Apple 80 GB iPod AAC/MP3 Video Player Black (5.5 Generation) Reviews

• Gave up my 60gb iPod video for this one!

  
  By A3FQDU9WANNZZR on 2006-09-23
  I have been using the 80gb iPod Video for several days now, and I am extremely pleased. First, a note of caution. The surface of this unit is identical to the earlier iPod video, so it is extremely prone to scratching. My 60gb iPod video was always transpored in the $99 Apple leather case, and it still attracted scratches! This one comes with a chamois-like form-fitted pouch which does a nice job of protecting the finish, but provides no protection from hits or drops. The screen is bright! Much brighter than the earlier models. The integration with iTunes 7 takes the hardware/software experience to a new level. I purchased some games and TV shows, which downloaded flawlessly, and playback time appears very impressive (read: better battery life). I'll know better on my next 12 hour flight to Asia, of course! 80gb is a staggering amount of storage space. I have nearly 10,000 songs, several music videos, several FULL seasons of TV shows, my contacts and my date book data, and a few purchased games, and I am barely halfway to filling the drive. The new iTunes interface screen for the iPod is much more friendly, allowing different settings to be made for, say, music, TV shows, PodCasts, etc. from within a tabbed browser environment. Apple still demonstrate that less IS more, and the total user experience blows away anything else in the market. It would be hard to imagine another solution (player/online store) emerging that could get the experience any better than Apple does. Though I realize several are trying... Zune anyone? :)
  
  

• Minor improvements makes this a great player

  
  By A1KSO56UWS2R7I on 2006-10-05
  First of all, this is, to my knowledge, the cheapest 80GB Hard Drive MP3 player on the market, and with a name like Apple backing it up, this rendition of the iPod is well worth your time to look at.
  
  *Technically this is still not the iPod Video, this is still an iPod with video playback; rumors are still buzzing about a Widescreen iPod, but still no official word*
  
  NEW:
  -Longer battery life
  -Games
  -iTunes 7 has movies
  -Search feature
  -Larger capacity
  -Brighter screen
  
  GOOD:
  -Great GB/$$ ratio
  -Great build
  -Bright screen
  -Battery life on video is double what it was before
  -Great interface
  -Innovative search
  -Games are pretty fun
  -Excellent design
  -Minimal buttons
  -Oodles of potential accessories
  
  BAD:
  -Still scratches easily
  -Prone to fingerprints
  -Sometimes a little sluggish (not as much as before)
  -Battery isn't removable
  -Still no FM tuner, line-in, or voice record
  -Expensive accessories (not many in box)
  -Cheap earbuds
  
  BOTTOM LINE: If you are too hardcore for the 30GB version, than this is definately your cup of tea. This is the perfect MP3 player for any causual music and video enjoyer's needs!
  
  

• Happy I waited

  
  By A1U22ESHRQUKSB on 2006-09-21
  When the 5th generation Ipod 'video' came out, and all of my friends got one, I was kinda jumpy on getting one. But I had a good mp3 player at the time, and I passed the temptation. But this thing is wonderful. Same overall design and concept, with some really noticible features, like the search, which is great. Games are sweet, and will take over my cell phone for tetris. Battery life in the 80 GB is 20 hours, which is what I need. It's brighter too.
  
  But the big deal that I LOVE is the gapless playback. Your songs will SEAMLESSLY go from one to the next, making a very good listening experience. No need to watch movies on the tiny screen, but if you want to wait a few more months, the next ipod is supposed to come out that is truely 'video', but this is speculation. but this now is only $350!
  
  I hated iPod for a long time, but after buying all kinds of other ones and the now iPod knock-off's, I know that iPod will be a good way to go. get a case, and you're set.
  
  

• BEWARE OF iPOD HARD DRIVES

  
  By A3K9OKWM5CIQZM on 2006-11-23
  I have purchased the iPods since the first day they came out and I have to tell you that it is a love/hate purchase.
  I am on my 4th iPod with a hard drive and they have all crashed within 1 -2 yrs. Now that the Nano has come out which is not a hard drive as the iPods they are more durable. Of course, with the Nano you only get a max of 8GB but I am going to take that and live with it as I am so tired of having the large iPods crash. I am not up for spending $300 plus every two yrs on this kind of device. Apple really lacks in customer service on this product. FYI: I have been and still am an Apple advocate as I love their products but the iPods with the large hard drives ARE A SERIOUS ALERT~!!!! If you are new to this type of purchase and have a concern for where you put your money, then buy the 8 GB Nano as there is not a hard drive issue there. BEWARE OF HARD DRIVE iPODS!!!!!!!!!!!
  
  

• Buy two, your going to need them in the long run.

