Apple iPod 20 GB

...the education section of the Apple site: www.apple.com/education


Small, yet perfectly formed.
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I unwrapped my iPod on that first day, plucked it from the polystyrene and simply stared at it for a while. It was gorgeous. Not only was it surprisingly small and streamlined [fitting perfectly in the palm of my hand] but it was slick and gleaming, the pearly white casing ...
...advantage of the inscription that Apple offer to put on the casing: I could have had something painfully geeky done, like maybe, “One iPod To Rule Them All”? After all, it was destined for great things - my mp3 collection.

For something so, dare I say it...pretty, it was hard to believe that it could be so powerful. Well, this miniature miracle machine offers plenty more than mere aesthetics. It can boast a phenomenal hard disc space; ... more

My own iPod is the 20GB, 3rd generation model, usually bought for around £299.99. If you’re a student, like me, you’ll be pleased to hear that you can take advantage of massive discounts through the education section of the Apple site: www.apple.com/education

Small, yet perfectly formed.
------------------------------------

I unwrapped my iPod on that first day, plucked it from the polystyrene and simply stared at it for a while. It was gorgeous. Not only was it surprisingly small and streamlined [fitting perfectly in the palm of my hand] but it was slick and gleaming, the pearly white casing and mirror-like back-panel had been polished to a brilliant shine. I almost regretted not taking advantage of the inscription that Apple offer to put on the casing: I could have had something painfully geeky done, like maybe, “One iPod To Rule Them All”? After all, it was destined for great things - my mp3 collection.

For something so, dare I say it...pretty, it was hard to believe that it could be so powerful. Well, this miniature miracle machine offers plenty more than mere aesthetics. It can boast a phenomenal hard disc space; my version is the 20 gigabyte version and, as such, can potentially hold 5,000 songs. Imagine having double that space - I challenge you to fill the 40GB model in a single lifetime! The range of support for music files is impressive, including compatibility with MP3, AAC, WAV, MP3 VBR, Audible and AIFF formats. Surprisingly, wma is not supported, yet there are ways to convert these files to mp3. The iPod is not Macintosh-exclusive and will, therefore, work with both Apple Mac and Windows.

The first steps you take should be to organise your music. Generally, iTunes does this for you automatically, sorting your songs alphabetically, etc., yet you should ensure that you have labelled the ‘Album’ and ‘Genre’ sections for each song, to guarantee ease when searching for your songs. Also, you may like to organise some of your songs into playlists, for listening on-the-go. When I was ready to connect to the Mac, I plugged the dock into the firewire port and slipped the iPod into the stand. Automatically, iTunes fires-up and syncs with your ’Pod. The transfer rate is incredible, taking less than a second to import a single song. Blink and you’ll miss it.

After the initial sync is completed, I’ll allow you a happy-dance: now you’re free to play! You can gaze in wonderment at the blue backlight, or the touch-sensitive scroll wheel. Yes, both the selection wheel, for choosing your song, and the operation buttons are sensitive to the electric current from your finger: merely skim over them and watch the songs fly. The menu is incredibly user-friendly; it is easy to navigate because your songs are sorted into sub-categories [which you will have already defined in iTunes]. There is also a pleasant clicking sound when you scroll over a song, which is helpful when you’re working through a long list of songs, yet can be disabled if it gets annoying.

Most importantly, the sound quality is stunning. This was my only concern when first deciding on which mp3 player to buy, that the sound would be crystal clear, and I wasn’t disappointed. For added power, I recomment investing in some heavy-duty headphones, yet for those unlike me who don’t punish their eardrums, the Apple earbuds are more than adequate!

What you’ll get:
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When I finally received my iPod through the post, I was thrilled. I’d waited for so long and heard so many stories about its capabilities that I couldn’t wait to try it out for myself. Opening the packaging was an event in itself: Apple may court its fair share of controversy but no points should be lost for presentation! You are confronted with a curious black cube which opens in layers to reveal all the kit in stages. The user manual bears a single word as introduction - ‘Enjoy.’ Well, doesn’t that just say it all!

•The 20GB iPod package comes with its very own ‘dock,’ the stand which connects to the computer via your firewire port.

• White earphones, or ‘earbuds’ as Apple likes to call them, with an extra pair of sponge covers. Also, a remote which, as well as enabling you to easily change tracks on the move, serves to extend the cord for the earbuds, if you need extra length. This remote is only included with 20 and 40GB models, however.

• A charger for connection to any plug-socket.

