Ipod Nanos

[baygirl_1]

I know y'all are talking about iPods, but just to add another dimension...

We have a Creative Labs Zen Nano. A couple weeks ago, I fell while walking and killed the ol' Walkman. So, we decided to become part of the 21st century and buy a nano. We got the el cheapo deluxe $85 dollar 512MB. It works just fine for us. We each have our folders for our favorite music. I use it while walkign and DH uses it for running. We have more than enough room for our songs.
I know teens probably need more space than adults, so they'd want the 1 GB or greater. However, keep in mind that Creative Labs gets really high ratings from Consumer Reports and Bizrate.com. It's a pretty good alternative to iPod.

[Kim_in_MN]

Well, here is my iPod story...my 11 year old son has been asking for one for awhile now and I pretty much made up my mind to get him one for Christmas.....after researching them, I decided the $129 shuffle with 240 songs would be awesome for him and I was very excited....so here is the catch...last night my son brings me an ad from the Sunday paper of iPods. He informs me that he wants the $200 iPod Nano....well I point out the $129 iPod and he basically gives me all these reasons why that one basically sucks! *Sigh* Then my husband shuts him down by telling him there is no way he is getting a $200 christmas present....and he gets upset. My son has always been the more selfish one when it comes to wanting things....no matter how many times we talk to him about appreciating things. So where does that leave me? I was so excited that I was going to buy him something cool....but now that doesn't seem good enough....any opinions on what I should do? (besides beat my kid senseless...lol)

No, beating him senseless sounds good to me (kidding, kidding, kidding!!!!). I am thinking of getting my 12 year old a shuffle for Christmas - he has never asked for one, but when I mentioned that I had seen one somewhere, he said "cool".

I have a question that I can't seem to find the answer to though - we have downloaded some songs from Napster; will we be able to somehow convert these songs and put them on the iPod (or will I have to pay for his favorites a second time from iTunes)? How about songs from CDs that we own? If anyone can tell me, I would appreciate it - I don't want to spend $80 or whatever on the Shuffle and find out I am gonna have to spend another $100 for music!!

Kim

[lurkey]

Well, here is my iPod story...my 11 year old son has been asking for one for awhile now and I pretty much made up my mind to get him one for Christmas.....after researching them, I decided the $129 shuffle with 240 songs would be awesome for him and I was very excited....so here is the catch...last night my son brings me an ad from the Sunday paper of iPods. He informs me that he wants the $200 iPod Nano....well I point out the $129 iPod and he basically gives me all these reasons why that one basically sucks! *Sigh* Then my husband shuts him down by telling him there is no way he is getting a $200 christmas present....and he gets upset. My son has always been the more selfish one when it comes to wanting things....no matter how many times we talk to him about appreciating things. So where does that leave me? I was so excited that I was going to buy him something cool....but now that doesn't seem good enough....any opinions on what I should do? (besides beat my kid senseless...lol)

No, beating him senseless sounds good to me (kidding, kidding, kidding!!!!). I am thinking of getting my 12 year old a shuffle for Christmas - he has never asked for one, but when I mentioned that I had seen one somewhere, he said "cool".

I have a question that I can't seem to find the answer to though - we have downloaded some songs from Napster; will we be able to somehow convert these songs and put them on the iPod (or will I have to pay for his favorites a second time from iTunes)? How about songs from CDs that we own? If anyone can tell me, I would appreciate it - I don't want to spend $80 or whatever on the Shuffle and find out I am gonna have to spend another $100 for music!!

Kim

From Napster: NO Because their music is copy-protected using Window Music Player DRM and unless you can get around DRM (Digital Rights Management) and then convert the file from .wmv to .mp3 or .aac, you can't put on the iPod.

From CDs: You can rip the tracks from the CD and load them on the iPod. Of course that is if the CDs are not copy-protected, then again it is a matter of getting around the copy-protection and ripping the tracks and encoding them to .mp3 or .aac files

[Kim_in_MN]

From Napster: NO Because their music is copy-protected using Window Music Player DRM and unless you can get around DRM (Digital Rights Management) and then convert the file from .wmv to .mp3 or .aac, you can't put on the iPod.

From CDs: You can rip the tracks from the CD and load them on the iPod. Of course that is if the CDs are not copy-protected, then again it is a matter of getting around the copy-protection and ripping the tracks and encoding them to .mp3 or .aac files

OK, thanks for the answer (which was pretty much what I thought it would be). Maybe he won't be getting that for Christmas.

Kim

[CajunMama]

So now that i've got the ipod nanos...what accessories do i need to tell the grandparents to get for them? I think Best Buy sells the itunes gift cards but do they need a charger or case?

[lurkey]

So now that i've got the ipod nanos...what accessories do i need to tell the grandparents to get for them? I think Best Buy sells the itunes gift cards but do they need a charger or case?

Cases for the nanos are a must. You need something to protect the screen and iPod from scratches. I think they have something called tubes designed to protect the nano

A charger should have come with the nano. Are you talking about a charger to charge them in the car? If so, I think Belkin and Griffin makes those and you can get anywhere iPod accessories are sold (Walmart, Target, Best Buy, etc.). Also, if they want to listen to the nano via the car stereo or their stereos in their rooms, a FM transmitter, such as an iTrip (from Griffin) is necessary. You should be able to get them at Best Buy.

[CajunMama]

Update on my daughters ipod. She was in between classes, ipod not in a case....dropped it. The hold button wouldn't unlock the ipod. So i went on apple.com and keyed in the serial number. It's still under warranty except for shipping! I requested a service packet last Thursday. It came on Friday and dhl shipping also picked it back up friday. It came back today...not the original one though. They say you get a refurbished one but this one doesn't have a scratch on it at all. I think i'll be paying $59 for the service protection just in case for an extra year of coverage.

[Miss Mary]

We had to exchange Nina's iPod too. They actually gave us a brand new one but with strict instructions (at the genius bar): "tell your daughter not to eat or drink when listening to her iPod!" We think she gummed up the dial and it wouldn't work at all. All she got was a sad face. When the tech guy told me that I wanted to say - yeah, I'll tell her that but will she listen? LOL Nina's iPod came with her college iBook, so it was in warranty. We extended it for about the fee you mentioned. Well worth it, IMO. She's hard on computers, cell phones, iPods, etc.

[pojo]

I dropped my 6GB mini in the water and had to replace it... I have the 4GB nano... I would suggest a plastic case holder.... it takes the beating and the IPod is safe.