Is the new iPod Touch worth it?

1/21/2008 2:16:06 PM #

I bought one for my girlfriend last year for her birthday. She loves it, everything about it, except for iTunes. The device itself is super slick, and it performs really well. While I agree with some critics that an external volume control would be nice, ultimately it's a well designed unit. With the additional apps available now to really make it an iPhone without the phone, it's worth the money, at least to me.

For the record: not an Apple fanboy at all.

Tim S

1/21/2008 5:11:16 PM #

Hi Tim,
  Cool, thanks for the comment! +1

Steve Trefethen

1/21/2008 5:52:20 PM #

When the iPod touch was first announced, I got excited. I don't need a new cell phone, and I spend much less on the one I have compared to most people I know. However, it didn't take me long to realize that the iPod Touch was far less than the iPhone without the phone. That being said, each of the pieces that were missing have started to fall into place. I'm also seriously considering one now that the applications are close to parity with the iPhone. arstechnica.com/.../...evelopers-in-early-2008.htm">Ars Technica says that the iPod Touch will be supported by the iPhone SDK.

David Dean

1/21/2008 6:05:13 PM #

Hi David!
  Thanks for the link, that's really encouraging. I have no time myself to develop iPhone/Touch apps but as long as their available that's great news.

Steve Trefethen

1/21/2008 8:10:43 PM #

I almost bought one pre-MacWorld '08 for my wife because she's a light media user compared to me, the 16GB would cry when it saw my 80GB collection, but what ultimately prevented the purchase was the inability to add events.  Now with the $20 update it's back on the table as a gift, though the $400 price tag seems just a little steep.  Of course now I'm in trouble because I showed her how I could sync her episodes of 'Oprah' to my Zune and she'd lose that with the Touch.

I love the new Maps feature but then again the places where I'd actually need a map probably don't have any open Wifi spots.  Heck, as people start learning how bad open Wifi is everyone is clamping down, even the free local wifi coffee shops have started using WEP, with the password free for anyone buying a coffee.

I'm torn on the Touch.  Personally I feel if you're looking just for media playback there are better options but if you also need some PDA action, you're not a heavy media user, you have the dosh AND you have access to a lot of open Wifi then it's just about perfect.  I think it has the best picture viewer out there and if you keep a calendar it's great.

Shawn Oster

1/25/2008 11:46:34 AM #

There is an issue when using the ITouch as an expensive memory stick.

With an 8GB IPod Nano I have been able to run a VM of my  Delphi development enviroment suprisingly well. After some tweeking of the vmx file. Quite cool when you turn up at the client site to present the latest changes.

The IPod Touch doesnt work in the same way. The best I've been able to do to date is apply the Jailbreak crack and install Sftp service. Then on the Windows PC use a product called SftpDrive. But this solution is not fast or 100% fault free.


  

David Champion

1/25/2008 4:52:55 PM #

Shawn,
  Thanks for the info! I was hoping to hear from you, you Zune guy!

David,
  Thanks for the heads up, I've since read about that problem which is a real bummer.

Steve Trefethen

2/5/2010 8:47:14 PM #

I doubt the locater feature works without a full internet connection. It needs the access to exchange data. It isn't really magic, but just the result of some painstaking correlation of hotspots with geographical data. I've heard that area where they haven't mapped the hotspots, it doesn't work at all, regardless of the connection quality or access.

peninggi badan

2/5/2010 9:02:15 PM #

peninggi,
  No, it really works. I've seen it work in several different areas of the country. It is using wifi network data and therefore can have accuracy problems but I've been surprised at how it's pinpointed my location as I'm driving around.

Steve Trefethen

4/5/2010 7:37:15 PM #

i'm thinking of getting an ipod touch this year. I love listening to music and the apps would be cool!

kristina

5/30/2011 6:10:44 PM #

I am planning on getting an IPod Touch soon, but im ordering it online and i have to get 8GB one because 16GB is $100 extra and my mom doesnt want to pay that much. I heard it was really good, BUT if you drop it once it wil crack it might work but it will have a crack.I know this because my cousin has one and she dropped it and the corner is all busted up it still works great but it is damaged she went to the store and got a screen which hides cracks and its hardly noticable.

And i was wonder is 8GB alot?
Like about how many songs, pictures, and videos can the 8GB hold?
(EXAMPLE-200 songs, 250pictures, and 100 videos)

I would be grateful if someone could help !
Thanks !

Elvira S