Talk you out of one? How about this $399-$499 Considering you can get another player with tons more storage than what the iphone has, and besides you can use the extra money to buy a superb set of "Buds"(Bose Triport) to listen to all your tunes. Personally I have a Creative Zen VisionM with 30GB that I got for only $149.

Here's the most compelling reason not to buy an iPod Touch or an iPhone right now.  It's actually the most compelling reason to delay any purchase of a new shiny Apple gadget:

1st Generation Product

Apple's 1st gen gadgets are sexy and sleek and attractive, but they're usually very buggy and lacking in features.  If you feel the iPod Touch is simply a must-have item, cool your heels until the 2nd gen model comes out in a few months that will address the 1st gen's failings, and round out the feature offering more.  Right now, the Touch just seems lacking in tools and applications.

Having a phone tied to a certain provider is nothing new.  My previous provider Sprint, would only allow phones that were branded Sprint, not a free for all choice. 

Regardless, people who purchased the iPhone knew that AT&T was going to be the sole provider in the U.S. for years to come, it was no secret.  I personally would like a choice, but I knew what I was buying and chose to accept it.

It would be nice that you could buy any cell phone, and use any provider, but unfortunately, it just doesn't work like that most of the time.

Right. My Kyocera Strobe works with only a limited number of providers. While many providers support it, not everyone does.

That's just the price you pay for getting the phone of your choice.

I can't believe Apple did it, though. I mean, I can see the other companies limiting, but Apple? They're never done anything to limit the choices of the consumer ever before.

As for the iPod touch, don't buy it. It's total junk. You're not paying for the MP3 player, you're paying for the 'iPod' name. It's like buying clothes that say American Eagle or Abercrombie & Fitch all over them. You're not paying for a lousy T-shirt, you're paying for the name.

So, if you buy stuff just for the name, pick it up. If you don't want the name, buy something without an 'i' in front of it. Save yourself $100, and you can get your girlfriend something too.

I'm hoping you're being sarcastic here, otherwise I'm-a have to whup up on you with a dose of reality!

My use of absolutes betrays my sarcasm!

Well skipping most of the comments on here, and if you have not bought it yet I can only think of 1 thing that should make you think twice about spending the money.

Apple 160 GB iPod classic (Black)- Price: $349.00 Amazon iPod

Apple 16 GB iPod Touch - Price: $399.00 Amazon iPod Touch

Now, that is 10 times the HDD space for $50 less. I mean, sure, you won't get the fancy touch screen or the wide screen view. But really, how long before you get made at all the finger prints on the screen and the little space to carry all your files? While 16 gigs is not too bad considering how much music you can put in it, almost my entire collection for example, and several video files as well. But 16 gigs for $400? I don't see the worth in it. I don't see the touch screen and wide screen worth that much money. If it was the iPhone I probably wouldn't mind considering it had way more features.

This is just my opinion, I have a 2nd generation iPod shuffle I got for $50. It's only 512 mb but it's hacked so I don't need iTunes to transfer the music and play it. While not very spacious, I carry an average of 110 songs which is more than enough for the amount of time I use it.

Apple is, and was never about 'freedom', it's a proprietary system, chaining you to them.
Last time I checked, chains are not about freedom.

Here in Oz we can....use any brand mobile on any mobile network.

In fact, when I bought a Telstra land-line phone once, I used it on an Optus network. The the same in reverse is true, using an Optus phone on the Telstra network.

Furthermore, Telstra has its own branded mobile phone that can be connected to an Optus or Virgin network when purchased at RRP....if so desired

The only time we are tied to a network is when we purchase a pre-paid mobile phone, but then we are purchasing those from the service provider, NOT the manufacturer, at a price reduced from the manufacturers retail price.





Don't think I'd fare too well in the US...er, let me rephrase that...don't think that companies like Apple would like me in the US. I demand total control of my purchases.....and there's hell to pay if I don't get it.

I go for audio quality so I'd have to go with Creative........

I GOT ONE TODAY!! I had to drive an hour to go pick it up... but it's sweet. Both sides of the apple debate are correct. It DOES miss some features like radio, expandability, etc. But man does it have one smoking interface. Unless you have more than 16 Gigs of storage or really just love the radio, you won't be disappointed!

Or if you use 3. All their phones are permanently network locked because they refuse to unlock them - they claim it's impossible but Nokia says otherwise.

Solution: Don't sign up with 3.

I can't get itunes to work with Windows Vista...so I have an ipod I can't even use!

