UPDATED: A different take on the iPod
Written: Jun 29 '04 (Updated Jul 20 '04)
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Pros: Seems to be open enough for 3rd parties to add hardware and software. Extend functionality.
Cons: FRAGILE!! Bad experience with Support and terrible experience with Apple Store. Read update.
The Bottom Line: I recant my earlier recommendation. The very fragile nature of the iPod makes it break easily. I have had another hard drive MP3 players much more durable.
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| dennisma's Full Review: Apple iPod 40 GB White MP3 Player |
This review has been updated. There is an updated section at the end.
I got the 40 Gb iPod for father's day and like most
everyone on here I like if fine. I think my biggest worry I have regarding it is the complaint I read regarding replacement of the batteries being costly.
But I am not going to write about how great it sounds, etc... because everyone is basically writing that. So what else is there to talk about?
Well... one thing you do not see too much about is that you can put your calendar, contacts, and .txt files on the iPod. With an Apple computer you can do this seamlessly but with a Windows PC running Outlook you can either take a "manual" approach or use a $13 piece of software called iPodSync that will copy all the Outlook email, contacts, calender, tasks, email, and notes over for you. If you do not have Outlook but can export into a vCal file format that supposedly will work very well too (but I have never done it).
Another feature of iPodSync is that any RSS/XML feed can be sent over to your iPod. So for example... you synch your iPod up in the morning and while riding the train to work you can play music on your iPod while reading news, weather, email, a list of new iTunes that are available for download, or any other RSS feed you want. Does this make it better than a PDA? No way... but those features I have yet to encounter on any other mp3 player.
When I first received the iPod I was really worried about windows integration. So far I have not had any major problems and that is sort of surprising to me. However there are two issues I wish to point out. The first is when you use the iPod with a USB 2.0 cable (you need to buy the USB 2.0 separate for Windows users) it takes a while for the device to be recognized. Other mp3 players were recognized immediately but the iPod takes about 30-45 seconds. That is odd but I can live with it I guess. The other issue is iTunes will crash whenever I plug the iPod into the computer while my screensaver is running(on a Win2000 box). It is the only time I ever see it happen but because of the long time it takes for the iPod to be recognized and the short screen saver timeout.. I see it a lot.
One other thing to note is ther iPod can be used as a general hard drive, just like most other mp3 players that hook up through the USB port. But... there are some gotchas from what I have see. The first is you have to tell the iTunes application that it needs to allow the iPod to act as a hard drive. There is an "enable disk use" under the "iPod options" on iTunes. The next thing is unlike most USB connecting mp3 players the iPod isn't instantly recognized as a removable hard drive... you have to have iTunes installed.
One person on epinions gave the iPod a really bad review because he could not retrieve the mp3 files he created outside of iTunes. I quickly checked this out and found if you enable disk use for the iPod as I just mentioned you can browse the \ipod_controls\music directory and see that all the mp3 files are intact and can be copied back to your hard drive. The directory format for where the mp3 resides is not going to be the same as what you have... but all the mp3 files will be there... so you will not lose a thing.
The software that you use to sync and purchase music is called iTunes. iTunes works basically very well (except for the crashing I mentioned earlier). One thing to note, iTunes sometimes doesn't have music the music you would want. Let's say I want the "Raw and the Cooked" by FYC (I want to relive my youth... ok??)... anyway it isn't there... Neither are any Beatles albums but from what I have read that is not going to happen anytime soon either. I also could not find the exact recording of Wagner (conducted by George Szell) that I wanted. However iTunes does have a large selection of music and perhaps my biggest complaint of all is that iTunes is addictive... I bought $70 worth of music my first night without even realizing it. That 99 cents gimmick at first made me click my heart away.
As a last note I use my iPod with a couple of devices. One is the iTrip FM transmitter. A little FM transmitter that allows you to listen to your iPod music on an FM radio. The first one I bought was defective but the second one has so far worked well (for an FM transmitter). It is almost always attached to my iPod and probably the best thing about it is it is small and there are no wires... it just plugs into the audio jack. The second device is the Altec Lansing inMotion speakers. They work "ok".. its best qualities are the portability and the ability to recharge the iPod but other than that... they are sort of pricey.
UPDATE: Well... to make a long story short my very expensive iPod is no longer working. It was in my backpack with my laptop and Pocket PC and it fell off of my seat onto the floor. Well... it fell about 7 inches... onto a carpeted floor, in a backpack made to hold electronics with plenty of padding... and it got a small dent in the back.. I mean.. TINY dent... and the iPod no longer boots up.
So... Apple wants approx $300 to fix a device my wife has already shelled out $500 for and $100 in iTunes music. Apple has a "no ifs, ands, or buts" policy on taking any blame for this and the Apple support guy was not very nice to me about it in the least. As a matter of fact... when I said the product was way too fragile he sort of told me I was one of "those" people who have been trying to rip off Apple.
So... not about to be called a thief... I did a very odd thing. I drove over to the Edison, NJ, Apple store... handed the iPod, iTrip, Belkin voice recorder, and the pricey Harmon Kardon speakers over to the person behind the counter told them what happened and said, "I never ever want to see this junk in my house again." I did not demand my money back for any of the equipment nor did I yell. I said I don't like to be ripped off and then to be called a thief and a liar when I complained. So to prove it... I will let them have their stuff back for free.
So... a week later at my doorstep was a package from the Apple store... and behold... all the stuff I gave them including the still broken iPod. You would think that after spending all the money there they would at least thrown it in the dumpster for me. Instead they spent money shipping it back to me.
I do not understand... what part of "please keep this equipment I never want to see it again" did they not understand? I know what I did was odd but a part of me wants to prove it isn't about the money... it is about getting ripped off and telling them that they lost a customer who has the money and time to waste on their products... This IS Apple not Microsoft is it not?
I know many of you will think I am nuts for taking back the stuff... I could sell it on Ebay I know... but it is the principle not the money. So off to the store I go to talk to THE manager, not the pierced lipped assistant manager I spoke to first.
Anyway this experience has left a bad taste in my mouth for the geeky electronics I normally like to pick up so I think this is my last epinions entry for anything electronics related at all. I certainly will not be buying any Apple related equipment nor will I ever recommend my friends to do so either.
Recommended:
No
Amount Paid (US$): 450
Recommended for: Music Lovers - High Capacity Storage for an Entire Album Collection
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Epinions.com ID:
dennisma
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Reviews written: 12
Trusted by: 1 member
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