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Archive through October 26, 2005

The TVClubHouse: General Discussions ARCHIVES: 2005 Sep. ~ Nov.: Buyers Banter: IPOD vs Sony Walkman or something else....: Archive through October 26, 2005 users admin

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Dee
Member

08-08-2000

Friday, September 30, 2005 - 7:29 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Dee a private message Print Post    
I'm glad I found this topic. I have a 20GB Dell DJ that I've never been able to use. (Bought it in May or June).

I was going to buy the IPod but I already had MusicMatch and needed to make sure the IPod would be compatible. There's a list of compatible MP3 players listed at MusicMatch but the IPod wasn't there. I have hundreds of songs thru MM and didn't want to start over with burning/downloading/whatever it's called.

Anyway, I tried to move songs to the Dell DJ a few months ago but an error popped up on MM. I've tried sending emails to MM Support but kept getting another error so the email never went through. I tried to find an alternate way to write to Tech Support - no luck. ARRRGH.

I was writing about this elsewhere at TVCH abit ago and thought perhaps the errors were because I hadn't upgraded to XP SP2. Well, I finally did last month so maybe it'll work now. I'm recharging my DJ now and then will try.

Max
Moderator

08-12-2000

Friday, September 30, 2005 - 8:32 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Max a private message Print Post    
Dee, a friend got a Dell DJ and hated it -- and she and her son are both extremely computer-literate. They have iPods now.

I use MusicMatch as well as iTunes. For now, I've been burning MP3 format CDs for use in my car and have managed to work around the restrictions a bit by burning songs to CD in audio format, then re-importing them into iTunes so that I could burn them out in MP3 format. It's a long way around the restrictions, but it works.

I believe that iTunes will also recognize the songs downloaded through MusicMatch, but since I don'thave my iPod yet, I don't know what kinks I'll run into trying to play them on it. :-)


Dee
Member

08-08-2000

Friday, September 30, 2005 - 9:44 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Dee a private message Print Post    
Hi Max, thanks for the info.

I've spent almost 2 hours trying to d/l music from my MusicMatch library to my Dell DJ MP3. No deal. I'm SO FRUSTRATED especially because my attempts to contact their Tech Support didn't go through.

The prob is when I click on Portable Devices, I get an error saying a plug-in is needed. Fine. I d/l it, restarted my computer then went back to MM and clicked on Portable Devices. Sure enough, same error. Same Plug-in is needed.

After reading tons of Help topics but getting no help, I clicked on Contact Tech Support. There's a long form to fill out - when I finished, I clicked on the Submit button only to get an error saying, "We have encountered an error while gathering system info." That's it - no instruction on an alternate way to contact Tech Support or what to do about the error.

I filled out the form several times but with the same result. (You know that saying, "What is the definition of insanity? It's doing something over and over and over again, expecting a different result." I guess it's official then, I'm insane!)

I clicked around trying to find another way to contact them - maybe I'd missed it before. (I've been trying, on & off again, to do this since May or June!) Couldn't find another way.

Just when I was about to give up, I saw a MM Survey button. I filled it out, giving the worst ratings and explaining why. I figure someone will finally contact me.


Damn, I would like to be able to use my MP3!

Thanks for letting me vent. It's nearly 10pm and I haven't even had dinner.

Max
Moderator

08-12-2000

Friday, September 30, 2005 - 10:07 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Max a private message Print Post    
I feel your pain, Dee. The little bit I've poked around in the MusicMatch feature set, it seems to be lacking in some areas when it comes to a user-friendly interface.

I tried with my existing MP3 player, which was on their list of devices and said it needed a plug-in, too. I did the same dance you did before I found (somewhere, can't remember where) something that said if there was a "No" next to the device in the list, then it wouldn't work. Which seemed to go against what the list said about needing a plug-in! Maybe they have two different groups writing screens and they have different ideas about what works and what doesn't. :-)

Anyway, I don't think you're alone in your frustration. Wish I could help you get it to work. Does the Dell have a plug-and-play interface to Windows so that it shows up as just another disk drive? If so, can you just copy MP3 files directly to it instead of going through MusicMatch? THat's the way I put songs onto my little player.



