iPod

Wednesday, March 29, 2006 at 08:57am

Yesterday the geekboy and I finally sucked it up and bought an iPod. Certainly not a necessity, but I’ve wanted one for ages and thought I’d get a good amount of use out of it. We decided that we could afford it (I’ve had a few good freelance jobs lately), and ordered it yesterday. I know people love to talk about their iPods (dirty!), so why don’t ya’ll discuss your favorite accessories? All ours come with are earbuds and a USB cable, so we’re wide open.

  • Date Wednesday, 29 Mar 06 at 8:57 am
  • Under Advice Needed, Music
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47 responses for this post

  1. kyle on Wednesday, March 29, 2006 at 9:01 am

    I’ve been putting off buying one for a long time too. I figure I’ll wait till they announce the latest models and then finally buy one. One of my friend’s has one, and is madly in love with his iTrip - so that might be worth looking into. I hear they can be problematic in major cities, so that’s something to consider, but he really likes his.

  2. freakgirl on Wednesday, March 29, 2006 at 9:09 am

    I would imagine it would be a problem in a congested traffic/city situation. We sit in a lot of traffic, but we’re not in the city. There are lots of radio frequencies to choose from (is that what you mean?).

  3. marjon on Wednesday, March 29, 2006 at 9:13 am

    I have one, but no accessories. Just what it came with. The only thing that bugs me is the battery life. Too low!
    But maybe I’m not worthy of my iPod. I have a 40 GB one and have about 2 GB of music on it…

  4. Chuck on Wednesday, March 29, 2006 at 9:30 am

    I was foolish enough to buy them when they first came out - so I have the original 10G. The good thing is though that the battery issues seem to be for the later models, so mine stays juiced for 10 hours. As far as the itrip goes, it’s ok, but you’re MUCH better off hard wired - most newer car stereos come with the jacks.

  5. Michael on Wednesday, March 29, 2006 at 9:45 am

    The best accessory I bought, at Max’s suggestion, was just a RCA plug/headphone jack connection (for like $6) to my sound system at home. I pipe the iMix all over the house in the morning. Shuffling around all 5,000 songs comes up with some hilarious combinations sometimes. Sade segues to Meth and Red to Paul Anka to Radiohead. Fun!

  6. GeekBoy on Wednesday, March 29, 2006 at 9:56 am

    Freakgirl’s car actually has a cassette deck, so maybe we’d be better off using an adapter that fits into that, instead of using an FM transmitter. I’m betting it would probably be cheaper.

  7. Chuck on Wednesday, March 29, 2006 at 9:58 am

    Oh yeah GB, get the old cheapo cassette adapter - the itrips can get fuzzy and the sound isn’t what it should be.

  8. Michael on Wednesday, March 29, 2006 at 10:00 am

    I tried the iTrip and returned it. Fuzzy sometimes and then as you travel any distance you have to look for new stations. Wasn’t worth it to me.

  9. freakgirl on Wednesday, March 29, 2006 at 10:04 am

    The cassette adapter is usually pretty fuzzy, too, from what I remember.

  10. GeekBoy on Wednesday, March 29, 2006 at 10:09 am

    The iPod has a “normal” headphone jack on it, right? Not some wacky proprietary Apple port? (We ordered the iPod, but haven’t received it yet, which is why I don’t know for sure.) Anyway, if so, I’m pretty sure I already have a cassette adapter that will work, to at least try it. Ditto with an RCA adapter.

  11. Genevieve on Wednesday, March 29, 2006 at 10:12 am

    As a New Yorker, I have found that mine (I bought it about 2 months ago) changed my life. Instead of pacing thinking “goddamnit - where’s the train” now it’s like “train delay? what train delay?” I would say that, for people who don’t live in a pedestrian centric area, a car adaptor and/or home stereo adaptor would probably be essential to getting full use out of it.

    I also immediately bought one of those clear hard plastic protective cases for it, which makes it less tiny and sleek, but for someone clumsy like me, who can’t even wear a watch because it gets scratched up immediately, it’s way worth it.

  12. freakgirl on Wednesday, March 29, 2006 at 10:14 am

    I was going to knit a sock for it, but a plastic sleeve is probably a good idea.

  13. Michael on Wednesday, March 29, 2006 at 10:30 am

    Did you get the big boy?

    Yes, the headphone jack is normal. The charging slot/cable connection is unique.

    I have had three of four non-Apple alternatives (including the one I just ebayed) and I had always argued for their superiority. Then my friends gave me the iPod for my birthday and I have to say they just make it SO easy to love.

    I was going to knit a sock for it

    Love you and can’t wait for the pictures.

  14. Maggie on Wednesday, March 29, 2006 at 10:32 am

    Congratulations! We’re still holding off on the whole cellphone thing. If I can make it this long without a cellphone, imagine how long I can go without an iPod!

  15. James Calder on Wednesday, March 29, 2006 at 10:32 am

    One word.

    iBuzz.

    Go ahead. Google it.

