iReview of the Apple iPod

After searching and not finding an MP3 player that satisfied my need for a good user interference, ease of use, and good functionality after much research I settled on the Apple iPod. After making the original investment of $300 for the 30gb 5th Gen Video iPod I could not be happier.

Installation:
The installation of this device on Windows XP was seamless it was a plug-and-play device that required limited technical knowledge to get it up and running. I did already utilize iTunes for downloading songs so the integration was virtually seamless to begin downloading songs to the iPod from my current library. So in regards to installation this device is a 5/5.

Getting Songs:
As stated above getting my songs onto this device was very simple and I would encourage those who can download and run iTunes to integrate your songs from your home library onto your computer. The iTunes software allows for very easy access to your songs that you have on CD’s and downloading them to your iPod. When using iTunes you just pop a CD in the drive open the program and check/uncheck what songs your want to download and then hit the “import CD” button to rip the songs to your HD library. However, if you don’t use iTunes it can be a little more difficult but still possible. In regards to getting songs I would give it a 4/5.

Ease of Use:
The biggest thing you will need to get used to is how sensitive the wheel on the front of the iPod is. After a few uses I quickly became acclimated with the functionality and use of the hardware menu. The menu has its quirks and does not appear to confusing, a suggestion would be to setup your setting from the beginning and look at the menu to understand what is available and what settings you can tweak to your liking. So for use, flexibility and understanding I would give this a 4/5.

Accessories:
I have yet to get to in-depth with accessories for my iPod at the moment, there seems to be a broad selection available from third party companies (not affiliated with Apple). One work of caution I will offer is read the box carefully to make sure the accessory is compliant with your version of the iPod. Many of the products available are not current an up-to-date with the newer version of the iPod especially the 5th Generation Video iPods. 3/5

Video Functionality:
After downloading a few video Podcasts to check how it would look on the tiny screen that comes with the iPod. I downloaded a high def podcasts “MacBreak” and watched a few episodes. The resolution was good for a small screen I was impressed with the clarity of the images and how smooth the video played. There was no skipping of the images and everything flowed well. When examining a lesser quality podcast you did notice that watching such a small screen for a prolonged period of time would get annoying and put some strain on the eyes. Other than that I love the ability to be able to see the CD art for songs that are currently playing on the iPod. This is a great introductory feature that I expect we can see improvements on in the future.

Aesthetics:
The iPod looks great. It is sleek and continues to sport Apple’s industrial design that it is well known for. The screen on the video iPod is large enough to watch a podcasts or short movies, but might not do so well if you were going to try to watch a full-length feature film. The click wheel on the iPod does take some getting used to, but once you get it down you will be moving right along. I would have to give looks 5/5.

Cons:
One of the first things that you will notice about an iPod is that you need to keep a redundant data storage of the same information. All this means is that you will need to keep a copy of the music on your hard drive of your computer as well as on the iPod and that you can’t delete it off your computer. This is because of the propoetery feature of the iPod that does not allow you to remove songs off an iPod onto another device (i.e. computer, laptop, other MP3 player, etc). Many will find this a waste of space and uncessary. Scratches the iPod is very prone to getting scratches especially on the back metal cover and the video screen. I am not sure if it is the coating that is used, but no matter how careful you are expect to see some as soon as it comes out of the box. Along with that I would say go out and get yourself a nice iPod cover as soon as possible. After only having the iPod a few months I can honestly say that this is one of the few products that I have used that is completely worth every penny that I have paid for it.


Additionally I asked a colleague of mine to write up her review as to get two sides of the story:

iPod Review from Jocelyn C.

Initially shelling out the money that my iPod cost, was a big decision. I would 'order' my iPod online, and then delete it from my cart. This took place for 6 months. Once I finally did purchase my iPod, it was one of the better electronic decisions that I ever made. I use my iPod 5 times a week at the gym, and really haven't gone back since.

Here's the things I've learned about iPods thus far . . . if you get a CD, you pretty much just put it on your iPod and never touch the CD again, so I personally suggest just buying the CD on iTunes, as you can make it a play list and burn it onto a CD if you really feel the need. Besides, I find they're often cheaper. Next, invest in all things iPod. I wish that I could plug my iPod into everything, my office computer, a car dashboard, etc. So I recommend buying those conveniences like the iTrip, the Bose iPod Stereo, etc. Finally, I have a 20 Gig iPod, and I don't use anywhere near all of it. Even if you put every CD you owned on your iPod, I'd bet you still wouldn't listen to it. So, when considering buying an iPod, really think of how much space you actually need.

One parting comment, I've had 2 sets of iPod head phones crap out on me since the beginning of August. Perhaps that is because of my frequent use, but I'd say they're headphones just aren't amazing.