I am going to buy a new ipod, and was wondering if I could get some advice from you guys.

First question: does anyone know if they are going to be releasing some new version soon? I don't really keep up with tech news, so I don't know. I don't want to buy one now if they're going to release a new version next month that is better. I searched for news regarding ipod releases and didn't see anything definitive, but thought I might as well ask here.

Also, do you guys think it is better to go with the 30GB or 80GB version? 80GB kinda seems like overkill...but if I had the 80GB version then I could upload higher quality mp3s. $350 though, damn!

Thanks!

keep an eye on the refurbished ipods section. ime apple doesnt screw around when they refurbish stuff.

when buying tech, you have to accept that they are ALWAYS going to release something awesome just after you buy it. that said, i haven't heard anything about a new one in the immediate future. I'd say that the 80gb would be worth it to use as a video hard drive as well, but i have 38gb on mine and i hate 37.5gb.

I went ahead and picked up an 80 GB not too long ago... Never thought I wopuld fill it up, but I only have around 25 GB left on it. Guess 192 KB encoding might have been overkill, but at least it'll keep "good" versions of the music on my hard drive...

Upgraded from a 20 GB IPod which, though I thought it would be enough to keep me happy, induced hair pulling at every turn. Keep in mind that the flash Operating system for the IPod is almost 2GB, so you'd really only be getting around 28 GB to play with on a 30 GB model... if you keep 10% of the memory free as reccommended to avoid longer load time/preserve long term battery power/keep system running at top efficiency/etc., you're down to around 25 GB of storage for the 30 GB model...

Photos/specs for new 100 GB Intel drives have been released that are 1.8" long.... which means that there will be a 100 GB IPod soon. Most people are speculating that it will come out in March, and be launched at the same time as the IPhone that's been rumored/in development for a while. However, I don't think I'll be that unhappy with my 80 GB, even when that happens.

buy a laptop instead?

Jogging with a Laptop is always fun.

i got the 80gb last week and am loving it. it will fit most of my music and all my pictures...plus tv shows/movies if i get the inclination. the extra space is just great to have.

Well, it sounds like it is worth it to go for the 80GB version...which unfortunately means that I am going to have to steal some old lady's purse, but whatever.

just sell some blood and sperm

I wouldn't worry too much about the 80gb becoming outdated too soon - it just came out in October, afterall. My guess would be summer, maybe even next fall before the next big leap in hard drive size comes - and that'll most likely come with the much hinted at dedicated Video Ipod, which would probably be a Christmas-time product release, by my guesses.

I've had my 40gb Ipod for two years now and while it's become frustrating to have to swap stuff when I fill it up (seeing as I have 150gb of music to choose from,) it really isn't that big of a deal. It's only now that something that big exists that I'm annoyed that I have to deal with the limitations of my 40. (The 60gb just wasn't incentive enough to really intrigue me.) However, I told Santa that all I wanted, besides my two front teeth, was an 80gb Ipod, and that fat fucker'd better deliver.

how much are the 60s going for these days? might be a good tweener.

you need 80 GB to go jogging?

get a fucking shuffle.

If you think you have the means to go 80, I would go ahead and buy it. Even though we feel like media is stable at this point in time, you never know whats going to hit next that is going to require more space.

my ipod makes me cry

I just picked up a Sandisk Sansa e260 this weekend.

Life is good now.

seeing how much trouble i had with the touch-wheel one i'm never buying a non-flash ipod again. i still have the original 5gb ipod and it still works great. i figure by the time it craps out--if ever--there'll be a plenty big flash memory one to satistfy me.

the videos are nice and all but i don't trust the fagility of the portable hard disks to last more than a year or two and for $300 that's not gonna cut it

I use my 30gb to go jogging... and to do other things. I don't want a flash player because I think it's an enormous PITA to swap out my music all of the time, particularly because I don't know what I'll want to hear from one day to the next.

Buy a Sandisk player, you'll be much happier, unless you want gargantuan size.

The e280 is 8gb.

I miss my dinoPod.

i found, though, that i ended up "going back to the well" too often and didn't listen to enough new stuff. withthe 5gb one i have, everything's on the 'puter and i just take one off to add one. no biggie. and i even occasionally <gulp> restore it and start from scratch and it's not a huge ordeal.

no, you're wrong!

Not having to use iTunes (or similar software) is reason enough to not use an iPod.

So you're one of those people who will only use an MP3 player that acts like a hard drive? Because there is tons of software that will let you interact with your ipod pretty much however you want. Or you can get Rockbox and use it like a hard drive.

I can't install software on my machine at the office.
I don't like to be restricted in any way, shape, or form.
Plus I am cheap, and these are cheaper.
Double plus, I like rooting for the little guy and Apple is the big guy.

lol