Should I wait or not?

[jimmyjones]

I'm in a similar position to many people on this forum, but i'm gonna ask anyway. I don't currently own an ipod, but I really want to. The new iPod photo is a beautiful machine, but it doesn't really have the functionality that I would want from spending $499. Should I wait for the 5G iPod? I know what some people will say, that this is always the case and there will always be something better around the corner, but I'm really not sure what to do. I'm just really worried about spending all that money for something that could be made obselete in a matter of months. Any suggestions? Is getting the photo really worth it if it doesn't do EXACTLY what I want?

Thanks for any replies

[jhollington]

I guess the first point is exactly what do you want the iPod photo to do for you?

You're correct that there's always a chance that you'll be waiting for the "next big thing" if you wait too long, but at the same time, I guess the question comes down to whether or not the features that iPod photo does have is worth the price.

Keep in mind as well that a standard 4G iPod will do exactly what an iPod photo does in terms of music playback. All the iPod photo really adds is the colour screen, album artwork, and photo capabilities (and capacity, if you're looking at the 60Gb)....

Plus, since Apple is usually very tight-lipped about such things, it's very difficult to have any reasonable expectations of what the 5G would actually add.... People are speculating, but right now it's just that... Speculation.

[creosote]

jhollingtong, i was in the same position as you just a few days ago. I ended up purchasing the iPod photo 40gb and it's great. The colour screen is so nice to use and the photo capabilities are really good. But in saying that, i think it's alot of money to pay for an iPod - but i try not to think about the price anymore and just enjoy it.

[laxmiddi44]

I HAVE THE BEST IDEA FOR YOU. I just bought an ipod photo at best buy with their $50 extended warrenty that lasts for 3 years and what this allows you to do is in lets say the new ipod came out. You can go in a lie and say ur battery is only lasting for 3 hours.(best buy guy actually told me to do this lol) Then they will say "ok we will have to replace your ipod" and you can say to them can i upgrade to the new ipod and the warrenty allows you to do that and the warrenty carries over with the new mp3 player. I cant wait for the new ipod because i dont have to pay for it, WOOHOO!

[creosote]

Oh lol that's heaps good! What happens if they test it and it lasts for 12 hours?

[laxmiddi44]

they dont test them, i asked lol

[archurban]

actually, this is only my opinion. I found that ipod photo is not really practical because it doesn't still get connection directly into computer. so you have to pay for another $100 Belkin product. I'm also not satisfied with watching a lot of pictures on small screen. sometimes, you need to change photo quality. then you have to be back to computer for doing it. not just edit it simply within ipod photo. it looks thick, feels heavier. I just realized that if you're not photographer who need a lot of pictures of storage, and carry everytime, it seems like wasting my money.

I don't know what the purpose you have for ipod photo. is it storage, or listening to music? actually, I also found that I don't have a chance to show my pictures many times to my friends. just it needs sometimes when we have family reunite, or party, meeting, then, we have chance for presentation. well, not many. most of them prefer to listen to music rather than watching pictures.

I'm not sure that Apple will consider to release some video ipod or not with bigger screen. then, I will maybe consider.

[iMacc]

60gb ipod photo. I just got one and i love it. :D

[Havo]

Well archurban if u dont like looking at photos on such a small screen ur prob not gonna watch video either... I'm jus gonna buy a psp for watching video and have my ipod for photos. It's actually not that thick compared to the other ipod models of its capacity. It's basically the same size as the 4g 40gb ipod. I've had both so I kno this. Jimmyjones if I were u I would jus buy the photo now and when the new ipod comes out sell ur old 1 and upgrade. That is prob what I'm doing. I've always had some form of portable audio because I alwayz listen to music. If u really need music then I sugguest u buy the ipod photo now...

[newfire]

Like laxmiddi44 said above- go with BestBuy's replacement warranty. Its the best you will find out there. They say you can return your iPod for any reason, which means you can just take it back once a new iPod comes out and the4y will give you a gift card for the amount you spent , and with that you can just buy the new iPod! I got one for my 4G 20GB iPod and its great. I have already switched one because I scratched up the screen, and I will probably upgrade in the future. Oh yea, my warranty was for only 2 years, not 3, I guess it just depends on your local Bestbuy.

[laxmiddi44]

yea, mine is 3 years for $59.99 i think it was but WOW what a great deal i mean come on to be able to upgrade it technology for free. Jesus its the best thing i have ever heard of

[mallu2u]

So when you guys went back to BB to return the iPod with some (made-up) reason :D, they really believed you and gave you the entire price you paid? Wow! No probs at all? If that is the case, I am seriously going to consider BB for my purchase as well.

[laxmiddi44]

yes, i havnt returned mine yet becuz i just got the ipod photo. But basically you could go in a say it has a ton of scratches and they will give u the $587.00 gift card. (price of my ipod photo with the warrenty)

[TheSunTheSea]

Originally posted by laxmiddi44
I HAVE THE BEST IDEA FOR YOU. I just bought an ipod photo at best buy with their $50 extended warrenty that lasts for 3 years and what this allows you to do is in lets say the new ipod came out. You can go in a lie and say ur battery is only lasting for 3 hours.(best buy guy actually told me to do this lol) Then they will say "ok we will have to replace your ipod" and you can say to them can i upgrade to the new ipod and the warrenty allows you to do that and the warrenty carries over with the new mp3 player. I cant wait for the new ipod because i dont have to pay for it, WOOHOO!

This is a complete lie, and I'll tell you why:

I bought a 3G 15GB iPod back in May 2003 from Best Buy and purchased the $40/4 year Service Plan. I too was told that if anything happened to it that they'll go ahead and replace the iPod with the "most comparable" one available. I liked the idea of having the "next iPod" in case my current one failed.

So, a few months ago my 15GB really started to die off on me. The battery was lasting 4.5 hours and songs would randomly skip on my playlist. I went to THREE different Best Buys in the Denver area and none of them replaced my iPod. They said that what they'll do is examine it, then send it off to get the iPod serviced in another state. The whole process takes 10 days and what they basically do is replace your battery. If it's still broken then they'll try to replace it with the same type of iPod if they have it. If not, then they'll give you a comparable one.

So, unless I bought the wrong plan or something, you don't get one replaced.

[newfire]

TheSunTheSea, i think you have a completely different plan. My plan was $40/ 2 years. But this is a REPLACEMENT PLAN. BB probably didn't have this plan in 2003.