Entered CNET Catalog: 05/22/2003
SKU: 0718908472118
Manufacturer: Apple Inc.
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Manufacturer description
The new super-slim iPod once again redefines what a digital music player should be. It's lighter than 2 CDs, can hold up to 7500 songs, and downloads music at blazing speeds. Now you can take your entire music collection with you wherever you go. Smaller than ever, the new iPod fits comfortably in the palm of your hand and slips easily into your pocket - and your life. And yet the iPod gives you a huge hard drive. Do the math: that's space enough to store three weeks of music - played continuously, 24/7 - or one new song a day for the next 20 years. Once again, Apple turns the portable digital music player market on its ear with hassle-free functionality and stunning, well-considered design that place iPod far ahead of the curve and the competition. Building on the success of the touch wheel (which made scrolling through an entire music collection quick and easy), the new iPod has been re-engineered with an all-touch interface for enhanced durability and sensitivity. With an LCD screen and buttons that feature a backlight for clear visibility in low-light conditions, iPod is designed for easy one-handed operation. So the best way to take an entire music collection anywhere is now even better. The 30GB iPod models come with a dock that makes charging and syncing easier than ever - no more reaching around, looking for the right port. An elegant, convenient home base for iPod on a desk or connected to a home stereo system, the dock provides syncing via FireWire or USB 2.0, charging via FireWire and audio line out for connecting to powered speakers or a stereo system. Designed to give you the best portable digital music experience ever, the iPod delivers the highest sound quality from input to output. iPod supports the most popular audio formats - including MP3 (up to 320 kbps), MP3 Variable Bit Rate (VBR) and WAV - giving you access to a wide range of audio file types. And iPod is the only portable digital music player that supports the AAC format (Mac-only), which features CD-quality audio in smaller file sizes than MP3, so that even more songs fit on your iPod.Product summary
The good: Best-of-breed design and interface; excellent playlist features; clean, configurable sound; smooth syncing with both Windows PCs and Macs via iTunes; organizes contacts; includes games; functions as an external drive; optional voice-recording and photo-wallet accessories.
The bad: No FM or line-in recording; voice recording enabled with accessory; battery life compromised somewhat by small size; battery not user-replaceable; remote, cradle, and case come separately.
The bottom line: We love almost everything about this beautifully designed player, but the battery life could be longer.
Average user rating: from 97 users
3.5 stars
Editors' review
- Editors' Choice: Yes
- Reviewed on: 05/29/2003
First, it must be said that the new iPods are undeniably cool, with their small profile, feather-touch backlit buttons, and easy operation. These features will drive many people to rush out and buy an iPod, but users with lingering doubts about battery performance and longevity may hesitate. Overall, the picture is rosy, but careful buyers should consider these known issues before opening their wallets.
Editors' note:
This version of the iPod is still offered by resellers, but it has been officially replaced by the Apple iPod (40GB).
This is simply the best-designed MP3 player we've seen to date. And it's currently the smallest and lightest hard-drive-based player in the world (the old iPod comes in second), measuring 4.1 by 2.4 by 0.62 inches and weighing 5.6 ounces. With its rounded edges and small size, the new iPod is even more pocket-friendly and aesthetically pleasing than its predecessor. This version of the iPod is still offered by resellers, but it has been officially replaced by the Apple iPod (40GB).
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 Apple offers the same remote previous iPods had; it comes standard with the 15GB and 30GB versions. |
Between the display and the scrollwheel are four buttons: Rewind, Menu (which also moves you up one level during navigation), Play/Pause/Power, and Fast-Forward, all of which are reachable with your thumb when you're holding the device. You can turn off their orange backlighting (along with the display backlighting) to save power, or set it to turn on when you touch a button. All six front-panel controls are incredibly touch sensitive; they almost seem to respond to heat rather than pressure. Luckily, the Hold switch prevents accidental activation.
Unlike the earlier iPod, which featured a standard FireWire port on top, the new iPod has a slot on its underside for connection to a proprietary cable or a docking station (a slot protector is included). The device comes with a FireWire cable, and for Windows users without a FireWire port, a USB 1.1/2.0 kit is available for $19.
Unlike the 10GB version, this iPod ships with a remote control, a docking cradle, and a case; 10GB iPod users have to pick them up for $39 each. The remote is the same one the older models had; it securely clips to fabric or bag straps using a spring-loaded rocker mechanism. The control connects to the device via both a normal headphone jack and another small jack for remote commands. This design solves the problem some earlier iPods had with their headphone/remote connections, which could be compromised by sharp impact.
The cradle positions the player at an angle. It includes a line-out jack for direct connection to a stereo, bypassing the iPod's volume circuitry (which, as any audiophile will tell you, degrades sound ever so slightly). Cables attach to the iPod either directly or through the cradle, so you can still connect the player to a computer if you leave the cradle at home.
The iPod's playback features are all accessible and programmable from the main menu. You can browse by song, artist, album, genre, playlist, or composer. And the On The Go function--our favorite addition--enables you to create a new playlist even when the iPod isn't attached to a computer.
A new smart-playlist function lets you rate a song on a scale of 1 to 5 while it's playing; higher-rated songs play more frequently during shuffle. Mac and Windows users can also rate songs from within iTunes. The software also grants access to the iTunes Music Store, which sells music downloads for 99 cents per tune and $9.99 per album. One more great playlist feature: You can set which playlists update from iTunes--a nice combination of convenience and control.
Speaking of syncing, the updated version of iTunes for both Mac and Windows is smoother than anything else on the market. Once you drop the device into its cradle, iTunes starts up and can automatically sync the iPod to your music collection. iTunes can also create MP3 and AAC files from your CDs. The iPod handles AAC files like MP3 files, but AAC sounds better at the same bit rate. The player also supports WAV/AIFF and spoken-word Audible files, which can now be purchased from the iTunes Music Store, right from within iTunes. Also, iTunes can resample songs to a certain bit rate, apply volume leveling (a.k.a. normalization), and digitally enhance songs while transferring them.
Some people want to use the iPod to share music between multiple computers. You can, but it's not easy. Syncing to iTunes is possible with only one machine. But there is an unattractive alternative. We were able to copy MP3 files from the iPod to a second computer's hard drive in Windows by turning on "View hidden files and folders" and browsing the iPod's internal directories in My Computer until we found the music. Mac users can do the same thing if they install ResEdit. However, when we reconnected the iPod to the primary machine, the device wouldn't mount as a drive until we reset it.
On the other hand, the iPod has no problem transporting data files between computers (Macs or PCs) when you activate Enable FireWire Disk. In this approach, the iPod mounts as a data drive, but it hides music files in the default mode.
Apple now offers two accessories for the dockable iPod: the Belkin media reader. The voice recorder adds a microphone and a 16mm speaker for recording WAV and AIFF files, which then transfer automatically to your Mac or PC during syncing. The media reader turns the iPod into a digital photo wallet. The module lets you pull digital pictures from your digicam's Compact Flash I/II, SmartMedia, SD/MMC media, or MemoryStick to make more room for new photos without having to upload the previous batch to a computer.
Three more extra treats: An alarm clock that can beep or play the song of your choice through a home stereo, three games (Brick, Parachute, and Solitaire), and the ability to play tunes from the iPod's hard drive while it's connected to your computer (so you can delete your music collection from your computer's drive to free up space).
The new iPod's sound quality is great. Apple won't release the signal-to-noise ratio, but the player sounds quite clean to our ears--even cleaner through the cradle's line-out jack, which bypasses the device's volume circuitry. And it's more than loud enough, even through our large test headphones, outputting 30mW per channel.Apple claims the internal lithium-ion battery will last 8 hours, but that's with the button backlighting and the EQ turned off and the volume limited to 50 percent. With heavy use, involving lots of backlighting and On The Go playlist creation, our test unit lasted about 6 hours. However, Apple has solved the old iPod's battery problem (the life of the nonreplaceable battery dropped to 1 to 3 hours after about a year of use) with an included firmware upgrade. The battery charges in about 2 hours, 40 minutes, with or without the cradle, from a FireWire port or the square, white AC wall adapter that comes with the iPod.
MP3 files transferred over FireWire at around 3.3MB per second from Macs and Windows machines, meaning that you can fill all 10GB in less than an hour.
User opinions
Select a User Opinion to view: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 User Rating:
1.0 stars
out of 97 user reviews
A birthday gift gone sour
Pros: easy to use, simple design, great for trips, small
Cons: weak customer support, Applecare's misdirection, and many many others
Review: Customer Support: if the ipod is dead, gone, blown up, they'll replace it. If not, they'll fix it up some how and send it back to you. my first one was replaced, and the second one came back with more problems than I sent in.
Applecare misdirection: The packaging on the Applecare says that you can have 1 year of manufacturer's warranty + 2 years Applecare protection. *WRONG* you only get 2 years of protection, and then you either have to pay $249 dollars to get it fixed, or buy a new one, or 'sell back' your POS iPod for a new one, that you'd pray that wouldn't die on you like the others. However, that begs the question, would you get the similar response if this one breaks on you?
