Apple iPod 20 GB White M9282LL/A (4th Generation) OLD MODEL
by Apple Computer
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Category: Network Media Player
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Digital Photo Product Details
Manufacturer: Apple ComputerBrand: Apple
Edition: Electronics
Audio: English (Original Language)
Model: M9282LL/A
Color: White
Publisher: Apple Computer
Studio: Apple Computer
Music Label: Apple Computer
Product features:
- 20 GB model holds up to 5,000 songs; supports AAC (16 to 320 Kbps), MP3 (32 to 320 Kbps), MP3 VBR, Audible, AIFF, Apple Lossless and WAV
- Up to 12 hours battery life when fully charged (typically 4 hours); fast-charge in as little as 2 hours
- Mac OS X or Windows 2000 and XP compatible; FireWire and USB 2.0 interface for fastest digital transfer available
- Feature upgrades from previous version include new Click Wheel, slimmer case, and easier navigation
- Comes with earbud headphones, AC adapter, FireWire cable, and USB 2.0 cable (dock not included)
- Ultimate Ears MetroFi 220 Noise Isolating Earphones
- Ultimate Ears 700 Noise Isolating Earphones
- Logitech Pure-Fi Express Plus Omnidirectional Speaker Dock for iPod and iPhone
- Ultimate Ears TripleFi 10 Noise Isolating Earphones
Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Apple iPod 20 GB White M9282LL/A (4th Generation) OLD MODEL
Customer Review: By far the best MP3 player I've ever used
Summary: 5 Stars
This review will contain some comparisons to other MP3 players (mainly the Rio Nitrus) for interested consumers. If you want to know exclusively about the iPod, you'll find that here too!
RIO VS. IPOD
For Christmas I was given a Rio Nitrus (1.5 GB) and was extremely pleased with it. However I looked up some consumer reviews online only to find out it had the shortest warranty of any MP3 player on the market, and was notorious for having poor customer service and completely breaking after 90 days (when the warranty expires, surprise, surprise). I still have my Nitrus and stand by it so far - a month has nearly passed and it's still working flawlessly.
However after purchasing a 20 GB iPod it's clear to see the superiority. For a sleeker, smaller and more "average" MP3 player the Nitrus is great but the iPod blows it out of the water - the interface is great and the design is wonderful. It "feels" much more professional and well built - the clickable scroller, for example, is a brilliant invention and I never feel as if I'm going to perhaps break it or snap it off (as I sometimes did with the Nitrus).
THE CONS OF THE IPOD
There are a few advantages to the Nitrus. You can transfer music from one PC to the other. However, with the iPod you cannot. The music MUST be on your computer. If you plug your iPod into a PC and try to upload music/etc. it won't work. Someone told me that he had a 40 GB iPod, and after his computer crashed he lost his paid iTunes music files. They were on his iPod, but the device would not let him upload the files onto his new computer; and after he tried, the iTunes software deleted the files from his iPod, assuming they were stolen (?).
Also, some other MP3 players such as the Nitrus allow you to play WMA (Windows Media Audio) files, whereas the iPod does NOT. You can only play iTunes and MP3. Considering the fact that just about any CD you purchase and "rip" to your hard drive will be formatted as a WMA file, iTunes version 4.5 (included with new iPod releases) contains an auto-converter that converts WMA to MP3 for iPod compatability. My only nitpick with this is that it sometimes doesn't work on certain files and presents error messages. I had 80 Guns N' Roses songs and repeatedly ran into problems with them - ironically most of the files I ran into trouble with happened to be direct copies from my actual Gn'R CDs, and the illegally downloaded files (yes I admit it!) were fine. I had similar trouble with my Soundgarden CD - the ripped tracks continually failed to convert properly to MP3.
So, I downloaded another program (Switch freeware) and manually changed the WMA files to MP3, then downloaded them to the iPod. The problem with this is that a) it takes a LOT of time if you have many files and b) audio quality is somewhat lost (if you're an audiophile, this will bother you - frankly, I can't tell the difference).
Also, I don't like how when I first set up my iPod, it took me about four hours to get everything going - the new iTunes software has an exploited flaw which is that if you do not connect your iPod to your PC during installation, it will not configure the iPod, and when you later plug it into your computer the PC will recognize it as an external device rather than an actual iPod, and you will not be able to use the iTunes software until you access your device manager and change the iPod "hard drive" to a new letter. If this sounds confusing, just make sure you have your iPod plugged in when you install the iTunes software!
