Hi there,
finally I have completed my 1st purchase of Apple’s Ipod and here are my findings..
If you are looking for easy to use MP3 player that also happens to be the best, popular, drop-dead gorgeous you’ve laid eyes upon, then the decision is easy:
Its an Apple..an iPod.
And I just Love Apple
The tough part is picking the right one
By way of history, there is no more hugely popular consumer electronics market than the portable MP3 player space. Though there are hundreds of manufacturers making either standalone or bundled MP3 players, the Apple iPod owns this space. Period.
Apple Ipod is an object of Desire. Period again
Overview:
Size. Most iPods (except for the Nano, Mini and Shuffle) are less than about the size of a pack of playing cards. iTunes is Mandatory. They all sync/work with iTunes, which is free from Apple’s website. Except for the earliest generations noted below, they take both Firewire and USB cables. Battery life published by Apple is a guideline. This is important to remember. Does your cell phone ever last as long as the published battery life? Ditto for iPods. The published battery life basically assumes a) middle volume, b) playing in an endless loop and c) never touching the controls. In short, laboratory conditions. Battery life problems. This is more a myth than reality. Rechargeable batteries start to lose their zing after a couple of hundred charges. Since Apple’s batteries are built in, and since people tend to use them every day, the batteries do wear out, like all rechargeable batteries. Screen problems - Nano. Another myth. The Nano is literally so thin, people put them in their pockets. Because it was so thin, it doesn’t have the tensile strength of a cell phone or other device to protect the screen. If it bends, the screen will pop. They don’t spontaneously combust. Apple will replace broken Nano screens free of charge (Nano only). Storage Sizes. A good rule of thumb, figure 1, 000-1, 250 songs per 5GB. This will vary, but it’s a good rule of thumb. All iPods can be used both as a music player and as a portable hard drive
1st Gen Ipods
came in 5 GB and 10GB models. They featured the control buttons surrounding the scroll wheel. This was the only generation of iPod with a moving scroll wheel.
Battery life is about 10 hrs
2nd Gen Ipods
Came in 10GB and 20GB versions somewhere in 2002. They were virtually identical to the first generation units. However, they replaced the scroll wheel with the touchwheel
Battery life is about 10 hrs
3rd Gen Ipods
Apple iPod gets a facelift! In 2003, this was the most radical redesign of the iPod look and feel.
This moved the iPod into the mainstream. The buttons moved from around the touchwheel to four circular buttons below the LCD screen. The unit got thinner and the headset jack was now indestructable. At long last, USB support was added, though not for charging, just syncing from your computer or other device.
Battery life is about 8 hrs
4th Gen Ipods
Released in 2004, Apple shifted the controls on the unit. Rather than a touchwheel, they introduced the clickwheel, which had been used on the Minis. The controls were now embedded in the wheel used to navigate the iPod
Size 20 to 40 GB
Battery 12 hrs
4th Gen Photo Ipods
Same as the above with a colour screen for Photo view.
No Video Compatibility still
5th Gen Ipods .. Video ipods :)
So when would the iPod finally replace just about everything? With its fifth generation model, in 2005 end. The look was basically the same as the Photo/4th generation, but with a smaller wheel and larger screen. The unit now featured a 320x240 pixel LCD and the ability to play videos.
2-3 hours of video and 16-20 hrs of music and 30 to 60 GB of space ..JSK
Ipod minis (1st Gen)
Came in 2004
Weighed half of the earlier ipods...was an instant sensation
(I have recently bought one and its fantastic for the price I paid, however I would love to go for the Nano and the Video ipod but for the budget :))
Storage is 4GB and Battery life is 12 hrs
Firewire and USB support available.
ipod Shuffle
Storage 512 MB :(
Battery 12 hrs
Note : No screen to navigate music. But you can find them for as little as $50.
ipod Nano
Amazing. That’s the only way to describe the Apple ipod Nano.
Based on Flash memory (vs a hard drive), the size of this unit is literally amazing.
Apple released these in end of 2005, and everyone drew a collective breath. Just when you didn’t think you could be amazed by an iPod... it’s 1/4" thick (3 credit cards) and weighs 1.5 oz. That’s the same weight as 42 paper clips. It also packs a color screen.
Maintenance...
Never a Problem, just try using a case/skin and timely cleaning and thats it...
"APPLE HARDLY FAILS"
Final Verdict...
What is best for u?
All of them!
Aas a general rule women prefer iPods that are smaller like the Nano and Mini.
Guys prefer the bigger hard drive. and thats ok.
The iPod I personally dont like is the Shuffle. It’s nice, it’s light, but it simply plays music randomly. This is particularly popular with joggers, at few grams, you don’t even notice the weight and, so long as you have your music loaded on it, it only plays songs you like (not being an exercise person, I didn’t realize people don’t necessarily change tracks when jogging or working out, so the random is less than an issue).
Shuffles are available as of the time of this writing, for as low as $50 here in US.
For buys, I would suggest shop the first four generations of iPods. If you don’t want to store your photos on an iPod, and just want to listen to music, you’ll save a lot
You can usually pick them up for well under $200. The worst you may have to do to a well maintained one is replace the battery in the next six months.
They’re only slightly heavier than the newer models and with a new battery will play just as long or longer.
Verdict : I love Apple
Cheers
Abhi
Note : Some source for this information has been the Apple and ebay websites