CD, you can just rip it. I think it just doesn't do WMA files, but I never use those anyway.

I have never had a problem with iTunes syncing with my 30GB iPod video. I've also been using iTunes since it came out originally, and I have never had a problem with it.

I have a new shuffle and like it way better than my ipod.

I bought a reconditioned one in the states for $50.

I have an 80 GB black iPod video thingie.  Its been great and holds a charge like you wouldn't believe.  No issues at all for me.

I have a first generation iPod nano that I got for my birthday two years ago...I've not had that many problems with it and it's fairly straightforward, I think. However, the battery life (which wasn't that great to begin with) has now  become absolute crap within the last few months...it barely holds a charge, it's ridiculous. So I'll be looking around for a new mp3 player soon.  But it was good while it lasted!

Actually, you may only need a new battery (they do eventually wear out, especially if you use it a lot).  Take it to the Apple Store and see what they say.  Might be cheaper than a new player all together.  And the new batteries are better.  We replaced DH's iPod battery and it gets twice the life of the one he had before and that was cheaper than a whole new player.

I have a Shuffle, a 20 gb ipod, and an 80 gb ipod.  I love them all.  I think the Shuffle is the easiest for sheer use (you just press play) but obviously you can't see the music titles and all that.  Also it's good for running as it's just a flash drive and not an actual spinning hard drive like the other ones I have.  So I use that one for easy little trips and running (ha ha, when I used to run, that is).  I love the other two in most other situations.

ooh, I didn't know you could replace the battery (which sounds silly once I write that, but the case doesn't have an obvious place to open it so putting a new battery in didn't come to mind.)  thanks for the tip!

ooh, I didn't know you could replace the battery (which sounds silly once I write that, but the case doesn't have an obvious place to open it so putting a new battery in didn't come to mind.)  thanks for the tip!

It's a bit weird because you can't replace it yourself. You have to take it in and they take it apart and replace the battery for you. For some reason, they don't allow consumers to replace the battery as part of the design of the device, which actually caused quite a fuss when people started to realize that they'd eventually need to replace them.

It's a bit weird because you can't replace it yourself. You have to take it in and they take it apart and replace the battery for you. For some reason, they don't allow consumers to replace the battery as part of the design of the device, which actually caused quite a fuss when people started to realize that they'd eventually need to replace them.

Good thing is, they only charge you for the battery, not the labor or service. 

Good thing is, they only charge you for the battery, not the labor or service. 

Oh yeah! forgot to mention that important bit!

wow, I am so not a techie...I didn't even know you had to buy the music for the Ipod, that is how far out of the loop I have become.  Skyplus is as advanced as I have become lately

So great suggestions from everyone, thank you very much.  I will definately look into Ipods competition, and I hear your point about Microsoft

Since this is for the MIL, she won't need all the bells and whistles, just pretty basic so that we don't always have to run over and "fix it" or show her what to do. The simpler the better, for our sakes