  
  By A1P9GI6JQPM35S on 2006-10-24
  (Ryan Gonce)-About 2 years ago I bought my first Ipod for $375. Within a year the hard drive crashed. Luckily I was able to send it in to Apple and receive a "new" Ipod. These presses took about 6 weeks to complete. I was so happy to receive, what I thought, was a brand new scratch free Ipod. Though it was scratch free, I later found out that it was only a refurbished Ipod which was thrown together and sent back to me. Within another year the hard drive crashed again. Two times was enough for me. I called Apple and told them the issue I was having. Their exact words were, "You're better off buying a new one!" They told me that it would be $260 to repair an Ipod that they had thrown together for me. To me this was ridiculous. If your car broke down within a year, wouldn't you want a new one? Not a refurbished POS someone had just returned. After waiting on the customer service line from 4:30pm-6:00pm on hold all they could tell me was that I was screwed. They stated that they didn't have to tell me it was refurbished and that they could do nothing for me. I am telling you this as a warning. My girlfriend also purchased an Ipod about a year after mine. Within a year it began to freeze and would randomly stop playing her music. She sent it in 3 times to have then said there was nothing wrong with it. I'm not sure what Apples customer service is trying to do, but it is definite lost a customer. I was an Ipod owner, loved my Ipod, but not enough to spend $250-350 on a new one every two years. If you do happen to buy an Ipod I wish you luck in the years to come. I'll be investing some time into the Microsoft zune.
  
  
• Simply the best MP3 player around!!!
  By A24N1BAS3CU27H on 2006-09-28
  I've owned the 60GB Video iPod for close to a year now and with 11,000 tracks, 10 (Music) videos, and about 30 photos on it, I had 2.13GB free and was wondering what to do for more space.
  
  Then along came the 80GB video iPod. More than enough room for my growing music collection, well at least for another year or so. Meant for those with large music collections.
  
  Exactly the same size as the 60GB model, this too comes in black (which I got) and white, and it is cheaper than the 60GB model was when it came out.
  
  It seems Apple finally acknowledged complaints about the earphones as they have been redesigned and fit better and less painfully in the ear for a long period of time, something I could never bear to do with the previous earphones. Oh, and sound quality is great too!!
  
  I'll move right to the major changes with this version. First up is gapless playback of tracks. No more gaps between your tracks on Madonna's 'Confessions On A Dancefloor', or those Donna Summer 70s albums, or your live albums. Note, if you update the software on your 'older' video iPods, gapless playback works on those too.
  
  Next is the new search method, you can now search for artists/albums by alphabet or numbers, still by using the scroll wheel to type out the names. This makes it much easier for someone like me with over 1000 albums stored.
  
  Battery life has been improved for video playback, to 6 and a half hours. The screen resolution is brighter and sharper, making viewing of videos and images an even greater joy.
  
  And finally, iTunes has also been updated. Among other things is a new interface, showing at a glance, how much space music, photos, and videos each take up, and space left. You can also set it to search the internet for CD artwork for CDs you've ripped yourself.
  
  Still remaining are all the usual cool iPod features: You can attach CD artwork (doesn't make the iPod sluggish, or even skip like it used to), include individual track lyrics (both of which are essential to a music buff like me), screen lock, contacts, stopwatch, video playback (this responds faster now and resolution has been increased), photo display (you can do a slideshow of your photos while music plays) and downloadable games. You can also use it as a removeable hard drive, for backing up your data.
  
  You definitely must get a case for your iPod, if you don't want it looking like your cat's scratch post within a week of use. There are loads of cases out there; rubber, leather, to clear hard plastic, the latter which I favour as it protects better, and you still get to see your iPod in all it's glory. XtremeMac, and agent18 (do a google search) make great tough plastic cases which snap on and off with ease, and protect all parts, especially the screen.
  
  Also on the downside, as well as still scrimping on a wall charger (it charges by USB), there isn't an iTunes CD in the pack. You must now download iTunes (for free) from the internet.
  
  Still, this is definitely my favourite gadget of the moment (it feels awesome to be holding over 1000 CDs in the palm of my hand), and yet again raises the bar for other MP3 players.
  
  
  
  
• Nice upgrade
  By A1243Q4CMKEM4D on 2006-12-27
  I must say, having upgraded from a 40G Photo, the iPod Video is really nice. The screen is noticeably larger. I've already watched video on it, and I like it. (Just don't try to watch wide screen movies or TV shows. The screen is too small.) Also, the battery life is GREAT! I can't wait to take it with me when I fly. You're theoretically able to watch a 6 hours of video before you drain the battery.
  
  The new iPod also gives you more control. You can change the brightness of your screen, and there's a new search feature that lets you search your entire collection in a snap. Another great addition is the letters that appear when you're scrolling through lists of artists or albums. It helps you keep up with where you are alphabetically so you can slow down and avoid scrolling past it.
  
  However, like other iPod models, the back of the ipod and the screen are easy to scratch. It didn't really bother me when I had my first iPod; I just accepted it as normal wear and tear. However, now that I'll be watching videos on the screen, I'm a lot more concerned about it. I really recommend buying a case as soon as possible. They're worth the investment.
  
  When you buy your 80G, the box includes a USB cable, really horrible headphones that most everyone I know throws away, a quick start guide, and a black velvet sleeve for protecting your iPod. (The sleeve is nice as an interim case, but you probably won't use it for much more than that.) The kit doesn't include a dock or a wall charger. The USB cable both charges and syncs your iPod, so you don't really need either of these things unless you really want them. (The dock is basically a middle man between the USB cable and your iPod. I really wouldn't recommend it, since you're paying $39 for a piece of plastic that is basically superfluous.)
  
