Apple iPod nano 2 GB Black (1st Generation) OLD MODEL
by Apple Computer
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Our Price: $278.22 Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Buy Used: from $55.00 (click here) Category: Network Media Player See more product details |
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Customers in the UK,
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Apple iPod nano 2 GB Black (1st Generation) OLD MODEL
Customer Review: why I pod sucks
Summary: 1 Stars
Last year, against my better judgment, I let my teenage daughter buy a mini-I-pod (since this is a service related complaint, it applies to all apple mp-3 players). I had advised her not to do it. I knew that the hard-drive was fragile, and the words "fragile" and "teenager" are not normally a good mix. I also didn't like the battery. But my daughter wanted to use I-tunes. Plus she thought the other models were nerdy. In order to protect us against normal teenage behavior, I paid for the extended warranty, which is 60 dollars, or about a third of the price of the I-pod.
Our mistake.
Technically, it is OK other than the battery issue (the battery cannot be replaced). But the service is insultingly bad, the worst service I've ever experienced from a retail company.
We first learned of the service problems when my daughter had a sound problem that turned out to be multiple headphone failure, not Apple's fault. I tried calling the local store, but they are not accessible by phone. The phone links to a central tech support line, which on high use hours may require 30 minutes or more on hold. So we took it into the store, which has a tech support section (the "genius bar" or "Conceirge service"). But you cannot get walk-in service. To get to talk to a tech support employee you have to make an appointment on line. You cannot make an appointment in advance unless you pay 100 dollars for "Procare" service (I don't know any other retail operation that requires you to pay 100 dollars to make an appointment for service). Otherwise, appointments are available only on a same day basis, first come, first serve, assuming their server works (more on that later). In order to make an appointment after normal working hours (so you don't have to take a day off to service an I-pod), you have to wait until all the earlier appointments are full, but not wait too long or the "genius bar" will be full. I thought of just making 20 appointments and filling up the day-that might work, although it inconveniences everyone else.
Our big problem came when my daughter's battery died after about 10 months of use. This is not a problem that can be resolved by the "genius bar". You have to call the central number for technical support, which will send you a shipping package with a DHL label (our mailing label was missing the proper return address), which you then have to deliver to the DHL mailer.
We did this, and after over a week with no response, I called the central tech support unit. It took me 20 minutes to get a service rep. He checked the computer, then put me on hold for another five minutes. When he came back, he told me that they found a small dent in the unit, and that voided the warranty, but for 210 dollars they could send me a new machine. I asked to speak to his supervisor, which just got me another 15 minutes on hold and a lecture on how this small dent eliminated their obligation to repair the machine. I told them that we had not noticed any damage when we returned it, and it could have been damaged after shipment. I reminded them that I had purchased an extended warranty, and that if they were voiding this during the original period of the warranty, I would demand a full refund of the warranty price. Nothing dissuaded them from their position.
We had them ship the machine back (DHL packages require a signed receipt, and had we not been home when it arrived we would have had to make a trip to DHL to pick it up). I tried to make a service appointment, but their server was down for a week (and this is a computer company?). My wife and I finally walked in and demanded to see the manager. The manager and sales rep were actually sympathetic and friendly, but the tech supervisor looked at the I-Pod (with a very small dent in the upper right hand corner), and lectured us on how that voided the warranty and they could never allow for a return. My wife and I (both of us were now furious, both at the time we had to waste on this and the 300 plus dollars we had invested in this machine, accessories and I-tunes) then had full scale tantrums, yelling and screaming until their techie, lecturing us on how to use their equipment properly and warning us that this is a once in a life-time exemption that would apply to any future purchases (I told him that was no problem--I would promise to never buy an apple product again) gave us a new mini-ipod--otherwise we would have driven every customer out of the store.
What I don't understand is from a purely business point of view, this makes no sense. If they voided our warranty, they would have to refund our extended warranty contract (we are still in the period of the original warranty), which is 60 bucks. That is probably more than the cost to them of the item, which is now discontinued anyway. Instead, they have permanently alienated a family who already owns two I pods (we had to buy one for our younger daughter so she could use her sister's I-tunes) worth over 600 bucks w/accessories, and a household with 2 computers and 3 mp-3 players.
