Videos, music and more in your pocket! (Apple iPod (5G) 60 GB)

Member Name: aerob

Product:	Apple iPod (5G) 60 GB
Date:	03/06/06 (105 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Easy to use, stylish, massive memory

Disadvantages: scratches easily, expensive

After using my old Ipod mini for a couple of years, when the battery died i decided to buy a new MP3 player. Naturally, i stuck with Ipod's, as they are, without a doubt, the most common MP3 player on the market. I bought the Ipod for £318 from Comet, this also came with a pair of Logitech folding speakers.

The Ipod itself

The Ipod itself, as with all the other versions, is incredibly small considering what it is and what it can do. It's size is approximately 10.4x6.1cm and 1.5 cm thick. It can be easily fitted into pockets and is also extrremely lightweight, so you won't feel a thing! The Ipod comes in either black or white, i went for the white option, simply because i think it looks better! The Ipod can hold 15,000 songs, 25,000 photos and 140 hours of video, which is an incredible amount to be had in something as small as a calculator! The battery (claims) to last 20 hours for playing music and 5 hours for watching movies. I have found that, with the backlight off i can realisticly expect to get 15 hours constant use of music, and about 4 hours movie playback. However, this has never really bothered me as i will charge it as soon as i get home. The ipod is extremely to use, and navigated by using a scroll wheel. I'm sure many of you will be familiar with the old Ipod clicwheel, and the new Ipod hasn't really changed. You still get the scroll wheel with a play/pause, menu, next & previous song buttons. You also get a hold button at the top to prevent accidental changes.

As well as playing music, the Ipod has other features. There is the option to write notes, although i have never used this as have never had the need. There is also a stopwatch (again, have never used it). The Ipod also has numerous games that can be played. There are 4 games: Brick, Solitaire, Music Quiz & Parachute. To be honest, these games (in my opinion) aren't enjoyable, and i have never really played them on any of the Ipod's i have had. They also drain the battery, especially is used with the backlight on, another reason why i don't play the games.

Accessories

Ok, so the standard package comes with Ipod, stand, USB port connecting to computer, a case, an ITunes CD and Instruction booklet.
I have no use for the stand, and to be perfectly honest it looks cheap compared to the Ipod, and does not compliment it in the slightest. ITunes is the program that is used to sort the songs & movies onto before downloading them onto the Ipod. As before, ITunes syncs perfectly with your Ipod, and requires no adjusting or setting up, you simply plug in your Ipod and let ITunes do the rest. The instruction booklet lays out everything that you would need to know about the Ipod, however, having had previous Ipod's i had no need to use it, and it has remained untouched!

After using my Pod for a couple of days, i was getting very annoyed by the marks and finger prints on the screen, so i went out and bought a nice leather cover for the Ipod, which not only prevents the Pod from finger prints, but also prevents it from annoying little scratches you get from carrying it around in your pockets. I would recommend getting a nice case, as in the long run it will protect your Ipod from scratches and marks.

Conclusion

Overall, the Ipod video is another incredible product from Apple. It has everything that has made previous Ipod's successful, and more! I really find it hard to criticise this product, i have never had a problem with any of my 4 (i have gone through too many in the last few years!) Ipod's, and this one is no different.

The sound quality is excellent, and using the equilizer, you can adjust the sound to specific genres e.g. rock, blues, bass..... The picture quality is also excellent, it is crisp, sharp and excellent quality. The quality is just as good as pocket TV's, and (in my opinion) better than any mobile phone quality out there!

As for memory size, 60 GB really is more than enough for me. My current hard drive on the PC is only 60GB, and i have not even filled this, so having 60GB in my pocket is more than enough space for all my music and videos. Obviously, this may not be the case for you, but i am sure that 60GB is sufficient for most users.

The Ipod really is a fantastic product, and i would highly recommend it to anyone who is considering a new MP3 player. OK, it may be expensive, but when you have the ability to watch movies in your back pocket, the price isn't really an issue!

Summary: Excellent product, a great buy, recommend it to anyone considering a new MP3 player!

Processing/Quality:
Reliability:
Ease of use:
Features:
Sound quality:
Download speed: