Apple 30 GB iPod with Video Playback Black (5th Generation) Reviews

• Very nice (yes, I actually have one)

  
  By A29WIY21NZRCJ1 on 2005-10-20
  As of this writing, no reviews are from someone who actually HAS one of the new iPods (10/19). That is about to change....
  
  My 40GB iPod's hard disk had been deteriorating for a while, until it stopped working altogether. That happened to be the day before the iPod video announcement (last Tuesday).
  
  On to what you really want to know, and what you can't get from Apple's website, or reviews regurgitating technical specifications:
  
  1) Can you actually enjoy watching video on a screen that small? What about the video quality?
  
  In short, if you're holding the iPod as close to your face as you would hold an older iPod to really read what song is playing, the video quality is actually quite nice. The screen is noticeably bigger (the height is about the size of the old iPod width). If you're wondering how the quality comes out on an iPod screen (which is normally fairly pixelated), when you load a video it toggles into a mode much akin to when a computer plays a graphics intensive video game. It takes about 10 seconds for a feature-length film to load (i.e., between clicking play, and when it starts playing).
  
  With regard to movies, the iPod doesn't support chapters. My guess is that people will eventually want movies distributed as folders, witch chapters being the individual files. This will allow chapter skipping. That said, once a movie loads, fast forwarding works very well.
  
  I loaded a fairly graphics-intensive movie on there, at about the highest quality the iPod would allow. The actions scenes come out fine...about what you would expect for an MPGE4.
  
  2) What the heck does this thing actually look like in your hand?
  
  It is about the size of older iPods. It is thinner (a lot thinner, if, like me you are upgrading from a non-photo Gen4 40gb). The front is a flat screen, much like the iPod nano, but bigger. The clickwheel is a bit smaller than it was on older iPods, but bigger than that of a nano.
  
  3) The screen
  
  I have to say, the bigger screen is nice in and of itself. If you have longer track names (if you have live music, etc.) a lot more of the name will appear. This is a very nice subtlety since in oder to read a song title you don't need to wait......for....it....to.....scroll....
  
  4) Is it worth it?
  
  Jobs called this a regular iPod with "video capability." I'd say the video capabilities are a little better than that gives it credit for. I don't yet have a composite adapter, so I can't see how this comes out on a TV...
  
  With regard to exporting video to TV, there ARE the following options:
  TV Out (on/off)
  Video Signal (NTSC/PAL)
  Widescreen (on/off)
  
  If your iPod is breaking, or is pretty old, I'd definitely upgrade. If you travel a lot or have downtime where you could hold the device pretty close to your face (train, airplane, etc.), I'd definitely get it. If you don't have much time to enjoy the video capabilities, then it probably isn't worth it.
  
  5) Firewire
  
  The tech specs didn't say anything about firewire, so I had been wondering whether it is supported. It actually is not supported at all. In fact, I tried connecting via my old firewire cable, and the iPod brought up a screen that said something like, "firewire is not supported. Please use the supplied USB cable."
  
  6) The "case"
  
  I saw that a case was included on the Apple website...basically the case, as you might suspect, is pretty bad. I got a 60GB model, and it barely squeezes into the case. That said, cases that support the new screen will likely be unavailable for 3 weeks or so (if what happened with the nano repeats itself), and so it is ncie to have SOMETHING to prevent you from scratching your new screen (which is now more important because it plays video).
  
  Anyway, I hope this answers any questions you might have. I've tried to stick to differences between this beauty and the iPod photo.
  
  If you're still on the fence, let me say this...go for it. It is really quite nice.
  
  

• Great music player, with video too!

  
  By A1JUBRIZMO0RJV on 2005-10-15
  The iPod first appeared four years ago, and the features continue to grow, with each update.
  
  The iPod with video playback was introduced on October 13, 2005. However, one should not necessarily consider this player a video player, but a great iPod music player, with video capabilities as a fantastic bonus. Nevertheless, the iPod with video playback is the most capable and feature-rich iPod ever produced by Apple.
  
  Video Playback - The iPod plays back H264 and MPEG4 encoded video. The iPod's new display is larger than ever at 2.5 inches, giving it a resolution of 320x240. What video content can you play on your iPod? This area is limited, at least currently. You can buy music videos on iTunes at $1.99 per song, which will play beautifully on the iPod. Furthermore, Apple has made available select television shows, for download on iTunes. They cost $1.99 per episode, for titles including ABC's hits Lost and Desperate Housewives. You can also watch the episodes you purchase on your computer. If you want to put some of your own video, onto your iPod, you will need to use an application such as QuickTime Pro to convert the video to the specific requirements to play on the iPod. You can also find video podcasts, which will play on the new iPod. Even if you do not plan to view video on the new iPod, its primary purpose is to be used as the world's best music player. You can still benefit from the beautiful new display, for it will help you find your favorite music faster, and you can view the album art that accompanies your music.
  
  Size of new iPod - Does the picture of the new iPod make it appear larger to you? Well, it did to me. The iPod looked wider, in the photos I saw. However, it is not. The height and width of the iPod are identical to the previous generation iPod with click wheel. The only change in dimensions is the depth. The new iPod is actually thinner than what came before it! Yes, this 30 gig iPod is thinner than the previous 20 gig photo model by 30 percent. What does all this mean? The iPod continues get smaller, making it even easier to carry.
  
  Capacity - This 30 gig iPod has room, for a lot of entertainment. With storage, for up to 7,500 songs, 12,000 photos, or 75 hours of video. The great thing I love about my iPod is that my music, photos, and video only take up about 15 gigabytes. However, I use the additional space to backup data, from my computer. This is incredibly helpful, and could be a real saver, if something happened to your computer. See, the iPod functions as an external hard drive, so you can backup all sorts of data. The 60 gig version is available, for $100 more, so if you want to use it for lots of video, or you have an enormous music collection, you may want to consider that larger version, which also sports longer battery life.
  
  New Software Features - Apple has added features, to the new iPod besides video support. First, they have a clock feature, which quickly allows you to view the time, in up to four different time zones simultaneously. Furthermore, there is a stop watch, and a screen lock, which you can enable to keep people from snooping on your calendar and/or contacts.
  
  Battery - The battery life is one of the most important specifications that you, as an iPod user, are going to care about. This 30 gigabyte iPod sports a battery that will last up to 14 hours, when playing only music. Also note that repeatedly changing songs manually, and turning on the backlight will use up your battery considerably faster. Furthermore, the iPod's battery lasts a maximum of two hours, when playing back video. This version of the iPod no longer includes an adapter to charge the iPod, at an electrical outlet. You will have to buy that adapter separately, or always charge the iPod via USB 2.0. The charging works fine, from your computer's USB 2.0, but if you're traveling you might want the ability to charge, with the adapter. Also note that the iPod no longer supports syncing via firewire cable. You will have to use USB 2.0.
  
  Mac or PC? This iPod works beautifully with either a Mac or PC. The iPod syncs your contacts, video, and music via the iTunes software.
  
  Podcasting - The iPod continues to support podcasting. Podcasts are internet radio broadcasts, and there are thousands covering nearly every subject imaginable, and more are coming out every day. Podcasts are quickly becoming popular content on iPods around the world. Check them out, for this iPod supports Podcasts out of the box. There are also video podcasts, so with the new iPod, you will be able to watch video podcasts, on the iPod's display.
  
  Appearance - The iPod is beautiful, but the back's chrome finish is prone to scratches, and the screen can become scratched as well. It is a very good idea to protect the back of the iPod and the screen in some way. There are many cases and protectors out there, and you will surely find something you like. The new iPod is available in a black or white finish. The black color is quickly becoming the most popular, but the white iPod is still the signature color. Do note that the black may show fingerprints and scratches more than the white iPod, much as a black car shows these blemishes more than a lighter colored car.
  
  Audiobooks - I'm always using my iPod, to listen to audiobooks. You can store literally hundreds of audiobooks on here that you buy from iTunes, or Audible. The iPod even has a feature that can slow down or speed up the reading of the audiobook, so that you hear it at just the right pace.
  
  Output - The iPod connects to your PC or Mac via the dock connector at the bottom of the unit. You will connect the included cable, to the computer via a USB 2.0 port. Furthermore, accessories are being made that will also connect to the bottom dock port, and you may purchase Apple's Universal iPod dock, for easy syncing to your computer. The dock (available separately) also includes s-video output, so you can show off slideshows and video, on a television. There are also iPod A/V cables available that allow composite video and audio output, for connecting your iPod to your television. This might interest you, not only to display slideshows on a television, but also to display TV shows or music videos on a television, which you purchased from iTunes.
  