I remember when Apple advertised themselves as the David fighting the IBM Goliath. Now that they have a near monopoly on a product, they are the big, unfeeling company. Their business model seems to be modeled after an elite club for those worthy of their great product. But no other retail business gives this kind of shoddy service (other than other quasi-monopolies like cable companies). There are other Mp-3 players available that you can buy from normal retail outlets, and if they die these companies will accept them back even if they have a small dent in the right hand corner.
So why buy apple?
Customer Review: Nothing sounds like it! But power source limited! (Adaptor costs extra).
Summary: 5 Stars
The iPod's USB interface recharges from a computer USB connection only. This means if you want to go anywhere that does not have a PC available for recharging then you are left with a dead hunk of metal until you find a computer to power it up again. It takes about four hours to do a full recharge (and half a day to charge when out of the box, not 4 hours like it says in the manual), so I am not sure how you will feel about leaving your $300 iPod with an Internet Café while on holiday or away from home. You need to buy a USB power adaptor if you want to plug your iPod into the mains. Without the power adaptor, which costs an extra $30, you are limited to PC recharging only. So be prepared to pay more than just the cost of the iPod for these nitpicky add-ons.
The iPod is an amazing device on two counts. One is that there is absolutely nothing on the market that is this size and holds so much data. Palms can not compete for storage size, end of story. Even the low-end 4GB iPods are overkill for MP3 playback. The clickwheel at the front of the iPod is genius. You move your thumb in a circle to scroll everything in the menu or volume. It has an amazing blue ambient backlight for night viewing. There is a top switch for locking the menu buttons so you can't accidentally adjust volume. If the headphones jack out by mistake the unit pauses automatically. The iPod mini series can easily go undetected in your jeans' pocket. The full version is a little bulkier but not by much more than already stated. The Nano series is nearly invisible. If you read the manual properly you can even store data files on the unit (in the notes folder etc.), so you can also use the iPod as a mass storage device for transporting files. As for extras, well it is quite smart. The software is updated by Apple over the internet, so you have calendars, address books, time-zones and an assortment of other extras that give the unit more class. However the alarm clock is just garbage because the device has a very limited internal speaker that is designed for just low-level `clicking' sounds. The iPod is both PC and Apple compatible. The earphones are really well designed; the white cord plastic even feels nice with a respectable length that does not tangle. However the universal white nature and shape of the earphones makes it easier to identify you as an iPod user. Although there are claims that the iPod is scratchproof, this is absolutely not the case. My metal is already starting to show scratches after a month of use. The screen, for all intents and purposes, scratches the same as a mobile phone does. Whoever programmed the sound software deserves a Gold Medal. The only sound system that even comes close to matching the iPod's sound quality is DOLBY DIGITAL or THX. The iPod is in that league. An expensive hi-fi system will not even sound as good as it.
The iPod file loading is not as easy as it seems. You must start working on your MP3 files before you can use it. This means right clicking the MP3 file (or group select) going into the file's properties and inputting genre, artists, albums, so that the naming systems work when in the iPod. You load the MP3 files into the Library of the iTunes software and see if you have the lists alright before finally dumping the chosen library selections onto the iPod's hard drive and taking your whole music collection for a walk on your hip. This could well be the FIRST MUST-HAVE APPLE PRODUCT that a PC user should own.
*Note - There is one major downside to the way the iPod plays files. You can not have continuous play of an album without breaks between tracks. If you want to solve this you need to join up your album into one giant MP3 track using external MP3 software. However Apple updates their software and firmware so maybe in the future they will solve this issue.
Pros:
- THX, DOLBY DIGITAL quality music centre that fits in your palm.
- Cosmos sized tiny hard drive.
- Design and Clickwheel.
- Apple support
Cons:
- Mains Power Adaptor Costs extra.
- Tracks pause between each other.
- MP3 files must be annotated.
- Recharging time is a bit long.
Customer Review: Problems? Whatever!
Summary: 5 Stars
It's funny sometimes, how when people review products here, they seem to nitpick. But anways...
I got a Nano for Christmas, and have been not only pleased, but was extremely excited. Who doesn't want a sleek liitle black piece of joy that knows all their favourite songs and even has pictures of they're friends to boot!? I honestly, never had much of want for one, but as soon as I heard I was getting one, it all changed.
