Apple iPod Classic user reviews (160GB, black)

Pros Easist Interface to learn and use. Very thin and great sound. Also Podcasts.

Cons No Radio. Limited types of music files, MP3 and AAC.

Summary I was using an iPod Video 80GB for about a year while waiting for the long-awaited Touch. When it recently was introduced, like many others, I was disappointed. I loved and want all the features of the iPod Touch but since I was not able to fit my music collection on 80GB, going backward to 16GB flash memory was not acceptable. I settled on the new iPod Classic 160GB for the size of the disc. With the recent firmware upgrade, the new interface is very nice so ignore earlier negative comments about it being slow and clunky. I have tried most every player available and while I do like Creative and some of the Sansa's, the 160GB Hard Drive is the closer for me. I do wish the iPod had a radio like many other players, however, the radio I want is not found on any player and that is AM. The biggest problem with an iPod is based upon the ongoing battle between Microsoft and Apple. For that reason, Apple supports only iTunes for managing, downloading and buying music. All other players can work with most any type of file except the Apple AAC format and also support drag and drop. They will also work with all the music subscription services. The iPod works with none of them, if you need that. Apple plays the game by providing their music in AAC format, proprietary to Apple. Fortunately, those are easily converted to Lame MP3 format which is compatible with any MP3 player.

If you are a PC user, you will be frustrated with iTunes becasue Apple purposely has done little to make it completely compatible with Windows. On every brand of PC I have tried and with every release of iTunes, if you are downloading many songs at once, iTunes contastantly freezes up. If you don't believe me, go to the Apple website and read their user comments on the support section. Bottom line. If you want the most storage, ( I have more than 17,000 songs at 192 kBPS and am ony 2/3 full) slickest and easiest interface and overall good experience, dump iTunes and get the latest WinAmp 5.5 Pro. Unlike many programs claiming to be but are not compatible with the iPod, WinAmp 5.5 Pro is compatible and even supports Podcasts. It also finds cover art and does so much more than any software player there is no way to write about all of it here.

Finally, I would say this. Whatever device you use, if you want to increase the sound quality 100 times or more, get rid of the cheap earphones and get the V-MODA Vibe Earphones. They are in-ear type and noise cancelling and come with several sizes rubber ear pieces in clear and black and won't fall out if while running. The sound quality is comparable if not better than the best Shure or Bose. They retail for $99.95 but I have seen them as low as $69.95 at Costco and elsewhere. They are like wearing a high-end sound system from your living room on your head. I have 30 years experience in the sound industry so I know a little about this subject. I take my comments seriously becasue owning an iPod for me is almost Blasphemy. I am not an Apple fan and have tried their products since the apple 2E+ days. (1982)

Pros Max out at 160GB ! I can fit almost everything!

Cons GUI, coverflow, less sensitive wheel

Summary I'm curious as to whether CNet actually tested the video out ability on the Classic through the headphone jack? Reports from iLounge and Arstechnica suggest that the video output has been disabled through the headphone jack and now only works through the dock connector, and that is limited to Apple supported products.

The interface is significantly slower and other users on the Apple forums are reporting that audio is even skipping whenever they attempted to browse through their music while a song is playing. This is absolutely unacceptable!

I know Jobs wants more people to buy the iPhone/iPod Touch, but if you're going to appease those of us who want more storage over cool screens, please make sure the product actually functions just as well or better than the last product.

Pros The 160GB Capacity

Cons Too Many, Fixed what wasn't broken, don't rely on it playing anything but itunes videos and music.

Summary I feel like I wasted $350 hoping I would get more space from my 5th gen 80GB ipod that was perfect, and realized I just wasted alot of money. They took the 5th gen, made it pretty and deleted all of the features of the older ipod that I loved. Now I don't want to even use the new one, especially since it seems that Apple is ignoring every question I have for them. About playing content not from itunes, there will be problems, I promise, at least one if not more. And on top of that I was the lucky one who didn't get a million problems with actually using it (meaning defective ipods) there are tons out there, so be careful. Think and shop around before you are so quick to buy a new classic, just so that you also don't waste $350 without knowing exactly what you are getting. Be a smart buyer.

Pros Huge drive, nice interface, nice weight and size

Cons Currently, you must use Itunes. Nothing else works

Summary I've never been able to find a portable mp3 player that would suffice for my needs. Thus, I've always played out of my laptop into a stereo system... so, this is actually my first (portable) MP3 player. My needs were simple - a huge drive and good battery life. I could care less about video abilities - that's strictly a novelty, in m opinion.
I went with the Ipod Classic 160 GB because dollar for dollar - it can't be beat at this time.
You get all the advantages of Ipod (accessories, ubiquity, etc) without the usual exorbitant fees of an Apple user.

The ipod classic is a fine piece of technology and you won't go wrong buying it. Lag time is really not bad, and with 80 gigs of music on it, I have yet to have any stutters or problems while scanning through cover art, etc.

The big negative for the moment is: Itunes.
For the moment, it is the only software which will work with the Ipod Classic. No Winamp, No Media Monkey, etc. I sure hope (and expect) that will be solved very soon as this is the biggest downside to the ipod classic.
Itunes is junk, if that's a news flash for anyone. Version 7.4.1 is still lacking and a real downgrade from plenty of other software - including Windows Media Player 11.

Sonically, the Ipod classic is fine. It's an mp3 player, you know? If you want flawless sound, don't play mp3's; and don't ever expect lossless files played through DACs that are tiny enough to put in a portable mp3 player to do the job as well as a true hi fi system.

btw - I'm a PC user and not a member of the cult of Mac. However, I know a good product when I see it, and the Ipod Classic is such a product. Once someone figures out how to make it work with WMP11, MM or WINAMP, it will rock.