Hands-On Observations--The iPod

A week ago Apple introduced the iPod, a premium MP3 player and FireWire hard drive. It will be available on November 10th for $399. Even though we are more likely to listen to an FM "oldies" or jazz station than to a CD or MP3 player we are impressed with the iPod and wanted to check it out. After all, we occasionally listen to our MP3 collection on our PowerBook while on long flights when we want to relax.

Each Apple Store has one iPod to demo so yesterday we stopped by the Apple Store in Tysons Corner, VA, to get a first hand look, up close and personal. We found iPod back at the Genius Bar and had to wait our turn to handle it. The iPod is a little larger than we thought, taller than a deck of cards and a bit wider and thicker. It is larger than most MP3 players but just slightly and it is pretty light, right in the midrange of MP3 player weight. It looks great, much better than any other MP3 player in our opinion, with its mirror-like stainless steel back and clear plastic front underlayed with white. The LCD window is large and easy to read. The backlight is bright and blue--no problems seeing it in a dim light situation.

It is easy to use because it is easy to figure out how to use it. We went to the main menu, scrolled down to "About" and pressed and held the middle button to bring up a mini 2-line game of "Breakout", an Easter egg. We had no problem figuring out the controls. The sound through the included ear bud head phones is excellent but through a set of regular head phones the sound is probably outstanding. Check out this MSNBC article for Bill Gates' reaction--"It's only for Macintosh?"

The iPod doesn't come with a case or belt clip or an adapter to use in a car's cigar lighter socket. Of course, neither did our iBook which also could use them--well, maybe not the belt clip. Fortunately, it won't be long before third party aftermarket products become available.

Most of the criticism of iPod has been leveled at its price, $399. At that price, the iPod is the most expensive even if the most capable and best designed MP3 player on the market. However, the 5 GB FireWire drive inside the iPod retails for $399 all by itself. In fact, if we get an iPod it will be mainly because it is the smallest and lightest portable FireWire drive to take with our TiBook on travel. Our current mini VST 4 GB FireWire backup drive is twice the iPod's size. The iPod's cool design and the fact that it can also instantly sync with our MP3 collection via a FireWire cable and iTunes 2 and then play it back are "free" bonuses. We have until November 10th to think about it.