Satellite Radio and/or Ipod

[mslacat]

Ok, I need advise again. I am absolutely sick of local radio in the car and at work. I have been looking at options. The two that come to mind are Ipod (or other brands) players or Satellite Radio system. Both can be set up to be portable between home / car / office, but it seems that there are apearant advantages and disadvantages to both.

Ipod (granted a brand specific name) These unit are attractive because you can self-direct your music and control what you listen to, but which brand to buy. It seems like a real hassle to load with music. Can you load music you already own (ie cd's) into them or must you pay and down load all from a service. If you upgrade your unit a few years down the line can you transfer content from one unit to another. I hear the apple version while is the more popular, cheaper to buy but you are locked into their format and service.

Satellite Radio, you don't get to pick the exact music you want to listen to, but you get instant content and lots of it. Plus talk radio and the like. It does cost $15.00 a month but you will spend that a month easy on down loading music.

What can you hip and happening folks tell a old fart.

[SonomaCat]

I have an iPod and I absolutely love it. I uploaded all of my CDs onto it, so now intstead of loading up cases and cases of CDs for a roadtrip or a commute, I just pick up something the size of a credit card and go. It's perfect for me because I spend a lot of time walking around as well as using public transit, but I have a dock for it at work with little speakers, and also a car adapter, so it works anywhere.

iTunes is really easy to use as well to download music (a little cheaper than buying a CD, but the big advantage for most people is that you can pay by the song as opposed to buying the whole album).

I'm an iPod true believer, although I have never used the other companies subsequent products. In terms of wanting to listen to specific music when and where you want to, though, it would be hard to beat.

Satellite radio would be much better if you were interested in hearing new music that you don't already own, although I don't know if they have a system that you can use for working out, walking, etc. They may, but I don't know that much about it.

[lifeloyalsigmsu]

Ok, I need advise again. I am absolutely sick of local radio in the car and at work. I have been looking at options. The two that come to mind are Ipod (or other brands) players or Satellite Radio system. Both can be set up to be portable between home / car / office, but it seems that there are apearant advantages and disadvantages to both.

Ipod (granted a brand specific name) These unit are attractive because you can self-direct your music and control what you listen to, but which brand to buy. It seems like a real hassle to load with music. Can you load music you already own (ie cd's) into them or must you pay and down load all from a service. If you upgrade your unit a few years down the line can you transfer content from one unit to another. I hear the apple version while is the more popular, cheaper to buy but you are locked into their format and service.

Satellite Radio, you don't get to pick the exact music you want to listen to, but you get instant content and lots of it. Plus talk radio and the like. It does cost $15.00 a month but you will spend that a month easy on down loading music.

What can you hip and happening folks tell a old fart.

I don't have satellite radio but knowing some people that have it, they have non stop access to hundreds of stations. As a Montanan, I'm sure you're all too familiar with the lack of radio stations when you're on some area driving in the middle of nowhere. With satellite radio, you get all these stations regardless of your locations. This includes a ton of talk shows, a ton of sports talk stations, politics stations, and the entire gamut of music stations. WHat's also neat is that when you aren't in your vehicle, you can bring it up online with your username and password where you can listen to it via your computer as well.

I have an iPod so I can attest to what I view as their value. You can take your entire CD collection and burn it onto your computer. All you need for your jukebox is to download itunes at itunes.com

When you burn your CD's onto your computer, you can use your ipod and plug the USB cable (or firewire, whatever you have) into the computer and within minutes all of the cd's your burned onto your computer (and thus onto the itunes jukebox) will now be on your ipod. Disadvantages with the ipod is that some of the models have batteries that don't last all that long. Mine is older and I've had that problem; I don't know if it's as problematic with the newer models. You can listen to your ipod in your vehicle but to my knowledge the only way you can do it so far is by using a connector that requires the use of a select number of radio stations (88.1, 88.3, 88.5, and about 7 or 8 others). Obviously, you have to compete with static and some interference so it can be irritating at times.

All in all, both are great products. You can control which music you want to hear on your ipod unlike satellite. The diversity of satellite is appealing so basically it's a matter of how you want to mix up your listening/hearing tastes.

[grizbeer]

I have XM satellite radio, and can't imagine life without it. I love being able to drive across the state (or anywhere) and be able to have a clear station without searching.

I don't listen to a lot of music, but when I do it is nice to have commercial free music. If you are really only into music and know what you like an ipod might be better. I like having sports, and comedy, as well as variety like Old Time Radio or Sonic Theater (mystery theater is great for camping). It is nice to be able to listen to a NASCAR race or Mariners game while driving to Seattle or Eastern Montana without searching for a station.

As far as satellite services, it depends on what type pf programing you are looking for. Howard Stern will be going to Sirius in January, but Opie and Antony are on XM, XM has MLB, Indy Car racing, and Nascar (until 2007), and Sirius has NFL, NBA, NHL and Nascar in 2007. XM has Bob Edwards, Sirius has NPR. Both have some college sports.

