Apple iPod Video 5th Generation 30GB Black MP3 Player

Great MP3 player

Strengths: Great sound, screen is great looking, videos play great, many new subtle features make for a great experience.

Weaknesses: Itunes is a terrible manager, getting widesreen to actually display as widescreen is tricky, you NEED a protector (I can't stress enough), no wall charger included.

Summary: This player is great for both new and longtime MP3 player fans. This was my first Ipod, my previous MP3 being a Rio Carbon. The unit itself is VERY nice and quick to learn. Video is presented clear with the bright 2.5" display. Music sounds great with the included earphones, and the unit is a lot smaller than I would have imagined, almost as small as the Rio Carbon.

My problem with this product though is not really with the unit, but with the Itunes software. It's terrible. Rio Music Manager was easy to use. Itunes had a much longer learning curve though. I STILL (after 2 weeks with it) can't get pictures on it. I think the Itunes software is corrupted or something. Getting video on it is easy once you get the right software. Quicktime Pro 7 is a waste of money. Widescreen formatting is tricky, but I eventually got the hang of it.

However, I can't strees enough how imprtant it is to get some srt or protector (or at LEAST a screen protector) with it. Within two weeks, you'll have dozens of scratches, and the screen will deform the images presented on it. I was lucky unough (or was I) to have a dead pixel and was able to send it in for a replacement. Now I have the Speck "Tough Skin" and Martin Fields Screen protector on it. It's near invincible.

Basically, get this, but make sure you also get what you need (protectors, video encoder (Videora))

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• I'm betting you are using iTunes on a PC. Only MPEG4/AAC and H.26...

Kick Butt Technology

Strengths: Great sound, video is incredible (like an lcd tv), compact size, fantastic looks, ease of use, learnability

Weaknesses: scratches easily (you definitely need a screen protector), no wall charger included (available on ebay for about 10.00), battery life when playing videos.

Summary: This player is awesome, it holds a ton of music and pictures, and has superb sound even for an audiophile.

You do need to get a standalone video converter for your mpegs, I use Free Ipod Video Converter from Jodix which works great after a small learning curve.

I would recommend this player for anyone serious about music, if you only listen to music for an hour or so a day this is not the player for you, there are others out there much cheaper that will fit the bill. But if you listen to music all day like I do, this is a great product that you will not regret spending the money to own. My friends are all jealous of mine and a few of them have already bought their own.

Apple has hit a home run on this player.

Griffin on the other hand has made the iTrip FM transmitter to go with this player. DO NOT BUY THIS THING, it looks great but the range is very bad and the battery life is terrible with this transmitter. Buy an aftermarket one on ebay for 10 or 12 dollars and save about 40 bucks.

NOTE:

I have read a lot of these reviews where the reviewer trashed iTunes software, I am not sure what the problem is with the software. I use it with Win XP Pro and I have had no problems doing anything I need to do. From editing song titles and artist information, to removing single songs or videos or removing entire artist collections. I think the problem is with the lack of reading and learning the software. That being said iTunes is definitely not intuitive, you have to read and learn how to use it.

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GOOD but...

Strengths: Very good screen High speed computer sync Slim strong construction lots of add-on possibilites Good looking product

Weaknesses: Softwear/hardware gliches sometimes Scratches easy Complicated video import..( if your new to computers and mp3 devices) $$$

Summary: Good product with a few weakness's.I would recommended it but do not update your ipod rght away to the new 1.1 version.. it could cause problems. Also buy a protector for it as the included one gets dirty fast...

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More refinement

Strengths: useful case; audio quality cleaned up; bigger screen; same easy interface; black!; slim; high quality finish (gap construction)

Weaknesses: surface can be scratched; no more firewire transfer support; recharge only through usb; no widescreen for video; incompatibilities with some iPod accessories

Summary: Those who are familiar with Apple's annual update of its iPod will appreciate the nuances and subtle improvements on the audio side. Bass distortion and piano distortion has been kept to a minimal. There is still some bass distortion but thankfully, it is not as evident as before. Also, because of the beautiful black finish, apple actually included a useful neoprene case this time. Of course, those who want and are willing to afford higher quality protection will do so but it's nice for the company to actually included a non hideous looking case. Of course, the big 2.5" screen looks much better than before simply because it is bigger. Bigger is always better when it comes to LCD screens. The body is slimmer but more importantly, it feels more sturdy than its Nano siblings. No screen flex here. Finally, you have the same familiar and useful interface.