  Overall, this is another excellent product from Apple Computer. The design is elegant, simple, and intuitive. It will provide hours of entertainment and convenience. Enjoy your iPod experience.
  
  

• Great music player, but with video too!!

  
  By A1JUBRIZMO0RJV on 2005-10-15
  The iPod first appeared four years ago, and the features continue to grow, with each update.
  
  I have owned the iPod with video playback, for several days now, and I continue to be impressed. Its physical appearance, quality, craftsmanship, and the wide array of features are keeping me entertained!
  
  The iPod with video playback was introduced on October 13, 2005. However, one should not necessarily consider this player a video player, but a great iPod music player, with video capabilities as a fantastic bonus. Nevertheless, the iPod with video playback is the most capable and feature-rich iPod ever produced by Apple.
  
  Video Playback - The iPod plays back H264 and MPEG4 encoded video. The iPod's new display is larger than ever at 2.5 inches, giving it a resolution of 320x240. What video content can you play on your iPod? This area is limited, at least currently. You can buy music videos on iTunes at $1.99 per song, which will play beautifully on the iPod. Furthermore, Apple has made available select television shows, for download on iTunes. They cost $1.99 per episode, for titles including ABC's hits Lost and Desperate Housewives. You can also watch the episodes you purchase on your computer. If you want to put some of your own video, onto your iPod, you will need to use an application such as QuickTime Pro to convert the video to the specific requirements to play on the iPod. You can also find video podcasts, which will play on the new iPod. Even if you do not plan to view video on the new iPod, its primary purpose is to be used as the world's best music player. You can still benefit from the beautiful new display, for it will help you find your favorite music faster, and you can view the album art that accompanies your music. I find myself looking forward to watching videos and video podcasts, on my new iPod!
  
  Size of new iPod - Does the picture of the new iPod make it appear larger to you? Well, it did to me. The iPod looked wider, in the photos I saw. However, it is not. The height and width of the iPod are identical to the previous generation iPod with click wheel. The only change in dimensions is the depth. The new iPod is actually thinner than what came before it! Yes, this 30 gig iPod is thinner than the previous 20 gig photo model by 30 percent. What does all this mean? The iPod continues get smaller, making it even easier to carry.
  
  Capacity - This 30 gig iPod has room, for a lot of entertainment. With storage, for up to 7,500 songs, 12,000 photos, or 75 hours of video. The great thing I love about my iPod is that my music, photos, and video only take up about 15 gigabytes. However, I use the additional space to backup data, from my computer. This is incredibly helpful, and could be a real saver, if something happened to your computer. See, the iPod functions as an external hard drive, so you can backup all sorts of data. The 60 gig version is available, for $100 more, so if you want to use it for lots of video, or you have an enormous music collection, you may want to consider that larger version, which also sports longer battery life.
  
  New Software Features - Apple has added features, to the new iPod besides video support. First, they have a clock feature, which quickly allows you to view the time, in up to four different time zones simultaneously. Furthermore, there is a stop watch, and a screen lock, which you can enable to keep people from snooping on your calendar and/or contacts.
  
  Battery - The battery life is one of the most important specifications that you, as an iPod user, are going to care about. This 30 gigabyte iPod sports a battery that will last up to 14 hours, when playing only music. Also note that repeatedly changing songs manually, and turning on the backlight will use up your battery considerably faster. Furthermore, the iPod's battery lasts a maximum of two hours, when playing back video. This version of the iPod no longer includes an adapter to charge the iPod, at an electrical outlet. You will have to buy that adapter separately, or always charge the iPod via USB 2.0. The charging works fine, from your computer's USB 2.0, but if you're traveling you might want the ability to charge, with the adapter. Also note that the iPod no longer supports syncing via firewire cable. You will have to use USB 2.0.
  
  Mac or PC? This iPod works beautifully with either a Mac or PC. The iPod syncs your contacts, video, and music via the iTunes software.
  
  Podcasting - The iPod continues to support podcasting. Podcasts are internet radio broadcasts, and there are thousands covering nearly every subject imaginable, and more are coming out every day. Podcasts are quickly becoming popular content on iPods around the world. Check them out, for this iPod supports Podcasts out of the box. There are also video podcasts, so with the new iPod, you will be able to watch video podcasts, on the iPod's display.
  
  Appearance - The iPod is beautiful, but the back's chrome finish is prone to scratches, and the screen can become scratched as well. It is a very good idea to protect the back of the iPod and the screen in some way. There are many cases and protectors out there, and you will surely find something you like. The new iPod is available in a black or white finish. The black color is quickly becoming the most popular, but the white iPod is still the signature color. Do note that the black may show fingerprints and scratches more than the white iPod, much as a black car shows these blemishes more than a lighter colored car.
  
  Audiobooks - I'm always using my iPod, to listen to audiobooks. You can store literally hundreds of audiobooks on here that you buy from iTunes, or Audible. The iPod even has a feature that can slow down or speed up the reading of the audiobook, so that you hear it at just the right pace.
  
  Output - The iPod connects to your PC or Mac via the dock connector at the bottom of the unit. You will connect the included cable, to the computer via a USB 2.0 port. Furthermore, accessories are being made that will also connect to the bottom dock port, and you may purchase Apple's Universal iPod dock, for easy syncing to your computer. The dock (available separately) also includes s-video output, so you can show off slideshows and video, on a television. There are also iPod A/V cables available that allow composite video and audio output, for connecting your iPod to your television. This might interest you, not only to display slideshows on a television, but also to display TV shows or music videos on a television, which you purchased from iTunes.
  
  Overall, this is another excellent product from Apple Computer. The design is elegant, simple, and intuitive. It will provide hours of entertainment and convenience. Enjoy your iPod experience.
  
  

• Problems with ipod

  
  By A1SO1PGDNVMLXC on 2006-06-06
  We bought an ipod video 30gb and the creative touch (40 gb) (recently). Also purchased the muvo and the toshiba gigabeat. The gigabeat died within a few days. The muvo is great for a flash player. But the ipod has some real problems.
  
  The creative is better than the ipod for us because of file sharing and file backups. The ipod will attach to ONE COMPUTER ONLY and it KNOWS if you try to get it to work with another. This caused us a lot of grief when we switched computers. Then the new computer we attached it to died and getting the music back off of the ipod was a real pain. If you are able to even get the files back off the ipod (it doesn't like to go that direction, apparently) it still will lose a lot of the tag info in the music library. (Wanna type all that in by hand?) Plus, since Apple's music file format is proprietary, we can't share files from the ipod to other players. (Does not play well with others! :-)
  
  The creative players do not have any of these problems. They will work on ANY new computer and accept imports of a variety of file formats. You can make as many backups of your music library on as many hard drives on as many computers as you like.
  
  Another difference is the sound quality and volume output. Creative players drive headphones with higher impedances and also have superior sound. Also, creative players have EQ settings that actually work! They sound very different, but the ipod EQ settings pretty much all sound the same. Furthermore, the creative players have custom EQ settings available if you don't like the presets that come with the player.
  
  The ipod is more attractive and a bit smaller than the creative, but such things don't concern me since I'm looking for the highest quality sound I can get. Unfortunately, few mp3 players on the market today are really audiophile quality, and the ones that are are only available in Korea. Apparently the US market is more concerned with "features" and "style".
  
  There are a few problems with the creative software. It has some bugs but is easy to use. The ipod's software is also easy to use. Both interfaces are easy to use, but the creative touch can sometimes be too sensitive. It does have a sensitivity setting that helps a bit with that.
  
  Both the ipod and creative would be much better if they had a line out instead of just the regular headphone jack. I would be happier also if the creative could handle lossless compression formats, too, but this is not a major concern.
  
  What player a person buys really depends on their priorities. I have no need to watch videos on a portable player (Although creative has a video player, too). I'm looking for non-proprietary file formats and good sound quality. I've seen a lot of my friends with ipods suffer the consequences of having the single computer attachment problem and proprietary file format issues. That can be a very serious problem. I understand there are third party software programs out there that may help some of these issues, but it still is a very suboptimal situation to have to deal with.
  
  

• Review of the Reviews

  
  By A1WYBLTIGP5YAB on 2005-10-18
  I don't understand why people are writing "reviews" of a product you have most likely not seen in person much less actually purchased and used.
  As I write this, the iPod Video is not available for purchase, yet that has not stopped people from "reviewing" it here on Amazon, comparing its video screen to the PSP and other small Video devices , etc etc.
  
