Comments On the New iPod Line
After flipping between web pages, and coverage, I made a chart of the iPod line comparing prices and capabilities. Once I did that, my thoughts crystallized, and this is what I'm thinking.
iPod Shuffle
I think the bottom end was in need of an update, at least in the form of some memory expansion. When a Sansa Express, with a screen and the same 1 gig of memory is going for $50 (not to mention their upcoming Clip), and the Creative Stone with 1 gig of storage is $40, the Shuffle, sans screen, becomes a hard sell. I wouldn't be surprised by a post holiday season update that brings the capacity up to 2 GB.
iPod Nano
I was pleased to see that the Nano gained video capability. I didn't understand why it didn't have it last year as the SanDisk e2x0 line did have video support already.
The price points are ok for the storage, although SanDisk offers their 8 gig player for $149. I'm also divided on the new form factor. I liked the previous Nano better, as it looked more elegant, but the new one looks like it fits in the hand better. The new Nano is one of two iPods that I would seriously consider parting money with for.
iPod Classic
I know that the iPod Classic is not getting all the press, and the scroll wheel on it is not as sexy as the new touch interface. Still, on a bang for the buck, this is the iPod to get as it features the lowest price per gig. If I was buying one today, this would be my first choice. The 80 gigs for $249 will simply dominate the hard drive player market. Unless Microsoft's Zune pulls off a miracle (and their recent price drop of their 30 gig player to $199 is a mere desperation move), they might as well pack it up and go home. Also supporting my opinion is that from the chart, it is easy to see that the iPod Classic has the longest battery life for audio playback. It is a little curious that the 160 gigger last longer than the 80 gig model, but they both have more endurance than any of their flash brothers. That's right, despite the inherent advantage of flash memory over spinning discs, according to Apple's numbers, the "old" iPod Classic has the longest audio playback of any iPod ever.
iPod Touch
This is the iPhone, without the phone. We get all the gee whiz of the touch interface and the WiFi connectivity, without the AT&T contract and phone, make that iPhone with 300 page bills, service. I truly believe that this is the iPod of tomorrow, but I'd wait to get it. The 8 gb iPod Touch, going for $299 seems like a lousy deal when I can get an iPod Classic for $50 less, with 10 times the storage. Still, those fashionista teens, and those that need the latest look in electronics, will pay the premium for this one. I've heard more than one Apple devotee complain that they wish that Apple had put the touch interface on a hard drive model, but then what could they release next year? I think it's also a safe bet that there will be a 32 GB model of the iPod Touch down the road.
iPhone
I thought a $600 phone, no matter how cool, was simply too expensive. I'm happy to see that the price is already more affordable, though still beyond what I'll part with for a mobile telephone. See our review section to hear one user's thoughts after owning an iPhone for a while. Remember this price drop before you camp out in front of an Apple store to overpay for their latest creation next time.
--Jonas
iPod Shuffle
I think the bottom end was in need of an update, at least in the form of some memory expansion. When a Sansa Express, with a screen and the same 1 gig of memory is going for $50 (not to mention their upcoming Clip), and the Creative Stone with 1 gig of storage is $40, the Shuffle, sans screen, becomes a hard sell. I wouldn't be surprised by a post holiday season update that brings the capacity up to 2 GB.
iPod Nano
I was pleased to see that the Nano gained video capability. I didn't understand why it didn't have it last year as the SanDisk e2x0 line did have video support already.
The price points are ok for the storage, although SanDisk offers their 8 gig player for $149. I'm also divided on the new form factor. I liked the previous Nano better, as it looked more elegant, but the new one looks like it fits in the hand better. The new Nano is one of two iPods that I would seriously consider parting money with for.
iPod Classic
I know that the iPod Classic is not getting all the press, and the scroll wheel on it is not as sexy as the new touch interface. Still, on a bang for the buck, this is the iPod to get as it features the lowest price per gig. If I was buying one today, this would be my first choice. The 80 gigs for $249 will simply dominate the hard drive player market. Unless Microsoft's Zune pulls off a miracle (and their recent price drop of their 30 gig player to $199 is a mere desperation move), they might as well pack it up and go home. Also supporting my opinion is that from the chart, it is easy to see that the iPod Classic has the longest battery life for audio playback. It is a little curious that the 160 gigger last longer than the 80 gig model, but they both have more endurance than any of their flash brothers. That's right, despite the inherent advantage of flash memory over spinning discs, according to Apple's numbers, the "old" iPod Classic has the longest audio playback of any iPod ever.
iPod Touch
This is the iPhone, without the phone. We get all the gee whiz of the touch interface and the WiFi connectivity, without the AT&T contract and phone, make that iPhone with 300 page bills, service. I truly believe that this is the iPod of tomorrow, but I'd wait to get it. The 8 gb iPod Touch, going for $299 seems like a lousy deal when I can get an iPod Classic for $50 less, with 10 times the storage. Still, those fashionista teens, and those that need the latest look in electronics, will pay the premium for this one. I've heard more than one Apple devotee complain that they wish that Apple had put the touch interface on a hard drive model, but then what could they release next year? I think it's also a safe bet that there will be a 32 GB model of the iPod Touch down the road.
iPhone
I thought a $600 phone, no matter how cool, was simply too expensive. I'm happy to see that the price is already more affordable, though still beyond what I'll part with for a mobile telephone. See our review section to hear one user's thoughts after owning an iPhone for a while. Remember this price drop before you camp out in front of an Apple store to overpay for their latest creation next time.
--Jonas
Labels: analysis, Apple, commentary, iPod
posted by digitaldoc at 9:17 PM
4 Comments:
Yeah, that iPod Classic is the way to go! I hate that I just bought my wife an 80GB iPod for $350 for her birthday, though! Had I just waited a couple of months......!
I still use my iRiver H340 but it's packed to the gills at 40GB capacity. I really need to swap that drive with an 80GB or 160 now that Toshiba is shipping them (though, you usually can't find them at retail, they usually don't come with a standard IDE interface but instead come with a ZIF connector as used in the iPod.
Or just buy an iPod and be done with it. I think the iRiver has better sound quality compared to the iPod though (in my comparison testing between the H340 and my wife's new iPod.)
Thanks for the run down on specs.
That iRiver you mentioned is likely around 3 years old. While it's an interesting thought to swap out the hard drive, for my money, I'd just go buy the iPod Classic. By the time you factor in the cost of a new hard drive, and the risk of this not going well, I think you'll realize that it's not worth it. I'd rather just keep the iRiver as a secondary player, and put the dough towards a new iPod. As an alternative, swap the wife's iPod with the iRiver, and gain 40 gigs in capacity. Don't forget to say "You weren't using all of your capacity anyway, dear, were you?"
You are right about buying a new iPod as a replacement. The 1.8" drives are excruciatingly difficult to find and ridiculously expensive if you do find one.
As for capacity, I have all my 1000+ CDs ripped as "high quality" mp3 files and they take up just under 80GB. The birthday gift was not just the iPod but all that music pre-installed for her so she has all our music on one device. So, swapping the iRiver for her iPod is not going to happen!
Of course that leaves me with only HALF of our music on my iRiver so, you're right, time to upgrade!
That's a ton of tunes. I have about 40 gigs on my hard drive, but the majority of it was ripped at 128. Lately I've been creating the mp3's at 192 VBR which do sound better, but do take up more space.
If I had 80 gigs of content now, I'd get the iPod with the 160 drive. You know, for expansion, and so you wouldn't run out of space too soon.
Ah, the price of our toys.
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