This audiophile says: use the maximum compression you're comfortable with. Use an iPod if thousands of hours of music is what you want. The only reason I even mention the PPC is because so few people are aware that they even exist (see above comments from all those folks who think "portable computer" automatically means "laptop").

The Palm/PPC is a viable alternative to an iPod for many users. I find that with a 512mb memory card, I don't have to leave anything I need at home. eCost.com has them today for $30.

Robespierre:

You have taken a lot of guff from this board and hung in there with your point of view. Hat's off to you! And thanks to everyone else for their points of view too. All quite interesting.

When I saw "Ipod" in the thread header I was interested in seeing what was going on. At first I thought I stepped into some deep goo and wanted to wipe my shoes off! heh...

But between all the arguments, and silly laughs, I actually learned something. I had never heard of a PPC and scolded myself for not being more up-to-date on my PC World reading. Too much Fodor for my brain??

I have 2 interests for an Ipod or PPC device: 1)to replace the 10-stacker in my car; and 2)to off-load pictures from my digital camera while traveling.

Granted, it would also be nice to keep a travel journal in, or something similar, if that were possible. I have not been a fan of laptops in the past, but a PPC is getting my attention.

Thanks for getting us all to have a "second look" at alternatives to laptops and other digital storage devices.

Returning this thread to its previously scheduled mania...

rock on!

~ ben

<i>p.s.</i> You can buy a 4gb microdrive to store your pictures plus a few hundred hours of music on. It plugs into a CF slot on a camera or PPC.

eBay item #<b>7509920838</b>

Meanwhile, Hitachi has announced they will be selling a 20gb microdrive next year.

&lt;Meanwhile, Hitachi has announced they will be selling a 20gb microdrive next year.&gt;

How many miles does that get to a gallon? &lt;grin&gt; Sounds great!

..one hand in my pocket, the other hand hitching a ride..

~ ben

As long as you have backed up your song library I'd bring it along. Definately will help pass the time.

If the only storage you have it the iPod itself, I'd think twice.

mm

I have a question for the ipod aficionados:

I got mine recently and didn't realize that with what they give you, it can only charge while hooked up to the PC. I will need to buy a power adaptor to travel. I'm assuming that I need this, but will this plug into an adaptor safely to be used in Turkey?

http://store.apple.com/
1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/
AppleStore.woa/72703/wo/
JG6lQAC1t3Fc3gyt6KalrOiim2o/
6.0.0.11.1.0.6.9.3.19.0.1.0.
1.1.0.1.0.3

AP6380, did you purchase an iPod mini, or the shuffle? I know the white iPods come with a power converter/recharger &quot;brick&quot;. If you're looking to purchase something, I bought one at the Apple store in Denver that's made by Belkin. It can plug into your car lighter or the wall, so that's a handy option. It's also a converter so we won't need another device to re-charge it in Europe, except a plug adapter. I think it cost about $50 or $60.

It's the mini. I don't need one to plug into the car. I already have a converter (or whatever it is, I always get the terms confused!) I think I just need it to be a certain voltage to plug into what I have already? I'll verify what I have and post back. Thanks!

I don't care!

That was helpful, thanks.

AP6380 - I don't think the iPod mini comes with a A/C power-supply. You therefore need to get the &quot;iPod USB Power Adapter&quot; ($29 from Apple Store) to charge it on the road directly, without a dock or a computer.

This power supply can take US and Europe voltage, but you'll need a plug adapter for the pins to fit. You can get such adapter at Radioshack or any travel store for a few bucks. Or you can get the &quot;World Travel Adapter Kit&quot; ($39) from Apple, which comes with a set of plugs that replace the standard US plug that come with the &quot;iPod USB Power Adapter&quot;. It's well designed and elegant, but not necessary.

getting an iPod today, to take to New Zealand with me. this one will hold photos on it too - bonus!

It just doesn't seem worth it to carry an iPod around while on a trip (and, yes, I know what they look like, how much they weigh, what they do, etc.) to hear music you can listen to whenever you want anyway. Often music that one will be embarassed to admit he liked 10 years from now (I'm not including Bach here, Robespierre).

Can't people do without &quot;they're&quot; song for 10 hours on an airplane? It's just one more thing to carry around and worry about losing/breaking for something that, at best, is a nice to have.

But--it's not my vacation, it's not my ears, and it doesn't really matter if I don't understand this need or not.

I'm just puzzled about people being plugged in and tuned out so much these days. Might it have something to do with people being raised with less parental contact over the past 20 or 30 years and the resulting general decline in communication skills (or even the desire to communiate with others) over the same period of time?

Now that should generate some comment. Yeah, it's trolling, but trolling with a serious purpose.

&quot;Might it have something to do with people being raised with less parental contact over the past 20 or 30 years and the resulting general decline in communication skills (or even the desire to communiate with others) over the same period of time?&quot;

Rufus, as a 53-year-old young guy who has (IMHO) very good communicating skills and had very communicative parents, the answer to your question is an unequivocal &quot;no.&quot; I don't want to yak with people for ten hours on an airplane. I don't particularly want to hear others yak either and I'm sure other people don't want to hear me yak. Sure, I might get into a conversation, but ten hours. Please.

My wife doesn't want to talk with me for ten hours because she'll see way too much of me for the next 23 days. She reads a book or three on the way over to Europe, and I like to listen to tunes (and not the same bad tunes they play over and over on the airplane, but music I specifically want to listen to).

Once in Europe, I don't use the IPOD, then charge it the night before we leave to go home, and listen to music on the way back. I also work on my trip report while I'm listening to songs, and I've got 5,500 tunes to choose from.


I don't think someone who listens to music on the way to and from Europe is lacking in communication skills. They're just trying to pass 10 - 12 hours in a cramped airliner as comfortable as possible listening to music. Western civilization, as we know it, will somehow still survive.
((H))

My husband just got me a device that fits on the ipod so I can talk into it....good for those &quot;reports&quot; I want to have. The thought of having to write down all the sights, menus, etc. was overwhelming.

I am hoping he can put some books on there too that I can &quot;listen to&quot;...not sure of this though.

Leaving September 1st...it's coming soon!

In May and June I flew roundtrip from LAX to:
Honolulu
DC (2 times)
Paris

My iPod and an ambien for each flight were my secret weapons for not going insane.

interesting that people seem to need validation of their own interests and desires. Should I take the computer? Should I take the i pod? Isn't the answer---in every case---if YOU want it?
But, at least this is not a question posed by a parent, asking the forum if an adult child should be &quot;allowed&quot; to bring a laptop.

I'm an adult child, and I only take a laptop abroad if I need it for a presentation or if I'm renting a car (so I can use <u>my</u> GPS instead of buying the rental firm's for them).

I carry an iPAQ everywhere, and I hype it on forums like this because the more people who wake up and smell the 21st century, the more the user base will expand and the more entrepreneurs will start developing nifty applications.

I don't own an iPOD, because I think they're overpriced and underfeatured. I can carry all the music I can possibly listen to on an overseas jaunt in a single 256mb SD card.

she is just looking for friendly advice, like the rest of us.
i wouldnt take an ipod if it made me look touristy (i.e. pickpocket target). are ipods popular amongst locals at your destination? is the ipod wireless? i would be very weary of touring some places with wires coming out of my padded jacket!

On our recent trip to Italy, we brought along the iPod and a set of small powered speakers. As we were staying a full week in one apartment, it came in handy to have music on demand while hanging out, sipping limoncello on the deck, etc.

As I type this, the iPod is playing on shuffle through my office stereo...and making my day more enjoyable.