Who owns an iPod alternative?

LordSplodge · 18 Jul 2011 at 16:51

Buchanan0204 said:
Just wondering how many people use an MP3 player that isn't an iPod?

If you do. Why? Have you ever used an iPod and prefer your own?

Nope. I have an iPhone 4, before that a 3GS...and so on. I don't want to carry multiple devices.

For me that happens to be an iPhone as it fits in my eco-system of music, movies and apps that revolve around iTunes. iTunes running on a Mac. I don't have any problems with iTunes.

I think it has become cool to hate iTunes because it is cool to hate Apple.

In the "good old days" I used to have some no-name MP3 player.

Ksanti · 18 Jul 2011 at 16:52

Macky said:
My Samsung Wave S8500 serves me fantastically as a media player. Why have 2 devices when I can have a phone and media all in one?

Personally it's because the times when my mp3 player gets the most use, e.g. long journeys, are times when killing off the battery of my phone is a downside. Also the sound quality on 99% of phones isn't up to that of even ipods, let alone the 'audiophile' options.

Macky · 18 Jul 2011 at 16:52

Biohazard said:
No pockets? Small pockets? Having some dead weight in your pocket swinging against you when you run? Annoying!

My family would have to wait until I've finished running.

You can get phones thinner than iPod's. Assuming you have an iPod. If you have a sansa clip or whatever I can see where you are coming from as they are smaller than any phone.

BloomerzUK · 18 Jul 2011 at 16:53

My first MP3 player was a iRiver U10. Now I used a 32GB 2nd Gen iPod Touch.

Robbo · 18 Jul 2011 at 16:53

LordSplodge said:
Nope. I have an iPhone 4, before that a 3GS...and so on. I don't want to carry multiple devices.

For me that happens to be an iPhone as it fits in my eco-system of music, movies and apps that revolve around iTunes. iTunes running on a Mac. I don't have any problems with iTunes.

I think it has become cool to hate iTunes because it is cool to hate Apple.

In the "good old days" I used to have some no-name MP3 player.

The main problem with iTunes is that people don't know how to use it properly, therefore label it as bad. As dmpoole pointed out.

I've always used it on Windows and I've never had an issue.

neoboy · 18 Jul 2011 at 16:55

dmpoole said:
Why do people come out with this crap that you can't drag & drop to an iPod?

I'm guessing you're really ain't looking to make any friends on here talking to people like that.

Admittedly my knowledge is somewhat outdated in regards to iPods as well I don't use them but it's really just another unnecessary piece of software that I need to install on a PC whereas with other devices any PC would do the job. It's not a massive thing anyway, but I don't want to be paying more for a player and have to go through an extra piece of software on top of that as well.

SexyGreyFox · 18 Jul 2011 at 16:55

Robbie G said:
Also you don't need to load windows explorer twice, unless you're a noob.

I had to explain it very simply.
I nearly used big words.

jaybee · 18 Jul 2011 at 16:56

Monkeynut said:
I have a Sansa Fuze 8gb which I got because it was far cheaper than an iPod, I hate iTunes with a vengeance, has a MicroSD card slot, plays FLAC and Ogg, has an FM radio (which iPods needed a module for at the time) and was a decent brand so I know it would be alright. Not regretted it.

This. Got one for my little girl and she gets on ok with it, also does video if I'm thinking of the same one. Sure it was a Fuze. No apple in our house.

Andri · 18 Jul 2011 at 16:56

Started with an old LG MP3 player with 2 MMC card slot expansions (2x32MB!).
Moved onto a couple Creative jukebox things then decided to buy a Creative Zen Xtra 40GB.

My god the thing was useless, not because of the player itself but the silly creative software required to use it.
i bricked it recently when i found it hidden at the back of a cupboard. Apparently Creative released a firmware update which converted the old Zens from proprietary to USB mass storage device. This caused and error and killed it off.

After that I've mainly been using whatever phone i have at the time. My favourite at the time was the Sony Ericsson offerings with the Sony Walkman stuff on it.

I'm currently using a HTC HD2 (android 2.3.3) with the Winamp app and a 16GB micro SD card, works quite well, although the wireless sync is a bit buggy.

I have tried itunes on my PC and just didn't like the way it sorted and arranged my music (admittedly this was some years ago), hence never wanting an iPod.
Looking back i should have tried an iPod properly, might have changed my entire outlook, but at the moment, Android and Winamp does the trick.

HumanShield · 18 Jul 2011 at 16:57

I just use my android phone. Have nothing against apple products either, previous phone was an iPhone. Other half uses an iPhone too.

i dont need a separate MP3 playing device to my phone either.

