Just how useful is an iPod touch?

[ibex333]

I am wrestling with myself about buying the new iPod touch. I want to get one simply because it looks cool, allows to watch movies, and has all these "apps".... BUT...

1)Wi-Fi one of the strongest points of this device is completely useless to me. Why would I want to browse at my home on this small screen when I can browse the internet on my desktop computer? I would love to browse the net from this device for free when I'm NOT home, but how many idiots are there with an unsecured connection? And even if I do find one, it's not like I'm going to sit next to his house just so I can browse the internet! My college does not use Wi-Fi anyway.

2)Movies... so good in theory, so annoying in practice.

Let me guess, you cant just download a movie in any format into your ipod and watch it, right? You need to "convert" just about everything? I sure hope I am wrong about this one, but this was the case with my iPod Video and this is the case with my PSP.

3)Apps... sounds great in theory, but can anyone name a few apps that they use more than once/twice a week if even that? Are there any TRULY USEFUL apps?

And so, if everything I said above is correct, I am left with a device, where TRUE functionality is limited to just an mp3 player(without even a radio), which I already have. This is exactly why I am trying to find out if I simply WANT an iPod touch, or if I really NEED one.

What are your experiences with your iPod touch? How often do you use it, and do you use it for more than just listening to music?

 

[zylander]

I had an ipod touch for about a month that I got for free when I bought my MacBook Pro. When I got my iPhone, I sold the touch. The iPod touch was a cool little device to have but I didnt use it for anything other than an mp3 player. I have a lot of apps on my iPhone that I use on a daily basis but they require WiFi or a data network so they wouldnt do too much good on a touch. To me, it doesnt sound like you really need one.

 

[Spoooon]

Maybe you should just stick with your computer?

I used the crap out of my Archos PMP with wifi. I would check email and stuff from bed without needing to mess with a laptop and put it to use in the airport.

I don't know what formats the iPod touch can handle, but I'd imagine converting files is just the name of the game depending.

 

[rdp6]

I use my iPod Touch every work day as an mp3 player for a few hours. At home I use it to surf the web, check email, weather, stocks, play some games, tune guitar. Family members love to use it to view photos. Sure you can use your desktop for all that, but sometimes your desktop might be unavailable.

I have used it several times to get driving directions which stay in the maps app after you leave wifi connection.

Rarely watch movies. I convert to apple universal setting in Handbrake.

Oh, forgot: address book is pretty handy, too.

Today my wife used it instead of printing out a recipe.
Every month I send in my electricity usage meter reading directly from my ipod. Also I can update my netflix queue and schedule my DVR with it. Really it is a case of being able to do so many little things when you think of it rather than waiting until you are at your desktop machine.

 

[ScottAD]

I've got one and I'm glad I have it really.

It beats firing up a laptop when I just want to quickly check email and it handles multiple accounts.

The address book is a great thing to have if you are out and don't have your laptop. Open it up, find a name, shoot an email and done. (Yes, I know this can also be done on a BB which I have also. However I keep the BB strictly work and the Touch is casual.)

As for Apps, I use quite a few and some are just gimmicky. Score Mobile is my go to when I am wanting to check out sports scores. I also use UrbanSpoon on occasion when traveling. The maps application is great to have if you are driving and get lost.

I don't use the browser much since I don't like Safari. It's gorgeous and wonderful in idea but the lack of flash support (which I understand Apples POV) is a nail in the coffin for me. I also use one of the flashlight apps that makes the screen a pure white. Some games I have on there and a first aid application just in case.

The idea of the iPod Touch is not to replace your laptop but to add to your ability to access content anywhere and easily. Why boot up the laptop if you can get the answer right where you are in half the time?

 

[gorcorps]

I honestly have no idea why you'd even think about a touch if you have no need for an mp3 player, as that's IMO what they're mainly after. It has a bunch of other features to get you to buy that one over another mp3 player, but I'm not sure it's useful as anything else.

But to get down to your specific questions:
1.) As a college student I'm on campus a lot, and most schools have free wifi to students. I like being able to browse the web in between classes without having to drag my laptop around or be in a dedicated PC lab. I use mine at home too even though my PC is the other room. The browser is that good that it's worth not leaving the room to check on stuff.

2.)Love movies on the iphone. Yes, you need to convert them but there are many programs that make this easy. There are even programs like Air Video Server that lets you keep all your videos in their original format on your PC, and your ipod touch/iphone can transcode them on the fly over wifi and such. Obviously not good if you're out of wifi range, but I still think it's a spectacular app.

3.) As I say, Air Video Server is a great app that I use all the time. I also like having Pandora on the go, but that also requires a data connection (I have an iphone) which may not be as awesome for you. I use Sportstacular a lot which gives me game scores/schedules and you can even set it up to give you alerts when a game from a specific team ends.

Overall it's a very useful device, but if you don't intend to use it as an mp3 player I wouldn't bother.

 

[Rottie]

I dont own iPod Touch but I suppose it is fun to use when you take a long commute you can watch video clips and listen to some music. And if you are at any bookstore or stop by at starbuck for a coffee you can use their free WIFI and also if you lve eat out at McDonald it also offer free WIFI while eating there so you wont miss anything.

 

[Phynaz]

iPod touch is the second best hand-held computer you can buy.

Iphone is the first

 

[gorcorps]

iPod touch is the second best hand-held computer you can buy.

Iphone is the first

If by 2nd you mean after all the Android phones....

 

[zylander]

If by 2nd you mean after all the Android phones....

Ive used a Droid and it fails next to a jailbroken iPhone. Id say its about on par with a stock iPhone.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

#2) I agree with you. Anyone talking about movies on their PMP has got to be joking. Maybe you wanna watch on a plane or whatever. I can understand then. But seriously, straining my eyes to watch on a small screen... I'd rather play the games on my iPod than watch a movie. I'll wait to pull out my 15" MBP or something.. or better yet just wait till I get home and watch it in front of my 27" Dell.

 

[gorcorps]

Ive used a Droid and it fails next to a jailbroken iPhone. Id say its about on par with a stock iPhone.

I was saying iPhone would stay 1st, but Android phones would come before the Touch. IMO any smartphone I've used is more useful than a fancy mp3 player.

 

[idiotekniQues]

the apps i really use the most (on my nexus one) are ones that require wireless data, not wi-fi, because i need them on the go - whether on a bus or in a bar or on the street.

i suppose if you use the touch to play games, or use apps like say an expense tracker, that work offline, it could be useful. i see a lot of people play games on their iphones on the subway where data doesn't work - i myself am not really into games on my phone.

i can see wi-fi being useful if you are going to spend a couple years on a college campus that is covered in wi-fi, but even here in NYC, i dont want to have to go find a starbucks or mcdonalds to use my apps. apps on the go to me are useful, well, on the go - as in where you are at that time. if i am home sometimes in bed in the morning i will read the news using 3G, so wi-fi would work, but once i am up and at 'em, i'd just sit down on my desktop or laptop.

but that is my subjective opinion.

 

[hanoverphist]

#2) I agree with you. Anyone talking about movies on their PMP has got to be joking. Maybe you wanna watch on a plane or whatever. I can understand then. But seriously, straining my eyes to watch on a small screen...

i was of the same mind for the most part. but i did dump a few mp4s on my phone to test with. came in very handy while stuck at family gathering a while ago. i stepped out back for a smoke and loaded up a movie. propped my phone up on the table and watched it for about 45 minutes before i realized i was still watching it. normally ill save the movie watching for my 17" lappy or my 65" tv at home (or other peoples tvs) but it wasnt horrible watching a movie on my phone at all. eyes didnt hurt at all either.