XM has 3 personal units. I don't think Sirius has one yet but should soon.

[rtb]

Ok, I have an iPod and have had access to XM in the past although I haven't installed it in my current vehicle yet. Here is my take...

If you want something that you will be listening to on long road trips I would go with the iPod. I have a very old one that holds 10GB which is plenty for me. The battery life is still good it last about 8 hours(used to last 10). There are quite a few products out that play your iPod through your FM radio and they work pretty well and many of the manufacturers are making their stereos capable of controlling the iPod which is really nice. The drawbacks...if you are doing the daily commute thing and only spending 15 minutes in the car each day it can be a pain to power up your iPod, select your playlist, etc. I don't use my iPod on a daily basis for that reason.(And my new stereo has a flash memory card that holds 1GB of mp3s)

Satellite radio is nice because you don't have to take anything in and out of the car if you buy a fixed system. When you start the car, you are ready to go. The talk/news/sports on Satellite is great, but for music it isn't that great just because like radio you are stuck listening to whatever is playing. However when you are in the middle of nowhere and need a sports update, you can get it.

Overall, if you are choosing one or the other I would say get the iPod unless you are only doing the daily commute thing and not much of on long drives.

Mslacat, you asked a question about something else the other day too, but I can't remeber...so if you want to shoot me an email you know how to get a hold of me and I will gladly answer other questions you have.

[coachouert]

I also have an iPod with an iTrip for my car. It is really nice driving because I can listen to whatever I want as opposed to any radio station (xm or otherwise) that the DJ still manipulates the tunes. It is also nice with iTunes so you can make your own playlists of whatever music you want. With the iTrip, sometimes the sound does get a little static (mostly with louder volume) but overall I can't complain at all. Also with the iTrip, you can get a charger that plugs into your cigarette lighter in your car and to the base of the iPod. This keeps the iPod charged the entire time you are driving. If you are looking for iTrips, I would suggest eBay as that is where I got mine for about half the price.

[rtb]

There is also a new modulator like an iTrip out that directly plugs into your cigarette lighter and the interface for station selection is much more user friendly compared to the iTrip. The quality of broadcast from the iTrip is top notch, but changing the frequency on it can be a pain.

[wbtfg]

I have both XM and an iPod. I really like both. I love listening to bball games on long road trips....three hours goes by incredibly fast. I also like listening to ESPN radio, some of the news stations, and a little Opie and Anthony every once in a while.

(side note: I was listening to Opie and Anthony today, and some of their faithful listeners who gather on a message board recently purchased a billboard for a month that basically made fun of one of their competitors. I think we need to pull a collection and put a billboard in Missoula as close as possible to WA/Bobcat stadium with some sort of Pro Bobcat message on it. OR when we win this november, we can just post the final score of the game, and put it up there in Blue and Gold for a month or so.)

The best part about the iPod is that it's non-stop good music. No DJs, no crappy songs, it's everything that you like to listen. Also, can download books on tape for long road trips.

Both are great, and if I had to choose one or the other it would probably be the iPod only because I do a lot of running and I always have to have music playing.

If you do get an iPod, I would probaby get the extended warrenty. I haven't had any problems with mine, but I know quite a few people who have had to send theirs in to get fixed.

[mslacat]

So is the Apple Ipod "the brand to get"

[rtb]

So is the Apple Ipod "the brand to get"

Yes!!! I know others who have tried other brands and they are ok, but nothing is as good as the iPod.

[grizbeer]

(side note: I was listening to Opie and Anthony today, and some of their faithful listeners who gather on a message board recently purchased a billboard for a month that basically made fun of one of their competitors. I think we need to pull a collection and put a billboard in Missoula as close as possible to WA/Bobcat stadium with some sort of Pro Bobcat message on it. OR when we win this november, we can just post the final score of the game, and put it up there in Blue and Gold for a month or so.).

That is pretty funny - here is a picture of the billboard

So would doing this change the game from Brawl of the Wild to the PatBattle of the Wild? (sorry to go off-topic, especially for those without XM).

BTW, you can try out XM music and original programming (including O&A) on-line for free here http://xmro.xmradio.com/xstream/index.jsp
I would recommend trying it just to listen to 3 days of O&A for a little laughter (warning - bring a sense of humor with you).

[kmax]

So is the Apple Ipod "the brand to get"

Yes!!! I know others who have tried other brands and they are ok, but nothing is as good as the iPod.

Only if you want to be a sheep.

