Ipods and Quads

[Saorsa]

Are there any quads out there who own/use an ipod regularly? Do you find it difficult to use their touchpad controls? I'd like one, but have no access to one to sample the controls.

[Scott Pruett]

Sarosa -

I don't own one, but one of my roommates from college had one. The touchpad controls were no problem for me to use, and were actually quite easy (I'm C6).

My concern with being a quad and using one of these is the lack of hand grip. Ipods are small, and they've got hard drives inside. While they're not super-fragile, a few good drops from chair height won't be good for the internal drive.

So... if you trust yourself enough to keep an ipod secure, I say go for it. They're awesome little devices. There are a ton of accessories out there to that may prove helpful in some way or another.

Do you have an Apple store nearby? Maybe a Circuit City? I'm trying to think of retail stores that carry them...

Also, check out www.ipodlounge.com (http://www.ipodlounge.com)

HTH,
~ scott

[Brian S]

I own a third-generation iPod with the four touch sensitive buttons above the scroll wheel. My injury is C2/C3 incomplete.

I have an angled stand which sets on my lap. My wife used adhesive Velcro strips on the stand and on the back of the iPod to hold it in place. I have just enough hand function to operate the controls and the scroll wheel with my index finger. (If your fingers are contracted, this might not be possible.) I use the same system to operate a telephone and a TV remote control.

I have not tried one of the new click wheel iPods. The switches on the new models may be more conducive to using a pencil or other instrument, although using the scroll wheel would still be difficult. Hope this helps! I love my iPod!

[Saorsa]

Thanks for the info. I wish a had an Apple retailer nearby so I could try an ipod out. I wish I could rent one for a weekend :P I'd have to use the touchpad with a knuckle (images of a gorilla come to mind, sigh). Do you think it'd work?

[Brian S]

You probably could use your knuckles for the buttons, but it might be tough to use the scroll wheel. The scroll wheel is used for volume and navigating menus

[Bama1165]

I use an Archos 20 gig jukebox player.....I love it ...Decent sized BUTTONS... nothing rotary. Probably not as good as an Apple...budget and all. I'm c5 c7 but more like c6.

Later