I hate iPods. Maybe it's my reaction to Apple, to Apple fanboiz, to iTunes apparently capturing people who have iPods.

But I sometimes need one, for instance to try out in the back yard of a client where I'm installing an iPod dock.

What model should I buy, just to have something that will fit into an actual iPod dock and play some music?

if I do this, but I don't want iTunes on my desktop or business laptop, will I have to get a separate computer for iTunes? Can you have iTunes on your computer and still use other players (Windows Media Player) for my ripping, storage, and general playback?

Furthermore, if you have one that could solve my problem, how much do you want for it?

Thanks!

If you just need it for testing i would hit ebay and try and find a used one with music loaded.

If you are going to purchase new...i would get the iPod touch. The 8GB model (least expensive) is $20 less than the iPod classic and you may find other uses for it like the camera and voice recorder.

If you are not interested in an iTunes account you can find a friend/family member with iTunes and sync your iPod with their library/playlists.

Great advice. Thanks.

Which is to say, if I put iTunes onto my computer, it will suck up and command all music files on the computer, right? Or is it that an "account" costs money?

Rather than use up most of your hard drive space with music files, you could use an external hard drive to store iTunes. You can also select which player is the default, so it's not really a problem.

Thanks, but still --

You can pay up to eighty bucks on ebay for iPod Touches for parts only! Is there some reason why I couldn't use the iPod shuffle, actually on Apple's site at $49.00, for checking to see if ipod docks work? Is there something about the way the controls work that's different or lacking in them?

Frinstance, yesterday I was working with a guy's Integra iPod dock. The MX880 commands for the dock don't work sensibly as far as I can figure, but we were able to stumble through commands that often do exactly what we want. If the Shuffle added another layer of strangeness or non-functionality, that would be no use to me.

I see I don't want the shuffle because I want to have a display so I can choose toonz.

Not to be argumentative, but for a device with these requirements, is a Nano a possibility?

*plugs into an iPod dock
*can see tunes so select what I want to hear now
*outputs audio

I don't need pictures or any other feature.

Also, I've heard I should get a recent generation if I get a used one, probably just because there will have been fewer button pushes and therefore higher likelihood that it will keep working... those five times a year when I need it.

Hey, will it charge if I connect it with its cable to a computer that doesn't have iTunes?

I have a slightly older 60 (?) gig Classic. I dont use it much, probably once a week when I mow the lawn. I've never been an Apple freak either.

However, from a work and control perspective, I will probably buy a 32gig Touch ($275ish) the minute I see the Apple Ios stuff in Integration Designer for RTI product. I'm a bit out of touch with URC inside info, but I'm sure they are or have talked to Apple for an app. (Also, a Touch is far cheaper than an iPad obviously)

Why pay for it personally, when can you can buy it through the business :)

I would recommend an iPod touch. There are several apps that you will find usefull such as notes, lists, Sonos (If you sell them), Wifi Sniffer, etc. I also load it full of PDFs for RS232 protocols, wiring diagrams, current customers files, etc.

I have a 2g iPod Touch I use at work on almost a daily basis, whether its setting up a customers sonos, or sniffing out wifi, it works pretty good. Plus I can use it to test docks too.

You can pickup a 4g iPod touch new for $229 or on ebay for around $170.

I would recommend using itunes to just manage the iPod. If you are using WMP, then install iTunes, and it will ask if you would like to make it the default player, check NO on everything. Then when you open iTunes have it find your music. This would then allow you to not have to deal with taking it to a friends house to snyc with their account.

The iTunes account is free. i actually purchase most of my music from Amazon (on LaLa before apple bought them). You can then import the files into iTunes.

Mike

Touch. U should support both iOS and android. You can use touch to test rocks and control apps.

Drop the money on an iPod Touch. Its worth it. You get a music player and can play with all the iPhone Apps as well. 8Gig is plenty to have 100 or so songs and dozens of apps.

iTunes does NOT take over anything unless you let it. I still use Winamp for all my playback. I pretty much just use iTunes to backup and transfer new music into my iPhone nowadays.

You can charge an ipod touch on any usb jack. iTunes is not required.

Ernie, I went through the same thing about three years ago. I ended up buying an 8G Nano. It is the last money I hope ever to send to Cupertino but, I must admit, it's a clever device. iTunes, on the other hand, is an abortion. The menu navigation is ricockulous, opt out of functions (like updates) using the radio buttons and they work in the background anyways, metadata is sketchy at best (admittedly, I listen to a lot of "weird" punk rock and podcasts), purchase albums and only get half the tracks and your collection will require more grooming than a monkey with lice. So, when I need to add or remove content, I skip iTunes and use either Amorok, Rythmbox or Banshee on a Linux machine. Best of both worlds, a pretty handy device for toting music and testing client's rigs without having to brave iTunes.

Anthony,
thanks. That hits the spot.

Everyone else, I don't want to sound like a crank, but I asked for a machine that I can drop into an iPod dock to have it make sounds. That's all. You're telling me what cool features different player models have.

I've got a Droid 2 and I carry a laptop with me. Is there some compelling reason why I should think of this dock tester to give me


Well, yeah, maybe iPhone apps. You can put iPhone apps onto a Touch but not onto a Nano?


Coo. What are rocks? I mean, in this context.

I guess you're helping me to do things with it that I could never do with my Droid 2. Thanks.

 I just went through this Ernie. I picked up an 8gb Ipod touch on Craigslist for $80.  Screen if perfect, the back is scratched to hell. I threw a phone cover on it, and it works nicely.  

I'm a cheap SOB.  Especially with stuff like this, that I need for work, but am not going to use, I'll hit CL every time.  

That is correct. Only iPod TOuches can run the iphone apps. The others dont have touchscreens.


We're helping you be more in tune with your customer base. You dont have to be an apple fanboi to recognize that the average consumer is an ipod user. (or iphone.. Or ipad..)

I certainly would not call myself a big fan of apple.. But I keep up on whats going on.