Apple Releases New iPods

[feakbeak]

Dammit Apple...this is the first time I'm rather ticked at something they've done.

Once again, I have a $50 Gift Card, so I'll be putting that into the equation here.

Now, here's what I was planning on buying:

40GB iPod $349. That includes the Firewire Cable and Dock, so I don't need to buy ANYTHING else.

30GB iPod Photo $299 But, oh wait, I'd like a dock and I'm required to purchase a firewire cable. I'll have to pay extra for those. So...
$299 + $39 + $19 = $359

That's $10 more for 10 less GB and a useless color screen.

Thanks alot Apple. I thought the idea was for these to be more affordable, not less affordable.

Many would not consider the color screen useless and it has the photo capabilities. It is fine if you don't want those features and you are entitled to think this move sucks, but it is not entirely useless to everyone.

Aren't they selling off the old 40 GB monochrome iPods on the Deals section, on the cheap? I read that in a few places, better hurry. You'll get all your accessories and an even better deal.

 

[ifudge]

Okay, but what do you do when you go vacation? Take you iBook with you just for charging the iPod? I always charge my mini using the AC adapter because I don't want to keep my PB awake over night just for charging.

I almost always have my iBook with me. ;-)

For my birthday, someone gave me a car charger also serves as an AC adapter away from the car.

 

[eliamx]

Just bought my new green iPod Mini!

Apple is evil! How could they do this to me? I just bought the latest Green Mini (the one announced today) I went to the SoHo store, waited till they got stock and bought it. I opened it without reading the fine print:

NO Firewire cable
NO WALL POWER PLUG
just the USB cable and earbuds.

Dirty rotten bastards, now i'm pissed.

This is why they are now $199
They are mac-dependent for power..

 

[jalagl]

Finally, this is the update I was waiting for. I'll get the 30GB iPod Photo as soon as I can.
I'm glad I didn't get the 20GB after Xmas... it was sold out, and that turned out to be a blessing this time.
Too bad it doesn't include a Firewire cable. I have a TiBook, and those guys are not USB2.0. Fortunately I recently bought a PC Card with two USB 2.0 ports, which I use for a DVDR and a USB key. Guess I'll have to share those ports...
I would still have preffered FW over USB2.0, though.

 

[jaw04005]

Apple USB 2.0 Adoption

USB 2.0 Introduction - Q4 2001

PowerMac G5 - 6/2003
iMac G4 - 9/2003
Powerbook G4 - 9/2003
iBook G4 - 10/2003
eMac - 4/2004

I would say USB 2.0 is fairly "new" to the Mac.

All those that say, "Apple is finally not charging us for things we don't need." Thats a fine argument, but to be fair, Apple should not include ANY cables with the iPod mini or iPod Photo and knock $17 off both of their prices. Then the "USB 2.0 fans" will have to go through the same process as the "Firewire 400 fans."

 

[musiclover137]

i think apple is also basing the removal of fw and ac adapter on the fact that many iPod buyers are simply updating. they don't always need these extra cables. and if they do they can buy them. most people on this site talk about waiting to update anyway. unless you have a 2G iPod, you don't need another fw or ac adapter. anyone else agree?

 

[iGary]

All those that say, "Apple is finally not charging us for things we don't need." Thats a fine argument, but to be fair, Apple should not include ANY cables with the iPod mini or iPod Photo and knock $17 off both of their prices. Then the "USB 2.0 fans" will have to go through the same process as the "Firewire 400 fans."

Nicely said.

 

[Rower_CPU]

Be more specific...

...
fact: it is cheaper for apple to include the usb instead of both, and they figure that pc users don't have firewire, and that mac users have usb 2, b/c all macs that have shipped in the past few years have had usb 2.
...

Since "last few years" is pretty general, let's clarify the dates that Apple started including USB2 on each model:

PowerBook G4 - September 2003 = 1 year, 5 months ago
iBook G4 - October 2003 = 1 year, 4 months ago

PowerMac G5 - June 2003 = 1 year, 8 months ago
iMac G4 - September 2003 = 1 year, 4 months ago

[dates/specs taken from everymac.com]

"Years" is plainly incorrect. Only since mid/late 2003 has USB2 been standard on all Macs.

 

[awinn233]

I have to say that I'm dissapointed. First of all Apple no longer includes a dock or case with any of their iPods. They don't give you an AC adapter with either the Shuffle or the mini. They give you a USB 2 cable instead of Firewire on all the models except the 20 GB iPod and the iPod U2. Which I'm sure is only temporary, by the next revision it will be USB 2 only. I guess it's great that they're much cheaper than they used to be, but they now barely include the essentials.

 

[Daveway]

Has the topic of flashing your ipod after a restore come up yet. As far as I know the AC adapter is required to "flash" the ipod without interruption.

