basic questions about iPods

[nikko]

I'm trying to help a friend of mine buy an iPod. She is completely tech-challenged, but I actually don't know much about iPods specifically. What are the different things to look for when trying to decide between models? I heard/read that there are three generations of iPod. How do I differentiate between which is which when shopping online? Does anyone even stock the earlier versions anymore? Also, some pics I've seen seem to show the iPod with a blue backlight. Do all the third generation models have that?


Thanks for any help you can provide.

 

[Ikonomi]

You'd have to work very hard to find an older version iPod. Most of the ones for sale out there are the current generation, meaning they have the touch wheel and backlit buttons. Go to the Apple iPod site to see what they're supposed to look like.

Thing is, as you may know, Apple recently released the new iPod mini models, and with that they discontinued the third generation normal iPod10 GB model, replacing it with a 15 GB model at the same price point -- the same 15 GB model that they discontinued at the very start of third gen production. So basically, now they're making iPods in 15, 20, and 40 GB flavors at appropriately outrageous prices, and you can still find 10 GB models but they're ripoffs since the 15 is the same price for now. There's also a 30 GB model that was previously discontinued that you may still be able to find. It's a bit cheaper than the current run 40 GB model.

Oh, also some of the models come with extra stuff, like the iPod dock and things like that. I think the 20, 30, 40, and mini versions come with extra stuff... BUT I honestly don't know for sure. Just shop around. Like I said, you'd have to actually work to accidentally get an old one.

 

[nikko]

Cool. Thanks for the info. I think it's all the different storage sizes that confused me. Now I get it. One more question for whoever can answer it. Who, other than Apple, has these things in stock? My friend says the only place she can find one is the Apple store. I am hoping to find it elsewhere for less than the Apple store price.

 

[Paulson]

buy.com has them for cheaper than apple's website (where you'll probably have to pay tax also, where as you probably wont for buy.com

I have a 20 gig version, it comes with a wired remote, a dock, and a case... all of those can be purchased for the 15 GB model, but don't come with it.

I don't know much about the mini versions yet.

 

[Eug]

The backlight is more white than blue.

 

[mindmaniac]

if you don't feel uncomfortable with it you may try ebay. make sure they are new and that the seller has high feedback. I got my 15 gb for $230, cheaper than the new mini, plus much larger storage. I've had it for five months, no complaints.

 

[Paulson]

Originally posted by: Eug
The backlight is more white than blue.

True, it's not really a blue backlight...

All i know about the backlight is if you use it, it'll eat up the battery in no time.