  It looks like most of the reviews are just die-hard fans or they hate any iPod that comes out because it doesn't have FM.
  
  I plan to purchase one in the near future, and at that time I will write a review, until then I don't see the point in any reviews of a product that is Not Available Yet!
  
  what is latin for "reader beware"?
  
  
• Where's the PLUG?
  By A1SU0XFE984FS8 on 2005-12-02
  I'm currently serving in Afghanistan. Alot of my buddies have IPODS and convinced me to buy one. So I did. Only then did I find realize that A BATTERY CHARGER IS NOT INCLUDED WITH THE IPOD! NO, that's considered a $30 accessory.
  Next time I'm in the states I guess I'll have to go to an APPLE STORE and buy and APPLE PLUG to charge the stupid thing.
  
  
• The COMPLETE need to know for your 5th Gen iPod (and why it costs over $500)
  By A3ACXG9PQTHIOQ on 2005-11-28
  For those of you that are about to break down and get a MP3 player (like I did), let me share a couple things about the iPod 5th Generation with Video.
  
  1) Best Value of all the players!!!
  
  For the 300 bucks retail, you can't beat it. The iPod Nano goes for around 50 bucks less, and it only has 4 Gb. The shuffle is cheap, but has no screen. And the other brands like iRiver, HP and Creative have some nice features compared to the non-video iPods, but generally have less storage, and you still don't get the video of the 5th Gen.
  
  2) Is 300 bucks really 300 bucks - No! (you'll want accessories)
  
  Think of the iPod as being like a cell phone. You get the phone, go to use it, and realize that all you got was the phone. No car adapter, no hands-free for driving, and no case to protect the phone. Well the iPod is no different. If you're like me, you'll get into your iPod the moment you upload your first 100 songs into it. Let's break it down...
  
  2a) You need a computer.
  
  This may sound silly, but a friend of mine won an iPod last month, and couldn't use it because he didn't have a computer at home. Hopefully you have a computer at home, and if you're still using Windows 98 as your operating system, either you're getting a new computer, or the iPod will get dusty.
  
  2b) Charging the iPod.
  
  The iPod comes with a USB cable that allows you to charge the iPod while connected to your computer. Now think...how are you gonna charge your iPod after using it on the plane, or at the beach? No home computer = dead battery. Cost of a 120VAC wall outlet charger can run around 30 bucks.
  TIP - go to TJMaxx or Marshalls, and look around the accessories area for a knock-off brand home charger that could be as cheap as $13).
  
  2c) Using the iPod in the car requires hardware too.
  
  There are two choices: I) Use a cassette tape adapter to connect into the headset port on your iPod, or II) Get an FM transmitter attachment. This allows you to tune your radio to an obscure station, like 87.9FM, set the attachment to the same frequency, and your iPod will play through the radio. The first option, the cassette one, is better, but how many cars after 2000 have cassette players in them. RECOMMENDATION - the Monster brand FM transmitter with car charger cable, which goes for around 80 bucks. Connect from the cigarette lighter socket into the data port on your iPod, and not only does it let you use the iPod in the car, but unlike the AirPlay2, the FM transmitter draws power from the car, instead of the iPod. Think of your road trip from NYC to Ft. Lauderdale, using the AirPlay2, and the iPod goes dead in South Carolina and all you have left is two kinds of music - Country & Western (Thank you Jake & Elwood :)
  
  2d) Protective Cases are a must!!!
  
  The iPod has video, please protect your screen. When you buy it, it only comes with a soft leather sock. And the Apple stores and other retailers do not have the leather cases with screen protectors on hand yet. ADVICE - DO NOT REMOVE THE PLASTIC FROM YOUR IPOD UNTIL YOU HAVE A SCREEN PROTECTOR!!! Scratching the iPod's screen is not covered by the standard warrantee, and ruins any video you watch on it. From what I found as I searched for a case, the only cases Apple plans to offer are cotton tube-sock types, again, you can't see through these things, what good are they??? I recommend going to a 3rd party website like [...]. Cost of a iPod jacket can run upwards of 35 dollars, depending on your preference.
  
  Bottom line - if you want the flexibility to use the iPod in the car, charge it without your PC and protect it with a case, expect to spend an additional 100+ bucks.
  
  3) Do you want the extended warrantee? YES YOU DO!!!
  
  Think about it, you're already dropping four bills on the iPod, the chargers, the FM transmitter and the protective case. For the extra 50+ bucks, you get the AppleCare plan for iPods. It's essentially unlimited coverage on your iPod for 2 years. And if you're getting this for your son/daughter, keep in mind - you're paying for it, not them, and they probably won't respect it for the amount you paid for it. Just do it for peace of mind. I was at a retailer over the Thanksgiving weekend, and a sales associate told me that countless 5th Gens were coming in for screen repairs, and most of the customers were less than happy when they found out they had to pay for the replacement, even if they only bought the thing a week prior. Get the warrantee.
  
  4) iTunes and video uploads cost money too, even if you have the videos already.
  
  I'm speaking of those "mpeg" commercial clips we all e-mail around for a 30 second laugh. I tried to upload them, and failed miserably. I found out that most mpeg files are "MUXED", or MULTIPLEXED. You'll know if your files are MUXED if they can't add to the iTunes library from your PC, or if you are lucky enough to get them into the iPod, the video plays without sound, or vice-versa. HOW TO FIX THIS - you need a couple of things. 1) You need QuickTime 7 Pro on your PC. Most of the PCs have QuickTime 7, but not the Pro version. Cost for the Pro version is $29.99. 2) This only enables conversion of video files to iVideo versions. You still need to fix your MUXED problem. This requires another software patch from Quicktime... Sorry, I forgot how much I paid when I wrote this.
  
  Note - Quicktime is owned by Apple, what a surprise.
  
  All in all, you could find yourself spending over five bills, like I did.
  
  And if you ask me if it's worth it. I would say "yes" every day of the week and twice on Saturdays!
  
  
• iPod - The Phantom Menace
  By A1OK3VF7TIDZO9 on 2006-05-10
  You walk into you're favorite electronics store in the world: Best Buy. After you look at the latest models of HDTV's, DVD players, and surround sound systems for hours on end, you come across those objects that seemingly everyone around you owns -the iPod.
  
  The iPod name in today's society have become synonymous to the MP3 player due to its supreme domination in the MP3 player market shares (the Apple market share of all MP3 players is currently about 80%.). Its prosperity and popularity has never been better, and it has definitely earned the respect as the marketing monster.
  
  As you are looking on the MP3 player shelf, you notice for the first time that there are other brands competing with Apple. Why have these brands been minimized in comparison to the iPod? The curtain of iPod popularity has successfully hidden these products from buyers. Most players and accessories available at stores are, in fact, Apple; you may see a Creative product or two.
  
  The reason for the iPod success is obvious. Apple was the first to introduce the MP3 player to the world in 2001, and they immediately took advantage of it. Do you remember the nonstop commercials of the dancing silhouettes with iPods always running? I'm sure you've seen the billboards along the road, or maybe you've even seen the iPod trains (go Google it for yourself). Apple has spent bazillions in advertisements and, as a result, successfully formed a national, actually worldwide, culture of iPods. A friend of mine asked me the other day, "So when are you getting an iPod?" I told him I didn't know I had to get an iPod MP3 player.
  
  Because you are a music lover, you want the best MP3 player there is, whether it is the best buy for money or for quality. You are intrigued by these mysterious brands and decide to research them. You decide that you want a hard-disk player that can hold your astonishing collection of music (and possibly video). Now that you have your search criteria, you compare and contrast the different brands of players.
  
  As of today, the iRiver H10 model has the best buy per GB. For new as low as $180, you will have 20GB of memory plus features like the voice recorder, FM-tuner, and text file displaying. Is it too good to be true? Apparently not.
  
  One of the recent models -Creative Zen Vision: M-has the potential of being a true "iPod killer." In the red corner, we have the Vision: M with the same screen size of the iPod video but
  **comes in many more colors
  ** has better sound quality
  **has a better screen (proof: http://www.everythingusb.com/creative_zen_vision:m_30gb.html)
  **and includes the features which the iPod lacks:
  *FM-tuner
  *availability of multiple music stores
  *deletion of music during operation
  *an adapter (unlike the iPod which you must find a computer to plug into)
  *includes support for the important and widely used music formats
  *and most importantly a battery life 2X the iPod Video.
  
  The Vision: M with all its yummy goodness may be purchased at a lower price than its competitor, though most post them at the same price.
  