First I've heard of this, but then, 3 are relatively new on the scene, as compared to the other providers. And that would be bullsh!t - impossible to unlock it - the independent phone retailers will tell you that any provider can unlock any phone in a minute at any one of their storefronts....bin there done that and Nokia's right.



Oh dear, break out the fire extinguishers.....and you drove over an hour to pick this up?

So long as you're happy with it, I suppose...that is until your girlfriend goes apesh!t over your exceedingly extravagant purchase....and the fingerprint smudges all over the shiny new touch pad look like (what the FBI would call) a very elaborate crime scene.


Oh, and what about the radio you'll end up needing????...like for when you're on the run and need to know where the cops are looking.

Oh yeah, that's another reason you'll only be happy with your purchase for a very short while....you'll need to install iTunes to transfer toons to that heavily fingerprinted shiny new gadget of yers

Except for the 6280, which requires the cooperation of the current network provider to have the protection removed. And 3 won't cooperate. As you might be able to guess it pisses me off.

Il say it's pathetic the Way corporations are falling suit with Job's and proprietary Hardware..trying to lock customers in and force them to use their services. Whats next ? car companies that wont allow you to buy their car.. or at least drive it unless you buy their over priced insurance??... total crap....


you know .. instead of the strong arm tactics these phone CO's should actually.. (hold your breath...... wait for it......) Actually give decent frigging service.at a reasonable price..... that might actually attract more customers than a shiny phone.....wholly crap what a concept!!!!!!

To be honest if these phone service providers gave half as much effort toward service as they do trying to strong arm their current customers...they wouldn't have to worry about locking us in.. they would have a loyal following...


service locked hardware should be against the law.. some kind of antitrust thing? MS got nailed (supposedly) for forcing explorer on folks .. why dont these guys ???


Not to mention the whole Natural resource thing... millions of tons of plastics copper etc.. wasted in to the trash every year, every time a customer changes providers...Thanks cell phone companys.. lets contribute MORE to our declining natural resources !!!! good job !!!

Starkers- 8 Gigs of music is enough to keep me busy without wanting radio! ALthough maybe I'd change my mind in the "running from police" scenerio.    The screen does smudge like crazy, but it's so bright and clear that you dont see them when it's on. I just love the fact that I can pull out my ipod and post a comment on wincustomize!   I'm still very happy with it!!

Like I said, it's not that they can't unlock you....just that some stubbornly WON'T. I wouldn't be a returning customer, that's for sure. Makes you wonder, hey, just how many would-be returning customers they've scared off with their Gestapo tactics: "Ve haf vays of making you talk (using our network)!!!"



Yeah, pathetic orright... the missus and I were looking at a clock/radio/MP3 player yesterday, thinking it would replace our current clock/radio and separate CD/Radio in the bedroom... perfect, two into one, so to speak.

Yeah right, was heading towards the checkout with it when I noticed in wee small print on the box: "REQUIRES ITUNES TO PLAY MP3'S". (so glad I 'ad me telescope wiv me at tha time, wouldn've seed tha fine print, ovverwise ).

Like hell....I DO NOT require iTunes, so another piece of restrictive crap stayed in the store.

Last I checked...ALL mobile [cell] phones in Australia are unlockable.

You either buy them 'plan-free' [outright]...suitable for any provider...or you get 'em via plan dirt-cheap...but will not be able to unlock them until the 'plan' completes.

When you get one...get a quad-band one...so you can use it anywhere in the world.  Duals will typically only work in the US or Europe/Asia...but not both.

Triples won't work everywhere in the US....

Wifey is currently global-roaming in Turkey...with an Oz phone...no probs...but interestingly couldn't connect in Egypt...so nothing's ever certain....[hers is a dual]...

Yeah right, that's until yer wanna check the race results....cos you're gambling away yer remaining few dollars in the hope a paying fer this new fangled gadget.

And there'll be no point saying to your girlfriend: "Oh that! A friend must've left it here."

Cos she's gonna say: "Don't lie to me, you...you...fridge thief, you!!! I know you've had your eye on one of those for a while....not only that, I'd recognise (all) those grubby fingerprints anywhere.



I'm glad to hear it...wouldn't have been my personal preference, but you enjoy now, ya hear.

***Oh, and BTW, I've instructed WC not to give out my postal address - so that you can't inflict it upon me later when you've tired of it. ****

Forgot to mention....Zoomba's 100% right....first adopters of 'new' technology are the world's guinea pigs...

Keep pedalling on that there treadmill ...

The missus had a pre-paid with Telstra and got a truly fantastic deal with Virgin...paid $27 to get it unlocked...was worth every cent considering the Virgin plan has yet to cost her anything over $5 - $6 a month since the initial connection 10 months ago.