Which One?

[chesterdawg]

So I'm looking for my first ipod after many pc mp3 players.
I want at least 64GB.

I have always used the flash models but am curious about the hard drive models with large capacity.

I always was of the belief that the flash models are better since no moving parts especially since mine is mostly used on my motorcycle where it resides in the fairing pocket (glove box).

My only real preference is to be able to play in shuffle mode with the hope that it doesn't repeat tracks until they all have been played.

My current Creative Zen allows to also choose the option "rarely played tracks" which I enjoy.

I'd like to know which models are favored (I've read the 6th? generation have better sound?) and which if any should be avoided from know bugs/issues.

Thanks,

Steve

[Astro_Digital]

I have two iPods both 160Gig iPod Classics they are several years old and had no problem with the hard drives.

I have no idea what Generation they are but I love my iPods, have no interest in the Touch just want something to hold a lot of music.

Rarely played music, created a smart playlist.

[kornchild2002]

You should still be fine buying an iPod with a hard drive in it. I use my 160GB iPod classic on a daily basis whether I am driving, walking to class (which I don't do anymore, yay!), in my office, or in my lab. It has come across a few bumps here and there. I don't think it is going to experience anything in your motorcycle that it won't go through in a car so long as it isn't sliding back and forth in the pocket. The iPod classic isn't as fragile as everyone makes it out to be. You definitely shouldn't run/jog with one but they are otherwise fine for other everyday activities.

They are currently the only iPod with more than 56GB of actual storage (the 4G 64GB iPod touch actually has about 56GB of usable space) and offer the best price to capacity ratio of any iPod. In fact, you may not be able to buy an iPod classic after this September. Apple hasn't updated the iPod classic since 2009 and it appears to be on the way out as Apple focuses on iOS with the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. I wouldn't be surprised if they just up and kill the iPod classic all together since it has been 3 years from the last update.

The iPod touch is a better all-around iPod since it works with music, videos, can shoot decent 720p videos, has an internet browser, works with apps, etc. However, if your main focus is just music playback, the iPod classic really can't be beat as it is really inexpensive (Best Buy is selling it for $228 right now, new), most are able to easily get about 40-45 hours on a single charge beating both Apple's 36 hour estimate and the 40 (more like 42) hours of the 4G iPod touch, and can house an entire lossy library of even a large collector.

[chesterdawg]

Thanks for the detailed reply, adding the battery life - I was concerned with that also, great to see those numbers.

I think I'll get one!


Steve

[kornchild2002]

Apple's estimates for iPod battery life in general have been rather conservative for the last ~6 years. Back in 2003, they got in trouble as they said that the 3G iPod and 1G iPod mini could both get 8 hours on a single charge. The mini would actually be able to obtain that but most people (including myself) were only getting about 6 hours out of the 3G iPod. Then Apple's estimates were more right on the dot with the 4G and 5G iPods. It wasn't until the 5.5G iPod when their estimates became more conservative and every iPod with a hard drive since then has been able to surpass their numbers. My 160GB iPod classic routinely goes for 39 hours before needing to be recharged and that is with stop and start playing. I was able to push it to 44 hours during a long road trip where I would play it for 8-9 hour straight each day.

You may want to think about looking online at other sources for picking one up as they are pretty inexpensive. A new 160GB iPod classic costs about $228 (Amazon, Best Buy, MacMall) but you can often find them new from independent sellers (Amazon Marketplace, eBay) at $180-$200. You can even pick them up used for much less. I purchased a second 160GB iPod classic (2009) just to have in my car as a permanent fixture in my middle armrest console (where my secondary auxiliary input is along with a second charger) for $80 a couple weeks ago. It had been used for about a year so it had some light scratches on the back but its hard to argue with a working like new 160GB iPod classic at $80.

[Astro_Digital]

The only concern I have about buying used is battery life.

[chesterdawg]

Ordered on today from amazon.
160GB 7th Generation.

Thanks all,

Steve