[Bubba06]

I've been avoiding joining the Apple family for a long time.

When I purchased my first MP3 player, I went with a Creative Zen, which I found far superior to an Apple Ipod, in my opinion.

All of my FAMILY'S music is on Napster (To Go), which I love, especially when my MP3 player was still here. I'm in love with subscription service, but I find myself wanting a new Mp3 player to satisfy my needs and work with Napster to go.

Anyone care to share any experiences? I'd detest jumping on the Apple train, but I may not have a choice...

-Bubba-

 

[ericdano]

Why avoid the apple "family" for a long time? They make stuff that works. I can't imagine someone NOT wanting something as versitle as an iPod touch. Metronome, music player, email, web, sound recorder, slow downer. A great tool. I don't get why someone would "detest" Apple. I mean, millions and millions of iPods are being sold this year, and last, and they year before that, and before that. For like 10 years. I think it's a misconception that Apple "locks" you into stuff. It doesn't. You can easily get mp3s from Amazon, or Napster (I didn't think they were in business but….guess I was wrong) or Rhapsody, or where ever (torrents, blogs, eMusic). Any music you buy on iTunes is not DRMed. Hasn't been for a couple of years. And they use the better AAC format. Go google it. It's an open standard. It's MP4. It sounds better than MP3. I don't think I've ever seen a test of the two that has rated MP3 encoding higher than AAC….

Creative Zen? It was superior how? Obviously NO ONE else thought that because…..well……do they even make it anymore? What does Creative do now?

Napster works on the iPod. Or Android. But I think you'd need to get over your irrational Apple hatred. So maybe get a Android. Or maybe Creative makes new players? I dunno. Nor care. But Apple's stuff is designed well, and it does last. Heck, my iPod from 2005 still works (with a HD in it). It sits in my iHome which is connected to my stereo that I use to practice Aebersold playalongs or other backgrounds I have on it.

 

[Pete Thomas]

I know plenty of people who hate Apple, that's fine by me. The problem is people get very passionate, I doubt you'll get many really objective opinions. I'm quite happy with Apple products, hardware and software, well very happy. There is a much larger percentage of stuff (a) working and (b) working very nicely in a user friendly fashion. But I don't expect people to take my word for it, the best thing, if you have the chance, is top get down to an Applestore and have a look around and some demos.

 

[magical pig]

Apple=FLAC fail.

 

[FawltyTenor]

I'm happy with my Sansa Fuze player... plays wma, mp3, video...great battery life. Nothing against the apple stuff, they're great, but you do pay a premium for it.. .

shawn

 

[Nefertiti]

Apple=FLAC fail.

I seem to remember Apple having there own lossless format........I can't remember what it is? I have a ton of live flac recordings. I converted them to 320 mp3. The size of the lossless was just crazy on my Mac computer and iPod.

 

[Pete Thomas]

I seem to remember Apple having there own lossless format........I can't remember what it is? d.

Apple Lossless I think. I've used it sometimes but not recently.

 

[Bubba06]

I know plenty of people who hate Apple, that's fine by me. The problem is people get very passionate, I doubt you'll get many really objective opinions. I'm quite happy with Apple products, hardware and software, well very happy. There is a much larger percentage of stuff (a) working and (b) working very nicely in a user friendly fashion. But I don't expect people to take my word for it, the best thing, if you have the chance, is top get down to an Applestore and have a look around and some demos.

I am seeing the passion. o.o

Why avoid the apple "family" for a long time? They make stuff that works. I can't imagine someone NOT wanting something as versitle as an iPod touch. Metronome, music player, email, web, sound recorder, slow downer. A great tool. I don't get why someone would "detest" Apple. I mean, millions and millions of iPods are being sold this year, and last, and they year before that, and before that. For like 10 years. I think it's a misconception that Apple "locks" you into stuff. It doesn't. You can easily get mp3s from Amazon, or Napster (I didn't think they were in business but….guess I was wrong) or Rhapsody, or where ever (torrents, blogs, eMusic). Any music you buy on iTunes is not DRMed. Hasn't been for a couple of years. And they use the better AAC format. Go google it. It's an open standard. It's MP4. It sounds better than MP3. I don't think I've ever seen a test of the two that has rated MP3 encoding higher than AAC….

Creative Zen? It was superior how? Obviously NO ONE else thought that because…..well……do they even make it anymore? What does Creative do now?

Napster works on the iPod. Or Android. But I think you'd need to get over your irrational Apple hatred. So maybe get a Android. Or maybe Creative makes new players? I dunno. Nor care. But Apple's stuff is designed well, and it does last. Heck, my iPod from 2005 still works (with a HD in it). It sits in my iHome which is connected to my stereo that I use to practice Aebersold playalongs or other backgrounds I have on it.

