Son of iPod
My wife bought herself an iPod, which is undeniably much cooler than I expected, and I am very tempted to buy one for myself.
But. The thing is a bit larger and a bit too heavy for my taste. The current fill rate is 25%, a whopping 7.5GB go unused. I have heard several reports of iPod HDs crashing, so I am a bit concerned (esp. looking at the price).
I'd much rather see a mini-iPod either without a HD (based on CF) or with one of the 1GB microdrives, high-def display and the same base connector.
Unfortunately, I don't think Apple is going to do this, but I still believe there would be a huge market.
But. The thing is a bit larger and a bit too heavy for my taste. The current fill rate is 25%, a whopping 7.5GB go unused. I have heard several reports of iPod HDs crashing, so I am a bit concerned (esp. looking at the price).
I'd much rather see a mini-iPod either without a HD (based on CF) or with one of the 1GB microdrives, high-def display and the same base connector.
Unfortunately, I don't think Apple is going to do this, but I still believe there would be a huge market.
Comments
Even regular files you store on the iPod ought not be your only copies of them if they are crucial.
Not for any technical reasons specific to iPods, only that it is an inherently portable device and as such, the files on it ought not be the only copy.
Loss, theft and accidents happen.
Originally posted by johnq
Remember too that the iPod is a -backup- copy of your music, not the sole repository...
And then some of us like to live dangerously!
Originally posted by T'hain Esh Kelch
I havent heard of a single hard-drive failure in the iPod. Where have you read this? Of course it probably happens, but I dont think its that widely spread..
actually i have a friend who's 5 gig ipod went south on her. we had to reformat the drive to get it working again.
Originally posted by johnq
Remember too that the iPod is a -backup- copy of your music, not the sole repository.
Sure, but that's not the point. The files are expendable, I always can recreate the legit ones from my CD collection and the others... let's talk about something else
Pal of mine has the second iPod seen dying on him in 2.5 years. He's an avid inline skater and has used his Pods on the road a lot. Plus he always plugged them in and used them as external HDs.
Apple charges $500 to repair an iPod (Link ) and I cannot but feel that mechanical devices containing motors, platters and arms are bound to fail faster than solid-state CF cards.
But my main gripe is space used and power consumed. I could live with a 1-2GB micropod as long as it offered the same level of system integration and ease-of-use as the iPod does (that is why I believe, Apple should do this, Rios just suck).
Originally posted by Smircle
I'd much rather see a mini-iPod either without a HD (based on CF) or with one of the 1GB microdrives, high-def display and the same base connector.
As I understand it, the read/write to CF type storage is too slow for a portable music player's needs. Am I wrong? Probably, I didn't do research b4 posting.
I'd much rather see a mini-iPod either without a HD (based on CF) or with one of the 1GB microdrives, high-def display and the same base connector
How is a microdrive different from a 1.8in Toshiba. Moving parts is moving parts.
Originally posted by admactanium
actually i have a friend who's 5 gig ipod went south on her. we had to reformat the drive to get it working again.
However, the drive didn't crash. If you reformatted it, it worked like new again (aside from the obvious pain in the butt it had to be to re-copy all the stuff back to the iPod). However, the drive still worked, iPod was still functional, you didn't have to buy a new iPod. Life goes on. I doubt you will see too many complete drive failures.
without Firewire the transfer rates are USB or card write speed limited.
some reviews complain about additional slowdowns due to proprietary encryption (SONY)
many bemoan the absolutely crappy software for library/sync/use
A flash version would not only be cool because it would be like 1/4" thick, lighter and more rugged, but also because its battery life would be ten times as long. I'd probably be willing to pay $200 for a 1GB flash version like that. Maybe it could be $100 with just an empty CF slot.
Originally posted by cubist
There was a report the other day that Steve Jobs wants to make a $100 iPod, or bring the price down.
That was not exactly what he said.
His statement was in reply to a question that implied that the iPod's price was a barrier to many people, and that Apple artificially inflated the price to keep profits fat.
SJ basically said, "Bah." and then went on to say that they'd love to be able to price the iPod at $100, but it's just not feasible, but that they were always working to make thier products less expensive.
This is different than SJ saying he wants the iPod to be $100.
Originally posted by Keda
My iPod had been through some serious mistreatment.
[...]
Nothing wrong.
Not mine.
I have treated it very gingerly ever since i got it -- in May 2002.
And now it won't start up.
The battery was slowly dying for the last two months and as of a week ago it simply is dead.
That was after 18 or so months of flawless service, of 2 - 14 hours a day.
Originally posted by Bigc
batteries
You're my new best friend.
regards
Will