Freezing: Understand this is a harddrive mp3 player. It will be susceptible to heat and motion. Keeping this in mind, Apple should have developed this device to withstand the torture of movement. Obviously, it hasn't. My iPod will just freeze because it wants to. It wastes my battery life, time, and energy trying to fix it. It's worse when you are on the ROAD, where everyone is using their iPods (considering they are going in people's cars now).
Simple design: ok, it's one thing to make it easy to use, but they have made it incredbily propriatary. If the battery fails, you have to send it to be repaired. The casing on the device is weak. I was actually accused to manhandling the device when I sent it in the first time. I mean, what's up with that.
Applecare misdirection: The packaging on the Applecare says that you can have 1 year of manufacturer's warranty + 2 years Applecare protection. *WRONG* you only get 2 years of protection, and then you either have to pay $249 dollars to get it fixed, or buy a new one, or 'sell back' your POS iPod for a new one, that you'd pray that wouldn't die on you like the others. However, that begs the question, would you get the similar response if this one breaks on you?
Freezing: Understand this is a harddrive mp3 player. It will be susceptible to heat and motion. Keeping this in mind, Apple should have developed this device to withstand the torture of movement. Obviously, it hasn't. My iPod will just freeze because it wants to. It wastes my battery life, time, and energy trying to fix it. It's worse when you are on the ROAD, where everyone is using their iPods (considering they are going in people's cars now).
Simple design: ok, it's one thing to make it easy to use, but they have made it incredbily propriatary. If the battery fails, you have to send it to be repaired. The casing on the device is weak. I was actually accused to manhandling the device when I sent it in the first time. I mean, what's up with that.
User Rating:
4.5 stars
out of 97 user reviews
Is this ipod really worth it?
Pros: style, video playback
Cons: price, scratches
Review: I love this ipod. I’ve had mine now for about a month and I continue to be amazed. First off, I love the styling. It is sleek and thin and demands attention. It’s small enough to easily carry in your pocket (not like the thicker older styles).
I wasn’t sure how much I would be impressed by the video capabilities of this ipod. I figured that it would be able to play some really pixely cheesy videos but nothing too impressive. Boy was I wrong. The first thing I did when I received it was to download some movie trailers onto it to see what it was capable of. I was blown away. The screen quality is amazing and large enough to actually see what’s going on (it’s a huge 2.5� screen). It’ll even play some of them in widescreen mode.
Of course, itunes is a breeze to use. Just install the program on your computer and your good to go. The set up is straightforward and easy to understand, quite painless all in all.
The sound quality is fabulous. I haven’t had any problems with skipping (being that it’s a hard drive based model). The click wheel makes it easy to use with one hand. I bought my wife a cd player for her car and I made sure that it had an auxiliary input for the ipod. You can just plug it in and you have crystal clear music (the cable was only 4 bucks, a lot cheaper than an fm transmitter and it sounds a heck of a lot better). I was even able to get the ipod for free. I’m not kidding, totally free. I signed up on a website and referred some friends and a month later I received the ipod.
Check it out: ipods.freepay.com/?r=26946507 It was really easy and totally free.
The only things I have found that I don’t like are that the case scratches easily. I bought a silicone case for it and it seems to be doing the trick. Make sure that you get a screen protector also. Also, in video mode the battery seems to only last about two hours instead of the claimed 14. When just playing music the battery lasts about that. Lastly, in order to transfer video files to your ipod you either have to download them from Apple’s website (which usually comes with a cost of a few bucks per download) or buy converter software that allows you to convert other video formats to an ipod compatible one. Besides these few points I haven’t found anything else wrong.
Overall, I love this ipod. I was blown away by its video capabilities and ease of use. I haven’t even scratched the surface of its storing capacity (30 gb). I am a happy customer and plan on sticking with Apple for all of my future personal music/video player needs.
I wasn’t sure how much I would be impressed by the video capabilities of this ipod. I figured that it would be able to play some really pixely cheesy videos but nothing too impressive. Boy was I wrong. The first thing I did when I received it was to download some movie trailers onto it to see what it was capable of. I was blown away. The screen quality is amazing and large enough to actually see what’s going on (it’s a huge 2.5� screen). It’ll even play some of them in widescreen mode.
Of course, itunes is a breeze to use. Just install the program on your computer and your good to go. The set up is straightforward and easy to understand, quite painless all in all.
The sound quality is fabulous. I haven’t had any problems with skipping (being that it’s a hard drive based model). The click wheel makes it easy to use with one hand. I bought my wife a cd player for her car and I made sure that it had an auxiliary input for the ipod. You can just plug it in and you have crystal clear music (the cable was only 4 bucks, a lot cheaper than an fm transmitter and it sounds a heck of a lot better). I was even able to get the ipod for free. I’m not kidding, totally free. I signed up on a website and referred some friends and a month later I received the ipod.
Check it out: ipods.freepay.com/?r=26946507 It was really easy and totally free.
The only things I have found that I don’t like are that the case scratches easily. I bought a silicone case for it and it seems to be doing the trick. Make sure that you get a screen protector also. Also, in video mode the battery seems to only last about two hours instead of the claimed 14. When just playing music the battery lasts about that. Lastly, in order to transfer video files to your ipod you either have to download them from Apple’s website (which usually comes with a cost of a few bucks per download) or buy converter software that allows you to convert other video formats to an ipod compatible one. Besides these few points I haven’t found anything else wrong.
Overall, I love this ipod. I was blown away by its video capabilities and ease of use. I haven’t even scratched the surface of its storing capacity (30 gb). I am a happy customer and plan on sticking with Apple for all of my future personal music/video player needs.
User Rating:
4.5 stars
out of 97 user reviews
A great mp3 play plyu hardrive
Pros: music capacity, portable harddrive
Cons: scartches easily, battery life is not too good when watching videos
Review: Overall, I think this is by far the greatest ipod out there. One of the main cons is how easily it scratches, I'm suprised apple didn't come out with a better exterior. Other than that, its great. Come on how could you complain about a mp3 player and hardive all in one? I found the apple really usefull when I was in Mexico on vacation and i needed more memory for my camera...I uploaded all my pics and there I was left with a 1 GB free chip. OVerall, i think its great and on top of all that it was given to me for free. I was skeptical at first but i filled out the offer and got one 4 weeks later..check it out. http://ipods.freepay.com/?r=26710725
User Rating:
0.5 stars
out of 97 user reviews
died 1 year and 1 week after I got it
Pros: nice design
Cons: 1) had a freezing and skipping problem if even walking- would not play if jogging 2) It died 1 year and 1 week after I bought it, that is one week after the warranty expired. The hard drive died, which is a $250.00 repair. 3) Battery life was bad. I a
Review:
User Rating:
4.0 stars
out of 97 user reviews
My best investment!!!
Pros: I am a audiophile junkie and am always looking for the best "toys". Apple's iPod is as close to perfection as they come in the MP3 world. Up loading music from CD's and iTunes store is easier then baking a cake and faster then burning a CD. The amount st
Cons: The life of the rechargable battery must be replaced yearly by sending the iPod in to Apple for a replacement. However, the built-in battery cannot be replaced but with a extend warranty you will get a reconditioned replacement.
Review:
User Rating:
2.5 stars
out of 97 user reviews
too many quirks
Pros: small, easy, intriguing
Cons: buttons dont work, freezed up, signal not totally clear with ITrip
Review:
User Rating:
2.5 stars
out of 97 user reviews
Battery is just too weak for the price
Pros: Small and good looking design. Fits easily into a pocket. Nice, easy to use interface. 30 GB of space.
Cons: The capacity of the battery declines very quickly. I haven't had it for long and the battery does not hold a charge very well. I can listen to 3 or 4 songs and then when I try to look through the library of songs it shuts off. I have to listen to a preset
Review:
User Rating:
2.5 stars
out of 97 user reviews
Cute commercial and looks, but....
Pros: Great looks and features.
Cons: CNET is Ipod biased to the extreme. The lame internal battery sucks. Why would Apple ruin a good product with pathetic internal battery life...who gives a damn about it bieng rechargable? It doesn't last more than 6-7 hours. This unit scratches WAY to
Review:
User Rating:
2.5 stars
out of 97 user reviews
Battery-life is huge achilles heel
Pros: Love the convenience, design, compact qualities (tho my iPod was one with the scroll wheel that was not fully encased-- this was about 2x as thick as the newer ones). Easy interface, layout.