  If you're new to iPods, I'd like to address a couple of complaints that new users often have. Most of these are quite easy to fix:
  
  1.) BAD SOUND QUALITY. You have control over this. If you toy with your advanced preferences, you can change how you import music from your CDs. CNET actually has a tutorial on this under tips and tricks. ("Toss your CDs after archiving your digital media") The Apple Lossless codec is probably your best bet. Lossless essentially means that all of the song data is imported; none of it is lost in compression, which is the case with both mp3 and AAC codecs.
  
  2.) BAD HEADPHONES. Yes, the headphones that are included for free are terrible. You get what you pay for, and, in this case, you aren't paying anything, so the lack of quality shouldn't really surprise you.
  
  3.) BAD BATTERY. No, your battery will not last forever. No battery does. Apple uses lithium-ion batteries, which have a lot of advantages: they won't develop a memory, they're incredibly lightweight, and they hold a charge when not in use. However, there is a tradeoff; they only last about two years. This doesn't mean you have to throw your iPod away. Apple offers battery changing service for $59, or, if you're brave, you can purchase a DIY kit for about $30. (I'm not very good with my hands and I managed to do this. It comes with tools and a really great instructional video.)
  
  4.) INCOMPATIBLE WITH WINDOWS. Despite the fact that iPods are made by "Mac people," this doesn't mean that your iPod won't play nice when hooked up to your PC. In my two (going on three) years using an iPod with Windows XP, I've never had a compatibility problem. Also, there is excellent support on Apple's website for Windows users.
  
  Basically, you will have a much more pleasant experience with your iPod if you do a little bit of research. The iPod is an instrument, and you can't just pick it up and immediately know how to use it through osmosis. Try going to Apple Support's iPod 101 or reading your manual (Which you'll have to find online, since they only included a Quick Start guide in the box.) Taking the time to get to know your iPod will ease your initial frustration, and help you maximize your iPod's potential in the long run.
  
  
• Great Sound, Good Video, Still Has Hard Drive Crash Issues
  By A633NIAR4JJAR on 2006-11-20
  I first saw the Apple 80 GB iPod Video at a friend's house, and I knew that the only thing standing in the way of getting one of these fine new mp3 players was my wife's permission. One day, she told me that she could use an mp3 player to store all of her worship today praise choir songs. I knew that this was the appointed time, so I offered to give her my iPod if I could have permission to get this new one as an early Christmas present.
  
  Cha Ching! Now I have the iPod! The sound is terrific, the video screen is sharp and pretty, and the controls work like a charm.
  
  But I am sorry to report that these things still have hard drive crash issues. I have already had the thing freeze twice on me during playback, and I had to load my songs three times before they would play properly, and I wasted many, many hours fighting with my new toy. I may have to go back to the store and get another one if I continue to have issues, but for now, I finally have the songs loaded, and they are working well (at leasr for the moment). The videos also work nicely, and you will want to get an audio/video cord so that you can watch your downloaded videos on your TV.
  
  I recommend this mp3 player, but I pray you get one that doesn't have the crash issues where you constantly have to reboot the unit or reload your crashed music library.
  
  Rev. Marc Axelrod
  
  
• Adults Beware, You won't want to put up with this treatment!
  By A1T3O2OYZLX9OL on 2006-12-16
  My computer freezes up when I connect my new 80 GB Ipod to it, so I can't download my extensive collection of audio books to the Ipod, but I must say that the songs imported by one of the techs at the Apple store on one of my trips there do sound nice.
  
  Aside from the sound quality, I would recommend that an adult with a PC and no patience for nonsense answers and poor treatment look for an MP3 player. The way Apple sells and supports products is amazingly awful and disrespectful to their customers.
  
  I started by loading the Itunes software and importing my audio books and meditation CDs into the Itunes library. I was very happy with the ease of use of the Itunes software and the help section, which answered all my questions about importing and renaming files. I could even turn off the screen that shows the annoying ads from the Itunes store!
  
  The lovely black Ipod came with a very small instruction pamphlet, which I followed carefully. After charging the Ipod for 4 hours with a ridiculously short USB cord, I opened Itunes and turned on the Ipod. The Itunes software didn't recognize the Ipod, the Ipod froze on with a "Do Not Disconnect" message, and my computer turned itself off.
  
  I called the Apple store and was told how to reset the Ipod. Then the girl at the store connected me with Tech support in India. I couldn't understand the man at all so I called the store back. The girl at the store got snotty with me about not using a Mac and asked me just how old my PC was?
  
  I then drove to the store where I found that:
  
  1) They kept asking me if I was using a Mac, as if only a freak would use a PC.
  
  2) They didn't want to exchange brand spanking new Ipod that didn't work for a new one, the wanted to send it away to be fixed. Once you buy an Ipod they are not going to easily take it back, even if it doesn't work! And if you open the box they have a 10% restocking fee, should you decide to return or exchange it.
  
  2) They were happy to help me after I loudly exclaimed loudly to others at the cash register with stacks of Ipods in their hands that my new Ipod just froze up and wouldn't work right out of the box.
  