For some, having all your music in your coat pocket, may not sound appealing. But, as an eplieptic, I've never had a drivers liscense. So with that said, it's such a relief now, to know that I dont have to carry around all those cd cases and that walkman. Having an Ipod frees you to relax and enjoy the journey, and not have to lug around "luggage", just so you can have something to listen to on your way home. And btw, 2 Gigs isn't really that bad. I only have a 2G, and it suits my music library fine. Yeah, if I had the choice I would take the 4G, but don't worry if you only got the 2, as it's more than you think it is. I guess if you have an extensive library (thousands of songs, that you listen to on a regular basis), then you're gonna want a regular sized iPod anyways.
So, enough with the novel... Is the iPod Nano worth buying? Yeah! You bet it is! And if you are already using iTunes on your Pc or Mac, then you'll be all the more prepared for the whole process. Loading songs into the iPod is extremely easy, just select and drag. And don't listen to all the hoopla about all the Adobe software you need to put your pictures on your iPod. It's simply a case of creating a folder on your computer that keeps those pictures, then selecting that folder in iTunes.
As I said, it's an EXTREMELY easy system to work with. The click wheel may take a a few minutes to get the hang of, but it really is not a problem either. And don't let all the reviewers put you off with all the talk about how bad the earphones are. They sound nice and clear! Unfortunately they aren't COMPLETELY comfortable. once again, COMPLETELY... as in, they aren't bad, just a slight annoyance. You do get two sets of foam earbuds to fix that, and I am still experimenting with those, so I don't really have a full opinion on that.
Also i'm hearing alot about the problems with the screen, case and click wheel scratching. Sure, if you keep it out of a case for too long, it's exposed and it's gonna get scratched. Sure! That's common sense! One of the things some people seem to oddly forget is how Apple packs the Nano with a clear plastic cover when it's shipped. So, no real need, unless it gets torn or dirty (etc.), to have to go out and buy screen covers. I have also bought a silicone case for it as well (the DLO Jam Jacket works well... just make sure not to bend the plastic screen cover). It gives you access to all your connections (USB and earphones), and your Hold button. And it keeps the case nice and protected from regular wear and tear.
I also bought what Apple calls "iPod Socks". I only found one set in the three or four stores where I went to to buy my iPod stuff.. but they are nice to have (Amazon sells them also). In one pack you'll get six socks and they're all in different colors. I do recommend those! They're great! But, on the other hand, Apple's "Nano Tubes" have been getting alot of slack for supposedly scratching the case's surface. I had bought a set (of 5, in different colors), but have left them in the package, and am contemplating returning them, as to keep my precious Nano out of harms way.
So, once again, is it worth it? You bet!
Customer Review: Get to know it and you'll love it!
Summary: 4 Stars
The iPod was actually not my 1st choice. I have an Apple computer so logically this had to be the best MP3 player for me. The thing is that I dislike the fuss about iPods. I sigh seeing this human wave at train stations in the morning 1 out of 2 wearing the very recognizable (and thief magnet for the same price) white earphones with that irritating look on their face saying 'I'm so cool I have an iPod'.
The Nano eventually got into my life when my boyfriend got me one for Xmas while I was still hunting for the perfect MP3 player (and what a hassle when you have an Apple computer but don't want an iPod). After a few pbs I must say I absolutely love it and I'm convinced it's one of the best MP3 players on the market.
I read a lot about people slagging it off usually about battery life, scratches and non-replaceable battery. I would say that it's neither true nor wrong. Once you know about this incredible piece of technology you'll be a happy customer. So here's my list of good and bad:
Bad:
- The volume is controlled from the wheel. If it's in your pocket it can easily goes up and down and this is very annoying. I would have rather have an independent volume control on the side.
- Apple doesn't provide with enough information on how to use it on the documentation coming along. A visit on the Apple website is almost compulsory
- Picture transfer: Took me about a week before I knew how to do it. Technically I could but the pix wouldn't show on my Nano. Only because I searched in the Apple discussions I eventually found why In short you will need to transfer your pix before you transfer you music.