  16. kyle on Wednesday, March 29, 2006 at 10:38 am

    I think the iTrip starts to suffer in larger cities. Not sure how much of an effect traffic jams would have on it, though - but I think the more radio stations there are, the worse it is. My friend works out in the country, so his ride to work is interference free. Griffin makes a cassette adaptor that lets you use your stereo controls to control the ipod - but it may not work with the most recent ipods.

  17. Genevieve on Wednesday, March 29, 2006 at 10:39 am

    There was one day on the subway that I swear Apple had planted people on the trains. Tons of happy people with their iPods. The two people with other mp3 players, fidgeting with them, taking battery packs on and off trying to make them work, etc.

    Slightly unrelated, what helped convert me to the Apple world is that whole ‘easy to love thing’. I know they’re using the same driver-type technology as PCs, but they make it so transparent (I plug in my iPod, my digital camera, etc and the computer knows what it is and what to do with it automatically) that it makes my computer experience a lot nicer.

  18. freakgirl on Wednesday, March 29, 2006 at 10:44 am

    Michael, yeah, we got the big boy.

    James - DIRTY!

  19. James Calder on Wednesday, March 29, 2006 at 10:48 am

    I was floored when I saw that. I know there are alot of accessories, but that one took it to a whole new level.

  20. Rob on Wednesday, March 29, 2006 at 10:49 am

    The number one accessory for me, is an external charger. I have a mini & tons of usb stuff already plugged into it - I also have a usb hub, but it’s ancient, and doesn’t charge the ipod. It’s really great, and I can avoid the maddening tangle of plugging & unplugging stuff (plus, you might need it when you travel) - I also hooked up some JBL speakers to the ipod, ’cause the mini’s speakers blow.

  21. Rob on Wednesday, March 29, 2006 at 10:51 am

    I thought I read it here…but some people suggest buying socks at Baby Gap for your ipod (I have no idea what age). That’s hilarious…

  22. Jen on Wednesday, March 29, 2006 at 10:55 am

    omg I’m drowning in Fruit Cult. I have a Creative Nomad and I love it and on the off-chance that it ever dies or becomes obsolete I will buy another Creative product, so thhpppbbbthhh to all of you.

  23. freakgirl on Wednesday, March 29, 2006 at 11:00 am

    Jen - Proudly Standing Out From The Crowd. #

  24. Jen on Wednesday, March 29, 2006 at 11:13 am

    Heh, I think it’s more like Jen: Tragically Unhip & Unabashedly Behind The Times, but I appreciate your positive spin. #

  25. liz on Wednesday, March 29, 2006 at 11:17 am

    I would also suggest getting a new pair of headphones. Everyone I know and myself can’t stand the earbuds that come with the ipod. they don’t fit right so they either hurt your ears or don’t stay in. I’m constantly fidgeting with mine when I have to use them. So you might want to look into other ones.

  26. Michael on Wednesday, March 29, 2006 at 11:28 am

    Jen, I never had any trouble with Creative and I think the first one I bought was in ‘99 (the homos are notorious early adopters, yo). Funny to think that back then $200 got you something that would only hold about 20 songs! I ran the marathon with it and listened to the SAME 20 songs over and over. I think I could probably still name them. I still use the Zen Nano in the gym but to get iTunes songs onto it, I have to burn and the re-rip them, so I might be switching that, too. C’mon over woman, the fruits are fun!

  27. James Calder on Wednesday, March 29, 2006 at 11:33 am

    You know you can’t resist the fruits. Freakgirl has fallen, you’ll be next.

    I ordered myself a fruit just the other day, but it hasn’t come yet.

  28. Jen on Wednesday, March 29, 2006 at 11:50 am

    The Nomad was a gift so I didn’t choose my format, but I have always liked Creative audio products. This one has been super; 30GB, nice battery life, easy to use, no static/volume loss in the cassette adapter for the car and never a hint of hassle. It was better than the iPods when I got it, but it is aging and I will need to replace it soon. With online music sales, fruit sings siren songs so I’ll probably wind up sucked into the Fruit Cult. There are worse ways to be assimilated, I s’pose.

  29. Chuck on Wednesday, March 29, 2006 at 12:01 pm

    Another thing you may want is some external travel speakers. I got the ones from JBL - great for hotels and travel - and if you do get some, get ones that have a battery option - it’s a nice feature.

  30. GeekBoy on Wednesday, March 29, 2006 at 12:10 pm

    I have to say, one of the reasons I actually talked Freakgirl into going with the iPod model we bought — with the 30GB and the color screen and all — was because I thought it might be nice to carry around hundreds of photos as well as music. What with all the various nieces and nephews, Freakgirl is almost as much of a photo junkie as she is a music junkie. So this seemed like a nice feature, particularly if I buy the cord that lets one jack the iPod into a TV.

  31. Rain on Wednesday, March 29, 2006 at 1:00 pm

    Warning with the photos thing–I hear it just eats up the battery life when you show photos…

    I’ve got an old-school iPod, a hand-me-down from a friend, and it’s totally no frills, but I love it. FG, if you knit a sock, try and knit one that leaves the screen and wheel exposed, so you don’t have to take it out of the sock every time you want to change the volume or switch songs. I made one (actually crocheted it because crochet is much easier for things like that) in a camouflage yarn so no one can see I’ve got an iPod, yo.