Cons: I am super upset that my battery seems to have finally died as I feared it would. Within a space of 2 days, I charged it twice and it would not hold a charge. After the last 'charge' - I got through the first line of 'Hey Ya' and was promptly told my ba
Review:
User Rating:
4.0 stars
out of 97 user reviews
The best thing I have ever bought
Pros: Works like a dream with windows XP/Firewire/Media Centre 9 (decided not to use the bundled musicmatch software). Had a few early issues as I got to grips with it, but nothing to write home about. I would strongly urge anyone buying or considering buying
Cons: It *is* expensive, but I believe you get value for money. The battery life is (at least in my test) about 8 hours, but the battery meter is hopeless. You get at least an hour of use after the meter is completely empty. I bought the Belkin battery pac
Review:
User Rating:
4.5 stars
out of 97 user reviews
Great, no problems with Windows (XP)
Pros: It is really nice to have a MP3 player that can carry my entire song collection, which now totals about 6 GB. Sound quality is great, and transfer is fast if you have Firewire. (Probably with USB2 too, though I never try it myself.)
Cons: If the battery can be user-replaced then it will be even better.
Review:
User Rating:
4.0 stars
out of 97 user reviews
Finally, an audiobook repository!
Pros: When my Audible Otis player kicked the proverbial bucket a few months ago, the only other option available to Audible listeners was the Apple Ipod. I found it at CompUSA for $399, so I snapped it up, along with the car power adapter from Belkin. It had
Cons: The case has a tendency to scratch very, very easily. I got an I-Skin for it and no worries about scratches anymore. The Belkin car adapter can cause the unit to act wonky on occasion.
Review:
User Rating:
1.5 stars
out of 97 user reviews
Whats all the hype about....
Pros: Oh yeah...the looks. This is the sexiest piece of gadgetry ever. All the guys and girls in the office drooled over this. The music sounds really good. File transfer was quick, once I managed to sync with my pc.
Cons: Battery life, I only managed to get 4-6 hrs use per recharge. The forward functions are useless because if you use it then the battery life reduces dramatically. Cant sync with office pc, or I havnt figured out how to. The touch wheel is too sensitive. Th
Review:
User Rating:
5.0 stars
out of 97 user reviews
amazing quality - hiughly recommended
Pros: very compact, great sound, i like the touch sensitive buttons,games , there is all kinds of features like games, very easy to use
Cons: battery life could be better
Review:
User Rating:
1.0 stars
out of 97 user reviews
unreliable, if sexy
Pros: It is indeed sexily designed and has very good sound quality. The interface is okay, not really very good but certainly better than the other MP3 players I've tried.
Cons: This is a very unreliable piece of machinery. It locked up from time to time (I mean on its own while playing songs), lost songs on several occasions, and was very difficult to get synched. I tried it connected to a half-dozen computers but it would never
Review:
User Rating:
4.0 stars
out of 97 user reviews
Great all around devise
Pros: Small, packed with features, tons of uses. iTunes works great with windows
Cons: A bit pricey, but you get what you pay for
Review:
User Rating:
3.0 stars
out of 97 user reviews
Steep price, good features
Pros: 30GB hard drive large enough for most users library. Small, easy to use.
Cons: Not USB ready yet. Had to buy IEEE 1394 Firewire card in addition. Had to downgrade MusicMatch 8.0 to 7.5 to get IPOD to work.
Review:
User Rating:
4.5 stars
out of 97 user reviews
Home Stereo system just got better
Pros: iPod 30GB just replaced my cd player and is now part of my home stereo system. I used a monster cable to connect the iPod via the dock connector which has an audio-out to the receivers L-R audio-in. Even got a wireless remote control for this baby. iPod i
Cons: battery life. No info on Signal-to-noise ratio
Review:
User Rating:
5.0 stars
out of 97 user reviews
iPod is the Best
Pros: the ipod is the best mp3 player on the market. No other mp3 player will compete. it works incredibly with itunes and gets music on to the ipod in minutes. my friends thougt it was a bit pricy but they all want one now.
Cons: A bit pricy but definatley worth the money. get it.
Review:
User Rating:
1.5 stars
out of 97 user reviews
still glad i bought it
Pros: i had to return the first one, but the second ipod is great. get a protection plan, i dont expect this battery to last more than 18 months
Cons: still too expensive...and the worst customer support in tech history (actually second worst, the worst is rio!)
Review:
User Rating:
1.5 stars
out of 97 user reviews
Battery and Sensitivity
Pros: Very sharp and appealing exterior designs which is appealing to the eye which is a good advertising on the IPOD and great accessories w/ the IPOD. The size of the IPOD cannot beat any other MP3 hard drive player which is very good. ALso the interface and
Cons: Battery life is very poor. Sound quality-IPOD can't handle Bass. Item is not meant for working out or taking around...buttons are way just too sensitive to touch.
Review:
User Rating:
5.0 stars
out of 97 user reviews
Best Ever !
Pros:
Cons:
Review: yes, i do love macs, but that is not why i am giving this oppinion thing... i am putting my oppinion down here because i heard various things about FM Broadcasting etc... here is what the new ipod has: ? Built in speaker and microphone for recording. ? Ability to play MP3, AAC and many more ? Play games, organise, make playlists on the go and many more. Here is what you can get for the ipod for just a little money: ? FM broadcaster ? Tune Splitter ? More Apple Rulez
User Rating:
4.5 stars
out of 97 user reviews
Funny... the negative commenters never seem to OWN one
Pros:
Cons:
Review: Great features... a pleasure to own. More expensive? Sure, but a Ferrari costs more than a Chevy... want to compare the ride?
User Rating:
4.5 stars
out of 97 user reviews
Really---it's only for music
Pros:
Cons:
Review: The iPod is an MP3 player. That is what it was designed to be and what it will always be. As such, it is the best MP3 player in the world hands down. It is so much easier to use, it now supports USB 2 AND Firewire, has on-the-go playlists, supports AAC, MP3, and Audible.com, and includes some other useful features like a contacts list. But they have no need to add in a video player or any of that junk. An FM receiver/transmitter can be easily purchased, and someone has determined that this iPod actually has recording capabilities; Apple just has to put this into the software and release a microphone. My only regret is the proprietary cable they are now using. Still, for an MP3 player, I can't see anyone getting it better than this
User Rating:
4.0 stars
out of 97 user reviews
Best portable player bar none!
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Review: Upgraded from my 5gb ipod, the new one is sleeker, lighter, and easier to use. Love the new case, the included remote and the dock is sweet, charge and leave it wired up to a set of speakers.
User Rating:
4.0 stars
out of 97 user reviews
The One
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Review: This is the best thing since sliced bread and nearly as thin! I'm an avid PC lover, but apple is miles ahead of the nearest competition. I can't wait for iTunes and its music store to arrive in the near future for the PC.
User Rating:
2.5 stars
out of 97 user reviews
Review Correction
Pros:
Cons:
Review: This review failed to note that the 30GB model is actually not smaller. Check the specs at Apple's site ( http://www.apple.com/ipod/specs.html ): 4.1 by 2.4 by 0.73 inches 6.2 ounces Potential buyers might also want to note that as ZDNET points out, the battery is non-replaceable and has a one-year lifespan. $500 seems like a lot to pay for what will be a pretty paperweight a year later.
User Rating:
5.0 stars
out of 97 user reviews
My ears are dancing!
Pros:
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Review: I am listening to my new ipod as I am writing this review.I had just bought the iriver 195 and the difference in sound is like my voice against Josh Groban.I'm in love again with my new ipod. Thanks Apple.
User Rating:
4.0 stars
out of 97 user reviews
Expensive, but generally completely kick-arse
Pros:
Cons:
Review: I've been using mine for a week now and I'm totally digging it. Expensive, but generally pretty freakin' cool. Good thing I'm rich. hahaha. kidding. I'm rating actually rating Support high because of an interaction I had with them before the iPod. just had to call them about changing parts of my order and they were very accomodating (and security concious at the same time). Quality. The Sound quality is above par and much better than any other mp3 device I have owned. Which is good because I would expect that from a unit i paid 500 bones for. Features. Many players are coming out with FM tuners and even built in FM transmitters! that would be an incredible addition. Of course you can buy seperate units for like 30 bucks or something, but for 500 bones, it should be included. Though I might add that it's probably a feature I wouldn't use much. Maybe.
User Rating:
4.5 stars
out of 97 user reviews
For all you people who can't afford this...
Pros:
Cons:
Review: I'm sick of these people ranting about how there are other MP3 players out there that have a higher storage capacity and lower price. No one's holding a gun to you head to buy an iPod. That's the beauty of free market enterprise and competition. The bottom line is that Apple charges a premium for their products because they can. It's the same reason why BMW and Jaguar can charge so much for their cars. These are LUXURY items. CNet themselves have called the iPod the best MP3 player they've ever reviewed not to mention the iPod is the #1 selling MP3 player in the world. Don't be bitter just because you can't afford one of these players...go ahead and get that Nomad Jukebox...and good luck fitting that sucker in your shirt or pant pocket.
User Rating:
4.5 stars
out of 97 user reviews
IT ROCKS!
Pros:
Cons:
Review: The slick interface and ability to store every song I have along with the seamless integration with iTunes (you PS folk are really missing out on the simplicity of Mac integration). Love it.
