I DONT BELIEVE THIS!!!!, free ipod please read

[Chairboy]

Originally posted by SOB
I got the impression from his post that the files need to be converted to a proprietary format before being loaded onto the iPaq.  Is that not the case?

I  assume you mean the iPod and not the iPaq (a pocket pc).  

You do NOT need to convert the files to anything to play them in the iPod.  Sony released a nice little MP3 player last year with one crippling flaw: it DID require that the files be converted.  Not true with iPod, it plays MP3 and AAC natively.

It's a common misconception.

[Chairboy]

Originally posted by Vulcan
Ipods are crippleware.

For example, the latest Ipod shuffle uses the same chipset as Creative MP3 players, it can have an LCD, FM Tuner, Record, and play WMA files... but Apple have enabled NONE of the features and charged more.

Then theres the whole battery issue on Ipods...

Which battery issue?  The batteries can be replaced, any other MP3 player with built in battery has the exact same problem, and not all of them have a replacement scheme put together.  The new Archos PMA400 series, for example, have built in batteries, I'm pretty sure.  Not currently replaceable.

Can you provide some data to back up the 'shuffle has a bunch of turned off features' statement?  I'd like to learn more, but Google didn't bring up any results to that effect when I looked a minute ago.

[Silat]

You guys ought to actually read up on a product before you say it is no good.

http://www.apple.com/ipodphoto/

iPod Features
Keep up to 5,000 songs in your pocket
Use it with Mac OS X or Windows 2000/XP
Take it everywhere — it weighs only 5.6 ounces
Find songs fast with the Apple Click Wheel
Listen longer with up to 12 hours(2) of battery life
Shuffle songs in the main menu
Play MP3, AAC and Apple Lossless
Jog without fear — 25 minutes of skip protection
Save multiple On-the-Go Playlists
Adjust speed for Audiobooks
Enjoy seamless integration with iTunes
Sync and charge via included FireWire or USB 2.0 cables
Use as a portable hard drive — take your files with you
Remind yourself with Text Notes
Play games on the go
Keep appointments using the Alarm Clock/Sleep Timer
Stay organized with contacts, calendars and to-do lists
Benefit from more language support
Record voice notes (with accessory)
Store photos (with accessory)
Choose from hundreds of cool accessories designed just for iPod

[SOB]

Originally posted by Chairboy
I  assume you mean the iPod and not the iPaq (a pocket pc).  

You do NOT need to convert the files to anything to play them in the iPod.  Sony released a nice little MP3 player last year with one crippling flaw: it DID require that the files be converted.  Not true with iPod, it plays MP3 and AAC natively

Yeah, iPod of course.  Actually, until I read Moose's post, I thought the iPod was a pretty neat little device.  Thanks for clarifying.

[moose]

i wasn't aware that you could format it as a fat32 drive like that chairboy, that's pretty cool. does it still have the same menu system?

[Chairboy]

Yep, in fact it acts exactly like before.  The firmware treats it transparently.  Some real solid design work goes into everything Apple makes.  That doesn't always mean that what they make is the best in all respects, but it's usually a damn sight better then most.

I'm of the opinion that Dell and Apple both have the best engineers in the computer biz.  Taking apart either a Mac or some Del job, and it's immediately apparent that these guys are thinking on a bunch of levels.  It wasn't always true, but that's how it looks now.

[Vulcan]

Originally posted by Chairboy
Which battery issue?  The batteries can be replaced, any other MP3 player with built in battery has the exact same problem, and not all of them have a replacement scheme put together.  The new Archos PMA400 series, for example, have built in batteries, I'm pretty sure.  Not currently replaceable.

Can you provide some data to back up the 'shuffle has a bunch of turned off features' statement?  I'd like to learn more, but Google didn't bring up any results to that effect when I looked a minute ago.

Its on cnet, someone stripped one down. It uses the same sigmatel chipset creative use.

I also sit between the Apple crowd and the Creative crowd in our office (Networking guys are used as a Neutral Zone). I see both products day in day out, the Creative stuff rocks... the Zen Micro blows the Ipods away .... especially with its user replaceable battery

Ipods are OK, they're not bad, they're not the greatest either, they're extremely overrated by a bunch of fanatical luny apple followers is all.