  In the blue corner, we have the iPod Video with:
  **half inch thickness (in comparison to the Vision: M with .7")
  **a supposedly sleeker design
  **and lyric display.
  
  They both share the same capacity (unless you're a total freak with way too many songs for your own good and need an iPod Video 60GB) and have a voice recorder.
  
  In essence, Apple has blinded the world of other MP3 players. If these two great players-iRiver H10 and Creative Zen Vision: M-were advertised as much as the iPod, people would discover which one is worth the money. It's only logical that iPod is not as good as these players. Do your research; don't get an iPod; and spend your money wisely.
  
  
• Same Dog, New Trick
  By AIVBH0RN6MWS4 on 2005-10-17
  Apple surely has done it again. They've released the "same" product with a new feature, that's all. I had a feeling a video iPod was on the way when I noticed that my video files showed up in iTunes. I waited in anticipation for it to be released but Apple dropped the ball on this one. The 2.5" screen isn't as bad as you may expect; it's watchable. The price point is very appealing compared to other players with video playback. A lot of storage for not as much money. The iPod Photo was basically a joke and this is a good replacement.
  
  How did they drop the ball? We've seen this design before (for the past 4 years). Sticking with what works is great, but not when you're adding video playback. What made a good (but over hyped) music player doesn't make a good video player. Though the 2.5" screen is watchable, it does affect the eyes after a while. Two hour battery life for video playback is abysmal. Knowing the iPod, you will be lucky if you get 1 and 1/2 hours. Maybe that is why they are promoting the playing of music videos more than anything else (in addition to buying the music videos from iTunes). Still no FM. Still no removable battery. And no video recording capabilities. And at $1.99 for a music video, they could at least throw in a copy of the song by itself. I don't want to waste battery life if I just want to hear the song and not watch the video (and not having to pay an additional $.99 for the song).
  
  For video playback there are better players out there from Archos and Creative. Popular doesn't always mean better. The iPod is popular, but it's not the best. If this was the very first iPod or even the second, the rating would be higher, but this is the 5th generation and it's the "same" iPod; but with video and a laughable video playback battery life.
  
  
• Great except for scratches which can ruin it
  By A671B2YEK1IWC on 2005-11-12
  This thing is great for music and video. It does all it says. However, it does scratch like crazy. This will be a problem when the video window gets too scratched to be viewed well. I bought this for the video, so to me it is not something I can rate highly. Apple needs to put a little money into a better plastic face for this thing and then it would be just about perfect. As it stands, it is not acceptable. Go see one of these on display in a store and compare it to cheaper units. They are not going to be scratched, but this is. Try it yourself before you buy. I would wait until Apple fixes this before you buy. They have a class action against them for the Nano and it's cheap cover. They should have used better materials in this product. Obviously they have decided they can get away with this shoddy material. I think there will be another class action for this. Don't think Apple will try to get away with ignoring a problem and then be forced to fix it after a lawsuit? How about the battery issues they are having to own up to on previous iPods. They knew they were wrong and they tried to fight it, now they are having to replace/ pay for batteries. If you have to buy this now, DON'T use it until you have a protective cover. So far you won't find a cover that fits the video version in most stores. I'm buying a $25 invisible shield for mine from an online vendor. Apple should have built it better, charged $25 more and made this product a catch instead of a scratch.
  
  
• WARNING!!! Don't Waste Your Money
  By A343H0YUSU8U8R on 2006-10-11
  I am sorry to regret that I am one of apples many victims. I am not rich and it took a long time for me to save up to buy this product. After a couple months of owning it I plugged it into the computer and it "automatically updated?" the software and "consolidated the library?" without my permission. Normally I wouldn't have cared but after it was done it wouldn't allow me to eject it from iTunes. Although it said "Do Not Disconnect" on the screen. Since I couldn't just leave it plugged in forever, I had no choice but to take it out. Then later I plugged it back in and it said that it couldn't read the contents of the library. Afterward it started to erase random songs, freeze all the time, and couldn't ever turn off. Then no more than three days later I couldn't access any of my music, games, or videos. So then I sent it to the apple repair center and had to pay a $30 fee. But they sent it back to me saying that they declined fixing it because the iPod was damaged... OF COURSE! They were the ones that damaged it.
  
  Do not let the people of Apple take advantage of you like they did me. All I wanted was a reliable 20-30gb mp3 player that could last at least a year. I don't really care much for the videos or games. Apple should focus more on making the product reliable instead. But then they try to attract customers with it's good looks. But don't inform you about the cheap, fragile, and lazily created interior. Get a Zen or Archos. Unlike iPods, they don't focus on the looks but the quality. Plus they actually have a power button to turn the device on and off. Just don't support companies, such as apple, that only care about taking the customers money but not about the customer himself.
  
  
  
  
• I'm almost fifteen...
  By on 2006-05-13
  IPods are Rip-offs
  
  
  The iPod's not the only music player you can get,
  It's just that there are MP3 players people have not met.
  If they just knew what the other players had in store for them,
  They'd know the iPod stinks so bad it came from a pig's pen.
  
  The iPods soar to the top of the list of MP3 players like kites,
  But why not get a better player with more gigabytes?
  Sandisk and Creative have some pretty decent devices,
  Yet people cling to iPods even with their retarded prices.
  
  The Sandisk Sansa E100 has many, many things,
  An FM radio, recording, and movies make it the king of kings.
  Does the iPod Nano have this stuff? No, it does not!
  The Nano lacking all these features is definitely its weak spot.
  
  The Creative Zen Micro Photo also kills the Nano for an amazing deal,
  It has so much more for so much less that it's basically unreal.
  Radio, recording, and replaceable battery make it a better player,
  For less than the Nano...are you kidding? It's definitely a Nano slayer.
  
  There's a player that blows the iPod Shuffle into outer space,
  It's called the Samsung YP-U2 and it definitely earns its place.
  FM tuner, voice recorder, and screen make it a great buy,
  The fact that the Shuffle doesn't have these things should make Steve Jobs cry.
  
  The Creative Zen Vision: M is better than the Ipod Video,
  Better screen, more features, and better value make it glow.
  The fact that the Vision: M is thicker doesn't really matter,
  The features are what make the Vision: M unimportantly fatter.
  
  So you see, my friends, the iPod is a waste of precious time,
  The fact that Apple cheats you out is basically a crime.
  They make their iPods fragile just to make them really "cool",
  Anyone who buys one is just a ridiculous crazy fool.
  
  
  Facts
  
  1. Ipods are MP3 players. It seems like people want to separate iPods from other MP3 players. Can iPods play MP3's? If so, it's an MP3 player.
  2. The Creative Zen Vision: M is pretty much the same thing as the iPod with video, but the Zen has much, much more. It has an FM tuner (FM recording), voice recorder, better screen (262,144 colors as opposed to 65,000-very big difference),
  
  
  
• Amazon should stop misleading consumers
  By A1FCSEC1WRRDFA on 2006-10-11
  Amazon sells their iPod 30GB without making it clear which generation they are selling. There are two iPod generations the 5th & 6th Generation iPod. The new generation iPod offers 60% brighter screen & almost double the video battery life from 2 hours to 3.5 hours.
  
  I'm not sure, but what I can tell is Amazon is offering a small discount for the older generation 30GB model..but they aren't even making it clear which generation is which and that is misleading to consumers.
  
  If you're looking to buy an iPod, don't think you're saving a little money by buying here at Amazon; you're just buying the older generation and that's why they offer it at a slightly discounted price!
  
  
• I wish someone told me THIS:
  By A1YWZX9Z2GMCNP on 2005-11-14
  I've owned this iPod for a month now... These are the bad things you want to know about:
  
  Your digital "home videos" cannot be loaded onto your iPod until you shell out an extra $30 to Quicktime for a pass-code to upgrade to Quicktime 7 Pro. For videos to play on your iPod, you have to format them into "special" iPod files (this is totally `the quick and dirty', there are ways around this but...) and it has to be done in Quicktime Pro. The software included w/the iPod is only the basic Quicktime (have fun reading THOSE reviews!). Then be careful, don't EVER upgrade your Quicktime unless you want to spend $30 more to get the semi-annual "Pro" upgrades.
  This iPod also does not come with a charger.
  
  I give it 5 stars anyway because all the other upgrades redeem the misleading video capabilities. I got it to replace my 20Gb 4th G. It is definitely worth the purchase because (vs the 4th G) you get 10 extra gigs, a bigger screen, color display, and photo viewing capabilities. And when you do upgrade to Pro, the video looks great and the $30 feels worth it. Just wish I would have been warned about these inconvenient little surprises. So now you know!
  
