Comments on: The future of the iPod

The device most responsible for Apple's 21st century renaissance gets short shrift these days next to the Mac and the iPhone. What lies in store for the iPod?

[scribbles23]

I won't buy another iPod

I have a 20GB 3rd Generation iPod. I love it to death except for the fact that the battery doesn't last as long as it used to. I plan on replacing it myself in the near future, however, after taking it to Apple and asking about my options. They said I could:

1. Trade it in for a 10% discount on a new iPod
2. Send it in with 79 dollars to have it refurbished (or replaced with a previously refurbished model).

I'm personally very glad that I opted to do neither and instead looked at user replacement options. A kit that comes with a plastic tool for wedging the thing open and a battery is only 16 dollars. Furthermore, I am frustrated with Apple's insistence on making the devices smaller and metal encased and getting rid of the heat sensitive buttons (that was a while ago, but still). I am not always gentle with my devices and I am certain that if I bought a new iPod, it would snap in half. So besides the fact that 20GB is too small for my music collection and I have to be selective about what I put on it, I'm happy to stay with the one I have until someone else comes up with a better player. I'm holding out until the portable Sirius radios come with more storage.

[alaneosso]

IPOD gone wild...

I love my old, uh, "classic" 30G video iPod. That having been said, I'd like to own either an iTouch or even an iPhone. The problem is the prices are way out of whack with what I'd consider Apple's target market.

The reason the iPod has done so well thus far is the fact that it's not only easy to use and stylish, but it's also reasonably priced.

Seriously, who in their right mind is paying 500 dollars for a cell phone when there are so many out there for free? Who is paying $500 dollars for a 32G iTouch when you can get an 80G classic for $250?

Come on Apple, all the fan boys are already owners. If you want to see more wild growth in a down market, you're going to have to bring the prices down.

If you do, maybe I'll bring my "stimulus" check to the register... oh wait, I don't qualify for one of those... ;)

[bjmurphy]

Keep the Shuffle

I own a second gen. Shuffle with clip- and find it great to just load and take to various speakers around the house. I agree with Mike.gw (Keep the Shuffle as it is)- I would also like to be able to have a couple of playlists to go between- I have earlier cheap mp3 players that I use for short (1-1/2 hr) sessions for riding or treadmill. I like loading a specific playlist that doesn't change. These are a bit more effort to load, but the Creative Stone is the easiest that I've used.
I've been contemplating getting another Shuffle or maybe a Nano (with the price drop). the price is the main thing keeping me from going to the full Ipod. so- have a price drop for the bigger ones!

[Leighow]

I am only interested in an iPod Touch

Nice article Tom.

I am a retiree. I have my one and only Pod -- a Touch.

WHile I do have a few songs .. I only want it (when needed ) in my hand when I am away from my desktop.

I pour money into hi-speed Internet -- an I am not going to pour more into a Cell Phone.

The Touch (with IM+ for Skype) does just fine.

When Apple evolves a lighter, more featured Pod I
will buy .

Got to get off this desktop -- time to walk the dog and shut this invasive Internet terminal down.

[812]

Ipod poll

Your poll missed one important question--"why have you not purchased an ipod/MP3 player"?

The answer is simple--I like MUSIC! Not the compressed, ripped-up, squeezed-out noise that these players assault our ears with. While a good pair of earbuds do improve the sound, the use of good earbuds on an MP3 player is like putting lipstick on a pig.

I would love to have a digital music player to carry with me, and when they figure out how to do it without compressing all the joy from the music, I'll seriously look at purchasing one. I don't need 2000+ songs at my fingertips. I would be happy with 1/2 that amount, if they were real music.

[forkboy]

iPod is okay, but....

While I believe the iPod line to be one of the best designed products in terms of its looks and styling, I feel strongly that there are superior players for less money and that offer additional features and benefits.

In addition, a long-running criticism of the iPod line has been its average at best (maybe mediocre?) sound quality and with this I agree after my iPod ownership period. While style and design are important in generating sales I believe sound quality should be at least as solid as design.

[dafuni]

I want a combo

I didnt and stil wont buy the iphone mainly because I dont intent to carry two similar devices on me all the time. My idea at the launch of iPhone was to drop my ipod and use the new device for phone and media player but because of the low capacity of the iphones, the attraction wasn't there anymore. Now I want to upgrade the 30G ipod to 160G and I cant afford the extra expenditure on an Iphone.
A combined unit at a good price is what I want.

[pctec100]

Subscription music

The single biggest factor in my decision to buy a Zune over and Ipod was support for subscription music. If Apple offered that I would have likely bought an Ipod instead.

The FM turner and wifi sync of the Zune are nice to haves but I find don't use them very often.

[Thomas, David]

Rationality

Subscribing to music, isn't rational. The single driving factor is
you are getting a "bargain" to dip into a large bin. But you can
neither keep it, legally own it (unless you purchase it), and you
are completely dependent on an outside source, and your
lifetime monthly payments to keep the files.

Most people actually prefer to purchase their music, whether it
be online, or in CDs. And a lot of them, like me, would rather
die fighting, rather than live in a culture where everything has
been boiled down to a monthly fee, turning us further into
mindless idiot ant robots. So no, screw subscription music. If
worse came to worse, i'd make my own, period.

[eerivas]

FM Radio!

How about updating the iPod & iPhone with FM radio built in as
well!?

[WhiskeyTangoFoxtror]

Getting two iPods next

I'm looking to purchase two new iPods and keep my current Nano.

1) iPod Classic: for when I travel without my computer and need music + harddrive space
2) iPod Nano: for listening to music/podcasts on my commute
3) iPod Touch: for video and wireless for casual use during the weekend or when I don't need a full computer.

I don't plan to get an iPhone until I can switch SIM chips between my phones.

[Sean Kavanagh]

Reason to purchase new iPod

New features & innovations -Gadgets & Gizmos!

[electronista]

Wide-area wireless, please

The iPod touch is beautiful -- it feels more like a very small computer that happens to be good at music. But it sorely needs persistent Internet access, and Wi-Fi is only so useful when you're out on the street. A wide-area broadband service to me should find its way into a later iPod touch update.

It doesn't have to be 3G, either. If WiMAX takes off in North America, I'd love to have an iPod touch that could hop on anywhere in the city to stream music or check e-mail. For some, it could possibly replace a cellphone altogether.

[quadj]

When to buy a new iPod

I don't plan on buying another iPod until the one I have finally gives up. I have had a 4G iPod for over three years now, and I have never had to replace the battery in it. You got to give Apple credit. They do know how to make quality products.