Which Ipod Generation to avoid?

[mset]

I'm looking for a used 30GB iPod... but I remember reading here a few months back that there was one generation that should be avoided if possible... I thought it was 3rd Gen. but it might have been 4th Gen.

Can anyone help me out?

 

[Paulson]

3rd gen has crappier battery life. Also, if it's a 3rd gen 30GB it's going to be thicker (2 platters instead of the 1 platter in the 30GB 4th gen)...

I tended to like 3rd gen iPods if only they had a better battery life.

 

[mset]

hey Paulson

Thanks for the quick reply, looks like you're the iPod guy. So I should be fine if I go with a 4th generation 30GB. Actually now that you mention the battery life, I think that's the problem that I was reading about. Battery life is actually pretty important for my application so I guess I should stick with 4th gen.

Thanks again, Nik

 

[Paulson]

The iPod 4th gen gives you approximately 12 hours give or take... usually it's more like 10 or a little less, but it all depends on what you're doing with it.

Make sure not to turn on the EQ or use the backlight if not necessary, as those pretty much kill the battery life.

 

[mset]

Excellent, thanks for that.

I love AT.

 

[phaxmohdem]

Avoid all generations of them.... Cassette Walkmans are the definate way to roll.

 

[mset]

I spent about 10 minutes searching the site to find out how long I have to wait between bumps, but I found nothing, so...

bump

any other comments about 1st-5th gen iPods will be welcomed. Paulson et. al., I heard about some issue with 'bass roll-off' in the 3rd gen units. As a muso, this would mean to me that the s/w has some sort of automatic bass roll-off that can't be disabled.

Any comments?

 

[mshan]

Ask at the Head-Fi portables forum ( http://www6.head-fi.org/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=22 ).

You can also try the forums at http://www.ilounge.com.

 

[Ika]

1st and 2nd gen iPods should be avoided at all means.

3rd gen iPods are okay, but also have a host of problems.

4th gens are generally fine... but

5th gens are the best - good battery life (anywhere from 10-15 hours, depending on how you use them - more if you have the 60gb version), good HD size, small size.

 

[chimpy]

I have a 4G 20GB (the none colour version) and it's been great for the year or two I've had it. Battery life is not a problem, I usually recharge it anyway before it runs out.

 

[mset]

Excellent, thank you guys. I have what I need and I will stick to 4th or 5th gen for sure. I'll check out those links too, maybe ask over there, but I think I have what I need.

 

[evilsaint]

Originally posted by: mset
any other comments about 1st-5th gen iPods will be welcomed. Paulson et. al., I heard about some issue with 'bass roll-off' in the 3rd gen units. As a muso, this would mean to me that the s/w has some sort of automatic bass roll-off that can't be disabled.

Any comments?

I can't comment from a technical perspective, but constantly using my 3G in my car, with a mid-level audiophile stereo, I haven't had any issue with bass roll-off that i've been able to notice.

Even setting the gains and tuning a new amp I put in yesterday, I decided to burn some test tones to a CD and try them out on the iPod too, just to see the difference, and to be honest, even with all the EQ settings on my head-unit and on the amps turned off or flattened, I could hardly tell the difference, aside from a bit of extra noise induced from the extra connections for the iPod.

What application are you going to be using it for listening to music in? Just on headphones?

 

[acegazda]

I don't like iPods...there are better alternatives out there so I'm going to say stay away from all of them. The creative zen vision and zen vision:m are better than the gen5 iPod.

 

[mset]

Hi saint

If you're burning test tones to check your car system, you are clearly an audiophile

My applications will be varied. To be honest I am not in the habit of listening to music with earbuds in and I probably won't change radically just because I have an ipod. First, I will use the iPod as a source of 'break music' at certain gigs I do. I have to suppply different kinds of break music depending on the audience I'm playing for and hauling around CDs just seems unneccesary. That's why the battery life thing is paramount. To be honest, fidelity isn't a huge issue. I presume that I will eventually start to use the iPod in my car as well, since I want to get away from CD completely. In the car is the only time I have to listen to music, when I am out of the house. At home I can just use my computer and play the songs on iTunes of I want.

The only other thing is that I want to be able to get tunes from other people's iPods onto mine seamlessly, but I am not sure if these units are set up for ipdod-to-ipod transfers, or if I will have to plug my ipod into my friends computer if I want access to his catalogue of songs.

Thanks for the reply and any further info is appreciated.

 

[evilsaint]

TBH, I don't know if there's any way whatsoever to transfer music from 'pod to 'pod, but to transfer music from other people's computers to your iPod, in iTunes specifically, you just have to set for manual transfers b/w your music library and any iPod that ends up being connected.

Purchased songs need to be individually 'activated' with Apple, but aside from that you're set with just about anything that might be in somebody else's library.

 

[tjpark1111]

all.

 

[Paulson]

Originally posted by: acegazda
I don't like iPods...there are better alternatives out there so I'm going to say stay away from all of them. The creative zen vision and zen vision:m are better than the gen5 iPod.

