Apple iPod classic 4th Generation from HP (40 GB) MP3 Player

As somewhat of an iPod veteran, my first iPod was a 2nd generation (2G) 10GB model. I loved it. I was easy to use and looked great. When the next generation 3G iPod was released it was an easy decision to upgrade to a larger capacity model with improved features. What a mistake! The all touch-sensitive controls were too sensitive and not all arranged in an optimum layout. The battery life had also suffered in the upgrade process. It had reduced by 2 hours to between 6 and 8 hours. I was not happy. Then recently, without much fanfare, the 4G iPod was among us. It promised more usable controls and better battery life in a thinner casing. I am here to tell you that this promise has been fulfilled.

I decided to buy a 40GB model since it was only $100 more than the 20GB model, and it included a dock which the 20GB model did not. The 20GB model is temptingly thin, but I needed the extra space of the 40GB model. I decided to buy it from my local Best Buy store since they had them in stock almost immediately after release. They also offered a 4-year service plan for $40, although strangely a different 2-year replacement plan on the 20GB model. The purchase of my 4G iPod did not go smoothly.

When I returned from Best Buy with my new toy I noticed that its white areas had smearing/streaking on them, as if it had been wiped with a dirty damp cloth. I also noticed a black particle trapped between the wheel and the casing. Try as I might I could not remove the smears, nor could I dislodge the particle. I then returned to the store and received a replacement. Unfortunately the replacement had the same smears and also had a white particle trapped behind the center of the screen. I returned this second device to the store and got a refund. It was only after buying a third iPod from a different Best Buy store that I got one that was acceptable. It too needed to be cleaned, but at least it responded to cleaning. What's up with all these dirty iPods?

The significant changes in the 4G models from the 3G models are in the areas of battery life (50% more, now 12 hours) and controls (the design being copied from the iPod Mini). The 4G models may be marginally thinner and lighter than their predecessors, but not noticeably so. Although the prices have dropped by $100, you longer get an inline remote control and a carrying case. No big deal for me since I never used the remote control and I strongly disliked the carrying case. The fact that I don't now have to pay for these items is a big plus in my book! If you must have them, both of these accessories are still sold separately.

The iPod dock now has a line-out port (3.5mm stereo jack socket) that can be used to interface with other audio equipment. I assume this would be a better option in some cases than using the earphones socket. The firmware has been updated to increase ease of use, although there are no stunning differences over earlier versions. One thing that did catch my eye is a new facility to slow down audio playback without altering its pitch.

Despite the universal praise that the iPod line has received from many quarters since its appearance, it is not the perfect personal music player. Most importantly, sound quality is not in the upper echelons of personal players. There are cheaper players out there that are noticeably better, such as models from iRiver and Creative. Even with 12 hours of battery life, there are many players with more juice. The limited range of music formats the iPod can handle can be restrictive for some. For instance, it can't play wma files, which is the format that Napster uses. (Note that iTunes can convert wma files to mp3, although protected files may cause problems).

Although the iPod claims to have support for audio books, it has poor support for bookmarks. This is a big issue for many people and is something that Apple needs to address. There are two other issues that bugged me while listening to audiobooks. Firstly, the fast forward function is not fast enough. It seems to take forever to advance 30 minutes. Secondly, when using the fast forward with the backlight, the backlight goes out after its timeout, making it difficult to find your position. The iPod should keep the light lit during any activity.

Many hard disk based digital music players can also function as a portable storage device. They require no special drivers for Windows - just plug it in and off you go. With the iPod it's not that easy, which is a pity. With the right software drivers installed, an iPod can be used in this fashion, but the requirement for these drivers reduces its usefulness. Although I see this as a negative, in these days of heightened security, it may have advantages too.

But let me dwell upon the negatives no longer...

The iPod is a great device and is still deservedly considered by many, including me, to be the best in its genre. It is a pleasure to use a device that has been designed with the user in mind. Other players I have tried, although technically better that the iPod in some respects, and with more features, have invariably been lacking in design. The iPod is still the one to beat, and the new model helps assert its position at the head of the pack.