Apple iPod (60GB, video, white)

Pros: Holds a lot of songs, strong battery life for music, good audio playback, easy to navigate

Cons: Getting your own videos on the iPod is tricky,

Summary: This review is written from the perspective of a first-time iPod user, and is intended for those who are also new to this. So, forgive my newbeeness.

What is an iPod? An iPod is a portable storage device. This 5G iPod can store music (its main function), podcasts, audiobooks, video, and general computer files. It has a rechargeable battery built in.

What is the difference between an iPod and an “MP3 player”? MP3 player is a generic term and refers to a range of portable music players that use digital music files. iPod is a specific “MP3” player from Apple. It plays AAC files (Apple’s proprietary music files), the old generic mp3 files, and a few other files. Please do a little research on the different file types before you buy an MP3 player, otherwise you may get stuck with something that doesn’t play the files you already have or bought online. Cnet.com has an MP3 buying guide that is the ideal starting place if you need to know more.

Then what is the advantage, I already have a CD player? Because the 5G iPod can, essentially, hold your entire collection of music in the palm of your hand.

How/what do you connect to an iPod? You can connect headphones directly. You can also plug into to the bottom 30-pin docking hole by which you can connect to a wide variety of accessories (stand-alone speakers, car-adapter devices, etc.) or connect to your home PC. You can also connect iPod to a television (when you purchase those cables). The iPod accessories are what really make the iPod such a great device (and also what really makes money for Apple).

How does it all work? The iPod is really part of a 3-part system: iTunes software (which exhists on your PC), the iPod itself, and the accessories. iTunes software is downloadable for free from apple.com and is necessary to operate your iPod (you can go download it right now to get a taste of what using an iPod might be like). iTunes is the central hub which gathers all your music, podcasts, audiobooks, and video and then places them onto your computer’s hardrive and organizes them for you. It’s all kept in one “Library”, which can be searched/sorted numerous ways. How does iTunes get music into your library? 1) Place a CD that you already own into your CD-Rom drive on your PC, open iTunes, and “import” the music to your library. 2) Download music from the music store (which is built into iTunes) to add those songs to your library. 3) iTunes can search your hardrive for various music that you’ve already downloaded in the past, and copies them into your iTunes Library. Once you’ve gathered you music, video, etc. then connect your iPod to your PC via a USB connection, and then iTunes will transfer these files to your iPod. The iPod device itself is mostly read-only, meaning that you cannot really change/add/delete stuff unless you connect it to iTunes. iTunes controls the content of the iPod, whereas the iPod by itself is just a player. Now that you’ve got your stuff onto the iPod, just plug your iPod into the various accessories or headphones to play your stuff.

Why iPod? Why not use another MP3 player? Because iTunes is such a great piece of software. It’s all centralized into iTunes. Importing, buying online music/videos, burning your own CDs, putting stuff into your iPod … it’s all in one place. iTunes is very intuitive, versatile, powerful, yet easy to use. The iTunes music store has the largest selection of online music and allows you to preview songs before buying.

What all comes in the 5G package when I buy it? You get the 5G iPod with 30GB or 60GB hardrive, earbuds, USB connection cord (to connect your iPod to your PC), and the iTunes software CD. This USB connection cord is shaped like a USB connection at one end and the 30-pin docking connection at the other end, and this will recharge the 5G iPod when connected to a PC. The package does NOT come with a docking station. It does NOT come with an AC adapter for your car or home outlet use. It does NOT come with external speakers.

What things should I be aware of before I buy this?
- You really need a high-speed internet connection if you want to buy music online. Also, downloading iTunes by itself will take forever if you have dialup.
- Make sure you have high-powered USB connections on your computer. These are ones that came with the computer when you bought them from the manufacturer. Many of the add-on USB connectors (like ones you install to a PCI slot) won’t work.
- USB 2.0 is preferred and provides much speedier response when you connect the 5G to your PC. If you have USB 1 connections (like I do), it will take a few minutes for your PC and iTunes to respond when you connect the 5G. It appears as if the computer is locking up, but just wait a few minutes.
- Although music is very easy to manage with iPod, getting video onto the 5G iPod is rather tricky. You can download videos and TV shows sold through the iTune’s music store and those play just fine. The trick is trying to get you own DVDs onto the iPod. It can be done. However, it usually involves a multi-step process with two or more different programs that you have to find or buy (and no, Quicktime Pro will not do this). It’s beyond my understanding. Check the apple.com message boards for help about this. I just don’t want you to get the impression that you’ll be able to put you favorite Family Guy episodes on your iPod with ease … it’s really tricky and almost doesn’t seem worth it.
- Tech Gear’s USB 2.0 port PCI card and ADS Tech’s Dual-Link PCI card (which has USB 2.0 and Fire-Wire) will NOT work with the 5G. When attached to Tech Gear’s card, the iPod will not be recognized by iTunes. When attached to the ADS Tech’s card, the computer reboots in a never-ending cycle. ADS Tech completely ignored my emails to their tech support.
- Battery Life quotes from Apple are always overestimated and based on controlled situations. The 60 GB hardrive 5G iPod is rated at a 20 hour battery life. However, this is only if your music is stored at 128 killibits per second and you don’t change to a different playlist or activate the backlight, nor use the sound equalizers, and listen through headphones at a low volume. Realistically, you’re gonna get 8 – 14 hours of music playback from a full battery charge. Video playback is only like 2 – 3 hours.
- The small pin connection on the top of the older iPods (it was right next to the headphone jack) is now gone for the 5G. Be cautious when buying certain accessories that may use this older connection. Some of the FM transmitters and voice recorders use this and won’t work on the 5G.
- Songs downloaded from iTunes are protected and will only play on devices that you authorize (using your iTunes account name and password).

Things you may need to also buy (don’t just budget for the iPod, because realistically you’ll also need some other accesories):
- Protective carrying case. The 5G has moving parts. The back of the 5G is slippery. Not a good combination. Consider getting a semi-hard carrying case to protect your investment.
- Car accessories. To listen to your iPod’s music in your car you’ll need one of 3 things: an FM transmitter (the most simple and popular method), a cassette adapter, or a direct line (the most expensive and tricky, yet best sounding). Some of these devices also recharge the iPod.
- Docking bay with speakers. This allows you to place the iPod on the device and then listen to music though its speakers. Many of these also recharge your iPod. Almost an essential for any iPod user.