Thanks.<div>This is the best review/comparison I've ever read about the two.</div><div>And perfectly describes my feeling about the Apple products.</div><div><br></div><div>Aniello<br><div><br><div class="gmail_quote">
2008/12/19 lakestevensdental <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:lakestevensdental@verizon.net">lakestevensdental@verizon.net</a>></span><br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex;">
As luck would have it, I recently came across an Ipod Touch 8G as a<br>
promo for participating in an online continuing ed podcast deal. After<br>
week or so of playing around with in and my n800, I figure it might be<br>
useful to share my experiences and comparison of both units. I've had<br>
my n800 since spring 07.<br>
<br>
First off, the Ipod Touch is much sleeker design. Big enough to view,<br>
small enough for the average pocket. However, as part of this, it<br>
sacrifices the stand and stereo speakers of the n800 that I find useful<br>
to listen to podcasts while eating breakfast viewing some web/rss page.<br>
<br>
The Touch's interface is also more 'fun' to use, although it's no where<br>
near as user configurable. The motion sensitivity is nice as it self<br>
adjusts for vertical or horizontal viewing. The ablity to zoom in or<br>
out with two finger touch screen sensitivity is very nice. The Touch<br>
screen keyboard is nothing to jump up and down about. I found the n800s<br>
touch keyboard is easier to use. I miss the stylus on the Touch.<br>
<br>
The Touch's Safari browser is a bit faster opening pages and generally<br>
does a slightly better job at YouTubing. Safari also routinely opens<br>
pages in mobile format if that option is provided by the web site. I'm<br>
not sure I always like this. There seem to be some webpages that Safari<br>
doesn't handle well that the n800 browser plows thru just fine.<br>
<br>
The Touch's (free and $) games are numerous and generally higher<br>
quality fun than n8x0 games, at least for the teen crowd. The Touch<br>
does a decent job playing video podcasts. It automatically sets<br>
bookmarks so you can pick up a podcast where you left off, days later,<br>
after you've viewed a lot of other 'stuff'. I'm not sure any of the<br>
internet tablet's numerous players and interfaces do this very well.<br>
<br>
The Touch games (free and otherwise) don't do much for me. I've<br>
downloaded and played several -- splurged $5 for one game, a whole $ for<br>
another. The motion sensitive games are kind of cool, if you're into<br>
that sort of thing. I'm well adapted to the simple brain teasers<br>
puzzles and solitaire games on my n8x0, although I know there are other<br>
more arcade like n800 games out there. Having a central Apple 'store'<br>
for shopping and downloading games makes it really easy to 'buy' apps<br>
and tunes. One click pays and downloads. Which helps move product<br>
along -- even if it's only a buck here or there... Supposedly, this<br>
helps produce higher quality apps and a broader growing marketplace.<br>
<br>
In summary, the Touch is well designed for it's marketing niche. That<br>
all said, I'm going to stick with the n8x0 and give the Touch to my teen<br>
age son. It's a matter of what you use these 'gadgets' for.<br>
<br>
I've not found the Touch to be very weak for RSS news browsing, which<br>
is perhaps my primary use for my n800. The n8x0 Claws email is much<br>
better suited for my use than the Touch's email program. Also, I<br>
haven't figured out if there is a way to sync my Touch with Google<br>
Calendars as I have with my n8x0. I also regularly do wireless file<br>
transfers to and from my n800 and my (Windows) LAN, which is verbotten<br>
on the iTouch. I also occasionally have used my n800 to help show<br>
patients xRays on my n800 via remote viewing of one of the clinic PCs.<br>
Nothing like that is available on the Touch.<br>
<br>
While a PC can detect a connected Ipod Touch, you can't interact with<br>
the Touch via file manager so far as I've figured out. Everything<br>
between PC and Touch has to be done thru iTunes. Basically, there no<br>
'enduser' interaction with the inner workings of the iTouch. At least<br>
not unless you are willing to 'break' the various software locks that<br>
the iTouch has to protect it's proprietary nature.<br>
<br>
Bottomline, the closed proprietary nature of the iTouch is both it's<br>
strength and weakness. It's like owning a car that you can't open up the<br>
hood on. This is fine for some users, not for others. For me, this<br>
makes the Touch more like a very nice toy, verses the n8x0, which is is<br>
more a of "tool" that can really do things. I'm more of a tool junky...<br>
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</blockquote></div><br><br clear="all"><br>-- <br>anidel<br>
</div></div>