Metropol

Hi guys

I really need help on this one. I'm seriously considering getting an iPod, after telling all of my mates I would never waste my money on something like that.

Everyone seems to have one these days (even the Queen!), and the new 20Gb iPod with colour screen has just caught my eye.

It would actually come in useful for me as well, as I now have to commute into London everyday from Kent - which is the most boring thing known to man.

But can i really justify spending £209 - which could come in useful elsewhere - on an iPod?

jay wrote:Hi guys

I really need help on this one. I'm seriously considering getting an iPod, after telling all of my mates I would never waste my money on something like that.

Everyone seems to have one these days (even the Queen!), and the new 20Gb iPod with colour screen has just caught my eye.

It would actually come in useful for me as well, as I now have to commute into London everyday from Kent - which is the most boring thing known to man.

But can i really justify spending £209 - which could come in useful elsewhere - on an iPod?

It's money well spent! Just make sure you raid someone's else CD collection and lob it into iTunes for full enjoyment.

IMHO, the newest version of the 20GB iPod is definitely a recommended purchase now that it has a colour display.

Especially when you consider that not so long ago, a non-colour 3rd gen 15GB iPod would have cost you £299!
With that in mind, a 4th gen 20GB iPod with a colour display for £209 is great value for money by comparison.

I've been thinking exactly the same thing recently Jay. I looked on Amazon a couple of days ago and there was one of the model in question for £120. I'm really kicking myself that I didn't get it now as the cheapest is £200.

I've got the Blue 2nd Generation iPod mini, 6GB. It stays with me everywhere. Round my neck in fact. 6GB isn't really enough though, I'd reccomend the 4th Generation iPod "with colour display". I'd buy it more for the capacity than the colour screen though, I don't care for viewing photos on a small screen. 30" Apple Cinema Display is more my sort of thing.

The colour display on the iPod is for more than just photos. Song titles are displayed in a much clearer font,
and it cans also display relevant artwork to go with each song, especially if you have entire albums on it.

If you do decide to get an iPod, buy it direct from Apple, as you'll get free shipping and laser engaving.

DJGM wrote: If you do decide to get an iPod, buy it direct from Apple, as you'll get free shipping and laser engaving.

Also, if you are over 18 and currently studying full time at an "educational establishment" you can get a discount on the Education Store. All the stuff I get from Apple I get my mother to buy... she teaches.

Suddenly, I wish I was related to a teacher or college tutor!

DJGM wrote:Suddenly, I wish I was related to a teacher or college tutor!

You only typically get 5-10% off! Though certain software packages (mostly Apple products) have a bigger discount (Final Cut Studio is 33% cheaper, as is Tiger)...

Well i was going to get it from Dixons or somewhere like that, as i hate having to wait for things!!

Can someone explain to me the whole iTunes thing - what is Podcasting for example? And is it easy to transfer songs from CD onto an iPod?

Looks like I'll be getting one then... 8)

jay wrote:Well i was going to get it from Dixons or somewhere like that, as i hate having to wait for things!!

Can someone explain to me the whole iTunes thing - what is Podcasting for example? And is it easy to transfer songs from CD onto an iPod?

Looks like I'll be getting one then... 8)

John Lewis is a good place to get an iPod (as they often have their own "Apple Department").

Podcasting is simply syndication for a radio or other audio broadcast. You subscribe to a feed in iTunes (or similar program) and the latest broadcast is updated automaticaly (unless you specify not to). iPod suppports Podcasts, they go into their own directory on the iPod. Some Podcasts have "bookmarking" such as iTunes New Music Weekly show. The bookmarking feature lets you flick between songs or other points, even though it's the same file. Apple are developing a peice of software so others can add these "bookmarks" to their files.

And it's easy to transfer songs. You can:

Insert CD, Click Import, Create Playlist, Drag files from Library to Playlist, Connect iPod

OR

Create Playlist, Insert CD, Drag Files to Playlist, Connect iPod.

It's easier than it sounds as well.