This seems obvious but the flaw lies herein: the instruction booklet tells users to charge their iPods 2 - 4 hours before initial use. In the meantime, users will obviously begin to install their software - and since the charger takes up the underbelly of the iPod and USB connection to the computer, it's impossible to hook it up to your PC during installation without unplugging the charge adapter and actually turning the iPod on - which we're not supposed to do for 2 - 4 hours!
Confused yet? Don't be. This is really the only downside to the iPod - setting it up and downloading music. The actual experience of USING the iPod is magnificent.
THE PROS
The bad ends here, because as far as I'm concerned the rest of...well...everything concering the iPod is an enormous PLUS! The design, as mentioned above, is sleek, cool and trendy (and I think trendy = good, but it's always hard to tell these days).
The battery life lastes 12 hours, and charges quickly. (As mentioned above, the initial charge is a minimum of only two hours - not too long at all!) Once you've downloaded your music, you can access the tracks by artist, genre, album, composer (this comes in handy when the actual composer is different from the artist - e.g. covers of songs), etc. The list is endless. The entire database is set up flawlessly and really works well. I love scrolling through the menus - that may sound strange but that's how FUN using the iPod actually is!
The sound quality is great. The included earphones are pretty good - my advice? Don't apply the black cushioned protectors. First of all, no one does this and it will make you stand out and look "uncool." Just kidding. But really, EVERYONE I've seen with an iPod leaves them off. But unlike most fashion statements (if this could indeed be seen as one?) this concept is a logical one - the black cushions often cover up the letters on the earbuds that designate whether they're for your left or right ear. I had to constantly peel mine off to see which was which, so I finally just got rid of the cushions and don't even notice the difference.
The ease of use of the iPod is a major attribute. As mentioned above, accessing songs is simultaneously easy and fun. With the iPod, you can also store documents and contact files (from programs such as Microsoft Outlook) when it's connected to your PC as an external hard drive. This is good for the businessmen who listen to music on their commute and can rely on the iPod to even carry around some of their word documents. I'm sure future generations of the iPod will be able to carry much more, probably even videos.
Also included in the "games" section is the great music trivia option - which tests your skill at being able to quickly place your own songs. The game plays a segment of a song, and gives you a multiple-choice list wherein you have a short period of time to choose the title of the song from a list of others.
What's great about this is that it's a game based on YOUR music. When I first saw "music trivia quiz" I thought it was some pre-programmed elitist thing - it's not. It's a lot of fun and really tests your reflexes. It's a good way to pass the time.
20 GB OR 40 GB?
The pros of the 40 GB: Comes with a "dock station" and double storage space (10,000 songs).
Cons of the 40 GB: Much more expensive just for some extra space and a docking station, both of which you don't really need. Think about it for a minute - the 20 GB holds 5,000 songs: more than you're ever likely to need at any one time. If you want to add more, just delete some that you haven't been listening to recently. I mean, for music buffs and archivists - use your PC as the archive, not the iPod! It's just my personal advice but you're saving a lot of money and from personal experience the docking station is really sort of a rip-off - based on the sleek design of the iPod, it's very easy to simply lay it down without damaging it or anything.
Overall the iPod really is an almost flawless beast. The capacity in the 20 GB is more than I think most people would ever need and, for the price, I highly recommend it. At $290 (the price I paid) it's quite a bargain. My ONLY complaint thus far is the process of downloading tracks to the iPod itself - the iTunes software is really a hassle, above all else the whole concept of WMA and the faulty built-in converter.
But the iPod itself is totally flawless as far as I'm concerned, and the best MP3 player on the market. Whether you're on the go or just want to lounge around the house listening to music, you could definitely do much, much worse than purchasing this durable and reliable product from Apple.
Description of Apple iPod 20 GB White M9282LL/A (4th Generation) OLD MODEL
Incorporating the fabulous Apple Click Wheel that was first introduced on iPod mini. Offering up to 12 hours of battery life. Weighing in at just 5.3 ounces. And getting slightly thinner with each new generation. iPod continues to define the perfect digital music player for Mac and Windows. A musical dream come true, the fourth-generation iPod offers huge capacity, letting you easily slip up to 5,000 songs into your pocket. And enjoy it wherever you go. In the car. On the treadmill. At the office. Around the house.Digital Cameras & Photo Categories
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