I got myself an iPod mini because everyone else I knew was getting one. Not a good reason, I know but it is the truth.
I've read a lot of reviews both online and off about the iPod mini and have seen that a lot of people have not been happy with theirs. I, on the other hand, have never had any problems with it at all!
Let's take a look at it in closer detail…
An iPod mini is… A smaller version of the iPod. So, what's an iPod I hear you shout! iPods of all types are small devices that allow you to store music in digital format (MP3) and play it back at your leisure, on the move, at the gym, in the street…anywhere really.
How do they work? ********************** They have a small hard drive, physically it is small but often it
is quite large in terms of storage space. My iPod mini is a 4GB hard drive, I'll get a good few songs on that! You can get 6GB hard drives too. 1 track tends to be on average about 4MB in size, consider that 4GB is over 1000 times larger then you can see how much music you could get onto this small but nice and shiny gadget. Music is stored and viewed in albums or artist lists, genre or plain old lists of songs and can also be put into playlists so you only get your favourites played to you if you want.
How do you use it? ******************** The iPod has a click wheel located on the front. Navigation around all of the menus and files on the iPod is done with this wheel. It does not physically turn but has sensors that when you move your finger over it in a circular motion it acts just like it is moving. It clicks - hence the name. The click can be turned off though which I like. I'm the sort of person who can not have the buttons on their mobile beeping at me, I am the same with the click wheel.
What's the sound quality like? ********************************** Considering the size of the player the sound is fantastic. The music is obviously digital as you have used it on the computer - more of that in a minute - but it is also clear and noiseless.
How do you get music on it in the first place? *************************************************** Well, to use an iPod you need to download iTunes from Apple or install it from the CD that hopefully comes with the iPod. The software is easy to use as a player, a burner and a download store. You need to register a credit card to access the store where you can purchase individual tracks or complete albums and audio-books from 79p each. Once installed - which does not take long using the CDs provided - the computer will recognise the iPod and enable you to set up the computer to work with the iPod to your satisfaction. Things can happen automatically or when you tell them to. Personally I turn off all the automatic functions. My first experience of iPod and iTunes was when ALL of my music on my PC tried to fit onto the iPod automatically as soon as I plugged the iPod in! Playlists and all music on the iPod can be managed from the main iTunes interface.
How does the iPod connect to my PC then? *************************************************** With the iPod you get a USB cable. It's stylishly white and is literally plug and play. The USB end goes into the computer and the other end into the bottom of the iPod. One word of warning, make sure iTunes is closed or you eject the iPod from iTunes before taking the lead out or you risk losing information. The iPod display warns you of this also.
Battery life, I heard battery life was dreadful! ************************************************* I have had 11 hours continuous play out of my iPod. It is a generation 4 which is obviously more up to date and they seem to have worked on this since the first iPods with bad batteries. What I will say is that if I don't use the iPod it will drain so if I fully charge it but then don't use it for a few weeks, when I come to use it, it is often half drained. They suggest you should get 8 hours out of it if you don't keep flicking through menus and don't mess with things.
What colours does it come in? ********************************** Mine is a nice shiny blue colour but you can also get Pink, gold if you are lucky and silver.
Can you get accessories for it? ************************************* Yeah! Covers in stylish colours, cases to protect it, belt clips, exercise clips, speakers, chargers for the wall and more!
How much is all this going to cost me? ******************************************* I paid £139.99 for mine about 6 months ago and this is still about how much people are asking in the high street. Accessories vary from place but expect to pay at least a tenner.
Would I recommend it? **************************** I would!
Why? ****** It's small - about 6 x 2 x ½ inches The sound quality is great. The battery life is good. It's light. It's easy to use!
Hopefully this has been of some use!
Maniac
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
I do flick through the menus because I get bored of the songs, and my battery life is rubbish! I don't think much of the ipod (see my review)!
tashat 11.09.2005 19:23
A great review but like darkangelwing, I too will always prefer creative products. xx
darkangelwing 05.09.2005 20:32
I'll always prefer my lovely zen 5GB player hehe, but a beutifully written reiew, love the sub headings and great structure, well done, bless the lord for mp3 players hehe(-:
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sean1234567890 18.03.2009 (18.03.2009)
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