User Rating:
3.0 stars
out of 97 user reviews
CD Burner Obsolete?!?
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Review: I didn't really realize the potential of this device until about 2 weeks ago. I couldnt fathom paying $500 for a glorified walkman!! And then 'whap!' I got it. This is the future. No more buying CD's (Just go to the online music store), get rid of home cd player,get rid of walkman,integrate with car stereo(no fumbling w cd's). I can't wait till the next iPod comes out that will be able to store DVD's downloaded from the online video store. Then I can chuck my DVD player too. I really feel lucky to be a Mac owner in this day and age, I'm excited for the future...bring it on. Way to go apple!!
User Rating:
4.0 stars
out of 97 user reviews
Best is better
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Review: Smooth, small, light, easy. Couldn't be much better, but I must agree with users who are upset about the cords now being positioned at the top and bottom. That is definitely a negative. But I love the dock. Come home each night and plop it onto the dock, wake up in the morning and all ready to go. If you want the best, and are willing to pay for it, this is the mp3 player to get (or AAC as the case may be).
User Rating:
4.0 stars
out of 97 user reviews
Fantastic and stylish
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Review: This is my second foray into the hard drive MP3 player world and, I must say, my best. The iPod 2.0 30gb for Windows that I own is a dream. I love the size and the clean appearance. At literally 1/3 the size of my 20GB Jukebox Zen, I can carry it anywhere. One recommendation, dump the MusicMatch software in favor of Ephpod will complete the sweetness of this easy to use device. Oh yeah, if you don't own it, don't review it.
User Rating:
4.0 stars
out of 97 user reviews
Fantastic Product but missing few things.
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Review: I think all the rant about iPod is unfounded. As far as the Sony HDD100 goes it does seem that it is bigger, uglier and the navigation not as intuitive as the iPod. and don't expect a Sony product to be cheap either. I would really be thankful if any Ipod owner or someone without it could clarify my following doubts. 1. Is it possible to connect the I-Pod to a USB 1.1 or 2.0 port of a Windows Machine with the standard package or is it mandatory to buy the $20 package available in June. 2. Is there any limit on the no. of characters on a single note or is it like notepad in which the limit is pretty big? 3. Can I run with my I-Pod (afterall it has got 25 mins. buffer memory? 4. Is the I-Pod fragile? (because in a normal hard-disk the distance between the reader and the platter is barely 6 microns) 5. Lastly, what is the colour of the back-light in the 10GB version.
User Rating:
4.0 stars
out of 97 user reviews
I've been waiting for this model
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Review: Now I'll buy an iPod. What a well rounded feature set. Not only is the Pod smaller phycically, but with the new compression option of AAC, you can squeeze more audio onto it. THey could had a higher resolution LCD, that would have been nice. Overall though I look forward to geeting this for my PC.
User Rating:
4.0 stars
out of 97 user reviews
This Is A MP3 Player
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Review: That is really all it is. This wont play FM radio or take pictures. But for a MP3 player it is the best one out. I have the 10GB version and am in love. It is the size of a cassete tape. I am on XP and have found Musicmatch to work fine but not as easily as iTunes. The display is very large and easy to read, even in the bright daylight. I have had a few problems getting place to place with the scrolling thingy, but I have had it for 48 hours now and im sure in a few more days it will be second nature. The extra features are almost useless EXEPT for the clock and putting in Holidays on the calander. You can't enter dates or contacts on the run, only from your computer. The games offer a small amount of entertainment but only for a few minutes. I have owned two Archos HD players and both are way to big and bulky for my pocket. This will fit in anything i need it to. I would recomend this MP3 Player to anyone who has a large music library and wont want to listen to the radio after a few hours.
User Rating:
4.5 stars
out of 97 user reviews
Another winner for Apple
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Review: This is a sweet player for those who love music. It's certainly better to interface with an Apple because iTunes is the most reliable and user friendly music organization system imaginable. I use both Win XP and OS X and I have a LARGE music collection. I've tried synching an iPod to Windows but there is no comparison to iTunes. I've used Nomad Jukebox 1 and 3, Muvo, Rio, Archos and other products extensively, and I can tell you there is nothing out there that comes CLOSE to Ipod for a music listener in terms of the product delivering as promised, reliability and user friendliness. I require the stability of iTunes and I don't want extraneous things to make the iPod any less than the best music player there is. Live recording, FM radio, DIVX functions at this point would only serve to weaken the quality of this device, in my opinion. If you are a music buff, iPod is the device for you...If you are also an Apple owner, hurry and buy an iPod as quick as you can...(Happy owner of a new 30 gb Pod!)
User Rating:
4.5 stars
out of 97 user reviews
The Best just got Better
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Review: You have to try the new IPOD before you can truly review it. There are many subtle features, like the new touch sensitive pad, that make the new IPOD much better than the original. Read some of the recent reviews and you will see that EVERYONE who has tried the new model raves about it. There is no need to wait because the price won't go down so bite the bullet and treat yourself.
User Rating:
4.0 stars
out of 97 user reviews
ONE WORD...AWESOME
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Review: Okay first off, those people who don't actually own a new IPOD, quit writing a "review". You can't review something you don't have. This isn't a discussion forum, so please quit wasting people's time by writing about your speculations. Off of that, without wasting time myself. In a few words, if you have the cash to spare, grab an IPOD. I can't believe how sexy and portable this device is. The production build of the new IPOD is IMMACULATE. This device tops its previous incarnation in every way, except for theoretical battery life. But seeing as I didn't own the previous version of the Ipod, I can't really tell you how the battery life difference really shapes up. The best part of this new device, is the implementation of the "On-The-Go" playlist function. The only reason I did not buy the previous Ipod was because you could not queue up songs, which was a BIG deal. It was just stupid not to have this feature before! Now the Ipod is truly a Jukebox, and amazingly portable...such a sleek device. I seriously don't want to touch it, because it gets my fingerprints all over the beautiful enclosure! The touch sensitive buttons are wild, and extremely forward thinking, and the layout is almost perfect. I do wish there were a few more buttons for some more refined control, but hey, Apple wants simplicity, and they seem to have mastered it this time. I recently owned a Jukebox Zen, which would have been my top choice, but this new IPOD is just too sleek, too portable, too tiny, but with a huge display that makes for browsing a huge library so much easier than any other device on the market! Whatever this thing lacks in features, it makes up in portability, which really, is Extremely important. I was reading up on a new device that Philips is going to introduce soon, which claimed to be the "lightest" jukebox to date. Guess they didn't know the new Ipod was going to hit, and be lighter than ever before. I am so excited about this thing!!
User Rating:
5.0 stars
out of 97 user reviews
Home run, Jobs!
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Review: The integration between the iPod, iTunes, and the new music store is sublime. I love the elegance, style, and functionality of the iPod. It certainly is an 'objet d'art.' Speaking of things, however, why don't we, a bunch of mac users, go bash some Microsoft/Windows product like a bunch of lemmings? Of course, people are free to leave their unenlightened opinions; after all, this *is* the United States of America, where every ignoramus can pipe in with their uninformed two cents.
User Rating:
3.5 stars
out of 97 user reviews
Honest review after using new version..
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Review: I'm only writing this because reviews on here always deal with lots of people looking online and then commenting, not really getting to know the product first hand for at least a few minutes. So, I've decided since two of my friends own the older version and because I've now spent a good day with the new one, I'll write a response. This new iPod is (I think) awesome, it does what it does well, and this new one is much more refined. I know a lot of people are frustrated with what is on it, but you gotta remember, this is Apple, and just like many other companies, they are going to capitalize on everything by selling you the FM adapter through 3rd party vendors or car chargers that cost you $20. It's a $500 dollar product because they've actually invested much more time than others (especially companies like Archos). Besides, they charge what they do without the features because they know you will pay for it to have it. But, I would really like Apple to start including more stuff, like a photo viewer and compact flash slot, but it probably won't happen, so back to the new iPod. This thing is quite a bit smaller, lighter, and more rounded, I held it for a while and was really impressed; it goes right into your pocket without catching anything and the buttons are completely flush with the player, not to mension very well laid out. I know the specs say it is lighter and smaller and stuff, but you really should hold it to understand, because I could definitely see and feel a difference (just not in my wallet). My only gripe with this version is that the touch controls are not adjustable, and if you practically breath on them they will activate, a design that is good but really annoying, especially if you even lightly brush the product with another finger over a different button. In addition, the scroll is so sensitive that it is fast, and like the updated versions of the older one, takes a while to get used to before you can select things without flying past the options. But overall, what I've come to realize, is that I think I'd rather use my Palm with MP3 capability along with a 128MB flash card that I can change each night, then pay a few hundred extra to have all my music with me, but that is just me (that, and I already have a portable drive, so that feature wouldn't make it any better to me).
