Top 5 reasons not to buy a new iPod

Finding it difficult to resist?

(Credit: Corinne Schulze / CNET Networks)

After awarding Apple's iPod Classic and iPod Nano an 8 out of 10 rating over on CNET Reviews, I think it's fair to say that I think both products are exceptional. Still, the iPod is not for everybody. If you're thinking about using that $100 iPhone credit toward a shiny new Nano or Classic, here are five reasons that might give you pause.

5. iTunes 7.4 is required

Requiring the latest version of iTunes might not seem like such a big deal, but if your computer doesn't play friendly with the latest build of iTunes--you're screwed. iTunes 7.4 requires OSX 10.3.9 or later for Mac users, and Windows XP or 32-bit editions of Windows Vista for the PC.

4. No more built-in video output

Gone are the days when you could just plug a $10 minijack AV cable into the headphone output and play photos and videos directly to your TV. While video output is still supported, Apple would now like you to purchase either a $50 Universal Dock or $50 Component AV Cable to enable the feature. The good news is that for the extra cost, the video output resolution for the iPod Classic can reach up to 480p (720x480), better than the output resolution of the 5G Video iPod.

3. Video accessory compatibility

While Apple's 30-pin iPod dock connection hasn't changed, some video accessories made for the 5G Video iPod are not compatible with the iPod Classic or iPod Nano. In fact, according to iLounge, most video-enabled speaker systems made for the Video iPod will not be able to take advantage of the iPod Classic's or Nano's TV output capabilities. Popular iPod-ready portable video displays, such as the Sonic Impact Video-55, are also incompatible. The reason behind all the fuss is Apple's recent insistence on requiring authentication chips in products made by licensed third-party vendors. Without the chip, the video output capabilities of the latest generation of iPod's will remain locked.

2. iPod Touch

Sure, the new Nano and Classic have a cool new GUI, but the coolest interface of all belongs to the as yet unreleased iPod Touch. Yes, the 'iPhone without the phone' (or camera, or full-fledged calendar sync) ships out at the very end of this month, and it is undoubtedly the most gee-whiz iPod of them all.

1. Archos 605 WiFi

Between you and me, the 160GB Archos 605 WiFi delivers what I really wanted from the new iPod. The 605 WiFi is a high-capacity, touch screen navigating, wireless video downloading, 800x480 resolution having, DRM-WMA playing, drag-and-drop file transferring, portable media player. Sure the iPod Touch will get you more chicks, but the Archos 605 WiFi is a celibate media-hoarding nerd's dream come true.

Escape clause

Despite my whimpering, both the iPod Nano and iPod Classic really are beautifully executed products. I'm just playing devil's advocate here to illustrate that the new iPods, though great, are by no means perfect. Still, if you think I'm just being a hater, sound off in the talkback section below. If you think I'm not being hard enough, then here's your chance to extend this Top 5 into a Top 100.

[zambartas]

Great job -

As a tech enthusist, it's good to see people put Apple products in their place. They might have the name, and the huge market share, but you can almost always find a competetors product that is better and cheaper, like the Archos or a Zen. My Zen Vision M kicks my wife's ipod "classic" butt in almost every aspect.

[KaplanMike]

Hardware is nice, but it's only half the package

Until your Archer or Zen work with iTunes' brilliantly simple interface, or the
iTunes Store, they're not worth the bother. I would gladly go with an alternate
MP3 player -- I'm not a huge fan of the click-wheel, sorry Jonathan Ive -- but I
will not give up the iTunes software on my desktop!!

[bigusiak]

but Archos play iTunes

you can buy AAC plug-in and free-to-go.

[slappy magoo]

You might not need itunes interface

Unless you're dealing with DRM music, Archos opens up like a hard drive, it's
drag and drop. You can create folders like on a portable hard drive, and opt
to browse by folder, as well as by artist/album/song/genre. Playlists are easy
to do on the fly, and you can bookmark any track or album or playlist and go
back to it later (also can bookmark video). You don't need to open up iunes or
any music management system to jam your archos with music or video.

And unlike the Zen (which I also like, but like Archos more), you don't have to
partition a chunk of the Archos for data. As long as there's memory left, you
can fill it with whatever you want by drag-and-drop.

I love my Archos, and it's "only" a 604 30 GB. If I can swing the money for a
160GB 605, I'd probably OD on entertainment and miss my train stop half the
time.

