I Finally Gave In: I Bought an iPod
I did it. After 8 years of holding out, and not giving into the masses, I bought an iPod. You might be wondering why it took me so long to join the legions of cool people out there globe trotting with their white headphones. Or perhaps why I was even against it in the first place. After so many years, I am not even sure I am able to answer that question. However, I think it started out with my hatred for iTunes.
I have never been so against something that I have no experience with, in all my life. I was perfectly happy using winamp for all of my music organizational needs. I didn’t need an Apple program to come in and take over my computer like the bloodsucking behemoth that it is. I wanted to be able to freely hook up my music player of choice to any computer, take the things I needed and be done with it. I refused for years to go along with all of the proprietary crap that went along with an iPod.
Three or four years back I found myself at a crossroads. I could buy a new 60gb iPod with video, or a 30gb Creative Zen Vision (now affectionately named the “faux-pod”). The only good reasons I could come up with for buying the iPod were the increased capacity and the “cool factor”, everything else was in the faux-pod’s favor (sound quality, functionality, screen quality etc). For years I have used the Creative and been completely happy and content. Until now.
Ever since the iPhone and iPod Touch came out a few years ago, I have been mesmerized. The stuff they were capable of doing were so far beyond anything that had be done, it was hard not to be envious of your select few friends that forked out the big bucks for one. Although, as cool as they were (and are) the thought of owning one was never a possibility. I refused to give in to everything I had been against for so long (even if I didn’t really have a good reason for it anymore).
Well on Monday night, after much deliberation, I went out and bought a 32gb iPod touch. Now some of you are probably thinking ” wow, he is still a loser, he didn’t even get an iPhone.” Believe me, there was a lot of consideration going in to this. Here was my reasoning:
1) My contract with AT&T doesn’t allow me to upgrade until December, and I don’t want to pay the penalty
2) The new data plan would bring my monthly cell phone bill to over $100 a month, and if I end up out of the country next year, that is $100 a month I would really rather not spend.
3) I can still use the Skype app, as long as I can find wifi. Free international calling? Yes please.
4) It does 90% of things the iPhone does.
I could go on and on for my reasoning, but I think you get the point. I also, now 500 words into this post, want to relate it back in some way or another to lifestyle design and travel, because hey, thats what this blog is supposed to be about right?
The main motivation behind this purchase was to make my life easier when I go location independent. I wanted to be able to check my email at a local cafe without having to lug my laptop around with me. I wanted to be able to play scrabble while on a bus from Belize to Costa Rica. I wanted to stop having to steal my girlfriend Tate’s iphone to be able to beat the next level of bloons. Bottom line is, I needed wanted something that would allow me to do all the things I could normally do at my computer, without having to be at my desk. The iPod solves that (well most of it).
I will not however say, that it was an easy transition. Installing iTunes onto my computer was one of the most painful things I have done in recent memory. To be honest, it really is just as bad as I thought it would be. I will go ahead and say it, itunes sucks. A lot. Yet as I find myself glued to this stupid little shiny device, I think that is evidence enough that it was worth it. Hell I wrote half this post from it. Definitely couldn’t do that with the faux-pod.
If you enjoyed this post be sure to sign up for my email updates and RSS Feed. Also check out the new Location Rebel forum for further discussion or follow me on Twitter.
I’m going to buy an iPod next year when I move back to New Zealand. I want to use it to listen to audio-books when I’m out and about. That way I’ll be able to continue learning while not at home.
Welcome to 2009, Sean
Actually, I was in the same boat as you until about 2006 when I got my first Ipod…and it’s been downhill ever since
Paul
Well, Sean….there are alternatives to iTunes out there.
You may want to take a look at songbird or mediamonkey – I’ve run both and they seem far less bitchy than iTunes.
Hopefully my two cents helped.
I think you made a good decision man. It was a “lifestyle design” decision, and you needed to make it. It will definitely come in handy when you become a LIP.
Nice, the next step is to buy a Mac!
Apple loves you, hahahahhaha!
Good choice..I fight myself on things like this, too, because, as you said, I’d avoided them so long it basically became habit.
Think of everything we’re missing out on if we approach life like this! When I heard of Lady GaGa, I immediately recoiled (as I usually do when I come across a new, brand-before-singer kind of outfit) and vowed that I hated her music (this was before I had heard anything by her). Wouldn’t you know the first song I hear of hers had me dancing in public? Dancing in PUBLIC. If I would have stuck with my irrational hatred, I would have missed out on that experience.
Small question: I heard that while you are able to text chat on Skype for the iPod Touch, you can’t actually make phone calls, even if you have a headset with a mic. I know it doesn’t have a microphone, but I seem to remember there being something wrong with trying to use a headset, as well. Any insight into this would be great (I have an iPod Touch, which I’ve been using to sooth my wounds from selling my iPhone before I left the country, and it would be great to be able to use it like a phone while at my apartment).
