Biggest waste of money ever? (Apple iPod (3G) 20 GB)

Member Name: Dringostarr

Product:	Apple iPod (3G) 20 GB
Date:	13/01/05 (583 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Loud, Cool, Couldn't live without it

Disadvantages: Crap games, Terrible price, Battery life

Being such an avid listener of music that I am, getting an I-pod seemed the best thing I could do. It could hold all my songs with ease, it means I wouldn't need to swap CD's, or mini discs, I could get all the details of the songs with one click, it told me the time, it played games (which my latest phone does not)... and it looks damn cool.

But was that worth £220? Was it hell.

I'm going to begin by cricising Apple's device. For starters the games are terrible, the "spot the song" is alright, but high scores are not kept so you have no re-playable desire. The alarm is weedy, the click wheel is at times tempromental and most importantly that battery. If you do not plan to use the I-pod like I do (which is at least 2 hours a day) then do not get one. Apple's Guarentee means that when my battery gets low (it has gone from 10 hours to 4 in a matter of 5 months) I can get a new one. But if I hadn't of used it so frequently it may have been fine for the full 12 months and so getting a new one would mean forking out loads of money. Apple do offer you a deal, even after the guarentee you can get a new I-pod for a mere £80 if your battery dies, but i've spent my next 2 years allowance on the thing in the first place.

But other than that I love my I-pod, I simply could not live without it. Yes the battery life isn't good but it gets me through a day no problem. Sure the games are crap but I use it for music. And I have a LOT of music. I can choose whatever band I want and listen to that entire band's catalogue? Or select individual albums. Or select individual songs. Or shuffle through my entire collection! And what is also nice is that via I-tunes I can create my own playlists and legally download music.

What's great about legally downloading music is that quality is guarenteed, you only need to get the songs you like and it is not really that much. I mean downloading albums maybe a waste of time but often your favourite group will release I-tunes exclusive tracks and some special live numbers. I'd prefer it to be cheaper, 79P per track is a bit steep. But hey, it's worthwhile.

Playlists are good, you can make as many as you want to suit your mood and you even get to write little notes that show up on your I-pod screen.

And did I tell you how good it looks?!?? My word it looks good, you can see from the screenshot but it's fantastic. It is controlled by the genius little click wheel and it is so easy to use it becomes second nature.

I have to confess, holding my entire CD-collection in one place, listening to it on top grade ear phones (which have lasted longer than any ones i've previously owned (touch wood)) at a good volume (goes rather loud you know) and being the height of fashion feels rather good. It is also small and light, which is the main advantage I-pod has over its competitors.

It is expensive though. It comes at a price. But was it worth it? Just about. Although I wouldn't spend it again. Would probably buy a creative.

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