Why is everyone wanting an iPod over the rest?

[ViciousVulcan]

I don't get it. Can you iPod ppl explain what the big deal is for wanting an iPod? I'm serious here, what is the big deal? The cheapest iPod is the shuffle and all it does is play music and if I understand correctly you HAVE to use the iPod software format only. Then the next most expensive iPod is the Calssic for $399 which can play videos and more.

With other mp3 players like the Zen and Samsungs' version why is everyone running for an iPod without even looking at anything else. I am seriously asking here as I want to be on top of the latest and coolest but I am not necessarily a follower just trying to understand if there is anything I am missing here before I shell out $400 bucks.

[eljay]

Between the Shuffle and the Classic you have the Nano, which runs ~$155 for a 4Gb model and ~$200 for an 8Gb model.

I own neither an iPod nor an MP3 player, but I would strongly consider:
- an 8Gb Sony NWZS618FB player ($199);
- an 8Gb iPod Shuffle ($199);
- an 8Gb SanDisk Sansa player (the cheapest of the bunch at $149).

[ViciousVulcan]

Hey thanks elJay but I guess I need to be more clear. I am not just looking for a music player but an all around unit. I mean if I am going to spend around $200 why the iPod? I want to play music yes but not be limited to the iTunes format. I want to load anything I feel like, pictures, videos etc. I am actually looking at the Zen 8g as it does all that and plays FM radio. You also don't get pinned to iTunes but can load any mp3 format. I just don't understand what it is about the iPod that makes everyone drewl. Is it simply just the fact that through Apple marketing the sheep are flawking? Someone please convince me that the iPod is better then anything else, bet you can't.

[marko]

One word. Marketing. Apple knows how to create demand. Marketing is about creating the demand then filling that demand. Apple is king. They have flooded the market with ads and accessories. It is far from the best DAP out there. I am happy with my 4gb Meizu M6 and my 8gb iriver Clix2. Both do a great job. The Clix has an amazing interface. Both can play music, view photos and play video.

[revsiriusiakin]

I've owned almost a dozen mp3 players since around 2002. I have tried the Zen 40gb and the first one had a defecvtive harddrive. It would only use half of it's available memory. Once I crossed that line it would freeze. I got a replacement and the tiny thumb controller broke in the first week. I would still work but poorly. The unit would continually freeze requiring a reboot.

I still have it collecting dust.

I've also own the cheaper models with decent playability.

I was trying to find something that was cheaper than the ipod. After years of searching and after my daughter got an ipod 20GB i tried it and was immediatly hooked.

I bit the bullet and purchased a nano for my daughter and took her ipod (she found it too bulky and wanted something smaller).

I regret not buying an ipod from the start. You don't need to be tied to ITunes. I use mediamonkey and i'm sure there are other apps out there that can communicate with an ipod.

I will admit I have itunes to manage my podcasts pictures and games. It also manages my music library. I have synced my ipod with it but prefer to manage my new music through mediamonkey. I still buy CD's and rip them with MediaMonkey.

I have bought a few songs from itunes and I removed the DRM with third party apps. I paid for the song so I should be able to play it on any device or computer or CD.

Summary, the ipod is near perfect and it does more than play music. I have pictures on it (used itunes for these). I've watched video podcasts and i've encoded TV shows and movies with thrid party apps. Everything I know about ipod media I learnt from the internet.. Compared to all the other mp3 players i've owned the ipod is by far the best. It is expensive but in my opinion it's worth it.

[betamaxman]

Have a 60 gb video and 4 gb nano 2nd gen. I think the biggest reason is style and ergonomics. I mean come on they are arguably the best there is on the market in those regards. The click wheel's got the rest beat, and the touch! What else is there. My video is two years old and as never let me down. Now Steve Jobs and his draconian way of doing business, that's a different story.

[Ruthless82]

Originally Posted by ViciousVulcan

You also don't get pinned to iTunes but can load any mp3 format.

Just because you have to use itunes to load the songs on doesn't mean you are really limited. I believe wav and ogg files are the only ones that need converting, otherwise any file you download from any file sharing system can be loaded onto an ipod. itunes is just the software necessary to transfer the songs, you don't even need to use itunes to do anything else if you don't want to.

Personally I prefer the interface of the iPod over all that I've tried. Now I'm completely comfortable with them and have no desire to change to another brand.

[hugh]

Similar discussion going on in the following thread
http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=74050

As noted in that thread, we have many types. Design and Interconnectivity are two excellent reasons for the iPod

[SideShowCecil]

Well I’m not an iPod owner yet, but I’ll probably be one soon.

We travel quite a bit and we watch a lot of videos in the car, mostly TV shows recorded with Beyond TV and burned to DVD.

From the little bit of research I’ve done so far the iPod is the only mp3/video player that has an optional video output cable. Being able to load videos onto an iPod and then plug it into the LCD screen in the car to play them back would be a big advantage over constantly burning DVDs. And now Beyond TV 4.7 an optional iPod plug-in.

[MarcP]

Originally Posted by Marko

One word. Marketing.

I have another word: Accessories. No other units have as many accessories and gadgets than the iPod.

[timmy1]

the iPod is the only mp3/video player that has an optional video output cable

There are others out there. I've got a Cowon D2, which is a beautiful little DAP that supports video out. The new Sansa View also has that feature. And I'm sure other listers can think of a few more players that do this.

[mrhooie]

some of the creative zens do also.

but it's gotta be all about the hype and the accessories.
Try finding a case or a choice of cases for any other mp3 players

btw, i own zero ipods. my wife has one. i have a sirius stilletto

[classicsat]

I'll start by saying I have an iPod (60GB Video). I got is as a promo gift from a company I do business with.

I like it because of its shuffle feature, although other good players may have one.

A lot of other MP3 players don't need specific accessories, or come with proprietary or necessary ones.
A downside is that iPod accessories are artificially expensive, but I can buy "knockoffs".

The HDD based Zune models, AFAIK, have video out capability, as does this RCA Lyra player a few years ago.

[ToujoursDan]

My Creative Zen Vision:M 30 Gb player has a video output cable and the video quality on a standard def TV is far superior to my iPod Nano. I also think the sound quality is superior.

But it's easier to create video for the iPod; there are just more software and hardware choices out there (as well as iTunes downloads, if you're in the States) and the software and hardware are easier to use.

[ASA]

I have bought a few songs from itunes and I removed the DRM with third party apps.

You better hope the DRM didn't install a Rootkit on your computer before you had a chance to remove it from the music file.