Enjoy it! Play a game or something!
The problem I have with iPods is that they miss features that are handy for musicians. An in built microphone, A-B record. the ability to slow down the music but keep it in the correct pitch. That’s why I have an iRiver and a Museo.
@Colin, I dont know about the older generations but the 3rd gen 32/64 gb ipod touch that just came out a few weeks ago, has voice support in skype. It came with headphones that included a built in mic, and I was able to call my dad on his iphone (or rather call his skype number, which he accessed from his iphone) and have a high quality voice conversation. So I know it works with the newest ones, but I don’t know about any of the older generations. My Skype address is Location180, if you dl the app, give me a call and try it out!
@Neil, I have heard nothing but good things about the iriver products. Although I havent heard much about them lately. What exactly do you have?
Great purchase – the iTouch has to be one of the single-best deals in small electronics these days. It’s wild to think how much one can get done from it, especially avoiding monthly fees! I’m curious – how well does the Skype application work? Do you plug in a headset to the iTouch? Is it that simple?
Kudos!
Alan, Its that simple. I plug in the headphones w/mic that came with it, select my contact and hit call. Sound quality is surprisingly good. I have had it drop a call or two, but that is only because I was in a spotty wifi area. I would highly recommend the skype app based on my 3 days of use!
wow Sean, I’m shocked you peeled yourself away from the thing long enough to write this….
I have an iPhone, but for my purposes I probably could have gone with an iPod Touch. Skype for it has been pretty sweet. I’ve already done some international calling with clients on it and it’s been spectacular. I use it more like an internet device than a phone though. I’m also using it to track my weight loss and organize my finances. Pretty sweet.
That said, the iPhone/iPod Touch is a pretty shitty portable music player for me. I keep an old iPod Color from 2005 for any time I want to do some serious music listening. I hate having to look at the screen, turn it on, unlock it, and press the arrow just to change songs when I’m walking or out for runs. I love clicking it in my pocket and never having to see anything.
Also, if you hate iTunes so much, it is possible to manage your iPod with Winamp. http://www.afterdawn.com/guides/archive/how_to_sync_your_ipod_touch_or_iphone_without_using_itunes.cfm
Wow man, I totally relate to this.
It took me years before I gave in and bought the 30gb ipod video mp3 player. Just like you I had this hatred against it even though I never used one and didn’t know how. I got mine nice and cheap in dubai (under $200) and for the last 3 years its been the best investment, i use it when i travel, go to gym and go running or have boring mundane jobs to do. Makes it a lot more fun.
My contract is due for upgrade pretty soon and Im really considering getting the Iphone
Awesome article man!
Thanks for sharing!
Diggy
Hi Sean,
The company I work for, Truphone, does an app for the iPod touch that is just like Skype (but has a few additional benefits, and better quality).
So I thought I would throw in a shameless plug (I am in marketing after all!).
Enjoy the iPod – they are brilliant units.
- Heath
[...] spending habits! Since then, I have been extra conscious about the things I spend money on. Purchasing my iPod a few weeks ago, was actually a BIG thing for me, although just a year ago I wouldn’t have [...]
I NEED HELP !!!! I am an older man with little experience on computers but yes i do have itunes due to my large volume of songs, just over
3200, yes you read that correctly !!! My music is everywhere, My music, Itunes, my docs and on an external hard drive because i lost all my music over a month ago.
I have the newer version of Itunes but just recently all my music has been removed from both my back-up itunes and my main itunes on my C drive. What do i do. I want music on both drives so i have a back-up but i dont want it everywhere else. I.E. My documents or Documents and settings. Your help would be appreciated. Thanks. Randall
[...] I Finally Bought an iPod for instance. While this may not be a big deal to some people, as you will (or have) read, I had spent the last 8 years vigorously fighting the world telling me that I should put iTunes on my computer. Well, I reached a point where it was just too useful and too cool not to have one. Congrats society, you win this round. [...]
Hi Sean,
I wish I had held out for 8 years to buy an ipod. I have one of the first ipod series – it’s a big white brick and it looks positively stone age by now. It just sits in my draw as a reminder of how quickly technology is superseded. Enjoy your new toy.
[...] you’ve been around for awhile you may remember me finally, after years of resisting, giving up my faux pod for a brand new iPod Touch. Essentially it’s turned out to be one of the best purchases of my life. Luckily I bought [...]
Leave your response!
Twitter
Error: Unable to access Twitter at URL (http://www.twitter.com/statuses/user_timeline/seanogle.json?count=5). Verify service status. (HTTP code 401.)
Connect!
Unconventional Guides
Ready For a Change?
Recent Posts
Archives
Categories
Recent Comments
Most Commented