  3) Everything including a USB cord long enough to really connect the Ipod to the computer, a real carrying case and a wall charger costs extra and the prices on the accessories are very inflated. I find that to be a real rip-off. An adult expects a product to work out of the box and to have proper basic accessories with it.
  
  5) The cement flooring in the stark store kills the feet of a 40 something woman after a few minutes...think of the young kids working there...bulging leg veins and foot problems in their 20s after a few weeks of work. I find the amazingly hard floor not at all attractive and very disrespectful to both Apple's workers and their customers.
  
  4) The Ipod worked when synced with a Mac and I got some songs uploaded to it that I didn't want.
  
  6) I was told that it must be the software so I should go home and reload the Itunes software.
  
  So, I went home and saved my Itunes library to a disk, uninstalled the software, redownloaded Itunes and reinstalled it. Upon connection to the computer, my Ipod froze again and froze my computer. I tried the USB 1.1 port and the Ipod and computer froze again.
  
  I called tech support again, it was evening now, and got someone from the United States. He was nice but didn't know much about PCs. He said that the PC staff is only in from 6-6 PST, but they had holiday hours for Mac support. When asked what percent of computers in this country are Mac he said 4 or 5%. So they don't supply support for PC users during their extended helpline hours. The 95 or 96% of their buyers who own a PC aren't as important as the 4 or 5% who own a Mac. I find that to be very disrespectful to their customers and pointed that out to the tech. He didn't disagree. When asked about the very short cord he said that most of the designers use a laptop. You'd think they'd test drive their designs with some PC users, wouldn't you?
  
  So, as of this writing I cannot use the Ipod with my PC. It could be the USB 2.0 port...which works with everything else...my camera and my Treo phone. I went online and didn't find much information. The scant instruction manual mentioned further information about compatible USB 2.0 cards at the ipodstore site but all I found was "Reset, Retry, Restart, Reinstall, Restore" advice.
  
  I'll call tomorrow and see if the Ipod PC people really know PCs. I've already wasted several hours on this expensive toy and wouldn't recommend it for adults who have no patience or time to waste.
  
  
  
  
  
• Moving on to Bigger and Better
  By A7H3D4JTRWD0X on 2006-11-22
  I own both the iPod (5.5) and the Zune - buy a Zune. Not only does it not scratch or get generally as dingy looking as an iPod - the screen is absurdly larger due to not having to put the brilliant "let's see how we can test our opposable thumbs wheel" navigation "aid" on the device. Not to mention, the interface itself is much more attractive and the device itself has more capabilites than the iJunk. But that's me...and not wanting to have to go through another 3 day - yes - days - synch between my WMA files and iTunes sad attempt at conversion.
  
  
• FIX THIS DEVICE!
  By A1P2HZ2H4L1BBK on 2006-10-29
  Want to buy this new one, as my old one is crapping out, (the central "select" button is wearing out), but cannot quite bring myself to part with the money. Should my $300+ device be worn out in a year? And what about the battery that is not really replaceable and is too small, and the problems with iTunes?
  
  I was looking for an improvement in the new iPods, not just refinements in the size! iTunes does not work well. It garbles information, esp when downloading cds, but sometimes at random, and now refuses to play whenever another program is running. The battery needs to be a rechargeable/renewable. It could just as easily take AA batteries, or a clip type battery like old cell phones? How about making the unit compatable with other providers?
  
  If Apple is determined to have it all; service, hardware,operating system, consumer sales, then it had better get it's act together. It's not enough to just show up.
  
  
• Nothing but trouble...bad customer support...
  By A2VACQSB41GETX on 2006-11-12
  1st one didn't work...doa...
  2nd didn't allow itunes to sync completely.
  
  Customer support will not support ipods that have non-itunes music on the device!!!!!!!!!! (even though it is from my own cd library and even though they allow you to rip from cd).
  
  You can only call a Apple store to talk to someone and that someone only reads from script of info that is on the website anyway....
  
  Support is a joke.
  
  Creative's machine is worth looking at....
  
  
• How can you go wrong?
  By AUZD4ESUYHS6D on 2006-09-26
  Two weeks before the 80GB came out my wife purchased the 60GB. Fortunately, Apple has a great return policy that allows 14 days to return product. We returned the 60GB and immediately ordered the 80GB and so glad we did!
  
  It was $50 cheaper than the older one and holds 20GB more! Love the new functionality and the brighter display really does help during daytime use. The new search functionality is cool and they did improve batterly life. (We recently took a 14 hour drive down the CA coast and that iPod ran smoothly all day WITHOUT a car charger)
  
  Love it. Highly recommend to anyone in the market.
  
  
• King of Portable Media Devices for a Reason
  By A1OI9O2S4UOB5O on 2006-10-16
  The latest flagship of the iPod lineup has only marginal differences between it's prior generation. Yet, the changes are exactly the little things that every wanted out of the prior models. iPod now has a much brighter screen with better resolution, it has the kind of space that allows you to tote quite a few movies, TV shows, and still have room for your whole music collection. The unspoken charm of this device is the simplicity of the interface and controls. The iPod is really a marvelous example of market research. How do consumers use their device, what is the average assumption of intuitive? The iPod hits that nail on the head.
  
