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

Should I buy an iPod?

By this point you've probably already made up your mind whether to buy one or not and are just looking for some positive reinforcement for your decision. Because the iPod's technical schematics are easily found elsewhere online, I won't spend a lot of time on the unit's specifications. Instead, what I am going to focus on is the first days of my experience as a new owner. (Please note this review takes place on a Windows platform machine and doesn't offer any insight on the iPod experience using a Mac platform machine.)

After doing extensive research online and polling friends who were already iPod owners, I decided to purchase a 30 GB iPod through my campus computer store. Since I already owned a 512 MB Creative MuVo TX FM player that I use for the gym, I wanted something with more storage capacity so I could take songs with me when I traveled. I thought about going for the 60 GB version, but decided against it because: 1) I couldn't justify spending close to $400 on something that could be stolen, broken, or lost; and 2) I honestly didn't think I would need access to 60 GB of music, videos, and photos.

The 30 GB version comes in a fairly small box. In addition to the iPod, buyers get a set of headphones, a USB cable, cradle adapter, leather sleeve, an iTunes program CD, and a small instruction manual. Previous version of the iPod came with docking cradles and other accessories, but are now sold seperately.

Getting the iPod to synchronize with iTunes is very easy. For those owners who want to get on the ball quickly, I'd strongly recommend downloading iTunes for free off of Apple's site before buying your iPod. This would allow you to familiarize yourself with the iTunes software and interface, as well as create a music library which will be ported over to the iPod later.

Because I have an older machine equipped with USB 1.1 instead of 2.0, copying music files was much slower. I transferred about 12 GB of music through this connection and had to let it work overnight. However, copying the files over was effortless, if not time consuming.

The iPod is amazingly small and very sexy. Navigating on the click wheel is easy, though it does take a bit of getting used to.

Though I didn't buy the iPod specifically for the video, watching videos on the unit is actually quite fun. The image is very good, though the use of the video will drain the iPod's battery very quickly. On a full charge, users will have about an hour's worth of video time, give or take.

Photos also look great on the iPod with the new larger screen compared to the old photo iPods. The iPod can be made to synchronize with specific photos folders or through the Photoshop Album or Photoshop Elements programs. Users can choose to have the full image files ported to the iPod or thumbnails. Thumbnails take less space and are highly recommended if you only plan on viewing the photos and not using the iPod as a photo storage or backup device. It should be noted that the iPod will organize photos by albums (if applicable) and chronological order. Beyond that, users cannot choose the order in which their photos will appear on the machine.

But first and foremost, the iPod is a music player. This it does extraordinarily well. Though some people have panned the included earphones, they do a decent job and music playback is quite nice. One of my favorite features when playing music is the iPod's ability to display album art as songs play. In a time where many users download their music rather than buying a physical CD, it's always nice to see what the CD cover was like. (It should be noted that this option must be toggled on in iTunes. And depending on whether your music was purchased from iTunes or ripped from a private CD collection, album art is either automatically included or must be manually added.)

So what's not to like?

First, let's talk about the iPod itself. Probably the biggest complaint I'd have about the unit is that the surfaces either scratch or smudge easily.

Battery life, at times, can leave something to be desired, especially if you plan on using the video capabilities extensively.

Finally, lack of accessories to be included with the unit can be irksome. It should be noted that this version of the iPod (known as the 5G for fifth generation) may not be compatible with some accessories available on the open market for previous generations of iPod due to the fact that the port on the top of the unit has been eliminated. All accessories for this iPod must use the docking port at the bottom of the unit.

For those new to the iPod, expect to spend extra money to outfit your iPod. New owners should look to invest in some sort of exterior protection, whether it be a sleeve, body film, case, or what not. For users with machines with USB 1.1 (iPods can sync with USB 1.1, but have difficulty charging on it), they'll have to invest in a USB power adapter that can plug directly into a wall outlet. The adapter isn't cheap however, and costs $30.

One of the biggest cons with the iPod is the hidden costs of accessories. A decent cover can cost as little as $10, but can easily cost $30-$50. The power adapter costs $30. If you want to use Apple's universal dock as a cradle for your unit, it will cost you about $35. These costs can mount very quickly.

So should you get an iPod, and should it be this one? The iPod is certainly one of the best MP3 players out there and its tight integration with iTunes makes it an easy choice for both novice and expert users. The smaller capacity Shuffles and Nanos are probably best for people who are either on a tighter budget, have small music collections, or need something for a more active lifestyle. The larger iPod is more suited to people who maybe do extensive traveling and folks who want to have constant access to large music and/or photo collections.