Author Topic: iPod-racing  (Read 85074 times)

Offline Matt

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Re: iPod-racing
« Reply #15 on: July 22, 2004, 10:43 AM »
What the 'ell, that's old news!  >:(

Oh.

 :-\

How's this?

Duke to Provide Freshmen With iPods

Freshmen showing up at Duke University this year will get their own Apple iPod, part of an experiment by the school to see if the popular portable music player can double as a learning tool.

In a first-of-its-kind deal for Apple Computer Inc., the university will distribute 1,650 iPods for the pilot program. Duke would not say how much it will pay for each 20-gigabyte iPod, but said it will receive a discount from the retail price of $299.

The program fits into university plans to use more technology in teaching, said Tracy Futhey, Duke's vice president for information technology.

Since its introduction in 2001, the iPod has taken off as the trendiest gadget for storing and playing digital music. IPods can store other kinds of data as well, and Duke students will receive models stocked with school-related information, including freshman orientation details, the academic calendar, campus tours and even the school's fight song.

The university also will create a Web site modeled on the Apple iTunes online music site from which students can download songs and course content from faculty, including language lessons, lectures and audio books.

Lisa Merschel's Spanish class will use the iPods to listen to textbook exercises and Spanish songs. Sally Schauman plans to have students record field interviews on the ethics and science of urban water conservation.

The university will spend $500,000 on the project, which also includes hiring an extra technology specialist, giving grants to faculty, and studying the outcome. The program is a one-year experiment, but could be renewed.

While it might sound like an extravagant gift for incoming students, Duke students pay a premium - about $39,240 a year for tuition, fees, room and board.

Schauman isn't worried that students will start listening to music in class.

"If you're in a class so boring you need to do that, then I encourage you to do so," Schauman said. "Or if your need to learn is so low, you shouldn't be here in the first place."
« Last Edit: July 22, 2004, 10:44 AM by Virex »
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Offline Matt

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Re: iPod-racing
« Reply #16 on: July 27, 2004, 06:58 PM »
For as proud as I am of my flip-flop thread, I'm equally as disappointed that this thread--about the latest and greatest technology--has stagnated.

So, with that said, the more I've read about these damn things, the closer I've come to ordering one--even though it may be weeks (or even months) before I have the rest of the necessary equipment.
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Offline Matt

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Re: iPod-racing
« Reply #17 on: July 30, 2004, 07:43 PM »
I'm still wrestling with this thing.  

The more I look at them, the cooler they become, and the more I want one.

However, there's still that whole "computer from the Dark Ages" thing going on.  I just know that if I put down the $400+, I wouldn't be able to use it until I upgraded my hardware, and that would just be pointless, not to mention incredibly frustrating.  It would be kind of like buying Halo 2 or something without an XBox to play it on.

One thing that I have learned, though, while researching, is that these things rarely (if ever) go on sale.  So the $399 I spend on an iPod today is probably going to be the same $399 if I buy one six months from now.

This comes into play because right now, Amazon has a deal where if you spend $250 buying electronics, you'll get a $50 gift certificate.  Not a bad deal, especially since I'll easily be buying $50 worth of other junk from them in the next couple of months, anyway.

Of course, there's a catch (well, not really a "catch", but you know):  

The $50 gift certificate deal expires this weekend.

So who knows what'll happen after this GC expires.  Maybe they'll have a similar deal in the coming months, and maybe they won't.  

I don't know what to do.

Signed,

Insecure Technology-buying Man

"The good news is that all that blood is actually ketchup. The bad news, however, is that all that ketchup is actually blood."

Online Jeff

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Re: iPod-racing
« Reply #18 on: July 31, 2004, 12:07 AM »
I, unlike my esteemed colleague Virex, pulled the trigger on a 20GB iPod at Best Buy tonight.

I almost bought a 15GB version at Target for $250, but decided in the end that the extra 4hrs of battery life, the extra 5GB of space, and the $35-value free gift pack from Best Buy easily made up for the $50 price difference, so I grabbed a 20GB iPod for $300 tonight.

It's charging as we speak, and I'm off to download some music so I can cram my iPod full before I leave for Boston on Sunday.  Didn't buy any accessories yet, I'm gonna try it out first to see what I need, then when I get back, I'm gonna pick up a few other things to go with it (case, battery pack, etc).

