Cholesterol news and I need MP3 player advice!

[sarea]

First, I wanted to say that I am completely and insanely envious of gnrationfo, who is now getting phone calls from Billie Joe Armstrong. Next time, I want you to not pick up the phone and instead let your machine get it. Then you can play it for me when I'm there, and it'll be the next best thing to seeing Green Day in concert.

Second, I wanted to impart a couple of pieces of news -- one good, one ... I can't decide.

#1: I had my bloodwork done the other day (a year since the time I found out I had high bad cholesterol), and the results came back with good news! Hmm, so losing 14+ pounds really did make a difference. Guess that means I have to try to stick w/ a healthier lifestyle (though I've already deteriorated a lot from late last year).

	HDL in mg/dL (good cholesterol)	LDL in mg/dL (bad cholesterol)	Triglycerides	Total Cholesterol	Weight
Recommended Guidelines	Low: < 40 Optimal: > 60	Optimal: < 100 Near optimal: 100 to 129 Borderline high: 130 to 159 High: 160 to 189 Very high: > 190	Optimal: < 150 Borderline high: 150 to 199 High: 200 to 499 Very high: > 500	Optimal: < 200 Borderline high: 200 to 239 High: > 240	Optimal: 104-125 pounds
2004 test	46	140	116	209	139
2005 test	63	112	67	180	115
2006 test	65	122	76	201	??
2007 test	--	--	--	--	--
2008 test	46	139	96	204	132
2009 test	--	--	--	--	--
2010 test	50	--	--	213	154
2011 test	48	107	109	177	158

So I'm still not under 100 for LDL, but at least it's near optimal now, instead of borderline high. YAY that this means I won't have to go on cholesterol-lowering medication.

#2: So, re: the iPod. They don't have a replacement, which I find unsurprising, because how many 20GB iPods are you going to be able to find at that price? So they're going to fully refund my money, and provide a UPS label for me to ship it back, etc. Which is cool -- they have been really great to deal with so far. But, of course, now I'm torn about what my next steps are. Do I invest in another iPod, because those who have them really love them, or do I invest in a different MP3 player, for the reasons I've gone over before (lower price, more space, etc.)? I would really, REALLY love to get your experience/opinions on this. The more, the better. I should have probably done this earlier.

What MP3 player are you using? What's been your experience with it so far? What are the things you love most about it, and what drawbacks (if any) have you encountered?

Comments

[ropo.livejournal.com]

I know nothing about iPods, but yay for your cholesterol success!

[indigochild76.livejournal.com]

First off... GREAT news about the cholesterol!!! :-)

Second... I just recently bought myself a 4GB iPod Mini and just LOVE it. At first I was going to go for the 6GB, but due to prices and such ended up with the 4GB instead. Anyway, 4GB is more than plenty of music to listen to. Sure, it's always nice to have more space and all that, but it's easy enough to download music and delete and re-download that it really isn't an issue (at least for me). That and it doesn't bother me to have only 1000 (give or take depending on the file type) songs on it at one time... I don't think I even remember all the stuff I put on there at present and I've only filled it about halfway!!! :-)

Well, my darling... I hope that this was at least somewhat helpful.

*hugs*

Ipod

[kirixchi.livejournal.com]

Hooray for cholesterol :D

As for iPods, I have a mini. For me, it is ALL about the iPod cache (which, to be fair, is dwindling greatly). It HAD to be pink (big surprise) for me. I find that I have plenty of room on the mini for stuff I want, it is portable and works well. I HATE the earbuds- HATE. Fortunately, the mini jack is a standard jack, so I can use a different pair.

My husbad has a Sony MP3 player which cost about half as much and stores MORE. I don't think that his controls are as intuitive, but it stores more songs and the battery lasts longer...dollar for dollar, it totally beats the iPod in every category other than style.

That said, given our shared love of purses and shoes, I'm willing to bet that "style" is an important consideration. I LOVE the way the mini feels in my hand, and the color, and all the DARLING little designer cases (Coach, Kate Spade, etc.) that are made for it.

I would buy my iPod again, but only because I am a fashionista wannabe. A techie would recommend something else, I fear.