[Charbax]

You're totally right..

Especially you're right about the point number one. Even for about the same price as the new iPod nano at $199, you can get the 4GB 605 WiFi which does so much more and also fits nicely in any pocket.

The specific things to say against the iPods is that if you ever want to access legitimate online content, it'll have to be iTunes or DRM-free Mp3 stores. Apple could add other DRMs such as Microsofts but they won't cause they want to force their customers to only use iTunes. I think that should be a pretty bad deal-breaker right there.

[Charbax]

iTunes does not licence to competitors

KaplanMike, I'm sure Archos and Creative gladly would also like to work with iTunes, the simple fact is that Apple does not want to licence its iTunes DRM to any competitor.

And you should check competing softwares out, there are plenty of other software that functions just as iTunes to organise and synch-up content on your universally connected Mp3 player. Those softwares can also automatically download podcasts and automatically synch them up also.

[phlcad]

my 1st cell phone is the iphone

My 1st cell phone is the iphone and I'm loving it, I bought on day two Saturday Morning @ 10:30 AM w/ no line at Apple store in PLano, Tx. I haven't found a need for an ipod for my iphone covers that. Now when 3g or 3rd party application get better, I go w/ flow. But if gphone comes for Christmas, well that's another story altogether.

[alenas]

iTunes brilliant?

Someone said that iTunes is brilliant? easy to use?
Far out - people are so ignorant and make comments without even realizing what they are talking about...
Have you seen Urge - i know it is being killed, but it is very nice store and the way it works with Windows Media Player is way way better than some iShit.
Also WMP is so much more customizable, but probably because it looks nicer than iTunes, some freaks try to call iTunes simple and easy to use :) Yeah you can say whatever you want - just try at least few different Media programs and Stores first...

[fondy]

A little disappointed

It was cool of Apple to add video to the Nano, but I was a little disappointed by the full-size iPods. If they had combined the storage capacity of the Classic with everything else from the Touch, I'd be one of the first in line. As it is, the 16GB Touch won't even hold my music collection, let alone my videos.
As for the Classic, I'm getting tired of the clickwheel. That new splitscreen menu looks like it could be annoying for items with long titles.
I broke out an old Sandisk player the other day, and it was rather nice being able to operate the controls without looking at it. Maybe touchscreen DAPs weren't such a great idea afterall.

[evildonald]

Changing away from iPod

My next iPod is going to not be an iPod. I am a huge iTunes fanboy, and stick with iPods for their coolness factor and integration with iTunes. I do not use my iPod video for watching videos because it doesn't support many codecs and it's a pain to convert formats when you just want to "put something on it now!".

I was just thinking what would be a better item to get, and thanks for the heads up on the Archos.. looks like what i want.. has anyone had any experience syncing non-iPods with iTunes, perhaps with the program "iTunes sync" or a similar product?

[TheAlphonso]

Yet another reason

Don't forget about another great product which is almost 2 years old: COWON A2. An "old" device yet newer than even the iPhone.
And just wait and see what's out there, waiting for us: COWON A3!

[Buddy Blake]

Apple is the BEST

How sad that Apple just keeps making the iPod better and better. You have to give the devil his do. One day soon you will come to the knowledge that Apple, its products, and its fans are here to stay. Its OK to think different.

Rev George Blake

[dabird]

it's not about the tech

It's about the hype, the brand recognition and how the Ipod makes you feel... StevieJ has done a wonderfull marketing job with this and by linking it with Itunes and a proprietary DRM the whole package is weaved into an a straight forward solution that just works (most of the time), and that is the appeal. They have the market share and they need to capitalize on that and I agree the Archos is probably better technically but it's not called Ipod...

[retrojet]

iPod still the #1

iPods have been successful for two reasons: 1) they take the most used/basic functions and do those really well; and 2) they look cool. Sure, others have more functionality, but most people don't care about FM radio, voice recording, downloading videos wirelessly, etc. Also, have you seen the Archos/Zen/Zune? Those things are butt ugly. They should get docked rating points just for that fact. Why did the Razr do so well as a cellphone? It certainly wasn't the best phone out there. It's because it was cool looking (and unobtrusive). The Archos 605 is a clunker, and the Zens and Zunes look downright cheap. The iPod might not satisfy the biggest geeks out there, but it does just fine for most.

