“I don’t feel a few minutes in a store is enough to qualify me to write a review, per se, I will provide my first impressions, in order,’ Paul Thurrott writes for Paul Thurrott’s Internet Nexus. [I was going to the Apple Store] “to buy the iPod Mini for an upcoming comparative review, but they were out of stock. Apple fans will gleefully point out that this indicates that Apple is ‘selling out’ of the devices, but one of the employees at the store intimated that they hadn’t gotten too many to begin with, and frankly that’s a more likely scenario, given Apple’s historic inability to get hardware out the door.”
Thurrott calls the size of the iPod mini “much, much smaller in person than it appears on the Web” and writes, “It feels well-made, almost the perfect weight and balance for a device of that size.” He then calls it too expensive, “If this was $200 (or, better yet, $150), people would fall over themselves to buy them as they happened by Apple Stores around the country.” Thurrott likes the colors, the scroll wheel, and the user interface, but calls the iPod mini incomplete because you have to purchase the arm band, docking station, or remote control seperately, if you want them.
Thurrott unsurprisingly concludes, “In short, it’s pretty clear that the iPod Mini is a classic Apple product–well designed, too expensive, and ultimately bested by the choice-heavy competition from the PC world. You can get a lot of MP3 player for $250, and though it’s physically larger, the 20 GB Dell DJ is a much, much better deal for most people: It boasts five times the storage, gets over twice the battery life, includes WMA compatibility, features a larger, more readable screen, and includes a built-in microphone. Heck, save $50 and get the 15 GB version for just $200.”
Full thing here.
MacDailyNews Take: WMA compatibility? Don’t need it and that Dell Digital Junkbox won’t work with our store of choice, Apple’s iTunes Music Store. Thurrott’s really grasping now. Have you used the Dell DJ? The interface is laughable, as are the player’s controls in comparison to the iPod and iPod mini. We saw a guy a while back on the subway with a Dell DJ. About 10 of us (random riders) had iPods. We just looked at him and nodded to each other knowingly. He noticed. He looked sad.
that would be a fun commercial for apple… everyone on the subway with an ipod and one guy with the dell dj… he gets uncomfortable and gets off – let the music play
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”grin” style=”border:0;” /> ipods rock.
Thurrott is the ‘Dvorak of the Month’.
Dvorak used the same technique to stir up controversy and get hits.
It’s people like ‘ron’ that baffle me. I think it’s strange hanging out at a different computer-centric site and take .22 caliber potshots at the people there.
dv
“I don’t feel a few minutes in a store is enough to qualify me to write a review…”
When has that stopped him before? He’s always dissing OS X but how much time has he spent with it? I’d guess not much. I agree that his idiocy is fun to read, but I have a suggestion for MDN: post the important points of his article but not the link. I’d hate to think that any of us are contibuting to his bottom line. Oh, and I like the idea of using the title “Windows Whore” before his name at every reference. Afterall, he’s earned it.
Remember ROT is part of his name and does reflect the quality of his thought process. ROTTEN!
people can diss my mini all they like… oh wait, they don’t… everyone loves it
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”smile” style=”border:0;” /> those guys can talk all they want, they can’t change how great and easy to carry this thing is.
i don’t like the commercial idea with the dell guy getting off on the subway. that would never happen from a dell. but my mini had that effect on me
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”smile” style=”border:0;” />
Too bad that the iPod has poor sound quality, poor battery time and can’t play track gaplessly. But the iPodfags can nod to each other knowingly that they are stupid marketing bitches.
thurrot would really shave apple’s profits with his pricing ideas.. cool! *sarc
I met someone else in London with a mini today, a green one. Funny how these things are such a waste in Thurbie’s eyes, but people all over the planet are wanting to get hold of them.
BTW, iPod usage in London is reaching an epidemic. I’m beginning to think everyone is just buying the white earphones for effect. As with all the other European cities as well, we are covered in iPod adverts for the white variety.
Invasion of the Pod People. Cert 15.
And another troll arrives in our midst�
Jobzzz:
Please share with us your experiences with the iPod that we can learn from your wisdom and knowledge.
But whilst you’re at it, can you explain why so many independant observers rate the iPod so highly on audio quality – please don’t tell me you’re using the ‘lossless’ version of WMA as a benchmark because that really isn’t a fair comparison.
