Apple iPod 4 GB mini M9160LL/A (Silver) OLD MODEL
by Apple Computer
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Our Price: $304.99 Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $34.99 (click here) Category: Network Media Player See more product details |
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Apple iPod 4 GB mini M9160LL/A (Silver) OLD MODEL
Customer Review: Another Winner from Apple
Summary: 5 Stars
I purchased my iPod Mini two days after it was released and I must admit, I am blown away by the functionality and style of Apple's newest creation. Just as a background, I also own a 20 GB third generation iPod, so my comparisons and observations are from a first hand perspective.So, why on earth did I buy a Mini? Quite simply, I was so impressed with this device that I had to have one. First off, the scroll wheel is vastly improved over the standard iPod. The wheel is still touch sensitive for scrolling, but the functionality of the four buttons has been placed around the wheel and can be clicked. This makes for much easier one handed operation. The screen is razor sharp and the backlighting is awesome. The exterior shell is all aluminum and the screen is recessed in the front of the case. This ipod feels much more durable and resisitant to scratching than my standard iPod. The battery life is also improved. This mini played for nearly 8 hours on the first charge. I typically never get more than 4.5-6 out of my standard iPod. The biggest difference is the form factor of the device (size and the weight). At only 3.6 ounces this iPod can be carried in the pocket without noticing it is there. As small as my standard iPod is, somehow, you always know it is there. The Mini solves this problem. After all, what good is an iPod that holds all of my music, if it is not quite small enough to have with me all the time.
Perhaps one of the coolest parts is the interaction with iTunes. My Library is 7.4 GB, which exceeds the capacity of the Mini. However, when you connect it for the first time, it automatically knows this and creates an "iPod Mini Playlist" that serves as a second library just for my Mini. Just drag and drop from your main library and the songs transfer to the Mini in a snap.
Now, I know what you are all thinking . . . why pay $249 for 4 GB, when you can have 15 GB for only $50 more? The answer is quite simple. In life, purchasing decisions are made with emotion and justified with logic. On paper, there is no disputing the fact that you get far more GB per dollar by going with the standard iPod; and the standard iPod is a terrific piece of equipment. But beyond the logical considerations lies the iPod Mini. The way it feels in your hand, the enhanced functionality of the scroll wheel, the great form factor, and the cool aluminum finish. All of these intangibles create a product that transcends a strict price per GB comparison and makes this iPod worth every penny of its $249 price tag.
The bottom line . . . I have 1050 songs on my Mini with room to spare. I bought the Mini because it puts a smile on my face every time I use it and it is just too darn cool to pass up. I highly recommend this device.
Customer Review: Great, but some units freeze
Summary: 5 Stars
I got one of these and loved it. It has a scroll wheel that works perfectly, the click buttons are alot better, its small, it holds 1,000 songs, it looks cool, and it doesnt brake or scratch nearly as easy as the big ipod. But alot of people have been saying that their ipod minis have been freezing. Someone told me that the ipods are so popular that apple has been making to many to fast (to restock), wich means they could not do a great job, they dont go over everything good enough. I think that may be true. So when you buy this, you gotta hope it isnt one of the bad ones....Other than that, I love this thing. People say the battery is to short. 8 hours? Its not like your leaving it on all day; when you listen to a cd player, you dont leave it on all day. I also think 1,000 songs is well over enough. When are you gonna listen to all those songs? and if you want more, erase the ones you dont listen to. This thing fits in your pocket PERFECT. Im serious you dont even feel it. Also the colors are awsome.
The only problams I have is after awhile of putting it in the dock, the bottam paint wheres off. I hate it. And like I said, people say that their ipods freeze,(not mine). Thats about it.
Features:
-It has 4 games, brick, solitare, parachute, name that tune.
-download audio books (its pretty cool)
-1,000 song capacity
-time/date
-contacts, to-do list, phone #......
This player is the only Mp3 you should get. This is the only big company that makes a Mp3 player (besides Dell). I bet most of the ipods work, cause i saw alot of good reviews. These ipod minis are selling like a dvd player for a dollar, so buy one soon. You also might want to get these at a store, cause stores online are selling them for like $300. Amazon has a great price ( $233 )dont get me wrong, but I heard they wont have any till until October. If you can wait that long than go ahead and buy it here.
I forgot to say that this has a usb 2.0 cord ( finally Apple is thinking ) that lets windows users conect their ipods to their computers. The original ipods didnt have this and you had to pay 20 bucks. Also this comes with a belt clip that is usfull, but i dont use it because it will, after about 6 months, take the paint off the ipods sides ( where the clip goes ). Also the ipod use to come with a arm belt thing that goes on your arm, but not anymore.
Altogether I have to say you should buy this ipod mini. I think the coolest colors are green and blue, and most girls like pink.....and some guys (no offense). Both the big ipod and mini are awsome, but i preffer the mini. If you like style, size, and looks buy the mini. If you like huge capacity, buy the ipod. But both have awsome sound, and extras. Trust me youll like them, witchever one you buy.
Customer Review: What every jogger needs to know!
Summary: 1 Stars
Not sure if you've heard about it - but Apple Company may have a much bigger customer relations debacle on the horizon than the recent battery life problem. I purchased a Mini, along with the arm band accessory a little over a month ago - for the express reason of listening to music while jogging. At first, I loved it - the sound was great, it was very easy to use - and of course, very cool to look at and show off to friends, etc. Then, on my sixth use, the iPod completely "froze." No sound, no nothing. None of the buttons worked and it would not reset. It had completely
locked up. I called Apple immediately, and explained the situation. The Apple representative, who apparently had heard of this problem before, quickly let me know that, "...As shocking as this may sound, the iPods are not made to jog with." I could not believe what I was hearing. I indicated that the Apple website specifically suggests jogging as a recommended activity with the Mini. Apple even advertises the Mini with people break dancing - which is even more "high impact" than jogging! Furthermore, they sell a Flexible Armband for the iPod that clearly states to be used for JOGGING (which I was using when it died).
