Apple iPod 5G (30GB, video)

Pros: Beautiful, incredible screen, video, almost perfect in every way.

Cons: Still want a radio tuner. Earbuds don't do the sound justice.

Summary: Just got my black one today. Let's do the music player first.. As expected.. everything you love about the iPod is here.. best-in-class interface, great sound (though those earbuds still aren't up to par). The new screen is a stunner. Bright and big. Photos are better than ever. It's the best small-format screen I've seen.

But let's face it.. the sell here is the video component. Here's what nay-sayers are missing: quality, content, and ease-of-use. No other player delivers on quality the way this player does. It plays at 30 frames-per-second. Many other players will only do 15. The codec is clean and playback smooth. Desperate Housewives looks fantastic on the screen. It's not blocky or blotchy at all. Motion is fluid. Compare with other players before you think you know what you're talking about.

Now.. the most important point that everyone who dislikes this iPod is missing: CONTENT. Yes, $2 bucks for a music video is silly, unless it's a concert performance. But Apple has put together a delivery system that makes sense, and the implications should not be missed.

Imagine missing your team's ball game or a favorite T.V. show and downloading it the next day for $2 bucks for playback on a T.V. or checking out over a lunch break. That's the future. And you do all of this legally, and you own the video. The long-term implications of all of this are pretty amazing. How about downloading a video of the Green Day concert you went to last night.. again.. they have a delivery path that makes sense.

The last part of my argument is ease-of-use. Ever try and encode/decode/compress a video for a music player? Not simple even in it's kindest form. The Apple way? Push a button and it's yours. Just copy it to the iPod. Simple, easy and fun. You can't do this with other players. This is an impressive display of technology. Kudos.