Ipod Touch or Android Smartphone Dilema?

ori-STUDFARM · August 12, 2011, 01:37:37 PM

I'm after some of your peoples opinions please to help me decide which way to go...

I've decided that I need some kind of mobile internet device. I'm on holiday in Scotland soon and think having internet access whilst away from home would be very beneficial.

The reason I don't already have it is because I know that cheap is not always cheerful....and I can't afford anything other than cheap.

Mobile phone contracts are not worth considering. I rarely use my mobile and spend probably about £5 a month at the most on a Tesco pay as you go device.

Whilst 3G would be nice, I think we can get by okay using WiFi. It would be a costly luxury.

Weighing up my options, I've come to a bit of a 50/50 dilemma and am looking for your opinions.

HTC Wildfire (Pay-as-you-go without the 3G internet access) OR an 8gb iPod Touch whilst sticking with my cheap phone (which is perfect for my job in which a smart phone would just get wrecked)

The Wildfire would be about £130 and the iPod Touch would be about £160

Dangelus · August 12, 2011, 06:55:30 PM

I'd go with the iPod. Firstly you say you don't use the phone much. Secondly, you're phone works fine. Thirdly, you wouldn't use the 3G Internet on the HTC anyway. Fourthly(?), the iOS device has a great ecosystem. :)

turtlesrock · August 12, 2011, 07:45:41 PM

i'm with dangelus. ipod seems the way to go.

KingIsaacLinksr · August 12, 2011, 07:59:48 PM

I'm guessing from your post you want to browse the internet, check your email/twitter/FB and all that right? iPod touch is the superior choice IMO. Even has a nice ecosystem of apps to choose from.

Most people usually do the iPod touch + Cheap phone method. (That is, if they want a mobile device) The major downside is really just having two devices carrying around, but you seem ok with that. So unless you dislike iTunes, I'd go the iPod route.

King

ori-STUDFARM · August 13, 2011, 06:15:27 AM

The more I've been thinking about it, the more inclined I am to agree with all of the above replies.

I already use an 80gb Classic which has all of my podcast feeds and my entire music collection on. It would make sense just to use the Touch in conjunction with the iTunes library and account that I already have set up.

My classic is on last legs also and it would be nice to have a back up to that. No audio comes through devices plugged into the Classic's bottom plug socket. Headphones and speaker docks have to use the headphone socket. Also the battery now lasts less than 5 minutes. I have to use a plug in pack that allows me to use 4x AA batteries so I can listen to the iPod all day.

The only negative is that 80gb is just perfect for my current music collection. If it packs up and I resort to using the 8gb Touch....how will I decided which 10% to keep and which 90% to drop....but aren't the larger memory ones expensive!!! :)

KingIsaacLinksr · August 13, 2011, 10:05:22 AM

I'm really hoping Apple announces an iPod with a giant hardrive at their next event, because I agree with what you said. My iPhone can't handle all my audio so I keep about 80% of it on it and the rest on the PC.

King

Dangelus · August 13, 2011, 12:15:11 PM

Quote from: KingIsaacLinksr on August 13, 2011, 10:05:22 AM
I'm really hoping Apple announces an iPod with a giant hardrive at their next event, because I agree with what you said. My iPhone can't handle all my audio so I keep about 80% of it on it and the rest on the PC.

King

I doubt hard drive sizes on iOS devices will get much bigger. Apple will want people to use iCloud for storage instead.

KingIsaacLinksr · August 13, 2011, 12:25:48 PM

Quote from: Dangelus on August 13, 2011, 12:15:11 PM
Quote from: KingIsaacLinksr on August 13, 2011, 10:05:22 AM
I'm really hoping Apple announces an iPod with a giant hardrive at their next event, because I agree with what you said. My iPhone can't handle all my audio so I keep about 80% of it on it and the rest on the PC.

King

I doubt hard drive sizes on iOS devices will get much bigger. Apple will want people to use iCloud for storage instead.

That's great and all, but without a streaming option...well.

King

ori-STUDFARM · August 13, 2011, 12:49:02 PM

Thats why I really begrudge switching off the Classic. I hope there's always a place for the Classic...

Bryancd · August 13, 2011, 01:30:54 PM

Just as an aside, Tim, why on Earth do you need to have that much audio with you all the time?! I mean really?

KingIsaacLinksr · August 13, 2011, 01:43:46 PM

Quote from: Bryancd on August 13, 2011, 01:30:54 PM
Just as an aside, Tim, why on Earth do you need to have that much audio with you all the time?! I mean really?

Convenience more than anything. My Library is rather big from years and years of collecting music and sometimes I like to hit the shuffle button to hear stuff I haven't heard in a while. And my internet isn't exactly reliable. Nor is depending on Wifi in my current situation as there is hardly any around here. And what is around is run by the same terrible company so...and also, I would like to keep my video on my iPhone/Pad but current storage capacity makes that difficult. A bigger hardrive would alleviate this. Actually, I might just want a bigger HD on the iPad...*shrugs*

My attitude will probably change when I move out of my hometown and iCloud + iOS 5.0 is released.

King

ori-STUDFARM · August 13, 2011, 04:21:13 PM

I'm the same. I used to drive around with hundreds of CD's in wallets scattered in various car compartments. No matter how many you have, you always wish you had something else. Having it all in one place is so easy.

Anything I fancy I can select. Or a random shuffle is always fun

X · August 13, 2011, 06:43:46 PM

Quote from: ori-STUDFARM on August 13, 2011, 04:21:13 PM
I'm the same. I used to drive around with hundreds of CD's in wallets scattered in various car compartments. No matter how many you have, you always wish you had something else. Having it all in one place is so easy.

Anything I fancy I can select. Or a random shuffle is always fun

I have over 2k songs on my player, I have more song and I can get more automatically from Zune where ever there is wifi. I don't need more than 16 for anything

JeffM · August 13, 2011, 06:46:12 PM

I just went through this dilemma, and I went with the iTouch.

I love it, it's great, but I do seem to eat the batteries up pretty quickly. I am going to get a charger for my car, and hopefully that will do the trick.

It's a great device and I'm glad to join the 21st century and finally have a smart device.

Also the little tricorder app is cool!

KingIsaacLinksr · August 13, 2011, 09:35:25 PM

Quote from: X on August 13, 2011, 06:43:46 PM
Quote from: ori-STUDFARM on August 13, 2011, 04:21:13 PM
I'm the same. I used to drive around with hundreds of CD's in wallets scattered in various car compartments. No matter how many you have, you always wish you had something else. Having it all in one place is so easy.

Anything I fancy I can select. Or a random shuffle is always fun
I have over 2k songs on my player, I have more song and I can get more automatically from Zune where ever there is wifi. I don't need more than 16 for anything

I have almost 3K songs and 17.50 GB total of music. So the 16GB would no longer work for my entire library, forgetting that I have audiobooks and podcasts as well.

King