Alpine iDA-X001

Pros: Attractive all around; iPod-like interface...

Cons: ...But interface not iPod-like enough; search function overly complicated

Summary: There's no question that I love this deck for its main purpose: my iPod plays through my car speakers flawlessly. The bottom line is that I don't have to deal with an FM tuner or any other kind of complicated, less-than-perfect connection--my music sounds wonderful.

And the deck is stunning. Brilliantly lighted, with its exquisite, large screen, it will certainly complement any vehicle. Displaying the album art is less important than I thought it would be, yet the presentation is excellent.

But I hope you're someone who doesn't mind shuffling your music, because good luck trying to drive and find the exact artist/album (or heaven forbid: song!) you want. I'm may be lucky enough to have a full 5G 80 Gig iPod, but it's a double-edged sword in conjunction with this deck, as the search function leaves much to be desired.

The main problem is that the iPod's scroll wheel is quick and easy to use; the center dial on the Alpine iDA-X001 is neither. To find specific music, you'll be taking your eyes off the road for an inordinate amount of time, not to mention keeping only one hand on the wheel as you wait for the too-slow search function. The center button should also, intuitively, serve as the 'Enter' button, which is placed on the side and is awkward to use.

I also don't appreciate that only the song's title scrolls (and CNET is right: the scrolling is waaaay too slow); why? The album title and artist name are often cut off and should scroll in the same way as the song's does.

Overall, the Alpine iDA-X001 looks great and does, very well, what it should: play your iPod. Just don't be expecting iPod-like perfection this time around...you'll have to search to find it, which will take a long, long time to find. And maybe cause a car accident while you're at it.