What am i "missing" about ipods?

I'd really like to see some of the people in this thread during a blind test using the same .mp3 file and the same pair of headphones. I'd be amazed if anyone could pick out the difference between an iPod and a Zune or Sony Walkman.

I use an iPhone with B&O A8s and all my music is directly copied from CDs (AIFF). I've never found a problem with the sound quality.

Simply put, iPods have flawless UI, great sound quality, build quality that outclasses any other device on the market, good looks, and perfect integration with other Apple products.

The only drawbacks are the rubbish headphones and iTunes (if you're using Windows).
However, iTunes on OSX is an amazing media player.

I think a lot of people reject them out of hand because, as has been mentioned in this thread already, it's cool to dislike Apple products.

I always draw a comparison between Apple and Bang and Olufsen.

The Audiophiles in Hi-Fi will always denounce B&O products because there's a price premium attached to them and they aren't always packed with the maximum amount of features or the most bleeding-micron-of-the-cutting-edge technology.

What these people disregard is just how good the UI is, how good the build quality is and how well designed they are.

Apple is just the same - yes the tech-spec might not be as high as the latest gaming PC, but it will look and feel 1,000 times better to use.

I think part of the reason so many women like Apple / B&O is because of the good design and sleek UI. Their products do what they say on the tin very easily without any fuss. They might not have the latest DAC or the latest wizzardry in them, but they do a job and they do it very well.

Geeky Tech people like ourselves need the latest, most up-to-date specs and we're happy to put up with crap UI and poor design to get it because who cares when it's technically 'the best'.

On the other hand, I'd much prefer an Apple computer and a B&O Hi-Fi because not only do they look nice, they feel nicer than anything else on the market.

Panzer
 
Panzerbjorn said:
I'd really like to see some of the people in this thread during a blind test using the same .mp3 file and the same pair of headphones. I'd be amazed if anyone could pick out the difference between an iPod and a Zune or Sony Walkman.
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I use an iPod and a Sansa Clip. I notice a difference in sound quality even when using the same headphones. I prefer the sound of the Sansa.
 
Begbie said:
Advertising, a lot of people not in the 'know' seem to believe they are the only mp3 player about infact they believe an ipod is the right name for an mp3 player.
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Think that might be a reason aswell. Same as people think iPhones are the only multi functional phones.

I have had my Ipod nano 3rd gen for about 3 years now and havent had any problems with it. The sound might not be top but I'm pleased since it works without problems. I listen to it about 2-3 hours a day and i only have to charge it about once a week. Only thing I don't like is iTunes but i can overlook that!

I didn't really want one because it's cool to hate Apple (and stuff) but I got one as a present and dont mind it at all :D
 
I won an iPod 4th gen nano in a competition and I'm pretty happy with it, although I had to send it back to apple after about a month or two as the battery broke (discharged when off in about a day). Before, I used a 2GB Creative MuVo, and was happy with that. Drag and drop was just as easy as Itunes. One annoying thing about the ipod I have is that you can't make a custom equaliser, and when below about 1/2 volume, the bass just isn't what it should be (using CX300s).
 
I can understand comments about the audio on the older iPods being a bit below par but those who say that quite clearly haven't tried the last two versions of the Classic. They've changed and the audio out of then is second to none, the quality is very good indeed.

I don't know what the new nanos are like, I've not heard one to compare.
 
Just about to pick up an ipod touch. Reasons for choosing it:
  • Quality of UI
  • Quality of screen
  • App store
  • Reasonable price
  • Build quality
  • Battery
  • Quantity of third-party add ons

I'm replacing an Archos, whose UI is just a million miles worse. I do not buy Sony products because I disagree with their business practices. Are there any other products that come near given the above - I certainly couldn't think of any.
 
I have an 16 GB iPod touch, best thing I have ever bought, I've used many MP3 players and this by far is the best, iTunes is easy to use and the store is easy aswell where I buy my music. It syncs well and is just generally a good device to play music and more.

Granted the player isn't the best which is why I use various alternatives.

I didn't buy my iPod because it's a fashion accessory, I shopped around and tried out loads of models before I got bought one, this was just better than the others.

Also, I am aware the headphones are ****.
 
I treated myself to an 8gb i-pod touch earlier in the year best thing ive ever bought, love everything about it esp all the extra stuff it can do besides just play music, nanos are ok i had one of these previousley and it packed in which is why i got an i-touch. I will totally agree with what people are saying about the headphone that come with being rubbish mine have already broken one of the ear pieces just fell apart :( so im looking at getting some sennheiser ones as a replacement.
 
Feek said:
I can understand comments about the audio on the older iPods being a bit below par but those who say that quite clearly haven't tried the last two versions of the Classic. They've changed and the audio out of then is second to none, the quality is very good indeed.
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I was about to say a similar thing, i love my classic to bits and can't find any mp3 player that can touch it as an all round package, people criticise build quality but my one's lasted quite a few knocks (has full on dents and everything) so i have no complaints.
 
