Excellent! iPod is Awesome!
Written: Sep 21 '02 (Updated Sep 27 '02)
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Pros: Small, high capacity, beautiful, and easy to use.
Cons: Price! ... and you'll worry about getting scratches on it. =)
The Bottom Line: This iPod is probably the best mp3 player available. There are definitely small improvements to that could be made, but the only real drawback is the price.
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| kdragon's Full Review: Apple iPod 2nd Generation 10 GB (PC) MP3 Player |
I've been looking for a small mp3 player that I could expect to take with me anywhere but which could hold lots of music. I used to own a Rio 500, but that maxed out at 128MB which was definitely not enough for me. I own a Pocket PC to which I've added a 256MB compact flash card, but that is both a pain to use and simply too expensive to upgrade to a larger capacity. Of the hard drive based mp3 player options available to me, none were small enough for me to get excited about. The mp3 players from Archos, Creative, etc. are just too large to put in my pants pocket when I step out for a walk.
Along comes the iPod... When this thing was released last year I immediately wanted to own one but I was hesitant because the only way to use one with a Windows PC was through third party software which was not officially supported. So, when it was announced that a Windows compatible version would be released this past summer, I immediately placed my order and anxiously awaited its arrival. Well, I've had it now for about 3 weeks and can honestly say it is the best mp3 player I know of currently on the market.
How does it sound?
The sound quality of this device is top notch. The actual quality of the music will be dependent upon the bit rate at which your mp3 files are encoded, but compared to other mp3 players the iPod definitely ranks near the top. I use the auxiliary input on my car's head unit to listen to my iPod while driving and I only have praise for the sound produced by this little marvel. One feature that I've heard some other players have but which the iPod lacks is the ability to cross-fade tracks and eliminate the gap between songs. When listening to a non-stop mix, for example, there is an audible pause between tracks that can be quite annoying.
How easy is it to use?
The interface for the iPod is really great. The new iPods feature a touch sensitive wheel (like a trackpad on a notebook) which one uses to navigate the excellent menu system by sliding one's finger around in clockwise or counter-clockwise circles. There are 4 buttons surrounding the wheel and one button in the center. Together with the well devised menu system and crisp well back-lit lcd display, these buttons make the iPod a breeze to use - with one hand or both. One interesting feature is that even though the "wheel" doesn't move at all, it can be configured to make little clicking noises to give audible feedback when using it to navigate menus. The only other button on the iPod is a "hold" switch located on the top.
How does it look?
The iPod is a really attractive device. It has a white acrylic face with a shiny polished chrome back and sides. It has nice smooth lines and flat surfaces that make it easy to slip the iPod into a pocket. The polished metal surface tends to pick up fingerprints quite easily and it seems like both the front and back, due to their highly polished nature, show scratches quite easily. Most users choose to keep their iPods in protective cases (of which there are many different varieties available) so this isn't really a big issue. Besides, a few light scratches don't really matter, right? =) Okay, maybe a little after shelling out $400 for what basically amounts to a toy... =)
What kind of files can it play?
The iPod handles VBR encoded mp3 files quite nicely. The iPod will play mp3 files encoded at up to 320 Kbps. The general consensus seems to be that 256 VBR gives sound which is close enough to CD quality that most people can't tell the difference so that 320 Kbps limit isn't really much of a limit at all. Personally, my mp3 files are encoded at varying bit rates ranging from 128 to 256 Kbps and they all sound fine to me. The iPod can not play back wma, ogg, or mp3 pro encoded files. While support for these formats may be introduced through firmware upgrades in the future, don't plan on listening to anything other than mp3, wav, or aiff.
The Mac version of the iPod supports Audible audio books, but there is currently no support for Windows iPods. This is in the works, but there are no official dates. If you are an avid Audible listener, don't retire your current Audible listening device just yet.
Is it easy to transfer songs to the iPod?
The iPod came bundled with MusicMatch Jukebox Pro version 7.1. The syncing interface for the iPod is weak at best and I was very disappointed that a better effort was not made to provide a quality Windows software experience for such an otherwise excellent device. MusicMatch Jukebox does have its useful features, but its integration with the iPod is not one of them. Fortunately, there are other options available. The one I chose is a freeware application called ephpod (http://www.ephpod.com). This application works very well and, while not perfect, it is close enough and always getting better since the developer is an iPod owner and is always making improvements and bug fixes.
Theoretically transfer speeds should be quite high - around 9MB/sec. Most people I know aren't getting those speeds, but a lot of people are getting in the 4-7MB/sec range. Personally, I haven't been able to get higher than about 2MB/sec. At this speed, it takes between 1.5-2 hrs to completely fill the iPod. Most of the time I'm transferring significantly less so it's livable. Nobody seems to be able to figure out why some people get faster transfer speeds than others. It does not seem to be related directly to CPU speed or even the type of firewire card one is using. It's probably a combination of OS, CPU, firewire card, motherboard, etc. Anyways, this is something to look out for.
Oh yeah, something else that PC users should know is that the iPod requires a firewire port. If your computer lacks a firewire port you'll need to get an expansion card, which could easily cost $50 depending on where you shop. Also, many PC laptops which came equipped with firewire ports came with the compact 4-pin variation instead of the standard 6-pin format. The 4-pin port will not allow your iPod to charge while it is connected to your computer. Apple does bundle a 4-pin to 6-pin converter with the Windows version of the iPod, but this only lets you use the included 6-pin to 6-pin firewire cable with your 4-pin port. You will still need to either purchase a powered firewire hub or use the AC adapter to charge your iPod.
How about battery life?
I have been listening my iPod in my car on the way to work and back and almost all day while at work. My iPod consistently gives me over 10hrs of playback time! When I get home, I either plug it into the AC adapter or my computer - the iPod charges through the firewire cable if your firewire card supports this, which most PCI cards do.
What else can it do?
The iPod can also be used to store contacts and calendar information. There are utilities available which will allow you to transfer your contacts and appointments from most popular software to the iPod. I don't use this feature much, but it's pretty cool. The iPod also comes with a game - "breakout." Again, I don't use this very much, but it's a cool little feature. One feature that is actually very useful is the ability to use the iPod as an external hard drive to store arbitrary files.
Accessories
The iPod comes with a fabric case which has a belt clip, a remote control, earphones, firewire cable, ac power adapter, firewire adapter cable, and software and manuals. The earphones are of a higher quality that those I've received bundled with other portable audio devices and sound quite good. Of course, this didn't stop me from buying a nice pair of Sony MDR-EX70LPs, but that's another review (http://www.epinions.com/content_76771462788). The remote control is nice and shiny and fairly attractive. It has buttons to stop/start music, change volume, and skip between tracks. It does not have a display to provide any feedback. The provided case is actually quite nice, but the controls and the display on the iPod are not accessible when in the case and the sides are exposed.
Other Issues
Many people are having trouble with their iPods when they take them jogging. Since there is a hard drive inside, this is not really very surprising. I'd think twice before buying this device if your primary intent is take it on long runs. Also related to the hard drive inside the iPod, the unit gets very hot when it runs for extended periods in disk mode. Make sure you take the iPod out of its case if you are going to leave it mounted as a hard drive and actively transfer files for a long period of time. A little fan to blow across the back of the iPod helps keep it cool.
conclusion
This iPod is probably the best mp3 player available. It's a pleasure to use and a pleasure to look at. There are definitely improvements to that could be made, but the only real drawback is the price.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 400
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Epinions.com ID:
kdragon
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Member: Jason Suh
Reviews written: 24
Trusted by: 6 members
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