  32. freakgirl on Wednesday, March 29, 2006 at 1:08 pm

    I know the video sucks out battery life, but I didn’t know that about the photos.

    I’m not a good enough knitter to keep the screen/wheel exposed. The reason I wanted to make one was to protect the screen for when it’s in my purse or something; I hear they scratch easily.

  33. GeekBoy on Wednesday, March 29, 2006 at 1:19 pm

    What, nobody makes a Hello Kitty iPod case?

  34. Brent on Wednesday, March 29, 2006 at 1:30 pm

    Freakgirl,

    I had a 2005 Jetta that had a tape deck(!) and bought the fm transmitter. Now, I’m way out in the country and I could rarely get an acceptable signal. (I understand though that you always won’t.) The sound quality just wasn’t there for me to have spent $200-$300. I actually planned on taking the ipod back since using it in my car was why I bought it. So I thought about a cassette adapter - I bought one and while the sound quality was better, the bass was very lacking. So I tried another one. And another one. They all provided superior sound, but there were differences in tones, bass, etc. I found that the best one (out of like the 5 I bought) to be the Monster iCarPlay. It’s $20 or less most places: http://store.apple.com/1-800-M.....A381LL%2FA

  35. Brent on Wednesday, March 29, 2006 at 1:33 pm

    Forgot to add:
    The only thing I didn’t like about it was that you have to find the right combination of volume on the ipod itself and the stereo deck, otherwise you get distortion. When you turn your radio up really loud, you can hear the slight hiss of the tape deck and I would always try to compensate by turning up the ipod which would make the music sound crappy. Once you figure it out though, you’ll be surprised at how good it sounds!

  36. freakgirl on Wednesday, March 29, 2006 at 1:42 pm

    I feel like the stereo in my car is too bassy anyhow, so maybe it will self-correct.

    I used to get the hissy sound when I used the cassette adapter. So if I just mess around, I’ll find a happy medium, I hope?

  37. Chuck on Wednesday, March 29, 2006 at 3:18 pm

    C’mon Deb, I thought you rolled up on your 22’s with some serious thump.

    WHAT THE HELL DID I JUST SAY?

  38. Lauren on Wednesday, March 29, 2006 at 3:47 pm

    I have a sweet Paul Frank Julius iPod case. It was the next best thing when I couldn’t find a Hello Kitty one.

  39. Lauren on Wednesday, March 29, 2006 at 3:51 pm

    You could always Kitty Hack your iPod:
    http://engadget.com/2004/12/08.....-graphics/

    Or getone of these:
    http://tuaw.com/2005/02/24/say.....ipod-mini/

  40. Yeti on Wednesday, March 29, 2006 at 6:33 pm

    My IPOD changed my life, only 20 gigs (wish I had more, as will you) but with the purchase of 2 RCA-headphone cords (one for travel and one for home) I can plug into anything with an RCA Jack.

    Funniest image ever - impromptu party in a motel in Cherokee NC. A film crew rolls into a dry county for a shoot commencing the next day. Some genuis in production puts the word out to get booze and everybody shows up with enough to kill an army, party at the motel insues - but what of the tunes at the motel? - How about an Ipod RCA-ed into a Dewalt boon-box (courtesy of the Grip dept.)!!! Just wish I’d had the digi. camera back then! Party on Garth.

    ps anyone wanna buy a 20 gig Ipod - I need 60 gigs!!!

  41. freakgirl on Wednesday, March 29, 2006 at 7:15 pm

    Ours will be 30GB, I believe. I’m sure I’ll fill it up quick. Although maybe not. I still haven’t digitized my CD collection. I need to just hire some kid from Rutgers to do it for me.

  42. Brent on Wednesday, March 29, 2006 at 11:45 pm
  43. Brent on Wednesday, March 29, 2006 at 11:49 pm

    Personally, I think you should go with this case:
    http://fluffpod.com/video.html

    Beautiful.

  44. freakgirl on Thursday, March 30, 2006 at 7:51 am

    Brent - COOL!

  45. Yeti on Thursday, March 30, 2006 at 11:37 am

    What is it you’re hiring a kid from Rutgers to do? Does GB know?

    Digitize this!!

  46. freakgirl on Thursday, March 30, 2006 at 11:54 am

    Har har HAR.

  47. Kyla on Thursday, March 30, 2006 at 7:08 pm

    I’ve got a little leather case for my mini that’s got a wrist strap, and that helps me so much, as I’m a klutz who tents to drop things. When work gave me a nano I got one for it, too, because that thing’s just too damn small.

    I use the cassette adapter that came with my CD player for my iPod in the car, and it works like a charm. I also second the AC charger, so you can travel with it charge it without it being hooked to your computer. I also quite like having a dock for when it is plugged into my computer — it looks all neat but it’s not really necessary.

    I don’t know what your home stereo is like, but a friend of mine got an iHome which come with varying levels of speaker quality, and she loves it. It’s small enough to be portable so she can take it upstairs or down and still have stereo-quality music without being strapped to headphones.

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