Larger memory MP3's [other than Apple]

[Fake Boris]

I wouldn't trust a mainstream tech publication for a serious audio review neither...

[Dinner]

Originally posted by Verto


The iPods don't have an easily scratched screen

Not any more. Previous generations did though and I was refering to a thread at the time where aggie was refusing to believe it was the case. A few days later Apple announced a recall for that vary problem.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Originally posted by Agathon


You believe what you read on CNet... OK... I hear the Weekly World News is a good read as well...

It's far more trustworthy than you are. And do detailed reviews on a variety of products. Where you parrot your taking points given to you by Apple.

[q=Oncle Boris]I wouldn't trust a mainstream tech publication for a serious audio review neither...[/q]

I'm no audiophile, so I'm sure what they're hearing, I'll be hearing as well.

[Zylka]

Cheers Imran. That Creative Vision M seems the best comparable bet

Some aesthetic stats, vs. iPod



Creative:

2.44" x 4.09" x 0.732", 164g / 5.78oz
3.7i LCD




30g iPod:

4.1 x 2.4 x 0.43 inches / 4.8 ounces
2.5i LCD

iPod wins in both size and weight, though creative knocks it down a tier in projection. Though 100us$ less on the iPod still..

It would almost seem best to wait for the next version of the M, from a practical standpoint. A hundred dollars extra for something bulkier and heavier?

Any neutral stats on the comparable sound quality from both makers

[Imran Siddiqui]

That's the Vision, Zylka, my friend. The Vision M is a different style, but comparable stats, and CHEAPER than the iPod .





4.1 X 2.4 X 0.7
5.7 oz
2.5" LCD @ 320 x 240 Color Display
262,144 colours

[Zylka]

30 gig???

[Zylka]

Wow, it is 30g!

Vision M is the one. And a big **** you to Apple customer service for having had the chance to salvage this consumer's business, but turning instead to Apple brand, thick lense cat-eye glasses ******ry. An unwillingness to deal proffessionally with anyone who isn't a set and sold fan.

RALPHBUCKS RALPHBUCKS HERE COME RALPHBUCKS

[Imran Siddiqui]

What'd they do to you, Z?

[Zylka]

Nothing entirely unfair. It's just the general culture of customer service that seems to reside within any facet of Apple operations that's just so pathetic, and dare I say "arrogant". Arrogant being a loosely applied description in that true arrogance only resonates with effect when a company has more than the rabid backing of closeminded lemmings to justify it.

ie.) When coming back to the Apple store with my non functioning iPod mini, this *ing over the hill dweeb who couldn't make more of himself in life than "Apple sales clerk" responded in quite an irritated and condescending manner on how I have to send it in for repairs myself. Regardless of whether or not I'm the ten billionth person who walks in there unknowing that I have to send a defective unit in at my own shipping cost, I don't want to EVER be talked to like that by a business that I HAD JUST MADE PURCHASE FROM. Aside from which, all apologies for not being hooked up to "Apple fan mail" and the hip, applevine up-to-dates on why the survival of Microsoft pity can't manufacture durable products. [Let alone offer a commercially responsible warranty to rectify problems ensuing from such]

Point in case number 2 was annoying enough in itself to provoke hatred of the company and an unwillingness to consider them for laptop purchase coming this fall. I had phoned technical service up in query of repairing my now unresponding iMini. My choices here consisted of either sending the unit in at my own ~50$ shipping fee for replacement, or the $69.95 warranty upgrade and fixture which seemed the reitorating theme in their "service" strategy.

I quite politely asked to be directed to customer service, only to be pausingly asked "what concern I'd be sharing with them there". Apparently I'm not allowed to contact customer service without T.S. first compiling and approving a case file on my behalf.

I continue with the same operator on how I'm not all too keen to be sending in a deffective unit at considerable cost only to be sent the same product after however many weeks of waiting. Yet I would see some gain in the entire transaction, if, say, I send the unit in on my own shipping costs, though rather for a deductable on a newer unit like the nano or iPod30g. They would be sending me an entirely NEW iMini as "repair" for the old, so it's not like a procedural step would be missed here other than my forking over additional $$$ for a different boxed unit.

Never got through to customer service, and was only reitorated the option of face replacement after customer bared shipping, or face replacement after the traditional corporate moneymaker of warranty "upgrade"

From there I tried to "raise hell", but was feeling too nice a person to actually start screaming into the reciever and calling the operator the dork piece of **** he was. Lesson learned on passive complaint, as dork boy actually laughed in response to my calm and pointed reasoning on why I wasn't happy with the options available.

And now.. aside from all the above.. As much as I like certain posters in the OT forum, especially the Canadian ones.. "Some" of them really seem to embody, by example, the near zealot like ignorance that Apple fanatics are so claimed for. This thread has done wonders in underscoring how the iconic legend of Apple has so overbaringly used the certain "fervour" of fanbase as crutch to survive

[Imran Siddiqui]

Wow... just wow. That is a truly horrid experience in every sense of the word. I can't believe they wouldn't let you through to customer service. And for Christ's sake, why couldn't they have done an even exchange at the freaking store like normal companies do?!

[Dinner]

I've never had a problem with my Zen so I can't say how good Creative's costumer service is but it would be hard to be worse then that.

[thesilentone]

I had a Creative Zen Micro 5gb fail on me after only 2 months of use. I contacted their support via email, and it was painfully obvious that their first language wasn't english, and nor were they really reading what my emails said, just sending generic cut and paste jobs back at me, despite my emails saying i'd already tried their fixes. But, after 3 emails they agreed to replace it, one week later I had a 6gb unit come back to me! Nice little upgrade, and the battery cover didn't slip off quite so easily, so all good overall. Creative aren't perfect, but i'm glad there's a little competition. Can't really see Apple being a great company in a monopoly situation...

[MRT144]

wow zylka sounds like agathon was part of their customer support. wait a second, when you hire only fanboys and preach to the choir what else do you expect?

[Zylka]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui


Wow... just wow. That is a truly horrid experience in every sense of the word. I can't believe they wouldn't let you through to customer service. And for Christ's sake, why couldn't they have done an even exchange at the freaking store like normal companies do?!

Because ANYONE that experiences a problem with their deffective iPod product has to send it in at their own expense for repair, even when it breaks down under warranty. "User agreement" upon purchase, it's later claimed

Little bit I had forgot to share about my buddies' own experience.. the guy buys an iPod 4th gen 20gig and eventually has to have it repaired, as well. No biggy, he loves the thing

He eventually buys the 5th gen and doesn't even get to use it as it's non-responsive when disconnected from the computer. Sends that in for repairs, at his own cost - only to have them tinker with it for over 5 weeks before sending it back.

This time, it won't even turn on. He has to send it back again, at his own cost. For now - on his desk sits a shiny new iPod 5thG, without a sign of wear or function beyond that of "paperweight". Absolutely ridiculous service base. Or lack thereof it.

[Dinner]

I honestly am shocked that any company would force people to pay to ship a defective product back to the manufacturer. My office gives all of us scientists Dell laptops to use in the field (well, the big whigs get nicer laptops but we peons get stuck with the Dells) and their service has been excellent. One of my co-workers (an environmental scientist) actually dropped his laptop into a pond while taking water samples thus shorting it out. Dell paid to have UPS show up at the job site at the end fo the day to pick up the broken laptop then had a brand new laptop mailed to his hotel with in 72 hours. The extended warrenty the company bought covered the total replacement costs. Not bad at all.