I'm considering getting an Ipod. Is it worth it? Do you have to pay...

[maveric]

for the music you load? Is it easy to use?
Can I get some input on Ipods?

[KDLarsen]

1. You only have to pay if you use iTunes

I think iPod can handle "homemade" mp3 files as well, which is what would normally fill it up with (note: I haven't got an Ipod yet, so I can't comment on user-friendlyness).

[Maestro]

2. iTunes is "da bomb!"

I love it. I don't have an ipod but I use it to create my own personal mixes.

[maveric]

7. So you can safely load music from the internet(ITunes), only?

Some is free some you pay for. What kind of a selection is there. I dont want to load Pop, Hip, Hop, or C&W. Can I get old Blues and Rock? Jazz?
I dont want to spend the money on something like that and realize I cant get the music that I like.

[NWHarkness]

9. You can import from your CDs

I think you might be confusing iTunes (the player application) with the iTunes store (Apple's music sales site).
You don't have to use the store to use iTunes. You can import songs from your CDs into iTunes and then load them on to your iPod.

I've got one of the first generation iPods, and it's as good today as it was the day I bought it. I currently have almost 1,000 songs on it.

[maveric]

10. How's the sound quality?

Or is that a headphone issue?

[evlbstrd]

11. The sound quality is good.

You have the option of using the AAC codec, which is less "lossy" than mp3.

[Maestro]

12. Sound quality is quite good especially if you import

from your own cd's. You can use Apple's lossless technology to import. The quality of downloaded material is fine as well. Only the most picky audiophile would really be able to tell a difference. When you buy a song or album you can burn any individual song 7 times. After that you can't burn it any more but you can still listen. As far as the blues go, they have a ton of it!

Here is a rock blues mix I made. http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPublishedPlaylist?id=256481

[evlbstrd]

3. I can't afford one.

But the people I know that have them love them. They are easy to use, and you can rip CDs in iTunes and load them onto your iPod. No need to use the iTunes Music Store.

[supernova]

4. So iPods take MP3s you already have?

I really want to get them off my hard drive.

[AVID]

5. I like mine - easy to use and keep updated

I use a Mac too - so it auto updates and charges in its cradle.
Ive had it 2+ years and it still holds almost a 4 hr charge with volume almost maxed.

It's been handy!

[kedrys]

6. Mine is surgically grafted to my hip

I have an adapter for the car stereo, have copied all my CDs into iTunes, and regularly buy music from both iTunes and eMusic. Easy to use, easy to feed, and very addictive.

[MrModerate]

8. Unless you plan to use Apple's iTunes site as the sole source . . .

of your music, there's no reason to pay the premium price the iPod commands. Also note that iPods don't play .wma (Microsoft format) files.

Get a competitor's product at about 25-50% less. I don't want to name any particular model, because it's been almost a year since I shopped, and these things evolve so fast that the hot item a year ago almost certainly isn't now. Creative and iRiver made good products the last time I looked.

Check out the battery situation as well. Calculate rechargeable batteries when you do your cost analysis.

Also decide whether you need a substantial portion of your collection available (thousands of songs, so that you need to get a hard-drive version, which will be bigger, bulkier, and more fragile) or if you can get by with 80-100 songs (the capacity of a 512 MB flash memory player), which can be the size of a pack of gum, have excellent battery life and be more rugged. This latter type you would typically refresh with new music when you get tired of the 80 tunes.

I actually have one of each, for different applications.