User Rating:
4.5 stars
out of 97 user reviews
New iPods can RECORD
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Review: checkout ipoding.com for the info. I've tried it and its true. When putting the ipod in diag mode there are option for line and mic record. I plugged the ear phone to the jack and spoke into the left earphone and heard the replay. The software is not there but the hardware is there. Maybe in a couple of months. The only con I've found is the buttons, they are too sensitive.
User Rating:
1.0 stars
out of 97 user reviews
GO IRIVER!!
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Review: Read this and you'll know what to do http://iriver.com/community/discussion_list.asp?pre_idx=5357&top_title=Keyword%20:%20ipod&list_page=1&mode=Total&strque=ipod&field=1&p_name=&p_group= And here some pics: http://members.fortunecity.de/coolrythm/8.html
User Rating:
4.5 stars
out of 97 user reviews
The New Ipod is the one for me
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Review: I was on the fence for some time. I always had a thing for the old Ipod but was torn between a number devices such as eDigitals "Odyssey 1000" After checking out the new Ipods my decision was made. The only "small" thing that has me puzzled is the backlight feature. It clearly shows a blue backlight on the box. CNET also reported a high resolution "blue" backlight in their review. After visiting the apple store to purchase the machine, it was clearly a "white" backlit screen. While this is not a minor issue, it baffles me why apple would show this in their pictures and I wonder where CNET came up with their conclusions
User Rating:
5.0 stars
out of 97 user reviews
Best MP3 Player out There
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Review: I have read all the negatives (probably from people that don't own an iPod). I have one of the newest versions. It is small, and that is a key feature. If you like to carry a brick in your pocket then get an Archos. If you want a very small hard drive MP3 player with elegant button/controls setup get an iPod. No it ain't cheap, but with no competition in its size for Hard Drive MP3 players it is the way to go.
User Rating:
4.0 stars
out of 97 user reviews
RAD ipod
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Review: I just went out and got the new ipod. and i have to say out of all the mp3 players that i have ever had the ipod is the best. Its loaded with boss features that are spectacular. And for all those dummies who say that the ipod is a waste of money they are wrong this thing is the best investmate that i have made all year. i strongly recomend the ipod.
User Rating:
5.0 stars
out of 97 user reviews
Refining the best
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Review: The new iPod had no competition to beat other than its predecessor, and it does that pretty well, I might add. It holds more songs, costs less, supports USB 2 in addition to FireWire all the while having gone on a massive diet. The new iPods are 5.6 ounces and just a tad over half an inch thick. The iPod is also one of the first portable players with AAC support...everybody knows the iPod is king of the mp3 portable mountain.
User Rating:
5.0 stars
out of 97 user reviews
You have to hold it!
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Review: Oh man...seeing this thing on the internet is one thing, but once I had it in my hand...it was amazing. All the bottons are touch sensitive and it is just so sweet looking. My old iPod was bomb, but this one is crazy goodness. And ... it DOES record. Very odd that they don't advertise this, but is actually does. Maybe its an add on for later, but oh man, this is the sweetest mp3 player ever. AND ITS SOOOO SLIM! AHHH..BUY ONE NOW!
User Rating:
4.5 stars
out of 97 user reviews
To all the naysayers...
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Review: A lot of people on here knocking the new iPods. Answer me this: Can you plug your MP3 player into your computer and have it synchronize all your songs. Can you download legit music via the software that came with your MP3 player (as opposed to stealing it). Does your MP3 player last 3 hours? Does it look gorgeous? Do you need drivers and a manual to figure out how to work it? Seems a lot of people get on here to knock Apple products without actually having tried them. I've used various MP3 players with the Windows operating system. While they might have had more features, it didn't do them very well. You can get a VW Beetle and put a Ferrari engine in it, but it will still be a VW that handles poorly.
User Rating:
5.0 stars
out of 97 user reviews
There's nothing better
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Review: I went down to CompUSA to check out the new ipod and I could not believe the improvements from my older ipod that I thought could not get anymore perfect.
User Rating:
5.0 stars
out of 97 user reviews
The New Ipod Changes Everything
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Review: I purchased the 15 GB Ipod which comes with all the bells and whistles (dock, case, remote, etc...) and just for those of you who are still deciding: Get it. For the touch-sensitive capability alone, it is worth it. In addition, for those of you who haven't tried the new Apple Music Store, check it out. It's seamless. I know I sound like an ad for Apple, but I use a lot of their products (hardware and software) and this new line of products is truly the best out there.
User Rating:
4.0 stars
out of 97 user reviews
sleeker, more options and handles mpeg-4
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Review: just bought my second ipod (15GB model) to replace first one (2nd gen 10GB model). excellent mpeg-4 (AAC) support. can't believe how much thinner it really seems. buttons backlit for easier nighttime use. nice pda-like stand for desktop use. an fm radio tuner or esp. broadcaster would be bonus, but inexpensive add-on options are available.
User Rating:
4.0 stars
out of 97 user reviews
Just when you thought it was safe to doubt the Mighty Mac iPod
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Review: First off, the Mac is not just better in design, it's better in functionality. I love the way it's all touch-sensitive, no moving parts except the hold button. It feels as though it uses the heat from your finger rather than pressure. Also the program it comes with (MusicMatch) is 100% better to me! Before when I downloaded Music Match to my computer (Windows XP OS) it made my computer crash every single time, also when I plugged the iPod in, my computer crashed. I eventually ended up getting the upgrade and using EphPod which was good but it had no autosync and I couldn't save the playlists or albums so if I got a new iPod I had to rebuild the playlists and download the albums to the iPod individually. With all the new upgrades that come built into the Music Match disk all I had to do is push autosync after I got my MP3's into my Music Match library. Also the dock is nice. I got the Audio/Video cables for only $4.99 at Best Buy. A lot better than the $39 I would've spent for the cable for the old iPod. Also a lot of music that wouldn't download on my old iPod downloads on my new one. One of my favorite things is that my original 20 GB iPod started out with 18.5 GB, I had 2240 tracks and had 8.6 GB left. With my new iPod 30 GB, I have those same 2240 tracks and still have 19.5 GB left. You do the math! Beautiful, sleek, loads of memory, feels like it's making love to my palm while I'm holding it. Could be better? Yeah sure, but then again so could any Mercedes Benz but that wouldn't stop you from buying it if you could afford it. The iPod ride is for someone who wants sophistication, style, simplicity and an engine that won't quit.
User Rating:
2.5 stars
out of 97 user reviews
New IPOD is OK but can do better
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Review: I just bought the new 30g after owning a 20g for about 6 months. The major difference is the size the size and the size. Here is what Apple should do in order for me to feel maximun value for the $500 I just spent. As if it were not obvious--include an FM tuner--geez, how obvious can that be. The screen should be color (interestingly enough they enhance the color of the screen on the box to blue) for $500 that is totally realisitc. Also, you should be able to create playlist that stay--not temporary ones from the unit itself. The main reason I like this unit is because of the design and now the 30g. Overall, I am satisfied but I know Apple can do better, especially at $500. At the very least they could throw in the FM transmitter, car charger, and FM audio receiver which is coming out in summer for the $500 I shelled out for the 30g unit.
User Rating:
3.0 stars
out of 97 user reviews
Actual Review (i have unit)
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Review: This is for the 10 gig ipod Let me run down the components: Earphones - first thing i noticed was that it was louder compared to my sony earbuds (the one with the volume control). fits nicely on the ear and comes with two sets of covers for the earbud. Firewire cable - fits my firewire port and that's all i care about! it also comes with a small adapter for the smaller type of firewire port AC adapter - its rated for 110v-220v. connects with the firewire cable. musicmatch - i use windows so no feedback on the itunes. i managed to get it up and running in no time. important thing once you install the ipod software, connect the ipod to the computer via firewire then it will automatically open up and detect the ipod. after that add playlists and songs on each playlist. click the sync button when you're done to upload all the songs and playlists to the ipod. took a while even on firewire (10 minutes i think for 1 gig of music). musicmatch is alright for me. no experience with other music managers. ipod software installation - pretty much straightforward, the only thing you really notice out of all of it is musicmatch. ipod 10 gig unit - first of all its small. the picture on the website led me to believe its bigger. about an inch smaller than my microsoft optical mouse and the same width. back easily smudges from fingerprints because it has a mirror-like finish. feels like metal and very solid. the front is plastic. none of the buttons depress. all you have to do is touch it. has the potential to have lots of scratches (get a case right away!). the unit does seem to have some weight on it. i compare it to my gameboy advance (not the sp). why i chose it: i wanted a player for traveling on long trips and for going to the gym. i had MD for a long time but i got tired of lugging around the extra discs. the flash players like iriver and mpio-fl100 seemed to look good. i was looking at the 256 for each version. both were 200 bucks. when ipod came out, it seemed like the better deal. 300 bucks for 10 gigs of music. ipod weight 3 times more than the iriver unit a bit bigger in heigt i think. no regrets so far on value. think about the length of the trips you usually are on and the places you go to. and think if this is the unit for you. more often than not ipod will fit the bill. gripes: there is a delay of about a fraction of a second before each song. you can't queue songs, you rely heavily on the playlists you preprogrammed using musicmatch. you can create on the go playlists though (see apple website). *just got it today so not much experience with usage and software issues value: pretty good too me. 300 bucks for 10 gigs of music. ofcourse i am comparing it to the flash based players. i have no experience with other HDD players. support - i haven't used apple's C/S yet and hopefully won't have to. quality - good quality for me. i liked the music coming out of my sharp MD-SR60 and this one is comparable if not better (note: i am no audiophile). i also encode most of my music from 128 to 192 mostly. nice solid feel and build of the unit. earphones are alright to me. features - seems to lack the features of some flash based and HDD players. the feature set is fine for what i use it for which is the gym, 2-5 hour car trips, etc. hope this review helps some of you people. i wrote this for the reason that i rely on people's reviews as well to help me decide on some products.