  Then there is the software. If you've never seen or used iTunes you probably take residence under a rock. To recap; however, it sports the same simplicity and intuitive and easy use as the Mac platform is famous for, and the iPod subscribes to. None of the features are cut from the Windows version of the software, giving it appeal on both PC and Mac.
  
  I've used many media stores, including Urge, and iTunes is undoubtedly the best in selection, the easiest to use, and the easiest to navigate. Having developed the iPod side by side with iTunes, the iPod and iTunes sync with that hand and glove perfection that allows you to never worry about what problems you might encounter. Unless of course you jump on their upgrades too quickly. You'll want to give Apple time to work out the bugs on new releases of iTunes before you upgrade. Trust me!
  
  The new games are fun for time-killing, but they really aren't meant for anything more. They are a selection of games that you could comfortably spend 5 minutes playing while you are on your break, or waiting for your wife to get ready for 45 minutes as she checks in with you every 5 saying she's just about ready... but anyway. The games have lush graphics, I would consider them Gameboy Advance quality graphics. There's a very limited array of games, and I seriously wouldn't recommend the iPod if your sole interest in it is of gaming with it.
  
  Pros of the new iPod, and iPods in general:
  -Not just music, but movies, TV, games, calander appointments, to do, stopwatch, contacts with pictures
  -TV out quality is excellent. DVD-like even.
  -Audio quality has improved over prior generations
  -Ability to save documents as simple text and read them on the go, which is great for emails
  -Can be used as a portable storage device. At 80gb, that's quite an attractive feature.
  -My favorite feature over other audio devices is that it saves your place. For instance, if you start watching a movie on iTunes, then sync it to your iPod, the iPod will start the movie from where you left off in it on your computer.
  
  Cons:
  -Screen Size is still too small for an honestly ideal mobile viewing experience. I think it's great for a 15 at work, but I'd hate to have my eyes strained on it for a 5 hour car trip.
  -Battery life just isn't there for the video veiwing. If you use the highest brightness settings you are looking at just over an hour of video.
  -Touch pad can take some getting used to. It's pretty sensitive.
  -iTunes only carries Disney and it's sub-studios for Movie content.
  -DRM, of course, is always a bitch.
  
  
• Love it
  By A2ORDVE96GL3Q7 on 2006-10-31
  I just got the 80GB iPod, it's my first iPod or MP3 player of any type. I find the design simple, elegant, and functional. I love it. It took a few days to get all my CDs loaded, but it's been working flawlessly. After reading about problems others had with scratching the surface, and seeing that the junky little carrying case included in the box is sub-standard, I went online and found an excellent protective case (the ToughSkin case made by Speck), which is a tough rubberized case with a clear protective cover for the iPod's video screen. Now I'm a happy little camper.
  
  
• Be careful, this device is incompatable with most PC's
  By ASZX4S4ZMW31Y on 2006-11-17
  Without going into the quality of the IPOD you need to be warned about one thing. This device requires the WinXP operating system with service pack 2 installed and a broadband connection. You cannot get the software without the broadband connection (at 35 megs don't even think of trying to download it over a dial-up) and even if you download it at your local library when you try and install it on your home PC it will hang up since it's looking for that internet connection. The other point to remember is that SP2 is required for the computer to be able to sense and communicate with the IPOD. Check your computer carefully before you buy. If you computer was built/purchased before about Sept. of 2004 and you haven't upgraded the operating system you will not have service pack 2 installed and the IPOD won't sync with iTunes. You can always download the patch from Microsoft but be careful. The reason that over 50% of the pre-service pack 2 computers were never upgraded was because of trouble with the patch, incompatabilies with programs or other issues. Very few people recommended the installation of the pack (except for Microsoft, of course) and rather suggested the purchase of security software, since the majority of what SP2 did was to install heightened security on the PC.
  
  
• Apple shipping iPods with computer viruses
  By A1XSDEKIK6K8L9 on 2006-10-20
  I purchased this Apple 80 GB iPod with Video Playback as a Christmas gift for my daughter, so it is still shrinkwrapped. Reuters reported this week that Apple recently shipped iPods which contain computer viruses. Amazon cannot (or will not) confirm whether my iPod is safe to give my daughter; instead I was provided an 800 number to call Apple which is on par with calling the Bureau of Motor Vehicles.
  After dropping $350 for a reasonably nice gift, my joy of giving is now obviously hampered because I don't know if on Christmas morning my daughter will unleash a computer virus on whatever computer or network into which she plugs her shiny new iPod.
  Amazon and Apple are two of the most prestigious companies in the world, and they really need to step up to resolve this latest debacle. I need to know if this bad Apple is going to spoil the whole bunch, and I need to know now.
  
  
• Holds more than you think...
  By A3KDOL7P30OKZ3 on 2006-09-17
  Just to clear things up its says 100 hr of videos compared to the 60gb with 120hrs of video, look at the apple website and in small print it says 100hrs of video based on video encoded in 640x480 and at 1.5Mbps, cut that in half and thats double the space, making it like 200 hrs of video, which would be in MPEG4 at 320x240 at 768Mbps( which is what all of itunes videos are encoded in!)
  