Dee
Member

08-08-2000

Friday, September 30, 2005 - 11:44 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Dee a private message Print Post    
Max, thank you for the advice. And for trying MM out with your MP3 player.

I believe the "No" you saw was that certain MP3 players didn't need the plug in. My DJ wasn't on the "no" list.

I'm not sure about your last question but I can find out. I hope it has that PnP interface!

Thanks again!

Eeyoreslament
Member

07-20-2003

Saturday, October 01, 2005 - 2:24 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Eeyoreslament a private message Print Post    
Dee, try the Dell helpsite for that player first. There may be a way to get songs onto your player without the MusicMatch.

What kind of player do you have? Let me know, and I'll see if I can help.

Colordeagua
Member

10-25-2003

Saturday, October 01, 2005 - 2:31 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Colordeagua a private message Print Post    
Hadn't looked here before. I bought an iPOD Nano (white 4 gig) today. Not going to regret it for any reason, am I? I've got speedy enough PC, but only dial-up so will primarily be ripping (?) my CDs. I'm computer illiterate / challenged. Waiting to talk to my computer person before I even open the box.

But basics as I understand it: First install iTunes from enclosed disk as iTunes version on my PC may be older. Then while on-line, download my CDs to computer. Have to be on-line when I do it to get CD and track names because I only have dial-up (or something like that). Then arrange music in iTunes on my PC as I want it. Then transfer to iPOD.

Is that the basic idea? Is it gonna go smoothly? It never does.

Bonzacat
Member

07-08-2003

Saturday, October 01, 2005 - 2:42 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Bonzacat a private message Print Post    
I honestly believe that the iPod is the only way to go...

Apple has some very informative support pages here:

http://www.apple.com/support/ipod/

Colordeagua
Member

10-25-2003

Saturday, October 01, 2005 - 3:02 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Colordeagua a private message Print Post    
Thanks, Bonza. Guy in the store did point that out to me, but I'd sorta forgotten. I'm gonna do it...I'm gonna do it (thinking positively -- nothing's gonna go wrong)

Eeyoreslament
Member

07-20-2003

Sunday, October 02, 2005 - 9:36 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Eeyoreslament a private message Print Post    
Colord - seriously, there is nothing more EMPOWERING than doing it yourself!! Try to get as far as you can WITHOUT the help of your "computer person"! You'll feel great!!!

Bonzacat
Member

07-08-2003

Sunday, October 02, 2005 - 11:24 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Bonzacat a private message Print Post    
Good luck, Colord!!!

Colordeagua
Member

10-25-2003

Monday, October 03, 2005 - 9:38 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Colordeagua a private message Print Post    
I did wait for my "computer person". She came today and got things started. Showed me around iTunes, how to rip (?), then download (sure downloaded to iPod FAST). Downloaded 228 tracks. Right now I've got the whole thing in shuffle -- so it's Mary Chapin Carpenter at the moment!! I love my iPod!!

Dee
Member

08-08-2000

Tuesday, October 04, 2005 - 4:46 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Dee a private message Print Post    
Eeyore, I have a Dell DJ 20GB. Going to the Dell site is a good idea - doh, I didn't even think of it because I thought it was a MusicMatch issue.

Speaking of MM, I filled out the feedback questionnaire, giving them the lowest marks and provided my email addy to the question: Do you want us to contact you?

No email from them yet! I'm paying $49 a year for MM and can't even use all of the services they provide!

Eeyoreslament
Member

07-20-2003

Wednesday, October 05, 2005 - 10:01 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Eeyoreslament a private message Print Post    
You're PAYING for MM!?!? I never pay for anything (except maybe the Live Feeds); there are so many FREE programs out there. They can't convince me that they do SO MUCH MORE, that I should fork out the bucks. I know that's a bad attitude.

I am super-tired right now Dee, but I will look up some info for you tomorrow, and write back.

I really like MM for ORGANIZING my music, and the songs....but I don't know what it offers PAST that. But yeah, I'll look up your player, and see what I can figure out.

More to come....


Let me know if you figure anything out too. :-)

Max
Moderator

08-12-2000

Wednesday, October 05, 2005 - 10:40 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Max a private message Print Post    
Yeah, my iPod arrived today! Got it all charged up and loaded it up with 508 songs (well, there's an audio book that I ripped from CDs on there, too) and 7 pictures so far. It's a 20GB iPod Photo and all that has still left me with plenty of room -- over 15 GB available space!