Now, the negatives. The nice surface is prone to scratching and black looks the best but more susceptible to aesthetic destruction. Then you no longer have firewire transfer support. USB 2.0 is fast but firewire is better. Unfortunately, you can only use the firewire to charge--which is useless. Another thing missing from the included accesories is the wall charger. You can only charge from the usb port and if you want that wall charger, you better have a previous iPod or shell out $30+tax. You get the sense that apple is getting its start in the accessories market share by nickel and dime-ing you from the start. Video playback if ok. The ones from the apple store look good but home made ones, well, they look less than acceptable. Plus, that screen is 4:3 and not widescreen so DVDs will need to be cropped or adjusted from its original aspect ratio to avoid the black bars. Film afficiandos will not appreciate it that. Finally, your old iPod accessories will not work. Well, you already know why as apple is wanting to be a major player in the accessories market.

All in all, this is a quality product. 4G iPod users can probably find many attributes for them as a reason to upgrade. People who have been on the fence will probably be drawn to its highlighted video features. Those who appreciate a better sounding iPod will keep their shuffles but become more appreciative of the big brother. It's expensive as usual but a good buy for true lovers of music first, and videos last.

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Great as an MP3 player, not as a PVP

Strengths: Excellent audio quality Intuitive menus Beautiful screen

Weaknesses: Low battery life Scratches easily iTunes isn't exactly the best software available

Summary: Like the other iPods, the primary appeal of this 5th Generation is its aesthetics. People like iPods for their looks. It does look great, but the price per Gb is pretty high.

First of all, you have to understand that this is built to be an mp3 player that can also play videos, not a video player that can play mp3s. The battery life while playing videos is a horrible 2 hours, though the crisp, gorgeous screen makes watching videos enjoyable. The small screen size does make watching very detailed scenes a bit annoying though.

If you want to get the most out of this iPod,, there are two, maybe three, accessories you should get. First you should buy a protector of some sort for the iPod. It scratches very easily and the scratches are more prominant on the black version. On a sidenote, there is a common misconception that the black scratches more easily than the white. That is completely UNTRUE! They both scratch just as easiliy; it's just easier to see scratches on a black surface. If you want to watch videos, you'll need a video encoder like Videora's iPod Converter. Last, you may want an external battery pack to extend your battery life.

Overall, this is an excellent device, even though the video functions can be a bit lacking. It's primary function is to play music and it accomplishes that perfectly.

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Great product as usual from Apple

Strengths: Huge storage capacity, great to use as a storage device for your digital camera, small size, good video quality, iTunes is great and easy to use

Weaknesses: Surface easily scratched, more noticable on black model, cheap carrying case supplied, no A/C charger included, uncomfortable, inferior headphones

Summary: Please disregard some of the beligerent reviews below - unfortunately some people just complain to complain - and when they use the term "waist of money", it's pretty obvious that their review is coming from a pretty dim place. The 60GB video ipod is elegant, stores a ton of songs and pictures, and has crisp playback of video. I bought some episodes of "The Office" on iTunes and was very happy with the quality. I already had some Shure E2C headphones for my old 3G ipod, otherwise I would have replaced the ones that were included with the unit. Battery life for music is fantastic; however, since the backlight is constantly on for video, the battery life understandably suffers when playing movies. Whenever possible, watch video on it when it is attached to the USB cable and charging. Much better than players from Creative, Archos and others.

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30 Gig Video iPod is the Bomb!

Strengths: Cool black, sleek look; Strong sound quality; Ease of use

Weaknesses: Apple's different formatting for photos, etc.

Summary: I just bought my iPod 30G iPod with video last week and can't put it down. It holds 7,500 songs...what more can one ask for (besides 15,000 songs in the 60Gig version, but that's more than I think most will need). This has got to be by far the hottest present on everyone's list this year. While there are better solutions for watching video, none offers the combination of quality sound and beautiful screen in a sleek and thin component that can fit beautifully in your shirt pocket. Go buy one today!!

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Arik's Ipod Video Review

Strengths: Screen has good resolution, easy to turn on and off, it doesn't matter if its black or white. You can watch movies on it.

Weaknesses: breakable, treat it like you'd treat your baby, do not drop or it will get screwed

Summary: Its good if you have a lot of music and pictures to share. If you like music videos get this you'll be watching music videos all day. One of my cousins owned one before me, that is how I know its breakable. Be Careful and Watch out, and perants out there, don't be overcautouse about this, if your kid wants one get him it. They'll love it and you forever.

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Another Ipod Dimension

Strengths: Video adds so much more, ease of use, decent price

Weaknesses: Battery Life, scratchability

Summary: What can I say? Apple has done a great job in its first foray into the video player industry. I know there has been a wide swath of criticism for the screen being too small and the video selections too slim, but for someone like me who has never owned an Apple, I am satisfied with the product.

I've enjoyed the video podcasts, the music videos, and the DVD movies that I converted to MPEG 4 format on my Ipod. The screen is beautiful to watch with vibrant colors.