  
• Great Product, nice improvements
  By A2WRWK0ARXOFSZ on 2006-09-17
  This new ipod has some very nice improvements compared to the previous version. Longer battery life, brighter screen, and a larger hard drive. The ipod only holds a 100 hours of video due to the fact is is capable of playing a higher quality video. You can pretty much get a your whole music library, some games, and higher quality videos all in one device. All in all this is a great version of the ipod.
  
  
• iPod Convert here. . .
  By A3OASPX3DOPG99 on 2006-10-13
  Before this, I had a 20gb iRiver that lasted me 3 1/2 years. My iRiver died a few months back and I decided to take the iPod plunge since there was no non-iPod high capacity player (>= 60GB) that met my requirements.
  
  My huge CD collection (~500 - 600) had already been ripped to .wma which was a huge concern for me. I read so much about "you can't convert lossy to lossy (wma to aac)" that I really tried to NOT go with an iPod.
  
  Finally I decided to download iTunes and convert a few of my 192kbps wmas to 160kbps aac. I couldn't tell the difference!!
  
  I picked up the black 80GB (on sale) and really like it.
  
  It took about 36 hrs to convert my old .wmas to aac and only about 2 hours to synch up the iPod after that.
  
  I love the fact that I can use the Shuffle feature to listen to non-repeating GOOD music for days on end!!
  
  I really like the fact that all my actions (playcount & skips) and ratings are synched to iTunes (and vice-versa) whenever I plug the iPod back in.
  
  I also like the huge aftermarket for iPod stuff.
  
  Movies are very cool on this. I converted Back To The Future and have watched it a couple of times on this iPod. I can't believe the detail on this! I didn't purchase this iPod because of the video, I really wanted to be able to store my entire music collection on it and carry it wherever I go. I can do that and more now. . .
  
  
  *** Update ***
  A few months into owning this and my review stands. I've used this a lot more than I used my iRiver. What I really like about this is that when I buy a new (well, used) CD, I put the CD in the PC Drive, click 'yes' to "Do you want to rip this?". When I plug my iPod in, all the new music is synched, all my play & skip counts are updated, etc. I don't have to think about folder structures!!
  
  I bought an FM tuner for it shortly after writing the original review. Since then I've not listened to normal radio (save for the very few times I forgot the iPod).
  
  This has now been on a couple of trips, one cross country & a trip to Europe. Battery life has never really been stressed (nice to say after 12 hours of flying/layovers).
  
  I have a pair of Sure e3cn's which really bring out the sound.
  
  To date, I've only ripped one movie (Back To The Future) and have gotten stuck on The Matrix. I never really bought this to watch movies anyway so it doesn't change my opinion of the iPod...
  
  
  
  
  
• Very convenient, but the sound quality underwhelms
  By A1VH0U14YAQ0S2 on 2006-11-10
  After hearing so much about iPod from people I respect and reviews galore, I finally broke down and bought one. Not sure I'll keep it, I must say.
  
  I've had this for a few days and listened to a LOT of varied music, ranging from new recordings of Mahler symphonies to Cassandra Wilson to the Chemical Brothers. I give the iPod an "A" for convenience. But the bottom line for a portable audio device (still iPod's primary function) is the quality of the sound. And even with reasonable (though not audiophile) earbuds (Sennheiser CX300-B), the sound quality is not that great. On this iPod, even uncompressed WAV files lack the sound depth that I heard (with the same earbuds) on my old iRiver SlimX CD player. And if you listen to something with challenging bass demands (e.g., Chemical Brothers), harmonic distortion is inescapable. It's pretty frustrating.
  
  A related irritation is the absence of the obvious feature for addressing the sound quality issue: a user-configurable EQ setting. iPod offers a bunch of pre-defined settings (e.g., "rock", "dance") that supposedly optimize the sound for an Apple engineer's conception of the genre. But imagine a digital camera that offered only the pre-defined combinations of aperture and shutter speed settings for various types of pictures (e.g., "portrait", "sports") without even giving the user the option of adjusting these settings himself/herself. That's effectively what iPod sticks us with.
  
  There is much to like about iPods. The convenience is undeniable. The form factor is elegant. And the user interface, integration with iTunes, etc. warrant the praise they've received. But for heaven's sake: I wish that SOMEBODY who makes portable audio devices would remember that job number 1 is _sound quality_. At least so far, iPod's sound quality is its worst feature, and this new model only continues the broader decline of quality standards among portable audio products.
  
  
• A beauty - and not a scratch in sight
  By A1EJF3HAXA8IS0 on 2006-11-30
  First up, I'm surprised at the comments about the scratches. What are people doing to their iPods? I thought I treated mine rough, but clearly some are throwing it out the window. My iPod is completely scratch-free after just over a month of use, and it's been painless to use.
  It's my fourth iPod - I bought the first model the day it was released (5 gigs - how I thought that was a lot!) and then upgraded to the third generation model. Finally I treated myself to this in order to a) carry my massive music collection b) watch videos and video podcasts and c) use with my Canon DSLR camera.
  (I also have a Shuffle - a great device for the gym!)
  