• A small white plug for protecting the connections of your iPod.

• A black carry-case which your iPod fits into snugly - be wary of [or cut off!] the label on the inside, however, as it may scratch your screen. The case has a small clip on the back for your belt or pocket. There is also a black cloth pouch for use if you don’t wish to use the carry-case.

What you’ll need:
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Being a Mac user, I’m quite sketchy on the details for Windows, so I’ll go ahead with the requirements for Macintosh: before you set it up, you should ensure that your operating system is Mac OS X v10.1.5 or later [some features only work on v10.2.8, so this is recommended]; you should install iTunes v4.1, which you can find on the enclosed CD and you can find any additional information at www.apple.com/itunes ; you also need a program called iSync [version 1.1] for interfacing with iTunes and, optionally, iCal v1.0.1 or later - you’re likely to have this already if you’re an OS X user and it is used for your calendar and contact information.

What else you can do:
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Apart from the obvious glee that comes from being able to carry a virtual music store in your pocket, there is a wealth of extra features on the iPod. Take, for example, the capacity for listening to audio books; storing notes and contact information; setting alarms; recording voice memos with the aid of an optional microphone; or storing your digital photographs, using an additional photocard reader. There is also a selection of games to play, my personal favourite being the Music Quiz, which tests your knowledge of your own collection of songs. The best feature, in my opinion, is the choice to store text notes: being a literature student, the ability to keep all my notes and set texts on my iPod for easy access is fantastic! For others, though, the iPod’s best feature may be how it can stand in as an extra hard-drive: enable its disc mode and the iPod can store all your files. Who needs to buy an external hard-drive?!

Peripherals:
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Just like with the emergence of any computer system or console, there has been the inevitable influx of peripheral devices into the market. The majority of these have been manufactured by Apple and a firm called Belkin, yet there are a few brands who have flocked to make products and accessories for the iPod. It is possible to get adaptors to transform the iPod into a dictaphone, link it up to a nearby FM radio, or use it as a photograph storage unit. There are additional cables available for connection to speakers and extra battery packs for extended use. I am fully confident that the iPod could, in future, give you a shower and shave too.

Any Problems?
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Well, if you discount the fact that none of your friends will speak to you for a week out of pure iPod-envy, then you won’t be left with much to complain about! Here are a few things to consider, though...

• The theft of iPods has soared recently with the sheer volume of advertising that has been plastered onto every billboard from here to eternity. I’m sure you’ve all noticed the silhouette adverts. This is a highly desirable piece of kit and can be spotted easily by those distinctive white earbuds, so take care not to brandish it about too much in public [yes, I know you want to show it off!] and I suggest wearing it in the black waist-clip case and wiring it under your clothes, for that extra bit of security. Not to worry too much, of course, just use as much caution as you would when using your mobile phone on the street.

• The ’Pod is a beautiful thing to behold and you’ll want to protect it like it was your firstborn child. That glassy looking aluminium backing gets fingerprinted very easily, but this is not so much of an issue as long as you wipe it over every so often; the problem is that the casing is almost begging to be scratched. Thankfully, in the case that it incurs any scratches, there are various products available to treat them, which can be ordered direct from Apple. I have been told toothpaste works just as well, but don’t quote me on that!

• Battery life. If you’re considering buying an iPod, then you’ll no doubt have heard embittered rumours about its questionable battery life. Personally, having had mine for around a month, I’m still in that honeymoon phase! I am no veteran just yet, but I have no complaints about the battery so far - on an average charge, it lasts around 8 hours, even at the insane volume I play my songs! The possibility that somewhere down the line the battery may have to be replaced completely was awful to contemplate at first, considering the possible expense. Still, nothing lasts forever and after using the iPod, I can assure you that it’s worth every second you can squeeze out of it.

• Connectivity: if you do not have a ‘firewire’ port on your computer, you will have to invest in a USB-2 cable in order to hook it up and transfer music.

Customer Support.
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In my experience, Apple’s customer support has been fantastic. After finding that one of my earbuds was faulty, I called the helpline and talked to some incredibly helpful assistants who were eager to please - they even registered my iPod for me as we spoke. A replacement pair of earphones was dispatched within three days and they didn’t even ask me to send the faulty ones back to them in exchange.

Anything else?
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To summarise - BUY AN IPOD! Or, yes, well...something less forceful. This isn’t just the latest executive toy, or teenage fad, but a revolutionary music player which is a joy to use. Take a bite out of Apple, here’s one buying decision you won’t regret. 

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