The only 2 things that are a minor inconvenience is first the ipod itself being prone to scratch marks and the battery life on video. I fixed the first problem by buying a cover from www.theinvisibleshield.com website. As for the battery, it only lasts about 2 hours or so when playing video so the best I can do is make sure that it is always on charge mode(at home or in the car).

I know I got my money's worth on this, but I do regret not buying the 60 GB version since this one is getting filled up with the movies and podcasts.

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Great Product

Strengths: great quality, thin, easy to use.

Weaknesses: battery, scratched from looking at it wrong haha

Summary: this is a great ipod. I am over all satisfied with this product. I dont usually watch movies on my ipod but i bought it because of its storage capacity. I have over 5,000 songs and i'm 14. The price may seem high but compare it to the nano and your getting an excellent deal. The only thing i don't like about the new ipod is that the screen scratches so easily that if you look at it wrong it will scratch. I expected this though because I bring it to school so its in my pocket the whole day.

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IPOD VIDEO 30G BLACK

Strengths: ALL AROUND GREAT ITEM

Weaknesses: LITTLE SLOW TO START A VIDEO BUT ONCE GOING JUST GREAT

Summary: I LOVE THIS UNIT. THE COLOR AND DEFINISION IS AWESOME VERY CLOSE TO HDTV.BUT ITUNES NEEDS TO COME OUT WITH VIDEO CONVERSION SOFTWARE FOR THIS IPOD. OVERALL GREAT UNIT

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Birthday Gift for my son

Strengths: It is very small and easy to carry. Holds more than enough songs, photos & videos. Picture is clear.

Weaknesses: Screen is small and unless it is your only option, not a good way to watch a movie or tv show.

Summary: 2005-11-18 04:53:09 The black Ipod looks really cool. I bought this for my son for his birthday but now both my husband & I want one for ourselves. The sound is very good and I am assuming with the accessories available out there, can be even better with speakers. It is very compact and can fit in any pocket. It's storage capabilities (30GB) are more than adequate. We haven't had it that long so it is hard to give a huge review. I will come back & modify this if I find a need.

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Same price, Better iPod

Strengths: The 5th gen. iPod has amazing graphics with an easy to use click wheel. Streaming videos are great with the larger screen. The sound quality is the same as the 4th gen. iPod just more refinement.

Weaknesses: This iPod has a great battery life while enjoying music, when you switch into video mode it will suck your battery life quick. It periodically freezes but it is to be expected from a new electronics.

Summary: 2005-11-25 08:56:43 I have had the 5th gen. iPod since it was available for shipment. It is just another toy and gets old after a while. It is nice to have 15,000 songs at your finger tips but it comes at a price, and for that price it is worth it.

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Not worth the price and popularity

Strengths: Don’t know. It never worked since I received it.

Weaknesses: Charging process is ridiculous, heard that itunes software horrible, definitely not user friendly.

Summary: 2006-04-15 19:35:37 Product look and feel is great but the overall design sucks.Got this product yesterday. After loading the software when I hooked on to my PC( windowsXP Prof SP 2) I got the following message "One of the USB devices attached to this computer has malfunctioned, and Windows does not recognize it. For assistance in solving this problem click this message.” I tried all the guidelines on the support site and called Tech support for assistance and found the product to be defective. I am going to mail it back to them for repair/Replacement. Now the worst feature-If battery runs down you need PC or laptop to charge this device Or be prepared to shell out another 30$ for AC adapter to charge. This is no doubt a rip off.

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• The same thing happened to me when I first bought my ipod, it fro...

ipod 5th Gen.

Strengths: 30GB is thinner and lighter than 60GB version, great mp3 sound, video, design, photo drive, large screen and games.

Weaknesses: itune suck! it doesn't come with anything useful, bad headphone, no dock, no alternative firewire (no longer support), no wall charger, cheap case with no see through screen!

Summary: 2005-11-17 09:43:11 its a great mp3 player, i personally take this over the 60GB because its thinner! for the video its doesn't come with software to convert mpeg or avi to m4v/mp4 i try quicktime 7 pro. but it take like 4hrs for 4minutes and it doesn't have sound! my system is a AMD 2ghz. its the software flaw, i have to use another software call "pq dvd to ipod video" to convert dvd or mpeg/avi to work with sound in ipod and doing the same 4minutes clip convertion take less than 2 minutes. if you have movie that you want to convert you can maximum the quality and change sound rate to 128 and its will be super clear and sound good.

USB2 is faster than firewire but i perfer firewire since it have more bandwidth. if you have old computer that don't have USB2 it will be very slow trying to fill up 30GB.

the only flaw i see is the software, itune! they can really improve the software a little more. and provide some other software to convert video to work with their ipod.

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