Creative Zen - IN MY OPINION: Had a better display, More user friendly, Had pictures/video beautifully, Subscription music program.
I have an Android, however, I don't have a especially nice android, so I'd like to quick bogging it down with my music obsession.

I understand Apple makes great products; I will bite the bullet if I HAVE to.

-Bubba-

 

[ericdano]

Apple=FLAC fail.

Oh geese. FLAC? Really? I suppose your mad too that OGG isn't a format anyone supports either. Apple has an OPEN SOURCE lossless format.

 

[ericdano]

Why MP3 when you can convert it to AAC and it sounds better. And it is an open format as well.

Seriously though, FLAC on a portable device? Stupid. You aren't going to get any sound through the audio system of a portable player that will reap the benefits of FLAC. I'd say 256 bit rate top. If you have some serious high end audio equipment.....then maybe. Depends on what it is and how it was recorded.

I seem to remember Apple having there own lossless format........I can't remember what it is? I have a ton of live flac recordings. I converted them to 320 mp3. The size of the lossless was just crazy on my Mac computer and iPod.

 

[magical pig]

I don't have many ogg files but support for more formats would sure be welcomed. FLAC is widely available (more than ALAC) and I'm not converting hundreds of gigs of FLAC files just because Apple decided they wouldn't support it.

Why MP3 when you can convert it to AAC and it sounds better. And it is an open format as well.

Wow, really?

Seriously though, FLAC on a portable device? Stupid. You aren't going to get any sound through the audio system of a portable player that will reap the benefits of FLAC. I'd say 256 bit rate top. If you have some serious high end audio equipment.....then maybe. Depends on what it is and how it was recorded.

iTunes doesn't play or recognized FLAC files AT ALL to my knowledge.

 

[ericdano]

I'm happy with my Sansa Fuze player... plays wma, mp3, video...great battery life. Nothing against the apple stuff, they're great, but you do pay a premium for it.. .

shawn

Explain the "premium" thing for me? I suppose if I want something that actually is useful.......I guess I would call that "premium" then. Or something that won't break, have driver problems, maybe have some sort of problem that will force me to call "tech" support and talk to someone in India about it for hours.

Yeah. I guess you're right, lets not spend the extra $40 and get something cheaper that will break, probably not just "work" out of the box, and have some sort of convoluted way of putting stuff on it. Yeah. Your right, these "premium" fees are ludicrous! Heck, those "premium" perks of being able to walk into an Apple Store and have someone help you fix something.....yeah.

 

[magical pig]

Explain the "premium" thing for me? I suppose if I want something that actually is useful.......I guess I would call that "premium" then. Or something that won't break, have driver problems, maybe have some sort of problem that will force me to call "tech" support and talk to someone in India about it for hours.

Yeah. I guess you're right, lets not spend the extra $40 and get something cheaper that will break, probably not just "work" out of the box, and have some sort of convoluted way of putting stuff on it. Yeah. Your right, these "premium" fees are ludicrous! Heck, those "premium" perks of being able to walk into an Apple Store and have someone help you fix something.....yeah.

Come on this is BS. I used to have a Sony mp3 walkman that went through many abuse (including a night outside in the rain and a cycle through a washer) and still worked.

Better driver support? LOL, please.

As for the "premium" customer support: are you implying Apple products do have some sort of a stupid tax?

I used to be on the fence in the Apple vs. PC or Apple electronics vs. everybody else until I witnessed an audio engineer friend of mine had to reboot is Mac on a regular basis because it froze (the wheel of death). I personally NEVER had to do this since I installed Win7 on my custom built PC. I saw a lot of my friends iPod just fall apart when my Sony's, Sansa's were still going strong.

 

[ericdano]

I don't have many ogg files but support for more formats would sure be welcomed. FLAC is widely available (more than ALAC) and I'm not converting hundreds of gigs of FLAC files just because Apple decided they wouldn't support it.

FLAC is a dead format outside of people who trade bootlegs. Or audiophile nerds. Nothing against audiophile nerds. And there are a couple of FLAC player Apps in the iTunes store that you could download to play FLAC.

I think Apple chose NOT to go with FLAC because it wasn't backed by anyone, and there was a little concern (10 years ago) about it maybe having some sort of patent issue (since Apple was working with the AAC people). But Apple's lossless format is open source now too, so. People don't usually believe it, but Apple is a strong supporter of open standards. Microsoft though.....I mean, WMV WMA format? What a mess.