I had a Creative player for years, but the UI was awful and the software was diabolical.

Even Itunes on Windows was better than Playcenter.

Never looked back. Hell, I ended up buying a Mac and everything.
 
grudas said:
i guess people love apples.. as i have never seen a point in buying any of them.. the price is not even competitive.. always overprices, lack of features etc etc.. good build quality? sorry but a samsung player for 100quid is the same if not better.. costs less.. has more features etc etc.. so yeah if you want to stick with the crowd you buy apple if you want best bang for buck you buy other manufacturers..
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totally wrong from my experience.

my samsung mp3 players in the past where terribly built and the UI sluggish. same with a creative that i had all kinds of problems with

the only mp3 player ive had that was better quality and price wise was an old sony model. but the software was terrible. really terrible !

sony still make some good ones and now include drag and drop but they are the same price or sometimes even more than ipods these days
 
What I feel is the primary reason people don't like iTunes:

It's Apple software.

Let me clarify. It works like Apple software. It works in a very similar way to ALL of Apple's software, and it works well.

But when you put it on a Windows PC in amongst other Windows software, to a Windows user, it's completely arse-backwards.

It's intuitive - if you're not automatically looking for things in the same place as Windows apps tend to have them. I've taught people who've never used computers before to use it and they pick it up really quick, but when I was a Windows user it just felt all backwards and horrible.

I think a lot of the reason why people tend to have an automatic dislike of Apple's stuff is they consider it unintuitive when it's actually the complete opposite. It makes far more sense (imo obviously) than Windows software but you get so used to doing everything the spastic way you feel hard done by when you can't do what you want to do because it's in the most obvious place.

And as a Windows user, the most obvious place is the last place you expect to find anything useful.
 
grudas said:
i guess people love apples.. as i have never seen a point in buying any of them.. the price is not even competitive.. always overprices, lack of features etc etc.. good build quality? sorry but a samsung player for 100quid is the same if not better.. costs less.. has more features etc etc.. so yeah if you want to stick with the crowd you buy apple if you want best bang for buck you buy other manufacturers..
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totally wrong from my experience.

my samsung mp3 players in the past where terribly built. same with a creative that i had all kinds of problems with

the only mp3 player ive had that was better both quality and price wise was an old sony model. but the software was terrible. really terrible !

sony still make some good ones and now include drag and drop but they are the same price or sometimes even more than ipods

i honestly think you would struggle to find something better overall than the new ipod nano/classic

and using her phone shouldnt even come into it. will drain the battery in no time if its anything like any of the phones ive used for such purposes
 
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I never get where the argument about specs comes from in general regarding Apple computers.

There's basically the iMac, which is now has Quad core, a 27" screen, 8GB DDR3 and a 4850 all in a wafer-thin design and the Mac Pro which has 2x i7's & unlimited RAM. I don't get why people say you can't spec them up and why they compare them to gaming PC's when its pretty obvious they're not in competition with that type of PC.
 
Hard to take this thread seriously when theres almost no mention of the DAC's used, or that the SQ has changed enormously between different generations of iPhones and iPods. Sometimes its got better (iphone/touch) sometimes worse (Shuffle). Not all iPods have the same SQ either.

Theres some new devices out there with better SQ, like certain Samsung, Sony models, but not all of them. Some of their products sound dire and some excellent.

So unless your being specific its just drivel tbh.

I have a 2G Touch, which I think sounds great. But I rarely use it for music. I tend to listen to use my Sony or Sansung more often, mainly because they have physical buttons. But also because the Touch is used for so many things, (internet, news, weather, email, games, notes) it rarely has a full charge when you grab it. Whereas the my Sony or Samsung are only used for music, thus usually have some battery left in them. The Touch probably sounds most accurate of all my MP3 players, but a lot of people don't like that. Especially those that have grown used to bloated bass on everything. The Sony is less accurate put perhaps more fun sounding. I prefer it for rock, pop, dance, but the Touch for Classical, Acoustic stuff etc.
 
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OspreyO said:
Hard to take this thread seriously
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OspreyO said:
I prefer it for rock, pop, dance, but the Touch for Classical, Acoustic stuff etc.
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See I can't take you seriously if you use different MP3 players for different genres of music! That's way beyond the vast majority of people's level of care/quality of ears.

You're edging towards the sort of person who complains his music doesn't sound good enough because the electricity in his house is dirty :p
 
Could the ipod bashers please list:

-One device superior to an iPod Nano
-One device superior to an iPod Classic
-One device superior to an iPod Touch

As I am looking for a new MP3 player, and need some alternatives to Apple?

kthxbye!
 
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