Comments on: Degrees of Want

By: Christine

Christine — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 17:17:31 +0000

Christmas is only a few months away. Why not put the iPod on your wish list? Maybe you’ll even get some cash gifts and you could apply those to the purchase price if you don’t receive the iPod.

By: Troy

Troy — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 18:35:42 +0000

Buy it….use it….abuse it.

By: DanT

DanT — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 16:14:25 +0000

To #60. Check out the RockBox site to see which players are supported. The RockBox firmware has a bookmark feature. I don’t listen to podcasts so I can’t comment on how well it works. But IIRC, you can have multiple bookmarks for a file.

By: Kim

Kim — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 15:44:01 +0000

I would get another iTouch. I have both an iTouch and a Sansa. The Sansa software is not seamless like Apple’s. Even my computer support person had problems. Plus there was the expense of buying a charger for the car, etc.

By: 8sml

8sml — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 13:23:47 +0000

@ #60 DaveOR: With my iPod & iTunes, podcasts remember your last position by default, and for other files you can turn on the “remember last position” feature for each file. However, I have used some open-source software that does not have bookmarking capability. So it depends on the software that you’re using.

By: Kevin

Kevin — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 12:14:11 +0000

@Anitra:

Again, just a reminder that Apple quietly removed video playback capability from the current-generation Nano. You cannot watch videos on the new Nanos. If you want to watch video, you MUST buy a Classic or a Touch. Those are the only 2 that will play video now.

By: Anitra

Anitra — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 02:17:38 +0000

I completely understand where you’re coming from on this one, Trent. I went through a similar calculation in downgrading from a 80GB iPod “Classic” to a $50 8GB iPod nano. I don’t use my iPod nearly as much as I did when I worked outside the home, and the only video I watch on it is the Sesame Street podcast (when waiting in dr office, etc) with my toddler.

I decided it was worth it to give up the ability to have my entire music collection for something that was going to be more hardy as well as more compact… and significantly cheaper than a straight replacement or upgrade.

By: DaveOR

DaveOR — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 00:48:27 +0000

Does anybody use a bookmark feature? I love the ability to stop a podcast/book/etc and hold that place to come back to it later after listening to something else? Most systems have dropped this feature and will only hold the place if you don’t change what you’re playing – pause or on/off. So you have to fast forward/rewind thru 30-45 min of program to listen to the last part – if you can remember where you were.

I’m also post #9 – Please help if you have any info on MP3′s with bookmark abiltiy.

Thanks.

By: littlepitcher

littlepitcher — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 00:04:01 +0000

You can play podcasts on a “generic” mp3 player and save them to a microSD card. Quite a few podcasters issue their work to podcast sites other than iTunes.
That said, I’d still recommend a reconditioned iPod Touch for all of its features. My last Touch was purchased reconditioned from eBay–a 16 GB for just over $200–and I believe that you can currently get a new 16GB 3rd gen at WalMart for the same two hundred bucks. A reconditioned via eBay should be even less.
Bluntly, I wanted the upgrade to 32GB and the camera. I love the idea of a handheld computer, and this replaces my laptop about half the time. I do keep mine in a leather bifold case, which reduces the risk of breakage. I also recommend the seriously ugly-fied padded armbands. Saves a bunch of wear and tear on the machine. Your decision, though.

By: Tall Bill

Tall Bill — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 21:37:03 +0000

I keeping with your values that you’re teaching us: Put it on the Christmas Wish List & Hope. Accept with love whatever comes.

By: Briana @ GBR

Briana @ GBR — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 21:35:29 +0000

I’m in (almost) the same boat. I can’t find my iPod touch, and even if I did, it’s been used and abused, and has some glitches. I feel like I need another one when in reality it’s a want. I’m trying to think do I want to replace it with the new model (honestly I don’t use all the features and apps I used to when I first got it) or will I settle for a cheaper model? Especially when it comes to podcasts, which I developed a recent interest for.

