Apple iPod Video 5th Generation White (30 GB) MP3 Player

The Apple Ipod G5 is the latest personal audio/video system available from Apple. This latest version heavily plugs it's video abilities. With these units you can transfer downloads music and video to the Ipod and listen at your leisure. You may also download and watch TV and movies as well as video podcasts.
Here's what you need to know:
The Ipod is very small and thin and is available in black or white. Both versions are highly vulnerable to surface scratches to the point of being ludicrous. You will have to buy cover/case for the unit from day one. The software included is Itunes and it's a somewhat clumsy and dated chuck of software. Once you learn it you'll wonder that they couldn't make it more intuitive. It does work fine after you've mastered it and you can easily transfer CDs and downloaded music files to the Ipod.
Navigating the Ipod's simple menu system is used with a touch sensitive non-mechanical wheel. It works well, though it's a little to easy to make a wrong selection. Practice won't make perfect, but it works okay.
The screen is bright and has good resolution, better than other units currently out. Amazingly, Apple Quicktime and other common formats won't play on the Ipod. Apple wants to you spend 30 dollars on software to covert files for video playback. This bad business is easily solved since free software is available online to covert files. You may also connect the unit to a TV set for video quality that's worse than VHS tape, but serviceable, especially on smaller screens. Apple will try to sell you a cable for A/V output but any Mini to RCA stereo plug will work as will any camcorder mini to stereo/Video plug set. Apple switched one of the audio lines with the video to make people think they needed the Apple cable. Just find the Video line of the three and your done. Sorry Apple.
There's been a lot of complaints that Apple did not include the charger with the unit. I have to say that Apple should be ashamed and if I had not gotten this as a gift I'd never have bought it on that point alone.
The Ipod's audio quality is good, but not with the included ear buds which may or may not stay in your ears. I threw mine away. They are junk. A proper set of headphones will be a worthwhile purchase. There are no user EQ adjustments on the Ipod, only volume. Older folks who's hearing has frequency loss will be unable to adjust to suit them.
To summarize: The new Video Ipod is a stylish and useful player, but it is marred by lack of features and Apple's efforts to force owners to buy basic essentials that should have been in the box...such as a charger, cables and basic video software. Apple's attitude has kept me from being a fan of their products for many years and the Ipod, even as a gift, has proven to me that they continue to abuse their customer base while pushing style of substance.
Still, this IS a good player, once you buy the extras and it's fun to use. In spite of my complaints 4 out 5 stars.
Capt. RB