User Rating:
3.0 stars
out of 97 user reviews
Could do better..but what the heck
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Review: This is a great product that can be made better by including FM Receive/Broadcast capabilites and color screen that can do a little more things.
User Rating:
4.5 stars
out of 97 user reviews
Puts all others to shame
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Review: I've had my hands on one and I plan on buying one tonight. It's unbelieveable Apple made a small player even smaller but with higher capacity and more features. The possibilities are overwhelming sometimes.
User Rating:
4.0 stars
out of 97 user reviews
Simple and elegant
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Review: True, the iPod doesn’t have all of the bells and whistles offered with other MP's players, but I appreciate the fact that Apple has kept the design/features simple. The iPod does exactly what was designed to do. Play MP3's well! Very well! I've owned several MP3 players, and nothing comes close to matching the quality of the iPod. Is it really any wonder why the iPod is still the most coveted MP3 player on the market today? No one has even come close to matching its simplicity, beauty, and design.
User Rating:
5.0 stars
out of 97 user reviews
Its an MP3 Player Not a PDA or A Handheld Recorder
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Review: The ipod is not a pda nor is it a handheld recorder nor is it a FM radio transmitter. People gripe about everything Apple releases, even before it gets released. If you don't wnat the new ipod, fine.. don't spoil everyone elses fun.
User Rating:
4.0 stars
out of 97 user reviews
NOT A REVIEW-MORE A QUESTION
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Review: Wow..theres a lot of angst on this review page. My comments here are NOT a review-but more a list of questions. And these questions are only for those people are have actually seen in the flesh or bought the New ipod. I look forward to your reviews. Not that absolute BS that has been posted so far. What I wanna know is if the new ipod is worth the money? I am deciding between getting the older 20GB version since prices of the old stock are fast down, or the new 30GB ipod. That is the only decision-I have NO interest in any other mp3 player. I am sold on the ipods, just not sold on the latest or the slighlty older one. In addition, anyone have any clue on whether Griffintechnology will be releasing a itrip for the new ipod soon or do I need to wait for 6mths. Finally, on the itrip, Do ppl know how well it works? static inteference? etc. Appreciate your help.
User Rating:
3.0 stars
out of 97 user reviews
Jobs - Get with the program - real updates please
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Review: Ok. I agree. The iPod does not need to work as a PDA or play games or video or act as a digital photo album. Yes - it's supposed to play MP3s - and in a sleek package, it does that quite well. But honestly, why not really update the iPod with features that would make it worth the price for any MP3 listener? 2 Things: 1) FM BROADCAST ability (no - I don't mean getting radio stations on it. I could care less about that.) I mean being able to broadcast your tunes to any FM receiver (a la Yepp 900) so that you don't need a Line Out cord to play tunes - this is extremely handy for playing music in your car, at a friend's house, or even at home.) 2) In-line recording ability. Why can't you record new MP3s from a CD or other source rather than just dragging MP3s from your desktop? Sure - the new iPod is sleeker, has more memory and a few more bells and whistles. But really - for the money and to really claim to be the King of the Hill, make the updates to the iPod worthwhile. In the meantime, I'll wait for the iPod that has these features. Naysayers - go ahead and spend your cash or flame on - in the end, it's you being cheated.
User Rating:
2.0 stars
out of 97 user reviews
oversells the product
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Review: too expensive- not worth unless you want to listen to your music the whole day and night. --- I'd rather listen to my small mp3 gadget or mp3 CD. Afterall you only spend max-1-2 hours a day for music unless you dont have a job!
User Rating:
2.0 stars
out of 97 user reviews
I'll stick with my Archos
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Review: I'll stick with my Archos. It does so much more and costs less. Steve Jobs is only out to make a buck off of people who believe that Apple is the best.
User Rating:
4.0 stars
out of 97 user reviews
Even better than before
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Review: Even though I haven't seen or touch one of the new iPods yet, I can say it will be even better than my 10gb version. And to people complaining about it can't do this it can't do that...Then buy something else! It is an MP3/AAC player. First who would want to watch video on a screen that size?! Also, from a previous review, the iPod is also an external hard drive. The new one will support USB and Firewire, so you won't need a "add-in card" Plus try carry the Archos in your pocket and jumping up and down without skipping. 20min skip protection for the iPod baby!!!
User Rating:
3.5 stars
out of 97 user reviews
This Ipod iteration may not be worth it
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Review: I agree with a previous post that there isn't enough reasons for me to abandon my current Ipod (5GB which I love) and purchase a new one. Granted, the new Ipod looks cooler. It has more wow factor. But, it doesn't have any feature that would make me want to upgrade. Play games? - who cares. Make notes? - I have a PDA that is much better at that functionality. Sorry Apple - I'm sticking to my 5 GB. If I need more space, I'll probably buy one of the original design Ipods since the price should be coming down with the introduction of the new Ipods. To the post that said one use of the Ipod is for backup in an IT capacity - show me one company that uses the Ipod as a backup. I have a 20 GB Firewire drive I bought for $120 that I use for personal backup. No company uses the Ipod as backup.
User Rating:
3.5 stars
out of 97 user reviews
If you love music, you'll love the iPod
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Review: They took a great MP3 player and made it even better. It's lighter and smaller, while topping the former 20GB and bumping it up to the 30GB king of the MP3 players. I own the original iPod (20GB) and use it with my home stereo, in the car, walking and what have you. I won't go into the specs of the new vs. old, but suffice to say the new iPod is new and improved. Apple's music service uses the new music format, not MP3. This was because of attaching DRM hooks into the files. An music service update for older iPods is in the works, so stay tuned. I'm sure a lot of current iPod owners are very enamored with Apple's new iPod offering.
User Rating:
3.5 stars
out of 97 user reviews
Audio Line-Out
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Review: The new iPod does something no other MP3 player has done so far: it presents itself as a device worth paying for. First up, it is not ugly - which sets it apart from every other MP3 player. There are people who will say "but look here! A unit that looks good AND has specs to slay the Apple." When I look, I see something that really tries to hide its hideousness, but fails. I believe that tin-pot electronics companies honestly feel that specs are more important than everything else, and so probably have electrical engineers doing the industrial design work to save money. Such an approach is reflected in the final product, and the decision by non-nerds not to have the thing in their houses. The argument that "it's an ugly thing, but LOOK AT ITS SPECS!" doesn't wash wash with me. This is a tick for the iPod, but it doesn't explain why I would buy the new over the old. Nor does the fact that iPod's sound output quality is remarkable for a piece of mass-market electronics. The clincher is a line-level audio output socket on the dock. This means that until I can afford a decent cd player (I don't have a spare ten thou at the moment), I can plug this fella into my amp and use it as a source for home listening, in addition to taking it out to use on the road... and I can store forty-odd cds worth of music in AIFF format on the thing. Very handy - a unit to replace my beloved, but less-than-ideal (audio-wise) discman, and my ancient Marantz cd-player, at least for the time being. The only possible purchase preventative would be if the unit's headphone-output sound quality is inferior to that of its predecessor.
User Rating:
2.5 stars
out of 97 user reviews
I machine of liquidated proportion
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Review: I bought an mp3 player at a store, there was one there for 500 and one for $300. Well, I had 600 to spend, and I decided to get the ipod for $500. I thoroughly enjoy my ipod, it makes me feel good, when I'm listening to it, and being excited about what I bought, I don't think to hard about the $300 one that I didn't decide to buy. If I didn't want to spend $500 I wouldn't have. But I did, and it's real cool. How many of you actually utilize it the way that you speak?
