This just ain't Apples week.

[emorphien]

I thinik people like to hate ITunes/iPod simply because they're popular (it's popular to hate something that's popular) and not because there's a legitimate grievence there.

I agree, I've noticed that too. I don't hate the iPod or iTunes, there are some things about each that I don't like and the iPod certainly wouldn't be my choice of portable music player, but you have to respect its success and the appeals it does have.

The thing I do hate (moreso than the hating on iPod/iTunes) is the blind/blatant fanboyism with no basis that is so prevalent in support of the iPod. If anything that hurts it and makes it harder for any skeptic to take seriously.

It is what it is, it's a slick looking, easy to use player that's accessible to everyone. It's gone from sounding pretty crappy in early gens to sounding ok. It's got battery issues, they don't seem to hold up that well (but perhaps some people expect too much of it), and until recently it was priced awfully high for the features it had. Now it offers some pretty neat features that while not new, haven't been presented as neatly as they are in the current iPods.

I've never thought so much of the iPod as the innovator, but the refiner. It takes a lot of existing ideas and one-ups them. Even the early iPods weren't the first MP3 players, although some find them to be quite revolutionary. They aren't, they were evolutionary. The only thing they didn't improve (grumble grumble) is the sound quality. I'm still not quite fond of that

[topspeed]

Even the early iPods weren't the first MP3 players, although some find them to be quite revolutionary. They aren't, they were evolutionary.

I think a very convincing argument could be made to the contrary. Apple may not have been first, but they are indisputably the single most important catalyst in popularizing MP3 players and bringing the format to the forefront of the public consciousness. I have a Shuffle and to be honest, have been astounded by the battery life. Maybe it's because it doesn't have to power a color screen, play videos, or whatever else it is people do with these things, but my battery lasts extraordinarily long. I'll also add I've crushed it with weights and dropped it countless times and despite it's fragile feel, it still works flawlessly.

The only thing they didn't improve (grumble grumble) is the sound quality. I'm still not quite fond of that

Rip your music lossless. If you can hear the difference between the source cd and the iPod (or any other player) at lossless, you either have killer headphones and/or far better hearing than I.

[emorphien]

I think a very convincing argument could be made to the contrary. Apple may not have been first, but they are indisputably the single most important catalyst in popularizing MP3 players and bringing the format to the forefront of the public consciousness. I have a Shuffle and to be honest, have been astounded by the battery life. Maybe it's because it doesn't have to power a color screen, play videos, or whatever else it is people do with these things, but my battery lasts extraordinarily long. I'll also add I've crushed it with weights and dropped it countless times and despite it's fragile feel, it still works flawlessly.

I don't think battery life has been as big of a problem lately as it was earlier on. It still seems they don't live up to spec all the time, but they do much better than before.

As far as innovator vs improver, I guess it's a matter of opinion. Apple has been first at some things but mostly first at widespread marketable success. Technology wise it's usually me-too with a dash of "i did better."

Rip your music lossless. If you can hear the difference between the source cd and the iPod (or any other player) at lossless, you either have killer headphones and/or far better hearing than I.

I use MP3s ripped at highest settings with LAME for my portable listening to balance storage and sound quality. I'll leave best sound quality anchored at home from traditional tangible formats. I've never been that enthralled by MP3 playback from iPods however the newer ones are improved.