Re: Ipod

[sarea-okelani.livejournal.com]

This was super helpful! It helps to have someone who's got experience with both types (iPod/non-iPod), because I've found that most people just really love whatever they have. Which is great, only it doesn't help me decide which one I want. <g>

What's interesting is that, like you said, I'm like you and I like pretty things. Style IS important. <g> I totally wanted a pink iPod too, and I do so love the UI. But ... I think that when it comes to electronics, I prefer functionality over look (unless it's just really, really hideous, which I don't think they are). I mean, with handbags, their very function is to look good, really. I mean, if you just needed a container to hold things you could carry around a plastic bag from Safeway. So handbags are all about the aesthetics. But an MP3 player has a v. important function aside from aesthetics, in which case, better technology/cheaper price seems the obvious way to go.

HOWEVER, I have not yet handled one, so before I make any final decisions I should really see if I like how a non-iPod functions and all.

[jessicakmalfoy.livejournal.com]

i absolutely, positively ♥ my ipod so much. of course, it was free so that could be why. i won it in an "auction" we had at my work. the only downside i have is that its not compatible with any other music, unless you rip music from the free sites. for some reason, my kazaa files convert into my itunes.

[rainpuddle13.livejournal.com]

I think you know where I stand on the ipod issue. Dell all the way. I haven't found a single draw back - more space, less money, more battery life, excellent sound, not limited to icrapple accessories. I say anything - iRiver, Dell, Sony - is better than an ipod.

*pats shiny silver dell jukebox*

[sarea-okelani.livejournal.com]

What happens if something happens to the battery? Are you able to change it out yourself?

That was one of the big drawbacks about the iPod ... the fact that, originally, you basically had to buy a new iPod when the battery gave out, and now, I think you have to send it in to get the battery replaced by them, for like $30 or something. I'd much prefer to have control over the battery, myself -- but if all players are similar in that regard, then it's a neutral point.

[rainpuddle13.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately they all have lithium batteries that have to be factory replaced. That is the only drawback, but the batteries last for a very, very long time if used properly so it's not that big of a concern.

[seldon.livejournal.com]

Yay for cholesterol! And I guess losing all those pounds makes you smile whenever you see a mirror - at least that's what happened to me!

My list of pros and cons:

+ Looks cool
+ Clickwheel
+ Supports MP3, AAC, WAV and Apple Lossless
+ iTunes - a very easy to use yet powerful interface
+ Ripping/importing is done with a couple of clicks
+ Acess to the iTunes store (songs from the iTunes sotre, BTW, can be burned into CDs and re-ripped back into the format of your choice, a feature not all the stores offer).
+ Small
+ Does anybody really needs more than 20GB of HD? (I have a 40GB but I'll be the first to admit I could live with only 4GB).
+ Newest models have very, very good battery life
+ TONS of accesories and add-ons, for the stilysh and/or practical guy/gal. Check www.ipodlounge.com to see some of them...

- There are players with more space out there at the same price
- No .wma support (and that means no Wal-Mart/Microsoft/Yahoo/Naptser store...)
- Radio, voice recording, etc. has to be purchased separately
- You *have to* use iTunes to clssify and copy your music into the iPod
- You can't import songs from the iPod into your computer (at least not without 3rd Part software. Hint, hint ;) )

All in all, I'm a techie, and I'm very happy with my iPod. The fact that you have tons of .wma could be a problem, but iTunes can import those songs into MP3 if they aren't copy-protected. Or, if you have them in CD, iTunes can rip them for you very quickly with only a couple of clicks.

Anyway, a word of warning if you don't go for an iPod: beware of Sony MP3 players. Until very recently (that is, until a couple of months ago) they couldn't play MP3: instead they re-rip your songs into a propietary format (ATRAC, IIRC).

[seldon.livejournal.com]

Ah! Some things I forgot to mention... If you want this for use in your car, maybe you'd like to see if your stereo can accept a direct line-in from your MP3 player - both casette tape adaptars and radio transmitters represent a significant loss of audio quality, which means that unless you use a direct line the difference in audio quality between different models might not be that important.

Second, if you plan to use this to exercise in a non-stationary device (i.e. jogging) then you'd be much better investing into a non-hard-drive-based device, like a Discman with MP3 support, minidisc player or a flash memory based jukebox.

Third, if you want to use this in your car, maybe a CD player and some CD-RWs might be a cheaper and more practical option ;) I use an iPod because I walk a lot, but whenever I drive I find a selection of 10 rewriteable CDs are more than enough because, really, how often do you switch playlists during mid-drive? (Although 24 hour cross-country driving marathonw are another story altogether...)

Fourth, no matter what model you get, buy a case to protect it from scratches *and* drops. It's the best investment you can make! :)

[selinakyle47.livejournal.com]

your stereo can accept a direct line-in from your MP3 player

Is this a feature on non-factory-installed stereos? I don't recall seeing this on my car stereo (which came pre-installed). I use a casette adaptor and am looking for something that works better.