[johnrobie]

Archos=not sexy

It just doesn't look like something you want to pick up.

On the other hand who the hell wants a PROPRIETARY CABLE? Mac always seems to be trying to squander it's goodwill by taking a dump on the consumer with that sort of thing.

[sg-gallegos]

real touch-pod!

was i the only person expecting the ipod touch as a high capacity, wifi, true 6th gen ipod? i never heard or read about ipod classic rumors. somebody enlighten me!

[urr_quasdim]

Feeble excuses...

5) Apple keeps upgrading iTunes, so nothing new there. They may even provide a future patch for older OS users.
4) How often do you output video from iPod to TV? Once a leap year? Most users don't do that - they just use the iPod itself.
3) These are mostly non run-of-the-mill accessories; those few who insist on using them will buy new, compatible ones.
2) Funny: just the other day Crave had an article explaining why NOT to buy the iPod Touch... a bit of an inconsistency here...
1) Brick vs. elegance: no matter how much more/better the Archos can do - most people will go for the beautiful, immaculately built and well performing iPod Classic (or Nano).
In short: these "top 5 reasons" are rather weak!

[PMP4ME]

IPODS ARE A TREND

IPODS ARE A TREND AND THEY ARE A DYING BREED IN MY EYES. APPLE KNOWS HOW TO MARKET, THEY KNOW HOW TO MAKE A SIMPLE 2 BUTTON MP3 PLAYER, BUT I WANT MORE. I WANT MY MOVIES, MUSIC, PICTURES, A CAMERA, WIFI AND BROWSER. I WANT ALL OF THIS. I ALSO WANT IT TO BE ABLE TO RECORD MOVIES AND SHOWS OFF OF THE TV. YOU PROBABLY THINK I AM TOO NEEDY, THAT NOTHING LIKE THIS EXISTS AND THAT IT NEVER WILL.

I TRIED ALOT OF DIFFERENT PRODUCTS THAT IS FOR SURE BUT WHEN I FOUND THE ARCHOS (www.archos.com) IT FULFILLED MY FANTASY. I HAVE ALL OF THOSE FEATURES AND MORE. IT IS LESS EXPENSIVE THAN A VIDEO IPOD, HAS UP TO 160 GIGS OF MEMORY...

TAKE A LOOK.

LIKE I SAID IPODS ARE A TREND, TIME TO MOVE ON

[~Canuck~]

That's the best you could come up with?

Weak. Such weak, weak reasons. Thanks for erasing my last doubts about buying an iPod.

Oh, but I will be getting an iPod touch. Been waiting for that since the success of the iPhone.

[atomicbomb156]

ipods are disappointing

first off the ipod "classic" doesnt come in the iconic apple white anymore which pisses me off. no significant improvements that i like except for battery life. and 80GB is way too much for me. the ipod nano is short and wide. a far cry from the 2nd gen nano which was a lot more sleek and slim. sure the new nano may support video but why would i want to watch it on a 2 inch screen? the ipod touch userface is absolutely beautiful but paying $300 for 8GB? no way. what a waste of a 3.5 inch screen. go with more storage space for movies, tv shows, etc to take advantage of that screen. i have a 5th gen ipod but my next mp3 player is not going to be another ipod. most of my music is on itunes which is why i got my ipod cause i had another one but it died. but itunes crashed on my comp so its currently empty. im switching to an iriver clix gen 2 but i dunno about the rest of you. great sound quality, fm radio, voice recording, your choice of wallpaper, large screen, cheaper, amazing controls. whats not to like? the pros outweigh the cons which is the space maxing out at 8GB but its certainly worth it.

[bleech]

Reason number Zero: the mother of all reasons

Sound quality.
Nobody has said that sound quality has improved. And that´s truly the Achiles heel of the Ipod range.

And that´s a frustrating truth after paying so much just for interface.

[alawaiblowfish]

Huh?!? Computer requirements?

Ok, if im going to use my $100 credit on a new ipod, wouldn't my computer
have to be able to run iTunes 7.4 so I could activate/use my iphone? Sure, at
the very least I'd have to be able to run iTunes 7.3. However, i doubt the
upgrade requirements are that much more for ringtones and ipod software
updates. So I just don't see how if you:
1) already own an iphone, and
2) use your credit on a new ipod,
that your computer wouldn't be able to accommodate the less technically
adept ipod.