I couldn’t care less what Thurrott thinks about the iPod or the mini. I’m quite content with my Pod, so who care what anyone else’s opinion is?
Dave H. I haven’t got mine yet. I’m jealous bacause I have to wait a week, and still might not get one. I know !!!! I’ll get a muVo………nah!
Sure the Dell DJ gets more battery life…it uses the cheaper sounding WMA and a cheaper quality sound has less demand on the hardware, thus more battery life. Do you want your music to have the best quality or not? I played with a grey one at MicroCenter. I could’nt find it in the Apple section and it was right in front of me…it is soooooo tiny…I agree that it really needs the armband included because something so tiny is easy to drop. I love it!
I have to admit that the fact that the iPod can’t play tracks seemlessly does irk the shit out of me.
At least the mini doesn’t seem to have the little squalk between tracks the larger model has.
Sadly, I have to agree with the troll Jobzzz on one point: iTunes’ tendency to mix certain tracks in my collection together before the previous song has concluded can be quite irritating. Is there something in the iTunes software that can install a “stop” of some sort so that certain tracks aren’t faded out before they’re finished? Thanks for any help on this.
It’s all about perspective. To some, the Dell dude on the subway was subject to the derision of the Poddites. Of course, when I read the story, I thought they were nodding in sympathy, because Macolytes tend to be sympathetic to the PC user who doesn’t yet get it, thus, the evangelism. Otherwise, if you were derisive of the PC user, you wouldn’t offer to help. I see the Poddites the same way, they’d offer to help the Dell dude if he asked, otherwise, all they can offer is sympathy.
other players play wma? that is a bonus? why?
Because getting locked into Microsoft is a good thing. This guy is really taken it hard by Balmer and company.
Mac Yak, don’t be sad.. read the Preferences. (Mac Yak ponders: Sadly, I have to agree with the troll Jobzzz on one point: iTunes’ tendency to mix certain tracks in my collection together before the previous song has concluded can be quite irritating. Is there something in the iTunes software that can install a “stop” of some sort so that certain tracks aren’t faded out before they’re finished? Thanks for any help on this.)
Launch iTunes, open the Preferences. select Effects. Uncheck ‘Crossfade Playback’. On some songs it’s more obvious because the song ends on the last note in the song.. if there’s a few seconds or more of dead air, you might not hear the crossfade at all.
Some people prefer crossfades to dead air, or just a few seconds of fade.Then your songs will snug up against each other better, or crossfade more predictably.
And if you are a real nut you will go through your collection and end each song on the last obvious note, or when that fade goes to nothingness. You will find the controls to do this in the GET INFO menu choice under the FILE menu.
AND you can adjust the volume INDIVIDUALLY for each song. And other cool things.
And NEVER agree with Jobzzzz again.
DO YOU HEAR ME?
WELL, DO YOU!!!??
david vesey
Heard and understood, Cmdr. Vesey, Sir! Thank you for your help. Yet another troll is lit on fire. WOOOOOOSH!
to Mac Yak:
Funny! and glad I could be of assistance.
Trolls, smoke ’em if you got ’em!
DV
i have a 3G iPod. I bought 2 iPod mini’s. One for my brother, and one for my girlfriend. I’m jealous of them now. Luckily, the mini doesn’t do all of the functions of the regular iPod, so i can feel like a power user. I’m still jealous. The mini looks so small!
David: I think I *did* smoke ’em… that’s why I forgot to check for a Preferences file in iTunes. Duh. Well, I’m newly returned to all this Mac jazz from an extended stint in PC Hell, so I suppose I can plead ignorance… for now.
ashan: 2 minis?!?! Wow! I live a 2-hour drive north of the U.S. border, and I can’t get my hands on one to save my life! & that’s with 2 stores in the Seattle area – both sold out. Never mind iTMS… I guess I need a U.S. POB & CC#. Hmmm… I thought all this stuff was supposed to make my life *easier*…
NorthVan, WestVan, HorseshoeBay, LionsBay, Squamish?
Jackson, you did cross my mind when I saw this green one. Another week can be easily waited out. Just think yourself lucky you’re not wanting a G5 iMac
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”grin” style=”border:0;” />
And I know what the time is. Thank God it’s light at 6:30 in London at the moment, or I never would have got out of bed.
The really bizarre thing is, I wasn’t even first into the office. You mean there are people who get up this early every day????