Whee! I still have a lot of CDs to import and I got a free $15 iTunes card with the purchase, so I can get more music or another book that way, too. And of coure, I will be adding pictures as I go.

Now to figure out how to use some of the "Extras" that are on there, like the calendar and contacts stuff. Maybe I can get rid of my Sony Clie? I also discovered some sites with software that let you do more on the iPod and I'm going to investigate that. I've got the bookmarks on my other computer, but will check them out next week.

I'm off to the beach on Friday with my Barefoot Dreams Cozy Chic robe and my new iPod! (Oh, and plenty of wine and women friends, too -- it's Wild Women Weekend!)

Eeyoreslament
Member

07-20-2003

Wednesday, October 12, 2005 - 12:44 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Eeyoreslament a private message Print Post    
Apple Introduces Video, TV Playing IPod

Woo hoooooooo!!!!!!!

Finqwik
Member

09-23-2000

Wednesday, October 12, 2005 - 1:46 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Finqwik a private message Print Post    
Wow wonder if we will be able to get the live feeds on it??

Eeyoreslament
Member

07-20-2003

Wednesday, October 12, 2005 - 2:31 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Eeyoreslament a private message Print Post    
You know, I don't think it is ready for "internet" access. However it wouldn't take long for the computer hackers out there to be able to convert REAL files into ipod-friendly files. So things that are "taped" in RP would probably be watchable (once converted).

We have 9 months to figure it out. LOL

Yankee_in_ca
Member

08-01-2000

Wednesday, October 12, 2005 - 2:48 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Yankee_in_ca a private message Print Post    
They've announced that you can buy TV shows on it via iTunes, including Desperate Housewives and Lost, the day after the eps air:

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2005/10/12/financial/f104858D59.DTL&type=tech

Karuuna
Board Administrator

08-31-2000

Wednesday, October 12, 2005 - 3:45 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Karuuna a private message Print Post    
There is also PocketDish, which comes in 3 screen sizes 2.2 inches to 7 inches. You can download direct from TIVO or your DVR, even faster if you have Dish Network (which I don't). No need to buy the shows. Holds up to 40 hours of tv shoes.

READ MORE HERE

Finqwik
Member

09-23-2000

Wednesday, October 12, 2005 - 5:15 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Finqwik a private message Print Post    
Hope they allow the Pocketdish to operate in Canada, will still have not got Tivo here

Max
Moderator

08-12-2000

Wednesday, October 12, 2005 - 5:39 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Max a private message Print Post    
Yeah, the pocket dish sounds cool. I have a friend who will probably get one of those (he has LOTS of disposable income). :-)

I'm not sure the video iPod appeals to me. Such a small screen isn't that conducive to video when you're older. :-)

I suppose it's a great way for networks and other programming providers to get some additional income since so many of us are bypassing ads with TiVo and DVR usage. Wonder if ads are included in the pay-per-video format?

Eeyoreslament
Member

07-20-2003

Wednesday, October 12, 2005 - 10:13 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Eeyoreslament a private message Print Post    
From what I understand, all the iPods will be switching to video. Much like after the 4th gen ipods, they all went to "photo". Now the photo is old, and the latest is video. That is why it is still only being called "iPod".

It comes in black too.

I really do want this.

Bonzacat
Member

07-08-2003

Friday, October 21, 2005 - 5:06 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Bonzacat a private message Print Post    
I don't see myself watching video on my iPod, but that 2.5" screen is a real reason to want it. So much more real estate makes song info and even photos much easier on the eyes.

Anyone using iTunes - you can download Version 6, which was introduced with the Video iPod. Just to play, I downloaded a music video -- the quality is excellent and you can view it at any size on your computer, even full screen. That means that if you missed an episode of Lost or Desperate Housewives and were about to travel with a laptop, you could download and watch a show on a good-sized screen.

Texannie
Member

07-16-2001

Wednesday, October 26, 2005 - 2:15 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Texannie a private message Print Post    
Is the Nano completely replacing the mini? Can you not buy the mini's anymore?