[seldon.livejournal.com]

Is this a feature on non-factory-installed stereos?

Yup. Some factory-installed stereos also have it (usually it's hidden in the back), but most don't. It really depends on how cheap practical your car dealer is...

[sarea-okelani.livejournal.com]

This is fabulous info. I'm sure that my stereo doesn't have a direct line-in, but like you said, I don't often change playlists while I'm driving (even if I wanted to, it'd be a bit dangerous), so my CD player and rotating CDs should suit me just fine.

If I did exercise w/ the player, it wouldn't be jogging. I hate running of any kind. ;) I'd mostly be walking, which it sounds like that would be safe to do?

Mostly I want it for when I'm traveling, like on a plane, or in a car ride when I'm not driving.

Yes, a case is a must!

[sarea-okelani.livejournal.com]

See, the fact that you're more tech oriented really does speak well for the iPod, since you're recommending it .... but I guess the thing is, with the cost consideration, I really want a compelling reason to get the iPod over something else. So far, most of the arguments for iPod have had to do with aesthetics (if they've even said anything other than, "I love it!" <g>), and I'm afraid I'm just not finding that compelling enough. And everyone KNOWS I'm someone who loves accessories/style, so for me to be unconvinced purely on that front, well ... I guess it does show that when it comes to electronics, I'm more about the functionality.

Does anyone really need 20gb of space on their MP3 player? Probably not. ;) But it's nice to know it's there, in case the day ever comes when I do. I mean, I said the same thing about my 19gb hard drive three years ago, and it turned out to be nowhere near enough. So you just never know!

I really appreciate all your thoughtful pros/cons, and the extra info (like about Sony, ugh). Obviously it all bears consideration. I think what I'm going to do is go to Circuit City or something today and check out non-iPod players, see what they look like (if they're really hideous, fine, style before functionality), if I like the interface, etc. Then I can narrow it down further, and maybe have a better sense of what my preferences are. (Or I'll just confuse myself even further, wheee!)

[heinous_bitca.livejournal.com]

I have a 2nd generation 10gb iPod, and I love it. I don't use it as often as I should, but I'd never get anything else.

[madannekidd.livejournal.com]

I say get another MP3 player, I never thought the iPod was all that great, just better publicised. Anyway, I'm using an iRiver, it's fabulous! Massive space, wonderful sound, plays OGG Viles, the colour screen MP3 players aren't that much more expensive and it's got radio FM and recording. So far, it's amazing, and I adore it. I have the H10, which is only 5Mb, but it's still great.

[sarea-okelani.livejournal.com]

Wow, color screens? Recording? Radio FM? Neat! Of course, I don't necessarily need for my player to have all that functionality, but if it were to have those things, I certainly wouldn't complain. Like ... does one really need a color screen? I mean, that makes all the difference surfing the Web, but ... looking for my music files? Probably not critical. But I certainly wouldn't refuse it. ;)

[selinakyle47.livejournal.com]

I love my iPod, and would buy another if I had to. Yeah, it's more expensive than MP3 players with similar storage capabilities, but the range of accessories is fantastic.

My husband has a Rio Cali, which works great for him because he only uses it at the gym (it comes with an armband). If you have a regular iPod, you'll need to buy a case that'll work for you, which could be a drawback.

[sarea-okelani.livejournal.com]

If you have a regular iPod, you'll need to buy a case that'll work for you, which could be a drawback.

What do you mean? Are cases difficult to find? Or are they not as good?

[selinakyle47.livejournal.com]

Not at all. I'm thinking of something like a Rio, which already comes with the armband and is workout-ready. There are several sport cases that are suitable for the regular iPod, but they run at least $25 and over. Plus you have to decide how to attach it to your body (armband, fanny-pack, around the neck, belt clip, etc).

[myamyme.livejournal.com]

I have the 1 GB iPod Shuffle and I love it.