Look for a full review of how my iPod worked out when I get back from Boston... after all, I wouldn't write a review for flip-flops if I hadn't broken them in first, right?  Same thing here  :P

Jeff
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Offline Matt

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Re: iPod-racing
« Reply #19 on: July 31, 2004, 12:21 AM »
So this is one of the new 4G models, yeah?  And not a leftover 3G unit?  

That's the first I've heard of any non-Apple Store retailer that had the new models in.  

I was at a Target today and they still had all of the old signage and stuff up, and they're supposed to be official iPod resellers.

Hope you enjoy the iPod and I look forward to seeing what you think of it.
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Online Jeff

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Re: iPod-racing
« Reply #20 on: July 31, 2004, 12:53 AM »

So this is one of the new 4G models, yeah?  And not a leftover 3G unit?
 
That's the first I've heard of any non-Apple Store retailer that had the new models in.

I was at a Target today and they still had all of the old signage and stuff up, and they're supposed to be official iPod resellers.

Hope you enjoy the iPod and I look forward to seeing what you think of it.

Yep.  The Target I went to still only had 3G left-over 15GB and Mini iPods, but Best Buy near my house had both the 20GB and 40GB 4G in stock (w/ the new clicky wheel, longer battery life, etc.).  

Just a quick run-down on what I got in my package from Best Buy:
20GB 4th Generation iPod
USB 2.0 cable
Firewire cable
Earphones
AC Power adapter/charger
iTunes Software

And in the Digital Music Starter Kit:
2 months FREE Napster subscription service
10 FREE Napster downloads
Dumbass Napster sticker (for my skateboard I guess?  ::))
10-pak TDK CD-R
$100 in coupons (10% off CD-R, $20 off iPod speakers, $25 off inMotion iPod Stereo, $5 off CD label kit, 15% headphones, 10% any CD, 10% off DVD player, 10% digital music accessories, 10% off car stereo deck).

More to come...

Jeff
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Offline Matt

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Re: iPod-racing
« Reply #21 on: July 31, 2004, 10:39 AM »
Well, not to be outdone, I just ordered the 40Gb 4G model from Amazon.  Exactly $399 with free shipping.  They said that the estimated ship date wasn't gonna be until early October, but given the fact that if I bought it locally, I'd be paying about $35 just in tax, plus that nice $50 Amazon coupon, more than makes up for the difference.  In addition, that'll give me enough time to get the necessary computer hardware.  And it's been my experience that Amazon is usual more liberal with their shipping dates--a lot of times, I'll have things at my house before their estimated ship date.

Anyway, I'm excited.  
"The good news is that all that blood is actually ketchup. The bad news, however, is that all that ketchup is actually blood."

Offline Scott

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Re: iPod-racing
« Reply #22 on: August 1, 2004, 10:47 PM »
Went to the Mall of America today and hopped into the Apple store...I fondled a couple of 'Pods and I about plunked down the dough right then and there for one

I didn't though, it sure was a neat little gadget

Online Jeff

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Re: iPod-racing
« Reply #23 on: August 9, 2004, 10:29 AM »
Look for a full review of how my iPod worked out when I get back from Boston... after all, I wouldn't write a review for flip-flops if I hadn't broken them in first, right?  Same thing here  :P

So,

I'm back from Boston, and my iPod performed marvelously.


Music Uploading:
I bought it on Friday before I left, and I had a chance to load 49 CDs onto my PC before I left last Sunday, amounting to 619 songs (2.2 GB).   It took about 2-4 minutes per CDs to upload to my PC.  The older the CD the longer it took, which I am assuming is due to changes/advances in music encoding on earlier CDs from the way they are processed now.  

It may seem like a long time, (50CDs x 4 mintues - 200 minutes), but I'd drop in a CD, clicky the upload button and walk away, so it really didn't seem all that long to me.  I let the PC do all the work and checked in occasionally to start a new one.  I'll get around to adding the other ~150 CDs this week and next to get all my CDs on there.