You're an idiot...

You're like the people who wont listen to a certain band because it's become too mainstream and you can't appreciate it, even if deep down inside you really liked it.

 

[Aisengard]

He's not an idiot, he has personal preferences. I've used an iPod, and while I really enjoy spinning the wheely thing, that's about the only positive thing I can see over my Cowon iAudio X5. Less battery life, no File Structure format (again, personal preference), and no custom background. My sister's Nano cannot recharge via wall outlet, only via USB. Useless annoyance. Oh, and I personally don't like iTunes either. There are (IMO) better alternatives out there.

 

[imported_Questar]

Originally posted by: acegazda
I don't like iPods...there are better alternatives out there so I'm going to say stay away from all of them. The creative zen vision and zen vision:m are better than the gen5 iPod.

Nice reply. Did you truly think this answers any of the posters questions?

 

[imported_Questar]

Originally posted by: mset
I'm looking for a used 30GB iPod... but I remember reading here a few months back that there was one generation that should be avoided if possible... I thought it was 3rd Gen. but it might have been 4th Gen.

Can anyone help me out?

4th gen are great. As far as getting songs, evilsaint is correct. Just don't autosync. Also there are many programs out there (anapod, ephpod, copypod) that will allow you to take songs off your iPod and add them to iTunes - something that iTunes does not do.

 

[acegazda]

Originally posted by: Questar

Originally posted by: acegazda
I don't like iPods...there are better alternatives out there so I'm going to say stay away from all of them. The creative zen vision and zen vision:m are better than the gen5 iPod.

Nice reply. Did you truly think this answers any of the posters questions?

yes... its advising to explore other, potentially better options. Srry if it came off harsh... here's your goddamn smiley!

 

[Dman877]

Stay away from 3rd gen. Mine started with about 7 hours of battery life and after 1.5 years, that dropped to about 15 minutes. I swore off ipods after that but there really aren't any decent alternatives when size is a concern (yes the other stuff is good but nothing matches the size and ease of use of the ipods). Anyway, I'm on a current gen ipod mini atm and the battery in it lasts about 20 hours (advertised as 15 hours, I was shocked and amazed) which is great since I work 10 - 12 hour shifts and need long life.

BTW, all ipods are wall-chargeable. Apple used to include the adapter to do this, but they don't anymore. You can still buy it though.

 

[mset]

Originally posted by: Questar

Originally posted by: mset
I'm looking for a used 30GB iPod... but I remember reading here a few months back that there was one generation that should be avoided if possible... I thought it was 3rd Gen. but it might have been 4th Gen.

Can anyone help me out?

4th gen are great. As far as getting songs, evilsaint is correct. Just don't autosync. Also there are many programs out there (anapod, ephpod, copypod) that will allow you to take songs off your iPod and add them to iTunes - something that iTunes does not do.

Thanks, guys for taking the time to respond. Questar, that is very interesting and I would not have guessed that you can't go iTunes-->iPod out of the box, but I guess it has to do with Apple not wanting people to share the tunes they have downloaded from iTunes. Not surprising that there are several workarounds for that.

Dman, thanks for the review. I had basically decided that it was 4th Gen 30GB for me. I found out tonight that a new iPod is on it's way soon, so instead of buying a used 4th Gen 30GB maybe I can find a new one that will come with some warranty instead.

 

[evilsaint]

Originally posted by: Dman877
Stay away from 3rd gen. Mine started with about 7 hours of battery life and after 1.5 years, that dropped to about 15 minutes. I swore off ipods after that but there really aren't any decent alternatives when size is a concern (yes the other stuff is good but nothing matches the size and ease of use of the ipods). Anyway, I'm on a current gen ipod mini atm and the battery in it lasts about 20 hours (advertised as 15 hours, I was shocked and amazed) which is great since I work 10 - 12 hour shifts and need long life.

BTW, all ipods are wall-chargeable. Apple used to include the adapter to do this, but they don't anymore. You can still buy it though.

There was a class-action set against Apple about this chronic problem, and you could very well be entitled to a free repair (hell, they might even send ya a new iPod ).

Clicky

 

[Paulson]

Originally posted by: Aisengard
He's not an idiot, he has personal preferences. I've used an iPod, and while I really enjoy spinning the wheely thing, that's about the only positive thing I can see over my Cowon iAudio X5. Less battery life, no File Structure format (again, personal preference), and no custom background. My sister's Nano cannot recharge via wall outlet, only via USB. Useless annoyance. Oh, and I personally don't like iTunes either. There are (IMO) better alternatives out there.

That's great and all, however he specifically was asking about the iPod.

If you make an iAudio X5 thread I'll be sure to come into it and tell you that it sucks and to buy an ipod, because I like iPods better.

Also, about the battery issue with older iPods. what harm is a $15 ebay battery (a decent one, not some absolute horrible one) going to do to your wallet. Most batteries come with tools to replace your battery and also include instructions.

If you can't figure out how to open up an iPod 3rd gen to replace a battery, there isn't much hope in this world for you (A monkey could do it).