- Earphones: No matter how cool you think you are wearing these, first they are very average. Second you'll be spotted right away by thieves. I would suggest that you buy earphones with a remote volume control. This is especiallly useful if your -like me- iPod fully protected.
- Scratches: It does get scratched very quickly. But that's the same with a lot of other MP3s or even mobile phones. Get a case, full stop. You're spoilt for choice and this will also let you personalize your iPod. But I agree this adds up to the price of your MP3 player.
- Still pricey compared to other MP3 players but DO compare and you will realize that's worth your money
- If you listen to a mix or albums with no gaps between songs (like 'Dark side of the moon' by Pink Floyd), the Nano pauses for a quarter of a second. Ruins mixes a bit!
Good:
- Light, sexy, sleek design
- Battery charge when fully discharged takes about 3 hours. A few words about the battery. Again pay a visit to the Apple website on how to get the most of your battery. The time given is an average. A lot of factors influence the length the battery runs. As an example, I start using mine at 7am on shuffle mode, listen to it for most of the day til 7pm. It usually goes totally flat at 8pm. To me this is excellent (compared to my boyfriend's Archos).
- Apple has an excellent replacement program if your battery has come to its end of life (after 300/400 charge cycles) or if it happens that your battery is defective.
- Colour screen is tiny but pictures are crisp and clear. You can also have the cd cover showing while the song plays. I realy like that feature.
- Extremely easy to use, not just an MP3 player (see specs).
- For Apple users, AAC files are the best format. Smaller than MP3s and better quality.
Customer Review: In a word - "Wow".
Summary: 4 Stars
As a Windows disciple, admittedly before I owned this Nano I thought the word "Apple" was a dirty word. My how my perspective has changed.
I had a Sony MiniDisc player where basically you could import mp3s onto these small cartridges (which would fit about 50 songs). While not perfect, it transitioned me from a portable CD player I had been using. Then reading all the reviews I have, I decided it was time to trade up to an iPOD. I don't have a huge music collection, so I didn't see the need for a $300 standard iPOD when a $200 nano which holds 500 songs would do just fine and in a smaller package. I bought the 2GB black Nano.
Once I brought it home, I discovered it was recommended that one charges it to full power before attempting to load any songs onto it. That took me a little over 3 hours since there was no charge in the Nano once I unpacked it - no problem. I waited this long, right?
Then when I loaded the CDROM software (iPOD and iTUNES), and hooked up the Nano to my PC (new within the last year), it was saying there were no drivers installed for the USB-connected hardware. Huh? I read the installation instructions a little closer and discovered you HAVE to have a USB 2.0 port. I discovered that my PC only has 1 of its 4 ports to that standard (unfortunately it was in the very back of my computer behind the heavy desk). Ok, connected to that port, then everything was gravy. I've used iTUNES for quite some time so all my songs were already loaded, and once I hooked up the Nano the rest was cake. It took about 5 minutes or so to load about 280 songs. Not too shabby.
The sound quality is excellent. I don't think the earphones are as uncomfortable as everybody seems to think they are. I bought the black nano figuring that if I were to switch out headphones, finding a comfortable pair in black would match better than with a white Nano. To be honest, I don't think the white earphones supplied look bad with the black nano either. Pretty stylish, actually.
I made sure that before I opened the box, that I had also purchased a nice case for the iPOD as well as I had read that they scratch easily. The Nano will never see the outside of its Belkin leather case ($18 at WalMart), so I'm not worried about scratches. The posts from individuals saying that they merely dropped their Nano a few feet and they literally "snapped in 2 pieces"? That's garbage. I've seen reviews online by professionals who ran them over with a car and it didn't break them. That is not to say I'm going to go out of my way to damage it either however.
Was a little disappointed that the Nano didn't come with an AC Adaptor charger. As it is, you can only recharge the Nano via USB to your desktop (won't work on laptop). You want an adaptor, you need to shell out another $30.
Anyway, am very happy so far with the Nano. I don't think you need anything more than a 2GB nano in terms of storage when you think about the fact that I loaded over 200 totally new songs today and that is 13.5 hours of music. The max charge you'll get on a fully charged Nano is 14 hours. Kind of puts things in perspective doesn't it?
Happy shopping...
kstagg