 

[iDeclare]

boo

Actually, I'm upset about my [now obsolete] mini- I want the lettering to match the casing!

Actually, I am rather ticked about no imac updates...keeping fingers crossed...anyone heard any rumors?

 

[BigDogg]

No 40 gig or color screen minis? bummer
I think I would rather see them drop the 30 gig instead.I honestly didn't think the color screen would be added to the mini but....
Oh well this is a much needed update and freshens the up the iPod line
to be more competitive.

 

[clayj]

OK, I broke down today and bought a 60 GB iPod Photo, despite the fact that WMA is still not natively supported. (All my music is ripped in WMA... the Apple guy at the store made a weird noise when I mentioned this, but WMA sounds as good to me as any other format, including AAC.) I was actually the first person to pick one up from the Apple Store here in Charlotte... haven't played with it yet (it's still charging). Now I just need someone to put out a protective case for it... does anyone know if any of the iSkin cases will work? (I don't want this thing scratched...)

Oh, and since I am now an iPod owner, I'd like to officially request that Apple add native support for WMA. I *hate* having to convert my music between different formats.

 

[LaMerVipere]

Anyone else think the new iPod mini's look really cheap in the new colours? At least the old blue, green, and pink mini's looked classy.

 

[aswitcher]

Help Old 60 or new 60 gig??????

Help, I need advice.

Do I get the old 60 gig or the new 60 gig...there is only ~$35 USD difference and I get a dock and AV cable...

Are the 60gigs exactly the same?

Is there anything else I am overlooking?

 

[paulypants]

Help, I need advice.

Do I get the old 60 gig or the new 60 gig...there is only ~$35 USD difference and I get a dock and AV cable...

Are the 60gigs exactly the same?

Is there anything else I am overlooking?

Get the old, they are identical, except for the fact you actually get the
stuff thats supposed to come with it to make it functional.

 

[Cordless_Drill]

If you're still interested in the "old" mini, Small Dog has em for $179. I'm game!

 

[Guy L]

Just bought a 40g photo

Thanks to the member(s) who suggested going to the deals list at the online store. I just bought a 40g photo with the dock, cables and carying case for 379.00 . There were no old minis or 40g monochrome, just "old" 40g and 60g photos at great prices!! I think the 60g with the dock, cables and carying case was offered for 479.00

 

[Warbrain]

The thing that pisses me off the most about these updates is the lack of Firewire cables in any of the new models.

I'm sure that I'm not the only person who is pissed that Apple isn't including Firewire. I was very tempted to go and get a 60 GB photo for as cheap as it is, but then I realized that they only come with USB 2.0, which I don't have, so now I'm not going to get one and instead have the battery replaced by a third-party in my 10 GB 3G iPod.

And anyway, I'm not a big fan of click-wheels.

 

[cyberobin]

Nice update, will be calling to get a $50 price match on the iPod mini I bought two weeks ago. Only thing that is crappy is no more firewire cable included with the Minis. And no more dock with the photo. Look in the sale section, old photos are there for $379 and $479 with case, dock, etc.

Just bought the 40gig for $349 edu price. Is there any real difference between the two versions? Frankly, I think I got a bargain with all the stuff it includes and the 10 extra gig. And, I'm pretty sure that there is no difference between the two other than that.

 

[mcgarry]

The thing that pisses me off the most about these updates is the lack of Firewire cables in any of the new models.

I'm sure that I'm not the only person who is pissed that Apple isn't including Firewire. I was very tempted to go and get a 60 GB photo for as cheap as it is, but then I realized that they only come with USB 2.0, which I don't have, so now I'm not going to get one and instead have the battery replaced by a third-party in my 10 GB 3G iPod.

And anyway, I'm not a big fan of click-wheels.

Wouldn't the FW cable from your 3G work? These new ones still work with FW, they just don't have the cable. I can't see many times when they both need to be plugged in at once. Or just paying $19 would do it, I know, I know, annoying ...

 

[LaMerVipere]

If you're still interested in the "old" mini, Small Dog has em for $179. I'm game!

Or you could order a "new" mini, which will have 18 hours of battery life as opposed to the "old" mini's notoriously sucktastic battery life, for $179 w/edu discount from the Apple Store right now!

 

[UWF404]

Anyone else think the new iPod mini's look really cheap in the new colours? At least the old blue, green, and pink mini's looked classy.

Yes, the colors are very girlie.. Would be nice to see charcoal, orange or purple.

 

[seelab]

Damn, i bought an iPod Photo 60 Gb two weeks ago !

 

[iGary]

Originally Posted by Warbrain

The thing that pisses me off the most about these updates is the lack of Firewire cables in any of the new models.

I'm sure that I'm not the only person who is pissed that Apple isn't including Firewire.

No, you're not the only one, there are about 1300 other people unhappy as well. Click the link in my sig.