  The screen looks small but I'm surprised how immersive an experience it is to watch video on it. I thought about waiting for the rumoured large-screen video iPod but reasoned that I actually don't need something so big or battery-hungry and am really pleased with the current screen size.
  It's also really good at displaying photos, either on the screen (nice, crisp images and colour reproduction) or on TV or data projector.
  
  Sound is good too, though they no longer provide those little black covers for the earbuds which mean mine keep dropping out (I suppose my ears aren't compatible!) Anyway, I used the ones from the old iPod...
  
  I like the new features such as the letters that pop up on screen when you scroll through long lists, and the search feature. The new games are great too - Bejewelled and Texas Hold 'Em helped me through a tedious train journey recently.
  
  As for my old iPods, well I'm glad to report that they maintained their value and were happily sold to new loving parents ;-)
  Personally I'd be wary of any reviewer that says theirs cracked, or the battery failed or whatever - either they got a duff one (and by a the law of averages, there have to be a few in every batch) or they're not telling the truth. Seriously - I've been a happy iPod user for over five years now and I've not only never had a problem with any of mine, no one I know has either (and there are a lot of iPod owners near me!)
  
  Buy with confidence.
  
  
• What a piece of junk
  By AKZG20TOVLTJ1 on 2006-12-01
  I've had this for about a month now and it's already freezing. Currently the menu won't close and I can't turn it off or get my computer to recognize it's attached. Great product, Apple! I'm so happy I spent over $300 on this trash; I've got a 5 year old $12 Radio Shack cd-player that's more reliable than this brick.
  
  
• The best iPod ever...
  By A1OFGHUVBID9NW on 2006-09-25
  I recently bought an 80GB 5th generation iPod - actually my 5th iPod overall... and I am amazed to which level of perfection Apple has taken the iPod. A lot of Apple-fans believe that the 5th generation iPod will represent the last iteration of iPods in their current form factor and screen size (the next true video-iPod is supposed to have a touch-screen covering the whole front), but the latest model will stand out as the high-end achievement in its current form. I honestly don't need a FM tuner - and I don't need to share music with my neighbor (hey, I am using my iPod mostly on planes anyway - no wireless allowed...), so why would I ever consider a Zune? The ease of the iPod-iTunes interaction is priceless and since the 80 GB model has the identical form factor to the previous 60GB model, right from the very start tons of accessories are available.
  I never owned a 4th generation iPod so that I cannot make direct comparisons with the previous model generation, but I am VERY impressed with the long battery life of my 80 GB iPod... Apple claims a 6.5 hour battery life when watching videos (which, BTW, are crispy-clear) and I can say tthat my personal experience beats this claim hand-down. 7 hours is a reasonable estimate of battery life on continuous video-use (have I mentioned how bright the screen is?)
  Overall, one of the best and most useful gadget-purchases I have ever made... (did I mention the downloadable games...?)
  
  
• There is nothing I can say that has not been already said...
  By A2ABALJP4ZTH4P on 2006-10-08
  This is my third iPod and this is the best one yet. This is my first video capable and this is a huge addition now with the brighter screen. One thing that may be a no-brainer or not; I suggest you "restore" your iPod first thing. I started dumping tunes and stuff on it immediately and had playback and rebooting issues. However I "restored" it with iTunes 7.1 and this thing with all the bells and whistles is more responsive than my 30gb 4G model was!!! Oh and don't be cheap get the 80gb model. You will not regret it!!!
  
  
• Good for music, video, and pictures
  By A16N7OZY0RWUJ3 on 2006-10-19
  Most of the reviews have done a better job than I could about the details of the good and bad about the 80GB iPod, so I'll talk to the people like me: Mac owners with loads of pictures, a number of songs, and a few videos.
  
  My primary purpose in getting the 80GB iPod was to take around my collection of photos from iPhoto for family gatherings and the like; also some of the short family videos I've done. (Obviously for this I also needed Apple's AV cable, not included, which handles video and stereo audio.) I agonized over the choice between the 60GB and 30GB models; when the new 80GB came out (for a lower price!) it seemed like a sign to go with the higher capacity.
  
  Good choice. Within a week of getting the iPod I had filled it to over 60GB with files that I would have had to delete from my hard drive otherwise in the course of a video project; it makes an *excellent* spare drive in a pinch. And even after finishing the project and moving the files back to the computer, I have 32GB of photos, music, and video. So if you have to choose a size, go with 80GB -- it will be less space than you think sooner than you think.
  
  Synching from iPhoto is as automatic and excellent as the synchs from iTunes. The iPod keeps track of how the photos are organized, making it easy to find groups and sort through them by date. Note, however, that if you are not organized in iPhoto, you won't have an easy time finding things on the iPod.
  
  Video playback is excellent, both on the small screen and on the TV (we have SD, not HD -- I would not expect the HD screen to be kind to the 640x480 output). Slideshows are also very good, although I wish it were easier to customize the tunes that go with different sets of pictures. And now I have six years of photos (over 8,000 pictures) that fit into my pocket.
  
  One thing I did not anticipate was need a remote control for the video and slideshows. So far I have not seen a product on the market that has not been slammed by reviewers.
  