  
  
• Could have been so much better...
  By A2I6K7R0XDPGH3 on 2006-04-21
  Well, I had iPod envy for years, and finally got one for Christmas three months ago. It's the 30 GB black video iPod that is still produced by Apple as of this writing. My impressions after three months are that it's neat, but very over-rated.
  
  Yes. It plays music. A lot of music. That's good. But the earbuds are bad. They keep falling out of my ears, and they let in too much ambient noise. I had to hunt around for earplug-style ear phones that actually fit inside the ear canal. Got Koss Sparkplugs. I can significantly lower the volume of the iPod because I don't need to drown out the surrounding noise to hear my music. Much better for my hearing and for my listening enjoyment. Apple could have included similar ear plug style ear phones for no extra cost to them, but they chose to go with their "cool" white earbuds instead.
  
  The front panel (and to a lesser extent the back panel)is HORRIBLE. Apple is very concerned about how things look. They don't seem to care about how they work. The iPod's front panel reminds me of the perfectly round mouse they had on the first iMac. Looked cool, but wasn't functional. Now they have a flush front panel on their newest iPods. Looks cool, but it would be a lot easier to operate if your fingers could actually FEEL where the buttons are. Having all the controls flush with the panel means that you have to pull the iPod up to your face before you can push any buttons. Forget about a vision impaired person using this.
  
  Speaking of the front panel, it scratches and scuffs far too easily. I have used pagers, cell phones, Blackberrys, etc. for years. They all seem to have found that slightly textured hard plastic stands up well to simple wear and tear. Not Apple. They looked around for the softest, most easily scratched clear plastic they could find. I am very careful with my iPod. I keep it in my pocket with nothing else that it might rub on, but after just three months, the face of it is all scuffed up. That's unforgivable. If Apple is going to make something that is intended to be portable, it should be able to withstand simply rubbing up against the ear phone cords in my pocket without getting scratched or scuffed. If the screen was recessed by a millimeter, it would be protected more. That's how wristwatches have been made for ages. It's not rocket science.
  
  Basically, all my problems with this iPod boil down to Apple spending more time on how the thing looks at the expense of how it works. That's just stupid. This thing holds tons of songs, and plays videos! It had the potential to be awesome, but Apple just threw it all away by trying to make it look cool.
  
  
• Beautiful, but not without flaws
  By A3JU9UKDX2B8RP on 2006-06-19
  The video iPod is soo incredibly sleek and sexy. This player is absolutely beautiful. Which is why it was such a hard decision for me to return it for a better player. I'm mostly going to talk about the negatives here as many of you all know the positives from other reviews.
  
  It's important to mention that I'm a very picky consumer when it comes to electronics, I want full control of everything. The iPod has had a few shortcomings for me. This is not to say that the iPod wouldn't be perfect for other people.
  
  First, do you like being locked in Apple's world? The iPod more or less forces you to use iTunes. The reason you have to use iTunes is because every MP3 you transfer to your iPod needs to be renamed and categorized and stashed away in some hidden directories on the iPod. The iPod WILL NOT play MP3s that you simply copy to it's hard drive. This is why no other media player can work with the iPod. Personally, I find iTunes to be an ugly and somewhat clunky program. It doesn't give you control of your MP3s the way I like.
  
  What does this also mean? This means that you can't get your MP3s back off your iPod without some 3rd party hacks that determine what the file names were. Sometimes iTunes will do it, but if you try it on a different computer iTunes will think you are trying to steal music and will deny you.
  
  I like being in control of my MP3s!
  
  Also, the iPod does not support WMA files, iTunes will let you convert them to AAC (format only supported by iTunes) but this just annoys me to no end as Apple decided not to support WMA on purpose. For video you must also convert all your videos to it's MPEG-4 specification.
  
  You see the iPod does not play friendly with other formats and players. I find the fact that Apple always advertises how their products are always compatible with everything to be extremely ironic in this case. You see Apple Macintosh's have to be compatible with everything or else no-one would use them. However, in the case of iPod, Apple has an EXTREMELY popular product. They are using this popularity to force and lock people into their world by refusing support for formats and players that almost every other MP3 player supports.
  
  Now the battery. It's ok. I mean my lifestyle allows me to be able to plug it into my PC everyday. So for me this is fine. But I don't think it could last more then two days if I listen for 5 hours each day. Changing songs a lot and using the backlight reduces this time.
  
  Finally the control. I find the volume wheel to be too sensitive. I like to be able to change tracks and raise and lower volume just by reaching my hand into my pocket. But the iPod does not make this nearly as easy as other players. There are no buttons you can really feel around for and if you want to change the volume you will probably have to take the iPod out of your pocket. There is also no searching feature on the iPod.
  
  Ok, I've done a lot of bashing here. I think the iPod physically is a beautiful device and it saddens me a little that Apple could have so easily made it better by not succumbing to some serious anti-consumer friendly practices. I think it is outrageous that Apple does not allow iTunes' AAC format music to work with other software and other MP3 players. It's very ironic that Apple would do something like this. Now you see that when Apple has something popular they aren't as much the good-guy.
  
  They basically lock you into their world and keep you there. There is no excuse for Apple's monopolistic behavior. They would have had a great product anyway.
  
  This may not really matter to a lot of people who will just go with Apple's flow. I mean, with the exception of what I mentioned above, the iPod plays music well and operates beautifully.
  
  I'll say it again, I like to be in control.
  
  
  
• Great product, but accessories rip off customers
  By A1G70EC1Z589Y4 on 2005-11-22
  This is a great product (quality, design, functions..., are all great). However the battery charger is $30 (the battery charger is a necessary, if you share computer with someone else you can not charge the ipod anytime you want. How can you price a regular battery charger at $30?). The software for converting video for playing on Ipod is $30 (Ipod video only support H.264 and MPEG-4 format. Ipod video does not have video software with it, how can you rip off customers this way). A cover (to prevent scratch, Ipod is very easy to get scratch) is $30. A Universal dock is $40 (for transfer video to TV, you also need a cable to do that, $20...). I like Ipod, but I am not happy about the way they rip off customers.
  
  
  
• Don't buy from Apple
  By A3D7FMNWD89B26 on 2006-10-05
  My son bought this item and it broke after four months. He sent it in for repairs with no external damage, they sent it back with a couple of dents in the case. With that, they said their damage was not covered by the warranty. NEVER AGAIN WILL I PURCHASE FROM APPLE.
  
  
• Scratches very, very easily!!!!
  By A1MU3MQXSRZWBA on 2005-10-27
  I have had the new ipod with video for 1 day. It has never even left my apartment and has a ton of scratches on the screen. I have read that there is a lawsuit about the nano scratching easily. Apple should be ready for some more lawsuits. I dont know how you can release a product like this. Great concept but be aware. Read the fine print as well, IF you get yours engraved you cant return it....
  
  
• So close to perfect!
  By A2P7T94KQGQVZC on 2005-11-09
  Ok. You all know the jist of this new ipod: it plays music, videos, and displays pictures all done in full color with style! The other reviewers on this page certainly have a knack for telling you the rundown of what this mp3 player can do. I have myself owned 3 ipods (including this one) in the last 7 months. Why? We'll get to that in a second.
  Anyway, if you were thinking about getting an mp3 player but you dont want to buy this one because
  a) ill never fill the damn thing!
  b) its just too expensive and
  c) everyone's got one and I dont want to look like everyone else
  well i have a few reasons why you should. To counter my last statements chronologically:
  1) you need room for expansion and your ever-changing tastes not to mention the "leave me by the side of the road" trends of technology. In other words, you cant predict the future.
  2) dont be cheap. seriously, good technology (like this) comes at a price and you may spend less for another player but you certainly WILL get less. To summarize, just open a bank account and save! its what they're for. And finally
  3) Come on! you know as well as I thats a stupid reason not to get one of these. Give me an excuse that "the sound quality is just not good enough" or "ill never use it" and Ill accept that. Dont say you dont want to get it just to fight the undertow of popular culture. In short, there's a reason why everyone's got one of these just like there's a reason everyone's got a honda; it just flat does what its supposed to.
  
  Now, some of you might not like some of what I'm about to say next. Thats fine. Keep in mind that this is my opinion and you know as well as I if you were thinking about getting one of these (or not) you will do what you want no matter how many bad or good things I say about it.
  
  Now that that's out of the way, on to my review.
  
