Just curious how many iPod owners are present here. I just purchased a 20GB and wonder how i ever lived without one.

I don't have one, but got one for my daughter when they first came out. Fortune magazine just named the iTunes Music Store the Product of the Year (http://www.fortune.com/fortune/print/0,15935,558792,00.html)

I guess the iTunes store is ok. I have never really checked it out or bought any music from there.Though I do like the idea of being able to purchase a single song. Brings back the good ol' days of Cassingles which had about 3 songs on them for around $3(in the early 90's). Most of my collection is vinyl which i burn and rip .It for sure beats lugging around a large cd case to work everyday!

I got a 15GB in May. Greatness.

I have one of the larger 2gen iPods. If Griffen really does come out with a good line-in to record then I'll have to upgrade to one of the new 3gen iPods. That way I can use my iPod to record audio in the field.

i heard that the internal battery or something in the ipods die after about 6 months to a year and its not replacable so you gotta either send it to apple to get it fixed and spend 200 dollars that way or just buy a new one..pretty cheap if u ask me

Ben, your information on the battery is incorrect. User replaceable batteries are available, as well as instruction for the do it yourselfers. Apple has also reduced their rates for out of warranty battery replacement for iPods.

Battery replacement via Apple service is $99 USD. I've seen 3rd party replacement batteries for $49 and I'm sure they could be found for less with a little digging.

Not true, Ben. Someone's iPod batery died after 18 months and they made a website falsely claiming that they were unreplaceable. Can't remember the web address. Anyhow, you can buy replacement batteries from Apple for $100 and for around $50 from 3rd parties.

My girlfrend's iPod is 2 years old and has no problems.

I'm one of the few people in my office who doesn't have an iPod. I want one, but don't need one. I mean...I get in the car and turn on the radio and listen to NPR on the way to work. On a trip, I take CDs. In the office, when I'm not editing, I play CDs or listen to a stereo radio on my desk. At home I have a stereo system and gobs of CDs. So I can't figure out what I'd do with one. But they are very cool and I want one, though I'm not gonna buy one.

I don't have one either. I kept waiting for the rumored one that will play video to come out. Not in sight yet, so opted to go with the Archos AV320. I now have portable music (mp3), photos and video, but not in as slim a format. Presumably, if I ever bought the camcorder attachment, I could also shoot stills and video footage. But why do that when I can use my dvd or vhs player to record back to the Archos any dvd, even my home-made ones (at about vhs quality) in my possession. (The Archos 300 doesn't handle text files, though, for those who want that capability.)

Man, I haven't signed this board in ages... not that I'd signed that many times anyway. :p Ok, smile, nod and pretend you know me. :p (Cliff's Notes version: I'm a 22.5 year old filmmaker from Gold Coast, Australia - that's about halfway down the eastern coastline - and a weekend off wrapping an independent WW2 feature that I wrote and have been directing - not to mention casting myself as an American working with my lover alongside the French Resistance).

Anyway.

Looks like I might be getting the 10GB model for A$529 - for Christmas from my mum. That's about all I'd need. My iTunes library is only 2.37 GB anyway and that's with a fair amount of tracks sitting there for the Crap Factor -- such as William Shatner tracks that are so awful they have to be heard to be believed -- good for when you need a bit of a chuckle.

I bought a 30 gig iPod in September. I LOVE IT!!!! I have a set of Shure E1 headphones to go with it. Portable solitude in seconds. You can't hear anything that is going on around you. I love it for studying, or just spending some time by myself in the middle of a group of people.

Yeah I have a pair of Etymotic ER-6 earphones that cut external noise levels and enjoy the solitude as well. Plus these little phones sound great.

I got an I-River IHP-120 and a pair of Sure E2 plugs. Love it. Plus it doubles as a field recorder (can record either mp3 at up to 320mps or wav, both in stereo if needed.)
I almost got the Ipod, but the IHP-120 had more features for the same price. And it's battery lasts for up to 16 hours a click.

<<<-- Originally posted by Joe Carney : I got an I-River IHP-120 and a pair of Sure E2 plugs. Love it. Plus it doubles as a field recorder (can record either mp3 at up to 320mps or wav, both in stereo if needed.)
I almost got the Ipod, but the IHP-120 had more features for the same price. And it's battery lasts for up to 16 hours a click. -->>>

I had thought about the I-River but decided on an iPod. Congrats on your new player. You will like the E2's. I had a set before trading up to the E1s.

I've been a 5 GB owner since they were introduced and have been in love with it ever since. Being able to travel w/o my huge case of CDs is a life saver - I can fit them all in my pocket!

Still trying to decide which iPod to get--and whether I really need one. Got about 80 hours of MP3s saved on my PowerBook. Yes, I know 5+ pounds is not as easy to go jogging/biking/skiing etc. as 5 or 6 ounces, pocket-sized. But then you can't edit video or watch a DVD or even write an e-mail on an iPod, so I guess it's a trade-off.

What I really love is iTunes as a player utility, plus the iTunes Music Store.

I have used iTunes to preprogram entire parties and leave me hands-free to socialize, eat, etc. The automatic cross-fade really works.

And simply grabbing singles at will for $0.99 is just the shiznit! I can get all the hot tunes of the week in minutes and don't have to waste money on the whole albums to get one song.

Mike, I do the same preprogramed set lists for my fraternity parties and formal dances. Who wants to waste money on crummy DJs who play KC and the Sunshine Band all night? The set lists also came in handy the other night with a little thing we call the Century Club. I was able to have a new song come on every minute so we could acurately time when to take a shot of beer for 100 minutes straight. Thank God for iPods!

I've been doing the same thing using MusicMatch Jukebox for over 4 years. Plus the new MusicMatch store integrates quite nicely into the player. Creating playlists is actually easier than itunes, and it supports wma.
itunes still has the better interface though. and better integration of internet radio stations.

I now looking for a good, easy to use ogg vorbis encoder/player.

Hmmm... 1 shot=1.5 oz. 100 minutes=150 oz. = 12.5 cans of beer. Hope nobody drive home that night. :-)

Geez Matt, if some lame DJ did nothing but play KC & Sunshine band, I would hope that word would get out around campus and town not to give that joker any more work.

I have begun using the computer to automate my cocktail hour/dinner music set, so I can actually sit down and not have to inhale a prime rib in 2 minutes 30 seconds. Of course, when the power hour begins, it's back to slammin'n'jammin' the Denons.

Joe, if you like Music Match, have you tried Roxio Napster yet? (y'know, the legal one) It actually requires wma support (the songs you buy are wma files), and is Win-PC only (sorry, Mac-dudes).

I'm reviving this thread because the iPod Mini is out and I'm assuming there will be some takers. So wanted to mention that B&H is carrying the Shure E5 earphones (not the white E5c, though they are otherwise exactly the same) for $389.95. You have to call to get this price, but other than ebay or some such place, it's probably about the best price going right now from a reputable dealer (and a dvinfo.net sponsor, to boot).