Seriously though, the ipod is not the only option out there! It definately has some disadvantages. Someone already mentioned the battery issues, though I think these have gotten better. The biggest drawback is the usual for Apple, everything is proprietary. You HAVE to use Itunes for new music(unless you want to "purchase" the cheap mp3's from the only-slightly-maybe-legal Russian type sites) so you are locked into paying whatever they set as the standard. With the Ipod you cannot use services such as napster or the new one from yahoo music where you pay a subscription fee and can download any song you want without extra charge for the duration of your subscription. With other players, you can use any service you wish(except Itunes).

The Ipod has advantages also, namely due to it's popularity accessories are numerous. Some people also feel it has a better user interface that is easier to use, but this is debatable and really is just a matter of personal preference. I would say if you are in the market for a player, go down to Best Buy or wherever and try a bunch of them out and see which one you like.

And just for the record I own the Creative Zen Micro and wouldn't trade it for an Ipod. Also planning to get Sirius satellite radio soon as well.

[SonomaCat]

Only if you want to be a sheep.

Crap ... now all of us iPod loyalists have to yell at kmax and suggest bad things about his psyche, parentage and height, right? Rules are rules....

[kmax]

Only if you want to be a sheep.

Crap ... now all of us iPod loyalists have to yell at kmax and suggest bad things about his psyche, parentage and height, right? Rules are rules....

Something like that.

[briannell]

bought an iPod, still trying to figure it out. had hubby upload all the songs, holds a lot, works well. I'm not a gadget girl, but it's nice for the gym. as long as someone else gets it ready for me, I like it.

-rebecca

-oh, I wont comment on Kmax or sheep, I'm tired this morning. however, looking forward to reading responses

[rtb]

Only if you want to be a sheep.

And just for the record I own the Creative Zen Micro and wouldn't trade it for an Ipod. Also planning to get Sirius satellite radio soon as well.

Yeah, these computer guys would hate to follow the crowd and buy something with the best reputation and most reliable service. Kmax probably isn't using Windows either because he likes his life to be difficult.

Anyway, the reason I steer clear of Creative Zen Micro is my buddy bought one brand new, it came and stopped working the second day he had it. Sent it back, had the same problem but now his third one finally has lasted a couple months. Things like that make me a little nervous.

Oh yeah using iTunes might be a drag, but everyone is offering free downloads on iTunes with anything you buy these days so it is a pretty sweet deal.

BE A SHEEP!!!!!!!!!

[kmax]

The early Zen Micro's did have some problems. I follow it on a messageboard to keep up to date on anything new and it sounds like alot of the early adopters did have the problems. Recently produced ones however seem to have gotten past that and don't show the same issues. The one I have has never had any issues.

As for whether the Ipod has the best reputation and the most reliable service, again a matter of personal opinion I think. The most popular? Most definately and without a doubt. However if you honestly think it has a great reputation and is totally reliable I challenge you to go read some of the Ipod user message boards and listen to the many complaints that user's have. It isn't all just peachy for the Ipod.

As for the free itunes downloads, yep there are alot of them. There are also alot of places that are offering free downloads from walmart, msn music, etc. Not to mention the numerous free offers I have seen for several months of free napster service. So that really isn't that big of a deal. Besides, for free downloads if I really want them I will use itunes to download the song, burn it to a CD, then rip it to wma from the CD so I can play it on my zen. Would never do that when paying for it, but the option is there for free music.

Look, I'm not saying the Ipod is crap or you shouldn't buy one, just that it like everything has advantages and disadvantages. If you are going to be paying several hundred bucks for something, I think you should try to make an informed decision and get the right one for you, rather than believing the popular opinion, marketing blitz and media hype.

And again for the record, while I do run Windows as my primary OS, whenever possible at home and at work I use Linux. Not because I like to make my life more difficult, quite the opposite actually, because it offers a much more powerful and secure environment for the things I need to get done.

Edit to add that I find it laughable that you connect using something with the best reputation and most reliable service with Microsoft Windows in any way.

[mslacat]

I just returned from a meeting in a clients private office. He has a XM Radio reciever hooked up to Bose Wave Radio! Now that is hip and happ'n dudes!!

[rtb]

I know KMax, I just had to get a rise out of you a little. I honestly don't think iPod is the best most realiable thing out there and I KNOW Windows is about the worst in reliability. I just wanted to give you a hard time and it worked!! I will buy you a beer one of these times when I make it back to Bozeman.

[kmax]

I know KMax, I just had to get a rise out of you a little. I honestly don't think iPod is the best most realiable thing out there and I KNOW Windows is about the worst in reliability. I just wanted to give you a hard time and it worked!! I will buy you a beer one of these times when I make it back to Bozeman.

Kinda figured as much, but wanted to respond anyway. I knew the comments about going against the crowd were just a jab, but the others are the same types of things I hear all the time from Ipod users who got one just to be cool and don't really know anything about them or other options. That's why I responded to those statements, tongue in cheek or not, as I have heard them before and wanted to give an opinion on the other side.