I have since spoken to numerous Apple representatives to find one who would agree to help me with my problem. They've made comments like, "The mini is similar to your home computer, and you don't jog with that, do you?" Another Rep added, "...yes you can jog with it, but we cannot guarantee it's performance." And my favorite, "We are striving to produce a Mini that you can jog with, but we have not completely perfected the Mini." I indicated to them, that they are CLEARLY engaging in false advertising, but unbelievably, they responded with, "No, we're not, because the Mini
will work fine for approximately 20 minutes of jogging, before it may "freeze."
I have repeatedly asked Apple for a refund and they won't even consider it. The only "fix" they have offered is, when the iPod "freezes" let the battery completely die (which could take hours), then re-charge it and try it again. If it is still frozen, I will have to call Apple and re-boot the Mini's hard drive - which will cause me to lose any music saved on it.
The bottom line is Apple is a dishonest company! Evidently they did not adequately test their iPod Mini product before putting it on the market, and now, they have decided to continue their deceptive advertising practices to promote a product which they now know is not suited to an activity which many customers will assume is an acceptable use.
Customer Review: Wonderful product---when it works
Summary: 2 Stars
I received the 4gb iPod mini as a Christmas gift, and I must say I was ecstatic to get it. Shortly after, however, I started noticing problems with it. On certain songs it would play about 10 seconds into and then either freeze or pause and then skip to the next song. At first this was only a minor irritation, but it soon grew into a nuisance. It turns out Apple had sent me an iPod with a corrupt hard drive (which from what I understood from online forums and the tech support at the apple store is not a uncommon occurance). I was rather impressed with the speed at which they replaced it (especially since mine is a personalized one and I wanted to keep the personalization). I have recently encountered a new problem: the display is broken. It is, for the most part, blank (as if the iPod was turned off), when it is on and even playing music. This is most frustrating as it makes it very difficult to select the music I want to listen to. What makes it even more difficult is that the best way to get the display to turn on is to push the menu button (making attempts to select music even more frustrating as its sets me back a step). I have not yet visited the apple store in regards to this problem, but I will be incredibly irrate if they do not replace it, as I have done nothing to it to warrant such a malfunction. (I have also tried reformatting it and resetting it) Now don't get me wrong--the iPod is a very addictive device. Unfortunately it is this very quality that makes it difficult to live without it during repairs.
Apple also has horrendous tech support; the only way to get any useful information (i.e. anything besides make sure the hold button is not on if the it is not turning on) is to go to the apple store (an hour drive for me). Apple also charges 50 dollars for a call to their phone support after 90 days from the purchase. They do offer a support package (I believe it extends the warranty and gives you free phone support) but it costs somewhere around 70 bucks. Apple can also charge up to a 100 dollar diagnostic fee for iPods sent in for repairs that are not covered under warranty. I do not know if they would actually charge someone that, but I do no have enough money to risk it. I am then left with only the option of driving to the apple store, which is rather frustrating.
In conclusion, the iPod is a wonderful product--when it works. I also think that if Apple is content to sell such a shoddily constructed product, they should make their tech support a lot better. I would reccomend that anyone who is interested in purchasing a large capacity mp3 player look to other similar devices by other companies (i.e. dell).
Customer Review: Mini IPOD - batter poop out
Summary: 2 Stars
I got an IPOD mini in February 2005. Overall I have no complaints except for the battery life. I have had five replacements since I bought the IPOD mini earlier this year. The batter slowly looses charge incrementally, so by 2.5 months the batter time is down from its best of 4.5 hours down to 30 minutes. When I brought the IPOD mini back to an APPLE STORE at the Genius Bar, I was told I was using the IPOD mini incorrectly, that it had to be my computer, which I bought in January 2005 (DELL), or it is my outlet socket, or that I am not following instructions. The deal is this, they know that they have a defective product with IPOD mini with a 8 hour battery life, when I bought it they never told me that the upgraded IPOD mini was to be marketing very shortly with an 18 hour battery life. In any event, they replaced the battery depleted IPODS, with refurbished IPOD minis that had the exact same problem and stated, and they clearly stated that there is no problems with the battery life. My question is why do they have such a huge stock of refurbished replacement IPOD mini units, if there is no problem. One replacement was a complete disaster, the wheel did not work, it was broken although it had been refurbished. So yesterday I went back for unit number six, as it's battery has died over 6 weeks this time. Well IPOD minis are no longer being sold as new by Apple, they have replaced with IPOD nano, etc, etc this month. Poor folks who bought they IPOD mini last month and have defective battery problems also. In any event, they replaced my IPOD mini again yesterday with a IPOD mini with a battery life of 18 hours, because they are no longer selling them. So far, the battery life is much improved with the first trial with the 18 hour battery - but I cannot speak for 1 week to six months. SO BEWARE if you are going to spend money on a new or refurbished IPOD mini, THINK TWICE, THREE TIMES, FOUR TIMES, and how ever long it takes to give up on this foolish idea. I cannot speak for the newest IPOD's - nano, photo, etc. But I am sure the batter problem continues. There is no way to get the battery out yourself and replace it. There are other brands of MP3's with replaceable batteries, you open the case, by a new battery for around $45 dollars, replace the battery and go on into the night with an MP3 player that works. Apple please design units with replaceable batteries, and top lying to your customers. Also there has been a class action suite filed against Apple whichshe lost, because of defective batter problems, and overclaims of battery longevity on early IPOD versions, that supposedly preceded the IPOD minis.