Ipods And Mp3s

[patsfangr]

Do any of you folks have knowledge and experience with these devices? I know nothing more than what I see on TV ads here in the US.

My wife wants to know if she can get one to take to Pattaya when we move in April. I have no idea whether I should buy here. Will an Ipod bought here work there? Are they cheaper here than there? Is it easy to download music to them there?

Clearly, I'm clueless. Any education you can give me will be appreciated.

[Simmo]

Do any of you folks have knowledge and experience with these devices? I know nothing more than what I see on TV ads here in the US.

My wife wants to know if she can get one to take to Pattaya when we move in April. I have no idea whether I should buy here. Will an Ipod bought here work there? Are they cheaper here than there? Is it easy to download music to them there?

Clearly, I'm clueless. Any education you can give me will be appreciated.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hi.

Sure , an Ipod will work fine here ,as its battery operated. When you buy one , depending on the model, you should get a recharge kit and a docking station for charging at a computer. You'd definitely be better buying in the States as they're more expensive here and there's much less range. The cheap Taiwanese junk mp3 players are popular here.

I'm not sure about using the USA Itunes music store from here as I haven't tried it. Maybe someone else here can answer that.

Its not hard to find mp3s here , the markets have tons of CD's , mostly crap. Also most internet cafes will have a shared network with a ton of mp3's you can copy to your player.

[think_too_mut]

I'm not sure about using the USA Itunes music store from here as I haven't tried it. Maybe someone else here can answer that.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Would not iTunes work in the country where the credit card is issued, providing it's on the iRunes map of the world?

I tried using CC in Japan before iTunes shop was available in Australia and it said "not available in your country".

[hughden]

Just watch for the recharge kit. If the iPod charges from the computer then no problem. If there is a separate charger and it runs of 110 volts, then it will not work here (or at least it will, for around .05 second before it melts from 220 volts).

The full range of iPods are available in Pattaya, not sure of prices compared to USA though.

As others have said, plenty of sources for MP3 files here!

[mrbojangles]

Pat, it might be better to ask in the "Internet, Communications, Geeks Forum" as you'll probably get more definitive answers. Although they might end up blowing your mind

Anyways, in my experience. Buy it the States for the reasons stated already. You can't go wrong with an MP3 player but the ipod will depend on the power source. i.e. from the computer or a recharge kit.

[britmaveric]

I have a mini/photo - work great used them all over the world without any problems. I'm not particularly fond of itunes, but once you have loaded your library you won't have to deal with it, unless you update often.

[patsfangr]

Thanks, All!

I think I've got the picture. Neither my wife nor I were sure about how these things work. I thought they had to link up with a PC, but wasn't sure.

My wife does not know how to operate a PC, so it appears that an Ipod is not the way to go for her.

[britmaveric]

Thanks, All!

I think I've got the picture. Neither my wife nor I were sure about how these things work. I thought they had to link up with a PC, but wasn't sure.

My wife does not know how to operate a PC, so it appears that an Ipod is not the way to go for her.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Only need the PC to load songs and this is every mp3 player. Once you have loaded your music to the device no need pc anymore.

[patsfangr]

Thanks, All!

I think I've got the picture. Neither my wife nor I were sure about how these things work. I thought they had to link up with a PC, but wasn't sure.

My wife does not know how to operate a PC, so it appears that an Ipod is not the way to go for her.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Only need the PC to load songs and this is every mp3 player. Once you have loaded your music to the device no need pc anymore.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yes, I understand that, Brit. But I don't think my wife will want to go through the hours of sitting at the PC with me helping her find and load songs. Maybe I'm wrong. If so, we'll do it. An old retired dude, as I will be when I get there, has nothing better to do, right?

[britmaveric]

Well not as hard as you think - if you go with a non-ipod, just drag/drop to the device. Of course need to convert all your cds into mp3 which truely is a time consuming process.

Ipods - itunes makes it harder than what it should be (have to use itunes software to transfer music) and software gives my laptops issues. (prob size of my library over 30GB music)

[patsfangr]

Well not as hard as you think - if you go with a non-ipod, just drag/drop to the device. Of course need to convert all your cds into mp3 which truely is a time consuming process.

Ipods - itunes makes it harder than what it should be (have to use itunes software to transfer music) and software gives my laptops issues. (prob size of my library over 30GB music)

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I've loaded quite a few CDs onto my laptop, using the Dell music software. I'm not sure whether that converts to MP3 format or not. I didn't check at the time. (Laptop's at home, and I'm at work now.)

In any case, the search for music will still be time consuming, if my wife chooses to do it. It does, however, sound like the MP3 route would be best for us, if we do anything. She's not a "high tech" type on sound quality, etc. So an inexpensive MP3, available there apparently, would make the most sense.

As always, I appreciate the advice.

[britmaveric]

Might try this type out - I have one the 512mb for running and is under 50quid. (USB type)

[spacebass]

Well not as hard as you think - if you go with a non-ipod, just drag/drop to the device. Of course need to convert all your cds into mp3 which truely is a time consuming process.

Ipods - itunes makes it harder than what it should be (have to use itunes software to transfer music) and software gives my laptops issues. (prob size of my library over 30GB music)

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I've loaded quite a few CDs onto my laptop, using the Dell music software. I'm not sure whether that converts to MP3 format or not. I didn't check at the time. (Laptop's at home, and I'm at work now.)

In any case, the search for music will still be time consuming, if my wife chooses to do it. It does, however, sound like the MP3 route would be best for us, if we do anything. She's not a "high tech" type on sound quality, etc. So an inexpensive MP3, available there apparently, would make the most sense.

As always, I appreciate the advice.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Firstly i do not believe that any MP3 player battery recharger would not be automatic multi voltage i.e. plug it in anywhere in the world (maybe with a plug adaptor) and it will work.

Secondly I have just discovered MP3, a bit late I know, and it may seem a bit technical but it will be well worth taking the time to learn how to convert your Cds to MP3 format which is not something you could not learn in half a day, (I have never downloaded a song from the internet) and once you've done it , it gets easier everytime. It basically comes down to about three or four clicks in the MP3 conversion program. it seems like Ipod are making it difficult no doubt in an effort to corner the market.

I have a creative Zen MP3 20gb and I walk around with 225 albums available to listen to all the time, mind boggling, you just can't get it any other way!

[Sunny Valentine]

In order to use any MP3 player you have to use a computer.

That said, I think that the combination iPod - ITunes beats any other in terms of easiness.

If you have never before used a computer, an Apple would be the one with the easiest learning curve, and the best stability, and overall easiness to use. But these buggers come with a price tag. Any reasonable Windows PC will do as well, maybe half as easy though.

One word of caution: iTunes shop requires a Credit Card with invoice address in the country you are using the iTunes shop. In case you have a CC issued from an american Bank, but the address registered at your Bank is in Thailand, you're out of luck. You can't even get a backup for your already purchased copies.

That is the reason (and not the pricetag) that I prefer to download MP3 files from the net, via Soulseek, Bittorrent and the like.

Sunny

[maprao]

IPODS I purchased one for my wife. Apple have it wrong in my opinion. I purchased the minI IPOD (4Gig). Looks stylish but absolute ru**sh with a price tag of about 10,000 baht when converted to Thai currency. Also relies on ITUNES too much.

After 3 exchanges for various reasons we exchanged it for a Creative "ZEON" (5Gig). User friendly and cheaper easy for my wife to load CDs and music. (she is not very computer literate).

Far superior but hey we are all entitled to our opinions. Mine is stay well clear of mini IPODS