  To summarize bluntly, this is the best ipod ever made in every single way including sound quality. You may have liked your old ipod but by god this one is like comparing a ford escort to a lexus ls430; its just better and beefier in every single way.
  Well, I have to say that the photo aspect of the video is just like a regular ol' photo. It displays pictures. whoopty doo. unless your a major photophile, this aspect probably wont intersest you enough to buy it just for this feature.
  
  The video aspect is certainly a refreshing and sort of strange addition to this new device. I say its strange because if you think about it, by definition an mp3 player is designed to play music and only music. The addition of video turns this device into something else which doesnt really have a name yet. Maybe we can call it "multimedia device" for now and leave it at that. The screen is really still too small for this sort of feature, even considering this is the largest ipod screen ever. The screen is plenty crisp by the way and displays videos nicely.
  
  For music this is probably the best mp3 ever made up til now: It's got plenty of room, its small (but not too small), the sound quality is superb and is free from distortion in the high frequencies (which is why I abandoned my old ipod photo 60GB. the distortion is inherent in all photo ipods), and its compatible with most computers out there.
  
  Now that Ive basically turned the ipod into the holy grail, its not without flaws.
  
  The video aspect is great but unfortunately if you want to watch videos in good quality, you must watch it in "widscreen" which further reduces the viewing area. You can turn off the widescreen but it severely cuts off the sides of the picture and degrades quality. Annoying, but this feature can be fixed with future updates and a standardization of resolution for videos played on the ipod. And also, the battery life for watching videos really just bites. You get 2-3 hours. Part of this has to do with the huge size of some videos and also the fact that the backlight stays on when watching videos. Again, some standardizing will help this. In addition, you can watch ANY video on your ipod, but you must convert it to a format that the player can understand. You can do this with quicktime pro, but it takes FOREVER. I'm sure there are other ways to do it which dont cost any money, but i have QTP so I didnt look into this.
  
  Music is played back with refreshing clarity and crispness that has been lacking in all ipods up to this point. Even if you arent an audiophile, you will hear the difference. Unfortunately, with these new ipods, apple has decided that everyone has usb 2.0 on their computers and has abandoned firewire. Most people who buy ipods are windows users, but I'm a mac user and the lack of firewire basically kills this purchase for me. Most people wont care, but for those who do, be warned.
  
  Finally, to explain why this is my 3rd ipod purchase: crappy sound quality, and I dont mean from compression artifacts. All and I mean all photo ipods have a distortion which can be heard on music which is abundant in high frequencies and has plenty of audio "space," like a piano solo. Check out my review of the 60 GB ipod to get more details. Fortunately, the video does not have this problem.
  
  So, there you have it. This is a great player in every way. All the flaws that the player has with playing video can be fixed with a software update which will come once more people have the player. The battery life is VERY good with the exception of playing videos, and the SQ for music is the best of any mp3 player Ive ever heard. Once more standardization comes along, we will all be watching episodes of "smallville" on the metro ride to work. I give this player 4 and 1/2 stars for the lack of firewire because that is an important feature which I think should have been included.
  
  
• A sound investment for anyone needing a new iPod.
  By A2YAABMT80RLYA on 2006-06-05
  Having spent over one year with my iPod mini, and being largely happy with it despite it's shortfalls in battery life and space, I decided to upgrade to the new fifth generation of iPod. The video option has no appeal for me, as I cannot imagine watching a TV show on the small screen, and there are few music videos that I would give more than one viewing to. As such, my review of this is based strictly on music playback performance on the 30 GB model.
  
  Pros:
  
  1) Better battery life. This is a big deal for me, as I am always out and about, with music being an important part of everyday life. My mini could manage a maximum of 4 hours, and that's with minimal song skipping. The new iPod Video certainly performs much better. Without using the backlight, the high EQ setting, and skipping songs as I please, I have managed to get an average of 10 to 12 hours out of it.
  2) Larger capacity. I am a massive music fan, so I am pleased to have room for over 7,500 songs to have and enjoy while I'm on the go.
  3) Better screen. While it can be a little hard if you have the backlight turned off, I find the screen to be a vast improvement over the monochrome display screens on the older generations. The colors are rich and vibrant, and the blacks and browns are as sharp as you would expect from a computer screen.
  4) Sound quality remains strong. I have noticed little difference between the sound quality on my iPod mini and the iPod video, except that the latter has slightly less distortion when songs are played at high volume.
  5) Intuitive menu system. The menus are as easy to navigate as they are on the older generations, with slight improvements on the fonts and color scheme.
  6) Slimmer design. This helps to avoid the telltale bulge that the older, thicker iPods seemed to cause.
  7) It's eye-candy. Let's face it, iPods are becoming a fashion accessory. The black one in particular is attractive.
  
  Cons:
  
  1) The only "extras" included are the USB 2.0 cable, the earphones, and on more recent models shipped, a slipcase that will keep the iPod free of scratches and smudges...for a short while (see below.) Others items, like the belt clip, the firewire cable, and the wall adapter are not included.
  2) The shiny plastic finish attracts and alarming amount of fingerprints, smudges, and scratches, especially on the black models. The semi-soft slipcase will only go so far in protecting the iPod, so a proper case is recommended.
  3) The "smart jack" has been removed! If you don't know the term, this is the small plug that existed next to the headphone jack on all older models. This means if you were using the remote control, iTrip, car kit, or other peripheral item, it will not work on this model.
  4) No Firewire support. The fifth generation no longer supports transferring songs via Firewire, however you can still use the cable to charge the iPod if you are using the wall plug adapter.
  5) There is an occasional delay you might encounter when skipping songs, as the iPod is processing a large amount of data at one time, and this lasts for about 3 seconds. I have heard other say that the menus sometimes freeze up, but I have never encountered this.
  6) The battery is apparently soldered onto the motherboard, so if you are considering doing a battery replacement yourself at some point, it may not be possible.
  
  Considering the value in terms of price and wealth of space, the new iPod video has been a good investment. I am still in the honeymoon period with it, having only had it for about 2 months, but the performance has so far been excellent.
  
  
  
• Great new iPod ... but it feels too big.
  By A3NM0RAYSL6PA8 on 2005-10-15
  As with any piece of expensive, portable technology, this new iPod requires a hands-on test drive. You need to get a sense as to just how portable it really is, whether it's solid enough for the journey, and, in the case of the iPod with video, just how good the screen really is under various light conditions. I've only had a few moments to check it out, but I'll share my observations. (Having had my nano screen break under normal usage on the very first day I owned it, I brought to the table a real concern about fragility, by the way. Apple, thankfully, replaced the broken nano with a new one, as they have acknowledged an apparent defect with some of the screens.)
  
  First, as you would expect, form and fit are first rate. The iPod seems to get smoother and more seamless with each generation. As with the nano, I think the scroll wheel has hit the sweet spot, too.
  
  Second, it seems more substantial and durable than the nano. Part of that has to do with the astounding thinness of the nano. There seems to be quite a bit more screen protection inherent in this iPod/video's design (and it is, after, considerably thicker than the nano, but still thin -- the 60 GB version is as thin as the 4th generation's 20 GB model, and the 30 GB is 30% thinner than that).
  
  Third, the screen is great. Clear, bright, and easy to read at a range of viewing angles (not that the latter is all that important for most iPods, but video changes all that ...). I must say, however, that it pales in comparison to the Sony PSP's gorgeous widescreen as a platform for watching videos. (The PSP's larger screen is a wonder, both for games and movies. Apple has obviously decided -- at least for the iPod -- to sacrifice optimal screen size for portability. More on that in a second.)
  
  Fourth, the slightly sour note. Once you've held the nano, used it, it's makes this feel too wide. Wide to a point where it doesn't easily nestle in the hand. It's the screen, of course, that is responsible. This is where you'll need to pick one up, hold it, check it out. It may be awkward to put in an armband for sports, for example. I found it consmetically less attractive because of that width, but, of course, you'll need to be the judge. Videos look great on it, as do photographs and album art. It's a great platform for catching with Lost -- or Desperate Housewives. But video comes at a price, of course. (Perhaps Apple could have changed the orientation of the screen so as to keep the width in check. Maybe. I'd have preferred that, I think.)
  
  The iPod/video is a compromise platform where, as Steve Jobs put it, video is "icing on the cake." It may be a bit too much icing for some, given the physical effects it had on design. For those folks, the nano is absolutely perfect, and rumor has it that the nano's capacity will get a jolt upward in the spring if the 2 GB or 4 GB models don't hold enough for your liking.
  
  Another very nice product from Apple.
  
