Apple 30 GB IPod Video, Generation 5.5

Apple's fifth generation of iPod shows some improvement over its forerunners, but remains essentially, as it has been all along, an iPod.

I am in general quite pleased with my Apple iPod Video, but before you go out to buy one, I would recommend that you investigate all the options in the mp3 player world. My first warning would be to say that if you are simply looking for an mp3 player, look on. There are plenty of much cheaper generic options, running the gamut in terms of sizes, capacities, and peculiar quirks. If price is your primary concern, you can get a 30 GB mp3 for well under $200. I imagine that a number of mp3 players in that price range would be more reliable than the iPod, as well. However, if you want an iPod specifically, then go for it. It is quite a nice machine.

Despite the convenience of having being able to hold my entire music library in the palm of my hand, neatly encased in a classy black shell, I do have a few qualms with the Apple iPod Video. First, and foremost, of these is its lack of durability. From the internal battery's lifespan to the easily scratched finish, it is clear that it is meant to be something of a disposable commodity. You should realize that the battery will only stand up to a year or two of regular use, and at that point you will need to send it in for a $60 battery replacement, which at that point may not be worth it. (I am going on the experience of my previous iPod, whose battery conked out after about a year and a half.) Be aware, too, that the thing will accumulate fingerprints like no one's business.

The included earbuds are something of a problem, too. Although they are the iPod headphones, they, quite simply put, suck. If you have any sense at all of good audio, you will want to ditch them right away.

On the other hand, one of the great aspects of the Apple iPod Video is its scroll wheel. Unlike mp3 players like Creative's 'iBrick,' a giant metal box with a two-way stick that can be used to find the song you want within about fifteen minutes, the iPod's intuitive scroll wheel is easy to use and gets you to where you are going somewhat faster than the alternatives.

The video capability is nice, too, if somewhat useless. While it is handy to be able to watch a movie at the gym, it is not nearly as nice as being able to listen to music on the go.

In the end, as I said, the Apple iPod Video in its fifth generation incarnation is essentially an iPod. Get it if you want the whole 'iPod aesthetic,' but not otherwise.