 

[magical pig]

FLAC is a dead format outside of people who trade bootlegs. Or audiophile nerds. Nothing against audiophile nerds. And there are a couple of FLAC player Apps in the iTunes store that you could download to play FLAC.

Play FLAC through iTunes?

I think Apple chose NOT to go with FLAC because it wasn't backed by anyone, and there was a little concern (10 years ago) about it maybe having some sort of patent issue (since Apple was working with the AAC people). But Apple's lossless format is open source now too, so. People don't usually believe it, but Apple is a strong supporter of open standards. Microsoft though.....I mean, WMV WMA format? What a mess.

I don't know where to start...

Backed by no one: why are there SO many portable players supporting the format then?
Patent issues: with FLAC? How?
Apple is a strong supporter of open standards? I don't even...

 

[ericdano]

Come on this is BS. I used to have a Sony mp3 walkman that went through many abuse (including a night outside in the rain and a cycle through a washer) and still worked.

I guess a lump of crap can survive the wash. Good to know.

Better driver support? LOL, please.

Please? Yes. Meaning that not everyone is technically savvy, and that a stupid conflict with some other windows program can wreak havoc.

As for the "premium" customer support: are you implying Apple products do have some sort of a stupid tax?

I'm a little confused why people say "premium" and Apple in the same sentence. Apple's stuff is priced aggressively. And you get amazing support that is generally free at an Apple Store. Can Creative beat that? Doubt it.

I used to be on the fence in the Apple vs. PC or Apple electronics vs. everybody else until I witnessed an audio engineer friend of mine had to reboot is Mac on a regular basis because it froze (the wheel of death). I personally NEVER had to do this since I installed Win7 on my custom built PC. I saw a lot of my friends iPod just fall apart when my Sony's, Sansa's were still going strong.

Wow, that is some damning evidence there skippy! I mean, wow, he had to reboot all the time? Like a windows user does? Did your friend do anything about getting the Mac fixed? Maybe take it to an Apple Store? No? Browse the great forums at discussion.apple.com? No? Maybe run the included AppleCare disk that has a little utility to check out a mac? No?

One example, and you damn it. Good job. And your friends iPods falling apart? Well, maybe cause they are being used a LOT. Heck, the numbers don't lie.....Apple makes THE portable audio player. Look at what happened to the ZUNE? It's dead. And I don't think I've ever seen a Creative or Sansa or Sony out in the wild. While doing my 30 miles on my bicycle today, I saw 3 people with the white iPod headphones on that I noticed. Didn't see anyone with anything different. And when I was shopping on Saturday, I saw a number of people buying iPod touches (at BestBuy). Don't remember seeing these imaginary other things.....what are they again? Sansa......Unicorn......pink Elephant players?

 

[GT]

The passion is definately here.........

 

[ericdano]

Play FLAC through iTunes?

Yes, you can get iTunes to play FLAC files.

Backed by no one: why are there SO many portable players supporting the format then?

Are we talking FLAC or WMA? FLAC? Dunno, maybe to try to get people to buy them? I think every media player supports AAC (non DRMed) since like 2003 or so

Patent issues: with FLAC? How?

Back in the day, there was a lot of questions about the legality of Ogg and FLAC and other formats. Even though they are "open source" there was some questions about the code and whether or not it violated patents held by like Franhoffer (or whatever its called that holds the MP3 patents). So, in the case of Apple, if they were working with that company, and the company was questioning the legality of the format, then Apple would probably (which it did) not include FLAC support. I think all that now is cleared up, but 10 years ago.....no, there was questions. Plus, it didn't really add anything to the product in the early days. I don't think Apple had it's own lossless format until iPod broke like 15 gigs or more, which was like 2004-2005?

Apple is a strong supporter of open standards? I don't even...

Yeah, you don't even have a clue. Apple supports WAY more open formats than say Microsoft. Apple's code for the basis of OS X, Darwin. Open Source. Apple's WebKit, the basis of just about every web browser. Open Sourced.

http://opensource.apple.com/

 

[ericdano]

The passion is definately here.........

There are ill-informed people. I don't like that. Especially morons who don't think Apple contributes to Open Source or is evil. Did Apple put Netscape out of business? No. That was Microsoft. The list of evils that company has done are easily triple what Apple evils Apple has done. Plus Apple contributes a TON to Open Source, the latest one is their LossLess Audio format. But I guess the WebKit stuff that pretty much all web browsers use doesn't count.......cause Apple is evil. It's bad. It's a "premium" brand that falls apart.

*rolls eyes*

 

[Bubba06]

Okay...
Any information regarding experiences with Subscription music programs?

We've had enough passion for one thread.

-Bubba-