A non-techy asking for a bit of advice

[cloughie]

The most irritating thing about the ipod is having to use iTunes
which , unless you are careful, will decide that every soundfile on your computer is a "song" and put it on a ridiculously long list !
also having to keep everything in 2 (or 3 in the case of CD's ) places seems excessive
what's wrong with a drag and drop system ?

the sound might be "satisfactory" but i'm not convinced compared to my old iRiver IHP 120 (for example)

[MrGongGong]

On a more pragmatic note
one needs to be careful about which music !
When i was in hospital last year I found that listening to Messiaen whilst on high doses of morphine was at times rather scary! (I deliberately left the Hawkwind at home )

Hope it all goes well and good luck, it can be a very isolating experience , make sure you also have ear plugs (the silicone ones that surfers use are the best) if you take several spares you can make a small fortune selling them to other patients !!!

[Nick Armstrong]

The most irritating thing about the ipod is having to use iTunes
which , unless you are careful, will decide that every soundfile on your computer is a "song" and put it on a ridiculously long list !
also having to keep everything in 2 (or 3 in the case of CD's ) places seems excessive
what's wrong with a drag and drop system ?

the sound might be "satisfactory" but i'm not convinced compared to my old iRiver IHP 120 (for example)

I think the non-techy would find dragging everything more complicated. And a time machine would be required to get an iRiver.

I thought the aim here was to keep things simple and basic for the OP.

[amateur51]

Just a fan!

Don't you have an iPod, ammy? iTunes?

No Calibs, I've just re-found my trusty Sony DiscMan and once I've got some decent earphones I'll be bestriding my local park tum-tiddling away, conducting much to the consternation of local ducks, squirrels, pigeons, gulls and small children "Mummy, what's that man for?!?"

[Stunsworth]

I disagree with MtGG about them being irritating to use; soundwise, the main drawback with iPods is the earphones

I totally agree, they are dreadful. Given Steve Jobs's love of HiFi it's difficult to understand why they were ever considered. I have a pair of Klipsch in ear 'buds'.

Personally I'd go for an iPod. The model depending on the number of albums required to be carried and the depth of the OP's pockets. The 16 gig Nano with FM radio would be a good choice IMHO.

I'd also advise 'ripping' the CDs in either a lossless format or at the highest bit rate of 320kbs. Sorry for slipping into tech speak. Ripped In a lossless format you'd fit around 40 CDs into a 16 gig Nano, more if you use a lossy format.

[MrGongGong]

I think the non-techy would find dragging everything more complicated. And a time machine would be required to get an iRiver.

I thought the aim here was to keep things simple and basic for the OP.

ebay ............


(unless of course you don't have the same internet as me ? you know, the one that allows you to find things out that you don't know )

[HighlandDougie]

Vis

Not sure if you're going to be treated en France or in the UK but wherever it is I hope that all goes well. And there's nothing like a bit of warm Southern French sunshine (and a glass or three of the excellent wines from around Béziers) to help the recuperation process.

HD

[Nick Armstrong]

ebay ............


(unless of course you don't have the same internet as me ? you know, the one that allows you to find things out that you don't know )

It's not about you and me, GG - just trying to give the OP the easiest most reliable solution, c'est tout

[visualnickmos]

Highlander

Yes - France it will be. Béziers, in fact. Thanks for your good wishes. I'm going to need them! A very rocky road ahead, I feel.

Just about to look at FNAC's website re. my original posting.

Nick

And may I say thank you for the advice, hints and tips about my request; it has made it so much easier for me to know what to look for. What we do without these amazing posters who always are so helpful?

[Nick Armstrong]

Highlander

Yes - France it will be. Béziers, in fact. Thanks for your good wishes. I'm going to need them! A very rocky road ahead, I feel.

Just about to look at FNAC's website re. my original posting.

Nick

And may I say thank you for the advice, hints and tips about my request; it has made it so much easier for me to know what to look for. What we do without these amazing posters who always are so helpful?

Can't believe that, blethering on about iPods, I failed to wish you all the best with the medical side of things!! Bloody good medical services, the French though May the music strengthen your healing power!

PS: http://www.fnac.com/Decouvrez-les-iP...o/sh188831/w-4

[Bryn]

visualnikmos, I hope I will not complicate matters too much is I mention another alternative. The French based company Archos have a longish history of producing media player which handle a wide range of file types. Not just the usual mp3 or Apples m4a wrapping of aac, but lossless types such as FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec). In recent months the tablet computers made by Archos, both under its own name, and also under the Arnova brand, have been selling at very low prices at HMV stores. The Arnova 7 G2 (which has a wide screen format display with a 7" diagonal measurement) can currently be found at some HMV stores for as little as £79.95. It had a built in rechargeable battery with long charge life and in addition to its audio playback facilities it also plays video and functions as a WiFi internet browser, etc. I find the audio and video quality very good indeed of the money. I get none of the digital noise I have long associated with computer audio. The device comes with 8GB of storage as standard, but will take microSDHC cards up to 32GB in capacity. It is simple to load up such cards with media files from a PC and then simply plug the card into the tablet for playback. On the way to work today, for instance, I watched and listened to Beethoven's Eroica in the performance directed by Emmanuel Krivine which I downloaded from YouTube a couple of days ago. On the way home I listened to the DAB mp2 of Act 1 of Martinu's Juliette (as broadcast from the Barbican a couple of years ago). The Arnova tablet plays mp2s saved from DAB using a Pure Bug, Evoke 3 or similar receiver, without problem. Try getting an Apple iPod or iPad to do likewise. Not a chance. Those over-hyped toys won't handle FLAC either.

[visualnickmos]

Hi Caliban (msg 25)

Manty thanks for your good wishes. And thanks as well for the Fnac link. I reckon with 8 Go I should be able to have a fairly hefty selection of listening/healing music. Not a bad price at all, that - and I think I can get a bit of a discount with my card...

I'm constantly amazed by the sheer amount of knowledge, help, support, etc that posters on these boards put forward. It's pure gold.

[Hitch]

Don't forget the Sansa Clip Plus, cost £33.30 from Amazon. It has 8GB of memory, will accept a 32GB microSDHC card (£14), has an FM radio, plays MP3, WMA, secure WMA, Ogg Vorbis, and FLAC files, plus audio books, and it's the size of a matchbox. I own a 2GB version of the plain old Sansa Clip and love it to bits.

[amateur51]

Hi Caliban (msg 25)

Manty thanks for your good wishes. And thanks as well for the Fnac link. I reckon with 8 Go I should be able to have a fairly hefty selection of listening/healing music. Not a bad price at all, that - and I think I can get a bit of a discount with my card...

I'm constantly amazed by the sheer amount of knowledge, help, support, etc that posters on these boards put forward. It's pure gold.

Good luck with the op visualnickmos - I reckon that with all that musical company the hours spent in recovery should speed by - I certainly hope that they do

It would be great to hear about your experience of getting to grips with your purchase, the process of getting the music on to the gizmo, and then its performance 'under the blankets' etc if and when you have the time. Who knows, it might even persuade a technopeasant like me to have a go

[Pianorak]

Good luck with the op and wishing you a speedy recovery, visualnickmos. I too would be most interested to hear how you get on with the new toy! Having been completely defeated by an MP3 player it may be just the thing I am looking for.