So, in summary, I've got 49 CDs (619 songs) on my iPod and am only using 2.2 GB.  I figure if I put the rest of my CDs on it this week, that's another 150 CDs (or so), which might get my iPod to about 40% full.  Yep, 200 CDs and my 20GB iPod is only 40% full.  :o


Music Performance:
I have listened to my little iPod while sitting, walking, and jogging and have never experienced a musical interruption.  No jumps/skips/scratches/etc in my favorite songs.  The quality is VERY good for a portable MP3 system, much better than any I've heard before.  The earphones they include with the iPod also work very well, sounding nearly as good as my "fancy" headphones.  

Overall, I am extremely satisfied with the music quality.  


iPod Performance:
It took about 3 hours to charge the iPod upon initial purchase.  Off that initial charge, I got nearly 10 hours of constant playing with my iPod before I decided to recharge.  Upon the second charge of the iPod, within 2 hours, it was back up to 80% charge (just like they said it would be).  It took another 2 hours to charge it to max capacity.  After using it again, my little iPod made it to 12 hours of use before I had to recharge again.  I noticed that if you select "shuffle songs" to shuffle all of your CDs at once and play a random song, it seems to use more battery life than just simply playing album after album in order.

Overall, I am extremely satisfied with the battery life.  It was much closer to the 12 hours than I thought it might be and most impressively, as the batter gets lower and lower, there is no noticable decline in music quality (like when your batteries are dying in your old walkman radio).


Other Impressions:
I love my iPod.  As I wandered the streets of Boston, it boggled my mind that I was carrying nearly FIFTY of my CDs in my pocket.  To be able to carry around ALL of my CDs will be even more remarkable.  Technology kicks ass.  PLUS, it was like I had a little soundtrack for my life, walking the streets with music playing, especially with the "shuffle songs" turned on.  Each song is a surprise when it starts playing, yet somehow each song felt "right".


Overall Grade = A
If you love music and technology and have money to burn, buy one and you won't be disappointed.  As a fan of music it is SOOOOOO nice to be able to carry around 40 lbs. of CDs in your pocket.  Have you ever gone on a road trip and wished you had a certain CD with you, yet you didn't have room in your 25 CD case to bring the CD along?  Then the iPod is for you...

Jeff
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Offline Matt

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Re: iPod-racing
« Reply #24 on: August 9, 2004, 10:51 AM »
Very good review, Jeff--glad to hear you're liking your iPod so much.  

Went through my albums a couple weeks ago--have around 6,700 songs, so I figured that the 40GB (up to 10,000 songs) will be perfect for me.  I could put every CD I've got on there, and have plenty of room for future additions.

Thanks again for the real-world review!
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Offline Famine

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Re: iPod-racing
« Reply #25 on: August 23, 2004, 10:37 AM »
www.freeipods.com

A couple of friends of mine saw it on CNN, got their pods...It's some big promo. I ordered mine and chose one of the promotions paid 6.95 for shipping, and I'll be shipping it back to them to get my refund and I get to keep my iPod. Yay.


Kevin
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Offline Famine

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Re: iPod-racing
« Reply #26 on: August 23, 2004, 10:46 AM »
http://www.freeiPods.com/default.aspx?referer=Ann_Downes@juno.com


If any of you decide to do that.

Please use my link that way I'm special.

Kevin
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Offline JediMAC

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Re: iPod-racing
« Reply #27 on: October 12, 2004, 01:31 PM »


Possible new iPod causing buzz - Alleged new model may have more memory, color...

I'm getting more and more interested in potentially looking into buying one of these too, but will probably wait to see what's in store with this new model first...

Offline Morgbug

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Re: iPod-racing
« Reply #28 on: October 13, 2004, 04:01 PM »
http://www.freeiPods.com/default.aspx?referer=Ann_Downes@juno.com


If any of you decide to do that.

Please use my link that way I'm special.

Kevin

Kev, did you get your Ipod from this offer?  It still seems to be valid.  I'd be happy to buy Jim a 12 week Sunday only subscription for the Ipod that would be delivered to his place. :-*
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Offline Famine

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Re: iPod-racing
« Reply #29 on: October 13, 2004, 05:00 PM »
Well it works like this.

If you click the link and register, you add a credit toward me getting 1. I have 2 credits right now. It works like that for everyone.

My friend Larry did it, and got his. I've seen it. It's a real iPod. No sham. No fake crap.

It's a good thing. If you have alot of friends, you'll get yours sooner than later.

Kevin
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