User Rating:
1.5 stars
out of 97 user reviews
Jobs learns from Gates
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Review: It looks like Jobs has finally mastered the Gates Plan for Success. It's somehow sickening and yet reassuring to see proven once again that consumers are stupid enough to eat their own barf if enough marketing dollars are thrown their way. Fact: You can do more, store more, and pay less with an Archos Multimedia Player AV120/140. Do more: play audio *and* video files--MAKE video files--connect to many many more computers *without* an add-in card (thanks to USB provided standard)--and best of all use it as a regular external harddrive with no proprietary connection apps needed. Store More: 40 gigs baby! AND you can upgrade the harddrive yourself as larger sizes are available, since it takes any 9.5mm standard laptop drive--try that with an iPod--oops you can't 
Pay less: $449 for the Archos 40GB with free shipping at hotmp3gear.com. What the heck--throw in the video module and pay $479. You're still paying less than for the iPod. If you buy an iPod, you're paying a hefty premium for slick packaging, glitzy marketing, and an underpowered mp3 player. Given the market success of the iPod, I guess the Microsoft maxim has been proven again: playing to the "look cool but be stupid" niche is a reliable business move.
Pay less: $449 for the Archos 40GB with free shipping at hotmp3gear.com. What the heck--throw in the video module and pay $479. You're still paying less than for the iPod. If you buy an iPod, you're paying a hefty premium for slick packaging, glitzy marketing, and an underpowered mp3 player. Given the market success of the iPod, I guess the Microsoft maxim has been proven again: playing to the "look cool but be stupid" niche is a reliable business move. User Rating:
4.0 stars
out of 97 user reviews
Some people just dont get it
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Review: One of the most important concepts in industrial/consumer product design is functional simplicity, structural complexity... another words "keep it simple stupid". Most people just want to take their MP3 collection with them to enjoy while out. Apple has found a simple intuitive path of least resistance to this need. The iPod was never supposed to be a PDA, Cell phone, GPS, universal translator, microwave oven, margarita blender ...etc and thats what makes it so appealing its simple and does not let its own self-ego/importance get in the way of the main reason I want to use it....to listen to my music collection.
User Rating:
4.0 stars
out of 97 user reviews
Tastes good, well salted.
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Review: Excellent product, well executed. Why not make this a Palm soon, Apple? The only bad point - the price.
User Rating:
4.5 stars
out of 97 user reviews
Bad wire placement...
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Review: Don't dismiss me right off the bat because I don't have one in my hands. I own a 20Gig iPod (Win) and LOVE IT, without a doubt. My complaint? The elimination of having the power source being plugged into the TOP of the unit. I use this in the car all the time and having all the wires come out of ONE SIDE allows me to set it in a cup holder, in my center unit, in a Cell Phone holder, etc... With the wires coming out of the top AND the bottom, it becomes problematic. Oh... and for all you whiners who are complaining about people giving their opinion without actually having one in their hands? What are YOU doing here giving YOUR opinion? Cnet gives us only two choices when we want to give our "opinion" on a product, in-hand or not, and that's "Recommend" or "Don't recommend". Because of the wire layout, I "Don't Recommend". That's MY opinion which I'm allowed to give... last I checked I was living in a democratic society. All you "opinion" police crack me up...
User Rating:
5.0 stars
out of 97 user reviews
New Ipod is awsome
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Review: I own a 5 GB. Never had any problem with it. I don't know about the "battery" problem someone cited, but I never heard about that before. And I'm sure Apple will replace or repair if it dies before 1 year. 8 hrs vs 10 hrs battery, is not a big difference. I like the new design. Will have to hold one in my hand this week-end ! I agree, although maybe recording would be a nice feature, it's not a FM tuner nor a cell phone. And by the way, the Ipod does not make coffee. But it does a lot, and a lot of people are using it for more than just playing MP3. (education is using it to store notes, IT are using it for BackUp, Movie Director for storing Video). As usual, a lot of people don't do their homework before talking.
User Rating:
4.0 stars
out of 97 user reviews
Simple, smart, small
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Review: This is the best Mp3 / AAC player in the market, even in the PC world. Take one in your hands and you won't believe it!
User Rating:
3.5 stars
out of 97 user reviews
I love my old Ipod but who says this one is better
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Review: Please note, this is a comparacent review only. I still think the Ipod is the best MP3 player on the market, but I'm very disappointed in Apple's strategy and marketing. If you don't own an Ipod - get one, but if you're thinking to upgrade from the old one- read on. I'm personally not convinced the new Ipods are much better. Granted it's slimmer, but - 1. it doesn't have Firewire port but instead a proprietary dock port, so you can't use standard replacement cables anymore. Same goes for USB but it's not available now anyway. Another way for Apple and 3rd parties to make $$ I guess 2. None of your old accessories will work (due to No. 1). In fact, even the leather case you paid $35 for will not work anymore cos they changed the button layout. So you'll have to buy all accessories all over again ! 3. if you happened to order Itrip from Griffin, guess what - see No. 1 and No. 2 Without making any significant functionality improvements (such as adding FM tuner or maybe a video/photo module, etc) Apple just re-released the same Ipod in a new shell ! Even the battery is now rated at 8 hours from the old one that was 10 hours ! I find this outrageous and not worth upgrading at all (unless you really need that extra 10GB). It's sad that Apple is trying to rip off its very loyal customers by giving them old toy in a new wrapping.
User Rating:
1.5 stars
out of 97 user reviews
No jukebox feature
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Review: I'm a mac user, but have avoided the iPod because it has no jukebox feature like the Creative Labs player. That player allows you to "queue up" songs on the fly, which the player then plays in sequence. Plus it's cheaper than iPod -- but props to the new iTunes music store -- I've tried it and it works great.
User Rating:
4.0 stars
out of 97 user reviews
What is wrong with you people?
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Review: First of all....stop complaining because the iPod doesnt have features that dont belong on an mp3 player. An FM radio? it is suppost to be an mp3 player, not a radio. Get real. I see people complaining that it isnt a PDA and a Cell phone. All that would do is make it even more expensive, and allow less people to have it. if it was a cell phone then only people subscribing to certain companies would be able to have one. it started as an mp3 player, not a cell phone or a PDA. it works the other way around. an mp3 player is a feature of a PDA, a PDA is not a feature on ANY mp3 player. i would love for one person to name one mp3 player that has a PDA. that is straying from its roots and that isnt a smart move. they have a good thing going...why change that?
User Rating:
2.0 stars
out of 97 user reviews
GET A LIFE...
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Review: You people are sad, and your comments a waste of space. Opion - "A belief or conclusion held with confidence but not substantiated by positive knowledge or proof".... But I still think you need to own an iPod to form an opinion.
User Rating:
5.0 stars
out of 97 user reviews
you are all idiots
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Review: This is for user reviews only. Quit rating the product if you don't have it, thumbs up or down. Who gives a f*ck about your predictions. This is supposed to allow people who plan on purchasing the product to determine if it's good or not based on "user" opinions. I had no choice to rate the product just so I could post this message to the stupid people who rate products they don't have.
User Rating:
5.0 stars
out of 97 user reviews
it's smaller simpler and lighter
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Review: this is the best compact MP3 player ever. It's also a cool portable hard drive. NOTHING ELSE COMPARES
User Rating:
5.0 stars
out of 97 user reviews
The best MP3 Player on the market
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Review: Does what it's meant to do superbly: Play MP3's! ...as opposed to all the do-everything-at-once-but-do-them-all-badly players. Worth every cent.
User Rating:
5.0 stars
out of 97 user reviews
Uninformed, Biased Previous Reviews from others
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Review: The new iPod will be, i'm guessing, a follow up to the original iPod as the best selling hardrive based mp3 player. It supports playlists on the go, an aac file format which delivers big sound and little file sizes. At the moment, no other mp3 player promises to deliver that. Also, the firmware is fully capable of bringing whatever you want to the ipod. If you think that 4 GB of flash memory will only cost $50 you're living in a dreamland where companies dont take a profit off of their products. The earphones packaged with the original ipod are also, in my educated opinion, better than any other headphones that come with any other mp3 players. Using that as an excuse can not be considered, because you'd do the same for any other product. Also, with upcoming USB 2 and Firewire 400 support, file transferers are quick and a snap. Also, the port on the bottom is unnecessarily huge, which can only hint at future Firewire 800 support, which brings speads that double Firewire 400 and nearly double USB 2. When you team all this with the new, Apple iTunes music downloading program, where a song only costs 99 cents and a whole cd only costs $10, you have a winning duo.
User Rating:
2.5 stars
out of 97 user reviews
Too much for too little...
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Review: No FM, no broadcasting, no recording, etc. Keep in mind that you'll need to buy new ear-buds - you think those may sound good, but not until you try a nice $129 pair of earbuds that give $5000 speakers a run for their money! I would also think you'd just want to buy a nice Garmin Ique 3600 PDA or a Sony Ericsson P800 phone and just use those to listen to music - after all 4GB of flash memory should be in the $50-75 range at the end of the year. Consolidate devices, reduce clutter! There's no reason a PDA / phone / mp3 player / digital camera / GPS unit / web browser / movie viewer / games / remote control shouldn't be incorporated into one single device... the P800 or Garmin IQUE 3600 are close... maybe next year!
User Rating:
4.0 stars
out of 97 user reviews
simplicity = the best
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Review: well designed and 30GB! Surprised Apple doesn't fit OSX on this and have an ACTUAL copy of iTunes on it soon!