  Side note: using the AV cable, I was able to capture video and audio output from the iPod to my digital camcorder. This let me take a snippet from an iTunes music video and include it on a DVD video project I did for my nephew. Not the best quality, obviously, but the object wasn't to strip off the copy protection, I just wanted to get enough of the video to add some flavor to the other video I was creating.
  
  I haven't given the battery a solid test yet (that will come with an overseas flight in a couple weeks), but while waiting in a store while my wife clothes shopped I went through a couple hours of video podcasts without the battery meter taking a noticeable hit.
  
  
  
• Love it, Love it, Love it ;-)
  By A24ZFFRQ4MG3XL on 2006-10-27
  First of all, I have to say how much I absolutely love my iPod. I am really enjoying using it and having all of my cd's on there (and I have many, many, many cd's). It's such an amazing product and I only wish I'd bought one earlier.
  Secondly, I have to tell people out there that if you are like me (or what I used to be like), don't think that this is some complex piece of equipment that you won't be able to use. My biggest concern had always been how to download music onto it and everyone kept telling me just how easy it was to do that. I never believed anyone because everyone swears by how easy it is and I've heard that all before without it actually being easy. This however ... is super easy to use. Just put your cd into the computer and itunes asks you if you want to import the cd. You say yes (untick any songs you don't want) and after you've done a few cd's, you plug the iPod into the computer and sit back while it downloads for you. I wish I'd known earlier.
  Itunes is easy too to use. The only problem I have with it here in Australia, is the variety is poor and minimal. We don't have great R&B or hip hop music to download, and no movies or new TV shows. I wish Australia would get with the program and move their behinds.
  The quality in the sound and picture (for music videos) are both superb and I really really enjoy this. I have downloaded close to over 650 cd's and I'm not even halfway through my capacity. It's the best invention of late and I hope that people who think it's complex to operate would read this and understand that if I can do it; anyone can. I hope you love your iPod as much as me. And PS. ... Black is the only way to go.
  
  
• - NO FIREWIRE DATA TRANSFER !!!!!!
  By A2IPVL2ZMRK98Q on 2006-10-25
  ALL of the ipods (except for the Nano and this 5th generation model) allowed for transfer of data via Firewire. In fact, some earlier versions even came with firewire cables. Considering the fact that Apple computers have many firewire ports and emphasizes the value of firewire, it's a [...]that this 'best' version doesn't support firewire data transfer.
  
  [...]
  
  
• this was definitely worth the wait!
  By AXM3B9IWNGPGI on 2006-10-28
  i started out with a 64mb diamond rio pmp500 in 2000, then a 256mb samsung yp55 in 2003. I pretty much held out on buying an ipod because of the price and not having a mac. Well that changed when i bought a powerbook g4 last winter and the ipod prices dropped this past september... i just had to get an ipod. First off, the great thing about the ipod is not the hardware itself, but it's the software that really makes the ipod shine. Yes the ipod is really nice and has great features, but itunes allows the ipod to become the complete package in audio/video portability. You can carry all your music, photos, contacts, videos, calender info, etc on the ipod. You can even use it to store files if you've run out of space on your computer. Although the screen is only 2.5" big watching movies on it isnt a problem at all... it comes out nice and clear.
  
  I have no regrets buying my ipod, it's everything i wanted and more! But be warned, you'll probably want to buy a mac after getting this.
  
  
• Best iPod and iTunes combination yet!
  By A1HCWV7BIYCG3E on 2006-11-19
  The 80GB (and 30GB) 5.5 Generation iPods are remarkable! Sound quality has always been good with iPods but I clearly hear (coming from a 4 Generation unit) that the sound is even better. Apple has done great work on this and, combined with their newly designed (and much more comfortable!) headphones, it's as pleasant as ever. At home I plug my iPod into a separate headphone amp and use expensive full-size headphones and, believe me, I can tell the difference between these two generations. Sound was very good before and is even better now.
  
  The new iTunes 7.0 software is excellent. Gapless music playback is a wonderful addition! No more "dead space" between tracks that were meant to be played smoothly from one to the other. There's also various album cover art views, free album cover art from the iTunes store, integrated control of your iPod, and an even easier way to control what is synched (or not synched) to your iPod. An easy to use product is now even easier to use. It's the perfect compliment to the iPod.
  
  And what a great value these iPods are! Two months ago you'd pay $300 for the 30GB model and $400 for a 60GB. Now they're each $50 less and yet they have much brighter screens, gapless music playback, the new headphones, 75% longer battery life, and software searching with the wheel to easily find any track/artist/album. In the case of the high-end model (the one I now own), they also added an extra 20GB of hard disk space (80GB instead of 60).
  
  
  

• JVC HAF130A Portable Gummy Earbud Headphones ( Mint Blue )
• JVC HAF130G Portable Gummy Earbud Headphones ( Green )
• Monster A-IP-FM-CH-PS Wireless FM Transmitter
• BOSE(R) Triport Headphone - Silver

• Apple USB Power Adapter for iPod (White)
• Speck Products iPod Video ToughSkin w/ Belt Clip - Black
• Kensington 33169 Digital FM Radio and Transmitter for iPods
• Apple 30 GB iPod AAC/MP3 Video Player Black (5.5 Generation)
• AppleCare Protection Plan for iPod touch/classic