Benefits:
-you get to name it
-tiny (it is about the size of a pack of gum, and weighs about as much)
-my normal headphones work with it (currently Panasonic, because earbuds kill my ears, but I love the white cords...they don't seem to tangle)
-long battery life (almost nonstop all day for two days, 'course, doesn't include the night)
-charges off of the USB port on your computer while it syncs and updates
-can charge off of any computer (with iTunes or not) that is up and running and has a USB port you can get to
-gets "80% charge in 2 hours and a full charge in 4 hours" according to Apple's site.
-works like one looooong playlist (but you can Shuffle it!)
-has the "hold" feature (holding the play/pause button for 3 secs)
-can skip to the beginning (or end) of the playlist by hitting play/pause 3 times in less than 1 sec
-battery indicator on back lights up when you turn it on (though you have to wait until it finishes turning itself on)

Drawbacks:
-only works with iTunes (but it's free)
-doesn't have a screen
-tiny (easy to lose in the depths of a purse, but if you find the headphones, follow the cord. hehe)
-cannot just hook it up to a tape adapter in a car kit (but they are supposed to be coming out with something that will let you broadcast to an FM station)
-battery gives no real warning before it gives out, there are no beeps, lights (battery light flashes red, but...), etc.
-some USB ports aren't big enough (I mean to say that the ports on the front of the computers here at my work don't have enough clearance to each side to allow for the width of the Shuffle; the ones in the back do, but then the problem becomes getting to them)
-one loooong playlist (must skip through songs one at a time)

That is mostly all I can think of. I really like it because it doesn't have a HD. It is all Flash and so you don't have to worry about the HD crashing, or it getting bumped or scratched, etc. I usually wrap my headphones around my neck and trail the cord down through my shirt so that it doesn't get caught on things and then shove the thing in my pocket and run around with it all day. It also has an automatic "shut-down" after however long, but I don't know how long it is; I like the feature because then I can still just hit pause and it will pause for one minute, then the light stops flashing and if you tell it to play before it has shut off, it will pick up immediately, but if you tell it to play after it has shut down, it has to warm up again. Luckily, this doesn't take too long; once the light goes off it's ready. I go shopping with it on, I take it to the show (lines are nicer now), and I like being able to study with it. It holds "240 songs"; mind you, those should be approx. 3-min. songs, but I have nearly 200 on mine right now and I still have 200-300 MGs left, I think. But really, that's like 18 hours or so of music! Holy cow.

So basically, I think the iPod Mini is awesome, but it still had a HD, and for me, who is really hard on electronics, it was the best deal. It all kinda depends on your lifestyle and how you would use it. I needed something that could go just about anywhere and everywhere and do it well and easily. And I think the biggest drawback is that you have to go through all the songs one at a time, and the second biggest is the lack of a better battery indicator, but I think the benefits make up for it, especially because I don't have to buy batteries.

Good luck with whatever you choose!

[sarea-okelani.livejournal.com]

Neat, thank you! That sounds really cool, actually. I mean, considering how small and light it is, what it can do -- v. awesome. But I probably wouldn't use my player the same way you use yours (it'd be limited to traveling, mostly, and possibly walking), so it doesn't need to be quite as agile as the player you're describing. But if I were looking for something like that, it sounds like the iPod Shuffle would be the way to go. I do think that not being able to go directly to a song that I want would eventually drive me up the wall, though. ;) Especially since, like I said, I'll actually have time to fiddle with it, theoretically, while traveling.

[myamyme.livejournal.com]

And one more thing, you can use mp3s in iTunes and have the iPod store them as aac(slightly smaller than mp3) when it puts them on the iPod itself.

[bythesidewalk.livejournal.com]

Arrested Developement got renewed, if you didn't already know. Make everybody watch it.

[sarea-okelani.livejournal.com]

I didn't know, that's excellent news!

The best way to get people to watch the show is for them to see the first episode. Fox ought to pass around free copies of that.

[sydney-lynne.livejournal.com]

A million years late because I'm super behind LJ, but my two cents: I have an iPod (20 GB) and it's occasionally on the fritz and freezes up and causes me all kinds of trauma until the battery drains and I charge it up again and it's fine again. I find it a little annoying to carry around, because I commute with it every day and occasionally envy those with those cute little 1 GB shuffles. But then I have 1400 songs and that's more than even the mini can hold, so it's a good thing I have the 20 GB. Don't know much about the WMA players, although if you do want an iPod and can't convert protected .wma music, here is a nifty (but cumbersome) tutorial of how to convert them.

[sarea-okelani.livejournal.com]

Oh dear. But I suppose at least that's a good indicator of when you need to charge it up, huh? I'm pretty much resigned to the idea that, whatever I end up going with, there's going to be some little thing about it that will drive me crazy -- because that's me and technology for you. I do want to err on the side of more space, because I think it would be really frustrating if I reached the max and had to angst over what songs to get rid of. I might have to do that w/ a 20GB or higher one, anyway, but from all accounts it doesn't seem likely. And anyway it will take me longer to get to that point. Thanks for that link!!