Glaucus · 18 Jul 2011 at 16:57

What suckers own an mp3 player. I don't understand why people own mp3 player for like the last 6+ years when phones have been more than capable.
Is there a reason people need two devices when one does both?

SexyGreyFox · 18 Jul 2011 at 17:00

neoboy said:
Admittedly my knowledge is somewhat outdated in regards to iPods as well I don't use them .

I don't use them either but I'd do my homework before coming out with something which isn't true.
Yes you need a piece of software and before somebody talks about bloatware, 100 meg on a modern day PC is nothing.
You can remove all the stuff that loads on startup to and run it when you want without anything running in the background.
iTunes isn't the devil Apple haters make it out to be.
Just thought, I'm an Apple hater but at least I know about iTunes.

Deep · 18 Jul 2011 at 17:00

neoboy said:
Never used anything Apple, it's not a stand against them and their products but the alternatives always seem to be cheaper.

I'm not an follower of Apple, but find me a cheaper 160gb music player than the iPod Classic.

The Classic wins hands down

Robbo said:
The main problem with iTunes is that people don't know how to use it properly, therefore label it as bad. As dmpoole pointed out.

I've always used it on Windows and I've never had an issue.

Exactly, iTunes syncing is excellent!

I cannot fathom how people have such hatred for it! Draging and dropping seems stupid to me! Much easier to use iTunes

Ksanti · 18 Jul 2011 at 17:02

AcidHell2 said:
What suckers own an mp3 player. I don't understand why people own mp3 player for like the last 6+ years when phones have been more than capable.
Is there a reason people need two devices when one does both?

Keeping two separate batteries going (Long journeys I'd find myself worried about my phone battery whereas if my mp3 dies off it's no big deal)
Capacity (up until recently)
FLAC/OGG etc. support
Simplicity of use (having an entire UI for media rather than mixing it in with a camera, contacts, email, messages, call log, internet etc.)
Sound quality
Until recently the lack of 3.5mm jacks

dazzerd · 18 Jul 2011 at 17:02

Yup I own a Sony X-Series NWZ-X1060.

ubersonic · 18 Jul 2011 at 17:03

AcidHell2 said:
What suckers own an mp3 player. I don't understand why people own mp3 player for like the last 6+ years when phones have been more than capable.
Is there a reason people need two devices when one does both?

My iPhone is only 8GB so cannot hold all the music I have, and using it as a wifi music streamer kills the battery.

Participant · 18 Jul 2011 at 17:03

AcidHell2 said:
What suckers own an mp3 player. I don't understand why people own mp3 player for like the last 6+ years when phones have been more than capable.
Is there a reason people need two devices when one does both?

My phone is a smartphone, try running, cycling, rowing, lifting weights, etc... with a smartphone in your pocket. The Sansa Clip + for example, clips onto your sleeve and is extremely light.

Ksanti · 18 Jul 2011 at 17:04

dmpoole said:
I don't use them either but I'd do my homework before coming out with something which isn't true.
Yes you need a piece of software and before somebody talks about bloatware, 100 meg on a modern day PC is nothing.
You can remove all the stuff that loads on startup to and run it when you want without anything running in the background.
iTunes isn't the devil Apple haters make it out to be.
Just thought, I'm an Apple hater but at least I know about iTunes.

It's not awful but it's not all that useful and it's more expensive than alternatives like play or 7digital, and up until very recently appalling quality.

I was initially scared off of the whole ecosystem by the mountains of DRM on all the files as I didn't want to get locked into an ecosystem like that after my nano. I wouldn't be so averse to having an ipod now but they're so expensive for what they are (with the exception of the Classic which I can understand, but I don't have anywhere near that much music that I listen to regularly, so there's no point for me).

e36Adz · 18 Jul 2011 at 17:05

I use my iPhone 4 as an mp3 player, phone, satnav etc. Many years ago though I had a creative Zen mp3 player which I replaced with an iPod, and it was a bad move. Yes the iPod played videos and had a colour screen and was slimmer but the battery life was much worse, and with the Zen I could just drag and drop files. I have no idea why people require mp3 players these days though when all phones are more then capable, they are probably the same folk who wear man bags.

Ohnoezfail · 18 Jul 2011 at 17:05

I use an iPod 160gb Classic I got as a gift

Although I'm looking for something to replace it with near as much capacity as my current music player has. Anybody have any suggestions? Preferably a kick-ass battery life too, and a big screen would be nice