User Rating:
3.0 stars
out of 97 user reviews
Request for review of the new iPod features.
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Review: First off let me say that I've tried the majority of hard disc MP3 players on the market (RioRiot, iPod, Archos, Zen) and the iPod wins hands down in respect to the interface. Since this is one of the most important features, I am tempted to give the iPod a thumbs up review. However, I can't do that just yet as the iPod falls significantly short on what should be considered standard features of a hard drive MP3 player, specifically: 1) Ability to queue songs (I'm stunned that this is only now being addressed, and sincerely hope it truly is), 2) Ability to create playlists on the unit itself, 3) Ability to manage songs on the unit itself (delete, edit, rename, etc), 4) Smarts like saving top played songs, recently uploaded songs, songs by genre, songs by year, etc. FYI: the RioRiot scores top marks in most of the categories I just mentioned, but the RioRiot's interface, style, and bulkiness prevent me from purchasing a RioRiot and keep me patiently waiting for the iPod to catch up in the feature department. Note: I realize you can do everything I mentioned on your desktop and transfer the information to the iPod, but that is not the point. The point is that if you have 30gigs of songs on the road, you will want to manage them WHILE you are listening to them, not when you get home. It appears to me that the new iPods "may" have addressed some of these features on the new models, and I'm anxious to hear from someone who actually owns one if this assumption is true. If you do own a NEW iPod, please share your experiences with the new features. I for one will certainly buy a new iPod if they've covered half of what I mention above. Next, I want to comment that if you feel inclined to have pathetic Mac vs. Windows wars, please go somewhere else, as this is not the forum and it's a waste of all of our time. This also includes people who are complaining about the iPod based on their hatred for Apple and it's die hard fans. Give me a break, that argument is so '90's. 
For reference, I am primarily a Windows XP user (with all of the XP interface "enhancements" turned off), although I also use Mac (OSX) and FreeBSD systems as well. And all of that is completely irrelevant when it comes to rating iPods. One last comment. I'm not a fan of MusicMatch and if you are a Windows iPod user, I highly recommend scraping that software off of your hard drive and installing Mood Logic's Device Link. It's an excellent application and is fully compatible with iPods (including synching). It actually looks a bit like iTunes as well.
For reference, I am primarily a Windows XP user (with all of the XP interface "enhancements" turned off), although I also use Mac (OSX) and FreeBSD systems as well. And all of that is completely irrelevant when it comes to rating iPods. One last comment. I'm not a fan of MusicMatch and if you are a Windows iPod user, I highly recommend scraping that software off of your hard drive and installing Mood Logic's Device Link. It's an excellent application and is fully compatible with iPods (including synching). It actually looks a bit like iTunes as well. User Rating:
4.0 stars
out of 97 user reviews
What the public wants
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Review: It's amazing to read all of the comments of people looking for more features. I currently have the Archos Multimedia player and it has more functions than the iPod will have for 2 years, but it's got so many problems that it makes it very frustrating. The battery life is about an hour (the updated code didn't help) there is no charger for cars (and I've tried many adapter kits) and it loves to crash my Mac and my PC while i'm trasferring songs. My point being that the iPod does what it says and doesn't pretend to be what it's not. It's the #1 mp3 player because it doesn't let people down. The best selling model was the 10GB model (which was the slimmest and lightest) good to see that they have picked up on this competitive advantage - the smallest size to hold your music. I imagine the 15 GB will outsell the 30 GB model not because of cost but becuase of convenience. Sorry it's not a PDA, but Apple has to be very careful with any changes they make to the iPod...they don't want to alienate they're loyal 700,000 customers. Hope this review doesn't come off as defensive...can't wait to buy one Friday.
User Rating:
4.0 stars
out of 97 user reviews
Leading the pack yet again
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Review: A beautiful music player, with a couple of functions to boot. Long battery life, ease of use, no mech parts to break, fast transfers, huge storage, plus docking for playing anywhere.
User Rating:
3.5 stars
out of 97 user reviews
More info on "On the go" playlists
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Review: I have the 20 gig Creative Zen. I picked it over the Ipod due to the Playlist capability and price. if the Ipod will have that on the new Ipods then I will save up and upgrade to the 15 gig
User Rating:
5.0 stars
out of 97 user reviews
What the f__k?
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Review: I simply do not understand anyone who finds ANY fault with the Apple iPod. I have owned one since they were first released (5 Gig), and I just placed my order for the 30 Gig yesterday. Let me first say this, someone mentioned that there are other players out there w/ more storage capacity that list for less cost than the iPod. If that is true, tell me the manufacturer's name and the model of the player. That'll be difficult for you to do since what you've said is false. Next, I have friends who have the Nomad Zen 20 Gig MP3 player, which they opted for over the 20 Gig iPod because of cost. Well, needless to say, they are extremely disappointed with experience with the Zen vs their experience with my iPod. I have used the Zen as well, and I'm sorry, the only similarity between it and the iPod is that it is a hard drive-based mp3 player. That's it. For the person who says that Apple charges too much for a single-function product, let me emphasize that the iPod is, and always has been, AN MP3 PLAYER. Apple never claimed that it was or would be anything else than that. It's not supposed to do anything else but play mp3s. But to carry this further, you can import contact, calendar and notes information to the iPod, and the new versoins include 2 games if you're dumb enough to let the existence of games on an mp3 player affect your decision. I believe that only a certain type of person will see the iPod for what it is, appreciate it's absolute, empirical beauty, and choose an iPod over anything else. Additionally, I am glad that its pricing structure is what it is, because that assures me that people like SOME if the complete imbeciles that post in this comment section will never own one and thus degrade the experience and pleasure of owning an iPod. For those still in doubt, go ahead, buy an "alternative" product, and while you're listening to whatever it is that you buy, may your body be overcome with ire and jealousy as you gaze upon the glorious iPod that will surely be in your vacinity.
User Rating:
4.5 stars
out of 97 user reviews
best MP3 player on the market, bar none
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Review: Sure, it's a bit pricier than the competition. But it more than makes up for it in size, ease of use and style. Small enough to slip into a pocket, great user interface that many have tried to duplicate but none have gotten right ... if you've got a Mac, than music synchronization is simple - simply plug it in and watch your albums fly across at 480 Mbps (if you've got firewire... USB2.0 is 400 Mbps). The sound quality itself is excellent. And hey, you can always use it as an external hard drive too - mine has come in handy several times while trying to fix dead servers. I just keep a backup copy of all my tools on the iPod. What more could one ask for?
User Rating:
2.0 stars
out of 97 user reviews
Expecting a home run but only getting a pop fly
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Review: I have a 10g ipod and love it as a music player. All those extras like a calendar, contact manager, etc. are a waste for someone who actually needs them. That's what my Treo 300 is for. I hoped that Apple would knock one out of the park by integrating Toshiba's ultra-small hard drive into a PDA/MP3/Phone hybrid and give me something to salivate over, but it didn't. Nothing about the new Ipod compels me to upgrade. I'll wait until Sony or Handspring give me reason to dump yet another gadget and save on the belt clip space.
User Rating:
2.0 stars
out of 97 user reviews
Ugly and hard to use
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Review: As usual, not impressed. There are players with 25-50% more storage capacity on the market with a much lower price tag. This unit lacks some much needed features (better software, FM radio, etc). Not that much of an improvement over the last version. I'll pass and buy a Rio.
User Rating:
3.0 stars
out of 97 user reviews
Tiny steps in the right direction
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Review: Marginally thumbs down. For a new version it adds only two things of many that should be supported. 1 - AAC support, 2 - I should also be seeing info about UFS file systems so the unit can be attached to BOTH Macs & PCs with no additional software... An FM radio... News about a better battery... the ability to "rate" and delete files from the unit itself... AND ESPECIALLY open sourcing or better programming access to allow creation of applications (a database would be nice) or customization (which seems to be lost on apple ever since OS X became available -- the "shortcuts" are a micro-step in the right direction).
User Rating:
4.0 stars
out of 97 user reviews
Totality counts
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Review: What Apple has is the totality in theor thinking. They have started out on a quest to make the audiovisual world seamlessly integrated. And - they speak to the hearts of lovers of music. I discussed it - the iTunes conceot - with a "Pc Man" - and he said: "Typically Mac-enthusiasm". Of course - but think of having people enthusiastic about a dumb computer!
User Rating:
3.0 stars
out of 97 user reviews
Where's the radio?
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Review: Am really disappointed that Apple didn't put an FM radio on the IPOD. Also, what I'm really wanting to see is a pocket Mac. Similar to a pocket PC, this would replace the IPOD with iTunes included on it. Already, I can't see buying an IPOD when I could purchase a Dell Axim, for instance, to play music, and do much more, for a lower price.
User Rating:
5.0 stars
out of 97 user reviews
The best in the world
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Review: I bou´ght one for this christmas but that one im selling andbuyting the new one it just looks so great
