IPODS, Docking Stations, Speakers, etc

Fort Henry Custom Knives

Fort Henry Custom Knives

Joined
Nov 17, 1999
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3,061
Hey Gang,

Just looking for some rec's and have a few general questions on the above mentioned items. Have never owned and don't know anything about these so I am looking for easy to understand guidance (don't go overboard with the rec's as we are easy to please).

My wife wants to get an IPOD with a couple of Docking stations that play the music. Here are my questions;

- Are all IPODs the same (by this I mean are they all made by the same company like HP) or are there several companies that make an "IPOD"? If so, which is the best quality?

- Are the Docking stations compatible or do they need to be the same "Brand"?

- Looking for the station that has good sound but do not need a Bose Quality system as this will be used occasionally.

- Can you carry an IPOD like an MP3 player when working out in the Gym? Or is this a good way to ruin an expensive piece of tech equip?

Thanks in advance.
 
It kind of depends on what you mean by Ipod. It's become somewhat of a generic term, like Kleenex.

There are many, many, companies that produce digital audio players, but only Apple makes ipods. To further confuse the matter, there are at least six different generations of ipods, and variant species as well (Minis, Nanos, touch, shuffle.)

What you get will depend on your particular needs. For starters, how much music would you want it to hold?

Some docking stations are ipod specific, others take players from various companies, and still others are universal in that you can plug in anything with a headphone jack.

For a workout ipod, I'd recommend one of the flash-based models, like the nano, touch, or shuffle. The larger ipods have hard drives for storage; these are more sensitive to shock. In any case, it's probably best to keep it dry (don't sweat on it!)
 
Are all IPODs the same?
Well, iPods ARE the same for the same model, but they do have some different behaviors. The 'shuffle' really breaks the mold and won't work with many of the accessories (such as docks).

Are the Docking stations compatible?
Docking stations SHOULD be compatible, BUT...many of the newer ipods use a slightly different docking pinout. So my iPod Touch pops up 'Charging is not supported with this accessory!' on many of my old docking or charging options. If it's compatible with the iPhone, it should work with all current and previous models (that use the dock connector...as mentioned before, the shuffle doesn't have this connector).

Looking for the station that has good sound...?
Can't help much with picking a docking station, but I've had decent luck with Altec Lansing in the past...good price/performance balance. Better yet, many can just have an output to let you hook it in to your stereo.

Can you carry an IPOD like an MP3 player?
Yes, it really IS just an mp3 player, although personally I'd stick with something on the smaller side (e.g. the iPod Nano). There are plenty of cases for different carrying options, and a good one for the gym is often one that straps onto the upper arm.

As for buying one, one of the best deals I've found is going to Apple's website, visiting their 'store' link, and finding 'Refurbished iPod' in the lower left. They come with the same warranty as a brand new iPod, cost a lot less, and mine (and everyone else I've known who ordered one) appeared brand new.
 
Great info guys, Thanks.

Some answers;

- We will probably only carry a couple of hundred songs at the MOST. We do not want to use it for pictures or videos or anything like that.

- We will probaly just want a standard size (generic flavored) machine.

- As far as workout, I understand. I will look for a seperate smaller player (I would only want 50 or so songs on that).

- I think what I will do is start at the Refurb Apple area and try to learn more also.


My Wife thought we should try to get one IPOD and a couple of Docking stations (Kitchen and Bedroom) as our Anniv present to each other (after 23 years how many more bottles of perfume could I purchase anyway). :D
 
Altec Lansing and Logitech make docks that sound every bit as good as the Bose dock with internet prices of about half what you'd pay for the Bose. If you don't care about charging, you can simple get powered computer speakers and save a good bit of money.
 
I'd say your best bet is a pair of ipod nanos, one in your wives favorite color, and the other in yours.

As for docks, there are a ton of them. But like mentioned some of the ones I've plugged my iPhone 3GS into aren't compatible anymore. (Which is a shame because it was very convenient that every ipod had the same plug.)
 
Hillbillenigma said:
Great info guys, Thanks.

Some answers;

- We will probably only carry a couple of hundred songs at the MOST. We do not want to use it for pictures or videos or anything like that.

- We will probaly just want a standard size (generic flavored) machine.

- As far as workout, I understand. I will look for a seperate smaller player (I would only want 50 or so songs on that).

- I think what I will do is start at the Refurb Apple area and try to learn more also.


My Wife thought we should try to get one IPOD and a couple of Docking stations (Kitchen and Bedroom) as our Anniv present to each other (after 23 years how many more bottles of perfume could I purchase anyway). :D
Click to expand...

Even the lowest capacity players should be enough for 200 songs. Depending on format, length, and quality, you can expect to fit anywhere from maybe 180-250 on a gigabyte of space.

Ipods generally sound pretty good. My main gripe about them is Itunes. The program is clunky, overbearing, and a general pain in the arse. The only time I touch it is when my sister wants music put on her ipod. It has some neat features, but I hate that you have to use it to get music onto an ipod. (EDITED TO ADD: Just because I hate Itunes doesn't mean you will. Some people love it, and it probably meets the needs of millions of others. I'm just a picky bastard, and I want things done my way, especially when it comes to my gadgets. Itunes might work great for you.)

You might look into a player that's UMS capable (stands for Universal Mass Storage,) This means, you jack the player into a computer, any computer, copy/paste your music files onto it, and you're done. You can organize the directory structure any way you want (I like to have a folder for each artist, subfolders for separate albums, and then the songs.)

Of course, for just 200 songs, you could probably just bunch them all together and not have too much trouble finding what you want.

I'd advise you to stay away from those cheapy mp3 players you see in drug stores and such. My nephew got one for twenty bucks, and the only thing worth a damn in the package was the cable.

Oh, and congrats on 23 years:thumbup:
 
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if you are storing a couple hundred songs at most and want simplicity and durability, the Ipod second generation shuffle is great. these are the ones that come in colors and are postage stamp sizedon/ off switch, control button, and a shuffle on/off switch. You can operate most with a cover or gloved hand and they are only about 50 bucks with stand. There are input cords and docking stuff for them if you look around.
 
An Ipod 2nd gen shuffle is a good choice if you only want a couple hundred songs. Pick your color and you get a postage stamp sized, simple, and solid unit with dock for computer and you can get accessories. They are about 50 bucks now. 3rd gen is a pain in A** because you can't skip songs. You don't need a screen for songs unless you have no clue to the songs you put on there.


(I gotta ask, Proud2Deviate, where is the tag GIF at the bottom of your screen from?)
 
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