By: Lynn

Lynn — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 17:57:08 +0000

My husband loves his Sansa Fuze, if it helps. :)

By: getagrip

getagrip — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 17:56:06 +0000

Put the item on your wishlist for Christmas. Why deny someone the ability to purchase you something they know you will use and enjoy?

Make do for the next two months without it.

If you don’t get one during the holidays, then make the decision at that point.

By: Telephus44

Telephus44 — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 17:51:48 +0000

Clearly the iPad Touch is a want. You can go walking or running without one. You can take notes on a pad of paper. You can listen to blogs by sitting at your computer. You don’t need one to entertain your kids. By carefully examining the features each alternative offers, you are clarifying which features you want more than others. Ultimately, if product A has X features and costs $200, and product B has X + Y features and costs $300, you are deciding if Y features are worth $100. This to me is a different question than when does something you want elevate to a worthwhile purchase? Whether a purchase is “worthwhile” is how you justify spending money on a “want” item. You know – the “Oh, it’s worth it because I’ll use it all the time/be more productive/will get me in shape/help me spend more time with the kids/etc.”

The bigger question for me would be, when is it ok to spend money on a want? If I have my retirement fully funded, no credit debt, no student loan debt, no car payment, and a 6 month emergency fund, then is it ok to spend $300 on a want? If I have $300 in my allowance or “mad money” account, then is it ok to spend $300 on a want? What if I still have credit card debt but I’m paying over the minimums?

By: Jeremy

Jeremy — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 17:26:10 +0000

I don’t chime in very often, but I’m in the replace the iPod Touch camp for all the reason that you stated you used them for.

I would recommend that you purchase an Apple refurb from the Apple store, which will save you $80 on the 8GB model. I have bought countless refurbs from Apple (more than 15 so far) and never once had a problem.

By: Melissa

Melissa — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 16:27:42 +0000

My ipod recently bit the dust and I’ve been happy using my sansa 2 gb clip. I might get a sansa 8 gb with sd option to load more music and audiobooks. It wasn’t worth it to me to get another ipod at their prices. Even when I had both, I found that I was using my sansa more.

By: DanT

DanT — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 16:21:25 +0000

If you do go with the Sansa, put the RockBox firmware on it. MUCH better interface than the Sandisk firmware, adds support for additional audio formats, etc. I have the 2G model (w/a 16G SDHC card in it too) and have my entire music collection on it, along with a few games (which I never play, but they’re there.)

That said, if you have a bunch of songs you purchased from iTunes, I think you need an Apple product just to be able to play them, right? If so, the replacement cost of those tunes might be enough to make some form of Apple player the obvious choice.

By: valleycat1

valleycat1 — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 16:19:47 +0000

Tyler @ #49 – See Sara’s comment #29 – lifestyle inflation is not necessarily a given in everyone’s life. Sometimes one decides to downgrade once you’ve done what you can to, as you put it, revive the item. It’s been amusing to me to see all the comments against Trent’s decision, when so many people are equally adamant about decreasing TV use or totally living without a tv (rather than always buying a bigger & better one).

By: Tyler

Tyler — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 16:11:22 +0000

Usually when a person wears out a product from overuse, they determine it’s time to UPgrade. You are suggesting it is time to DOWNgrade? This makes no sense, especially given the value you get out of the product, given the extent you went to try and revive it.

By: Leah

Leah — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 15:02:19 +0000

yes, #43 — I’ve had my macbook for 4 years, and it’s still working great. okay, to be fair, I did replace the hard drive — but it gave me ample warning that it was dying, and it is super easy to replace the hard drive. Compared to the PC laptops I used to own that would brick completely at the two year mark (and I know how to fix a computer!), I am super happy with my macbook. Plus, apple care is the most affordable and awesome care plan ever.

Trent, over that much use, I really don’t think you’re saving much. I’ve found that it’s not worth it to nickel and dime on expensive purchases. I’ve “gone cheap” a few times and always cursed myself for not just getting what I really wanted. Of course, if you really don’t want a new touch, then don’t bother. But I would get an apple device for better ease of syncing with itunes, and I’d look to apple’s refurbished items page to get the best deal.