  
• Wonderful device, but poor battery and video is a chore.
  By A2VRHRASHK32CE on 2006-01-02
  I could bore you with technical aspects, or I could offer a more personal review of the iPod 30GB white (with video). Considering the majority of purchasers, I'm sure, aren't incredibly tech-savvy, I will go with the latter. I will offer this: I am using a PC. ;P
  
  
  The device is great, but it isn't as user-friendly as it lets on. The BIGGEST problem I have with Apple is that they never keep their older generation iPods on the shelves (thereby lessening the price), but instead upgrade with peripheral features such as photo, video, album covers, and other unnecessary acoutrements to keep consistent $300 and $400 price tags.
  
  If you want the iPod as a strict mp3 player, it's great. Sound is clear, and iTunes makes the organizing of files an absolute breeze. Insert CD, copy files, drag files over, and voila. The iPod click-wheel interface is a dream to use, and the screen is bright, vibrant, and full of color. Thin, easy to carry, and with lots of curb appeal, it's a wonderful .mp3 device.
  
  -----
  But THIS iPOD WILL SCRATCH! I kept the initial plastic stick-layer on my iPod, and immediately put it into a work-out sleeve so I haven't had any front-side scratches, but the back side has a few. My cousin received the black 30GB video iPod for Christmas, and she made the mistake of peeling off that plastic. 3 days out, her iPod is already noticably scratched. So watch it! Keeping it in a work-out sleeve may not be as cool as showing off your sleek iPod, but it's worth it. Caveat emptor.
  -----
  
  
  Anyhoot. I have had no qualms with the player as far as mp3s so far, but this device is fairly cumbersome in the following areas (most of them are the marketing/flash-n-pop areas). I have worked around them so far (excepting battery life), but for many users I'll see some roadblocks:
  
  - Battery Life. It is abysmal. 2.5 hours of music play on shuffle drained about 1/3 of my iPod battery. Worse, this iPod does not come with a wall-charger! Luckily I am not an iPod addict, and am content to leave it connected to my computer when I am home for play purposes -- this way it can (slowly) replenish through the USB connection.
  
  - Album cover art. All of the iPod promo show that you can display the album cover art next to the songs when you're playing. You sure can -- with a bit of work! If you want this feature, you need to manually input the album art (copy/paste from somewhere online) to the tracks once they're in the iTunes library (and BEFORE you put them on the iPod!). They do not automatically download, like when you put a CD in the computer and play it on Windows Media Player. Blah. What a chore.
  
  - Video conversion. Quicktime/iTunes Music Store is the biggest scam on the planet. You cannot save quicktime files, so bye-bye favorite movies. And because of the necessary .mp4 video format, most movies will not play on the iPod. You need a video converter. Now you can pay $30USD for QuicktimePro, or download a shareware, non-Apple program to convert. Either way, it takes a lot of legwork. If you want to take advantage of iPod video (aside from select films with iPod-ready downloadable movie trailers through Apple's web site), it will take more effort.
  
  - Lack of hardware accessories. No wall-charger, no (real) protective sleeve, and the manual is online. Nothing notifies a novice straight out-of-the-box that you need to manually disconnect the iPod like a piece of hardware. If you don't, it might cause some problems.
  
  
  Overall, this is a great .mp3 player, and once I got the necessary kinks out (mostly re: video), I have taken advantage of the additional features. But it will take a lot of extra work that some users and households may not be prepared for. Video is nice, but a major battery drain and not worth the price.
  
  Apple should honestly keep out their older "generations" so that consumers can purchase a more affordable, strict .mp3 player from Apple, rather than throw ill-prepared flash features at an unexpected audience.
  
  
  Overall:
  + 4 stars for the mp3 player, design, ease of navigation and access.
  
  - 1 star for lack of accessories (charger!), and very unclear instructions regarding the video/photo/album cover features that are so heavily marketed.
  
  
• Nice little gadget!
  By A33AJ1MSMEIA3C on 2006-04-04
  I have to say, this thing really impressed me. I had a lot of doubts and worries about it as I have strict guidelines for electronics, but those are all gone now.
  
  The Good:
  
  - Assuming you encode your movies correctly, video playback is awesome. The quality all depends on the movies you have. I have a lot of HDTV 24 episodes and they look just like they do on my computer monitor. IF YOU ENCODE INCORRECTLY THEY WILL NOT PERFORM WELL.
  
  - Sound is gorgeous. Even with those earbuds (which any real audiophile should replace anyway), the music sounds great. There are also about 25 presets in the EQ you can choose from like Electronic, Dance, Classical, and so on. Depending on the properties of your music, the Ipod can go pretty loud and still remain distortion-free. Again, this depends on YOUR music files and NOT the Ipod.
  
  - Screen. I think it could be a bit bigger, but it does the job well. Mine is scratch free as I left the protective film it ships with on and just put a silicone case over top of that. The plastic is a bit scratched up, but the screen underneath is fine. Common sense would tell anyone to leave that protective film ON the device and not to pick at it or it will come off.
  
  - Options. There are a lot of things that can be manipulated and changed. Menus, back-light, clicker, etc. There are also a few games like Music Quiz, where it plays a few seconds of one of your songs and you have to choose the right one out of 5 or so choices. And, there is a diagnostic menu to test the performance of your Ipod in all areas. Really cool.
  
  - Battery Life. I put this in the good since it performs as I would expect. Who is the moron that actually mentioned 75 hours of battery life? During video playback, the most you will get is 2.5 hours of battery life. Let me say that again for those who don't comprehend well. YOU GET 2.5 HOURS OF BATTERY LIFE DURING VIDEO PLAYBACK. The more you use the back-light while listening to music, the less battery life you will have. 75 hours applies to never touching the thing and just letting it go through your music. Even then, I doubt you will get 75 hours.
  
  Also, you MUST follow the instructions when first charging it. Portable batteries are VERY sensitive to charge cycles. If you don't charge it like you should, your battery is gonna suck. It is HIGHLY recommended that you DO NOT let the battery life decrease past half. There are a number of cycles for each battery and the objective is to avoid ever using an entire cycle.
  
  
  
  The Bad:
  
  - This is a hard drive based MP3 player so every so often it takes about a second longer to skip to the next track. If this bothers you, you need a Flash memory MP3 player.
  
  - Battery life again. Expectations aren't everything. The next model really needs an upgraded battery. Charging this thing constantly if you watch movies is a real pain. It could be so much better and I feel that Apple really cut corners with the battery.
  
  - Scratches. It does happen if you are stupid enough to walk around without a case. THE IPOD NEEDS A CASE. Any portable gadget needs a case. Technology has been around long enough for people to know this. There is no excuse.
  
  - Having to encode movies. Why can't Itunes do that? This was another bad choice for Apple unless they are catering to geeks only, which is fine by me. Seriously, if you are not that computer savy then this is not the video player for you. You need to have an understanding of audio/video compression to get the most out of this player.
  
  Apple doesn't even have a program to encode muxed files, which a lot of internet content are. I highly recommend everyone to 'acquire' Nero Digital from Nero 6. It is the best converter out there at the moment that negates any synch problems. ImToo and Videora are completely useless and make very poor files.
  
  - No wireless. Right now, wireless headphones for the Ipod Video are practically non-existent. Logitech seems to be trying to alleviate that, but their headphones are currently riddled with manufacturer defects and don't even support the Video. Let's move it along Apple. We need wireless.
  
  - Earbuds. For the first few months, they are fantastic. But, eventually they seem to adopt vibration problems and hearing a rattle in my right ear is REALLY annoying.
  
  All in all, it is the best MP3 player on the market right now. Period. There just isn't enough support for it from Apple or anyone else. Vehicles are just now coming Ipod ready and that is limited to certain models. Where is our support? Apple? Anyone?
  
  
• Big disappointment
  By ACEO7LVJP13G8 on 2006-10-04
  I bought this Ipod for my daughter's birthday last year in September '05. We bought the "skin" to protect it, and it was used mostly in her vehicle in a playback device up until August. She took VERY good care of it, because it was her pride and joy. Well guess what, at that time the hard drive packed it in. We sent it to Apple under the warrenty, within the covered period and guess what? They sent it back as "uncovered by warranty, due to abuse". I looked at the thing when we had them send it back, and there's not a mark on it. Apple's warrenty coverage is a scam, and they know they have a problem with the hard drives failing and they won't stand behind there product. So much for the idea "you're better with an Apple".
  
  I hope Steve Jobs likes his sales numbers now, because he is losing the generation that would have bought his products in the future. My daughter will never consider an apple product again.
  
