IPod power - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

phreshjive · 08-26-2004, 10:28 AM

gotta question for y'all.... i'm purchasing an ipod soon and i was curious which you'd recomend, should i stick with the rechargable batteries that come with it, or would it be a better idea to splurge (~ $30) and get the adapter that allows it to be used with AA batteries? I'm thinking mostly about security issues within hostels, having it plugged in at night with 15 other people in the room and being a heavy sleeper. any input is good input thanks

crious · 08-26-2004, 10:46 AM

phresh,

Get The ADAPTER!!

My first trip with my IPOD I did not have the adapter and was screwed after the 1st week. I was sleeping and some one snagged the power cord. So basically I was left with my IPOD but no way to charge it. Finding a new power plug was basically a lost cause. AA batteries you are able to find every where. Spend the couple of bucks it will save you a lot of headaches.

Mikie

**omisan** · 08-26-2004, 11:26 AM

Wow.. I didn't even know there was a AA adapter for the iPod. Dammit, my first generation one has NO accessories. That said, it's probably a really good idea. AA's are widely available. I always take my iPod with me, but I've already lost one power adapter (figures it happens in New Mexico, not overseas), and the thought of having to find an Apple store to get a new one with the horrible exchange rate mortifies me.

Ya know, I lost my digital camera's power adapter in Tahoe, too. A new charger cable cost me $50. So I'm really thankful my new one can take AA's.

**simply_angelic** · 08-26-2004, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by omisan@Aug 26 2004, 02:26 PM
I always take my iPod with me, but I've already lost one power adapter (figures it happens in New Mexico, not overseas), and the thought of having to find an Apple store to get a new one with the horrible exchange rate mortifies me.

uuuuuuh Omi....I dont think you just have to go to an apple store....you can probably get a lot of the accessories for your ipod from any big chain electronics store such as future shop.

that said, phresh...

DEFINITELY SPLURGE FOR THE AA ADAPTER

I wouldnt trust my ipod, w/in hostels for the life of me....speaking of the AA adapter, I need to be getting one myself.....

**simply_angelic** · 08-26-2004, 11:55 AM

GAH just realized what u were talking about as I pressed the add post thing....hehe you can ignore my comment omi....

phreshjive · 08-27-2004, 11:19 AM

thanks for the input.... i ended up getting the adapter b/c it just seemed a lot easier, the damn thing was $65 though. i gotta have my tunes! did you know that if you dont buy the extended warranty they charge you $50 for every phone call after 90 days and from any calls after the first - they really hose you..... thanks again B)

**PlayPal** · 10-14-2004, 03:43 PM

Saved by Tpunkers again. I hadn't even thought of the sketchiness of leaving my ipod out to charge overnight. 60 bucks sucks, and that adapter looks pretty bulky, but I'll just have to deal I guess. Thanks.

**pinion** · 10-14-2004, 05:03 PM

I brought the AA adpater with me while I was backpacking earlier in the year and it was great to have!! Not having to worry about charging my ipod was awsome.

Hint:
If you're just gone for a couple months keep the recpiet and see if you can return it. Now that I'm back home I'm stuck with the adapter and I never use it. It'll probably be on ebay in a little bit

**skidrage** · 10-17-2004, 07:56 AM

Just sell the adapter on ebay. Thats what I did and I believe that I got back about 75% of the cost, which in my mind made it seem like I just rented it for a fee for a couple months.

The battery charger is great, especially for flights and train rides. If it was not for my iPod, I probably would have gone crazy.

Don't worry about it making your iPod bulky. If you have a decent size pocket for your coat, it can fit in there while you are using the iPod. I would rather have the recharger that adds a little more bulk then having to worry about recharging the thing every night.

Also, if you don't have one already, look online for a case to protect the iPod. I can't remember off hand the website I bought mine at, but it was around $30 and it comes in real handy on trips as your iPod won't get scratched up.

**PlayPal** · 10-18-2004, 08:36 PM

You mean the little black, slip in case. Nylon and elastic, with the belt clip? I got one like that with my 40 gig, and was thinking of getting something sturdier. I'm not sure how practical it would be, but I imagine they make some sort of waterproof case for them.

**urOZm8** · 10-28-2004, 06:44 AM

Ok guys so Im in the market to buy one of these in Singapore. I dont know too much about them so excuse my ignorance!

So the AA adaptor you can use to charge batteries for the iPod? You can carry the adaptor around with you and use to charge when there is no access to a power point?

Any model better than other models for a particular reason?

thanks
ev

**urOZm8** · 10-28-2004, 07:00 AM

Sorry, one other question in regards to the actual music. Where do you guys get all your music? You burn from your CD collection on to your computer and then transfer to your iPod? Is there a place you download music from the net for free and then onto your iPod? (Im kinda out of the loop after not bothering with this stuff since Napster crashed)

ev

**omisan** · 10-28-2004, 09:58 AM

urozm8 - the iPod will play back most audio formats (.mp3, .m4a, .wav, .aif, etc.) so a lot of the stuff you download for free off the net will work on it. The trick is finding the stuff nowadays - you might want to try a P2P program like Kazaa or WinMX to find the music, but a lot of the files out there are corrupt or crap.. good luck!

**skidrage** · 10-28-2004, 06:08 PM

ur0Zm8

I think you might be confusing the battery pack and the charger. Your iPod will come with a charger which you do need to plug in for your iPod to get back it's battery life. Usually the iPod with a full batter life will last around 6-8 hours. The iPod battery is a lithium battery so you don't replace it when it goes out, you just charge it back up.

The battery pack on the other hand is a seperate item that uses 4 double a batteries. It plus into the bottom port of the iPod to give it additional battery life. With a fully charged iPod and four new batteries, you iPod should last around 12-15 hours.

If you are buying the iPod, I would suggest purchasing the battery pack also. It is around $50, but it will come in quite handy on long train/plane rides and also when you don't have a chance to charge up the iPod.

**urOZm8** · 10-29-2004, 05:06 AM

Sweet guys thats cleared things up. Thanks heaps.

ev

**Somnambulation** · 10-29-2004, 06:36 PM

I believe iPod has a new version coming out soon with much improved battery life and the ability to view color images on the screen. Im not sure if Singapore gets the latest electronics as soon as they are released like Japan does.

**LiveFreeorDie** · 11-01-2004, 05:18 AM

I have put most of the music on my I-Pod from my own CD collection. Some additional music I got from Kazaa back before the crackdown. I have also bought some from I-Tunes which I find to be a great music store. Just recently, though, I went to Panthip Plaza in Bangkok when I was there on holiday and stocked up on cheap MP3 cds that they sell there. For example, I picked up the entire Red Hot Chili Peppers album catalog in Mp3 for about $2. So if your going to Bangkok/Thailand in your journey, check out Panthip Plaza - the taxi drivers know how to get there. There are great deals on MP3 music (and video games and electronics - but the electronics might be dodgey so beware). Just be careful bringing it back into your home countries - separate the CD labels and the CDs so its not so obvious you have pirated music.