  
• What a grea device
  By AWKANLNDCVSNH on 2005-11-30
  Ok first off i see that everyone is complaining about the scratches. so heres my solution what i did is the ipod initionaly comes with a protector already on it so i just cut the part over the click wheel up to the screen there problem solved the screen is protected and it isnt even noticable. next i saw people complaining about getting videos to the right format. heres the program i use http://www.videora.com/en-us/Converter/iPod/ works perfect and its FREE. next people are wondering how to get videos for the thing instead of purchasing them from itunes well i get all my vidsfrom bittorrent for free and the have about every show and movie on it. here is the site for that http://www.bittorrent.com/. i love my ipod video and the video capability is the best you can get right now. i highly reccomend it.
  Kelly
  
  
• i-dicoulous
  By A2HJS4WHMYLRY1 on 2006-01-12
  The near religious fervor with which so many of Apple's customers embrace its overpriced, under featured products would be amusing if it were not so sad.
  
  Apple Fan Boy (AFB): Dude you don't get it - look at how cool the styling of this thing is.
  
  Person with IQ above room temperature (IQ): True it is good looking but the first thing one has to do when they buy any of Apple's Ipod's is go out and immediately cover it with a $30 sheet of plastic (thereby eliminating its acetic characteristics) or it will look like a scratched up dumpster within a week. Cost of product now up to $330
  
  AFB: People like you just hate Apple because of its cutting edge technology and styling. The other MP3 makers only copy Apple.
  
  IQ: Apple was neither first to market with an MP3 player nor a mobile video device. On top of that Apple does not even provide decent features - most glaringly the lack of a radio receiver.
  
  AFB: Dude that just shows how lame you are Apple knows that real people want to control their own music and not have it thrust upon them by the man like corporate radio dj's.
  
  IQ: Oh really - then why has Apple just announced a $50 "accessory" that does little more than provide FM radio reception, a feature that just about every other MP3 player provides for free. Moreover - Apple is the quintessential "Man" as it is charging you extra for features such as FM radio and charge cords that just about everyone else gives away for free. Cost of product now $590 when a $10 power cord and $50 radio remote is added.
  
  AFB: Maybe you have a point but the Ipod is also a status symbol, making me cool by association.
  
  IQ: So did the hula hoop for awhile. When every grade school kid in America is carrying around the same overpriced, under featured, prone to damage product its status a status symbol is well on its way toward becoming its opposite., namely a symbol that one is part of a great gullible unthinking herd.
  
  AFB: But Apple has iTunes which is the best music purchasing service in the world.
  
  IQ: Sure it is - that's why when you buy a video or song there it will only play on their devices. Would you buy a movie DVD or music CD if it would only play on a Sony DVD player? Of course not, but people like lemmings buy iTunes that effectively lock them in to buying only Apple products forever- if that isn't a great business model I don't know what is. By the way that's probably also why they don't provide a radio for free because they want you to spend even more on songs. Cost of product now unquantifiable.
  
  IQ Summary: Music and video portability is great. But buying an exceedingly delicate over priced under featured product is not. If MP3 players are for the mobile lifestyle then buy a product that can stand up to abuse and one that doesn't cost so much so if you lose or damage it - it won't break you. Better yet buy a book instead.
  
  
• Great New Features...but Some "Caveat Emptor", Too
  By A3SX442Q8TJSME on 2006-02-09
  The battery on my 3G finally turned in its notice. So I upgraded tothe 30gb iPod with video.
  
  PROS:
  
  - The video! The screen resolution is amazing. Coldplay's "Speed of Sound" video, with its amazing rainbows of colors, makes your iPod come alive.
  
  - The iTunes Video library! A very worthy selection of videos are available for you to make your own. Christopher Walken dancing in "Weapon of Choice", Stone Temple Pilots' trippy "Days of the Week", Foo Fighter's "Learning to Fly", Alanis' "Everything"--great stuff.
  
  - The memory! 30 gb is twice what I supported before. More than enough room (for now)!
  
  - The podcasts! I've been a huge fan of Jack Horkheimer's "Star Gazer" program on PBS. Now I can watch these episodes as podcasts right from the palm of my hand.
  
  
  CONS:
  
  - Yes, the biggest is the battery. And not so much because the battery for video will last--yes--an hour or so, but because once again Apple is totally...TOTALLY... misleading prospective buyers. Since when did Apple get so crooked?? The specs state "up to 2 hours". Sure--maybe with the backlight off. But me, personally, I'd like to see what I'm watching. How do they think people can actually watch whole movies on this thing?? Do I smell "class action, part II" here?
  
  - The lack of support for older perihperals. You won't find one of those interface ports on these. So toss away your former accessories.
  
  - No firewire support. It's all now totally usb, baby. And the included white USB cable is about three feet long. You don't get much distance from the pc to the tabletop.
  
  - No dock connector. Although if you have an old iPod dock you can still use it. Just pop out the old cable and plug in the new USB cable.
  
  - No instruction manual. There's a .pdf file on the disk that you can drag and drop to your pc desktop, but no opportunities for bathroom reading here. And am I the only one who finds Adobe Acrobat a bit annoying?
  
  - The screen scratches. I'm so paranoid about this that I've just left the cellophane sheet on (the one that that comes on the iPod when you first get it). I just peel it back and let it flap back down to eliminate bubbles.
  
  There you have it...
  
  
  
  
  
  
• High Tech Nightmare
  By A147UATU0ZW7O5 on 2006-04-14
  I purchased the Ipod as a gift for a friend. He wanted to download audio books from Itunes. The product appeared to work fine right out of the box. Here's the catch. You must recharge the Ipod through a usb port on a computer that remains on for the entire recharge period. Not all usb ports work as Apple points out in the troubleshooting guide. If your usb port doesn't recharge the device you must purchase a wall outlet charger. My usb did not charge the device. It was completely dead after a few hours of connection with my pc. I could see that this was the gift that would "keep on taking" so I returned it to Amazon.
  If you still can't resist the remarkable marketing of this device, here's some advice. The outside coating is high gloss. If you purchase the device in black you will note it appears filthy the second you touch it. I'm guessing this is one of the reasons Apple pushes the white color so heavily.
  
  
  
• Avoid iPods at all costs, I'm trying to find a brand with better quality.
  By A3CMY2KRO4XKB on 2006-10-24
  I do not actually own this iPod, but I do own the 20gb discontinued iPod. I chose to write this review here so that it will actually be seen and because the products are similar. I have no good things to say about Apple products. I purchased my iPod right as they were discontinuing it so as to save fifty dollars instead of buying the new 20gb in color iPod. It looked nice and had no immediate problems. However, less than two months after I purchased it, it stopped turning on. I called Apple who said that I needed to send it in for repair. I did so at my expense as I had to pay shipping fees for their broken product. I did, however, promptly receive a new iPod. This one had no immediate problems either, although the click wheel was slightly loose. Anyway, it suited me for about another two months before it stopped turning on. This time I was smarter about getting it fixed and brought it to an Apple store. They again replaced it with a new iPod. After another couple of months, the iPod randomly stopped turning on the normal way, however I found an alternative. I found that this time I was able to reset the iPod to turn it on. Unfortunately, it wouldn't always reset. I would have to try time and time again for it to finally reset every time I wanted to listen. The reset itself also takes about ten seconds. Also, if you want to pause during a certain song, album, or whatever, reseting the iPod puts it back to the main menu so you can't continue anything you were playing before you turned it off. So it still worked, although not properly and at an inconvienence to me. I decided not to take it back to the Apple store as I was just tired of doing that and since it worked slightly anyway. After owning that iPod for about 10 months, it stopped turning on. Now, however, I can not get a free replacement. The iPod standard warranty is a year. This really isn't too bad for a product that works, but the iPod is just terrible so it really doesn't help. Also, whenever the iPod is replaced, the warranty only continues for the remaining time of the original. So now I am stuck with either spending over two hundred dollars on a new mp3 of a similar size capacity, going back to cds, or just giving up. I already forked over $250 to Apple and I really don't want to give another $230 just because their products don't work. Before I purchased the iPod, I was using a Sony cd player that lasted five years before the headhone jack got bent and the sound began to only play through one ear. If I really wanted to, I could have continued to use it. My first and second iPod made it for two months. What sounds like better quality to you, two months or five years? I can't believe how terrible Apple's products are. If anyone has had similar problems with the iPod and has found a better mp3 player brand, I would love to hear from you. I'm still trying to find something better than this junk from Apple. I'd give this product a zero out of five if I could.
  
  

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