Apple iPod 40GB with Click Wheel - 4th Generation [M9268B/A]

I already use iTunes on my computer (a Mac) to store all my music in AAC format and so starting to use the iPod was a breeze - double click the installer to install the iPod software, plug the iPod cable into the computer and iTunes will transfer all your songs onto the iPod automatically. On my collection of about 100 albums it took about 5-10 minutes or so. I later wanted to add another album - simply insert the CD into the computer, it appears in iTunes appopriately named (using the Gracenote internet site), and just just be drag and dropped into your library, Next time you connect your iPod the new music just gets transferred across. Easy.

I bought the 40GB model because I wanted to also use my iPod as a backup hard drive. To initiate this feature I simply clicked on the 'Use as Hard Drive' option and it appeared on my desktop ready to use. Now I have a way of transferring large quantities of data around without the tedium of burning DVDs.

So whilst the computer based software is very straightforward using the iPod itself is also very easy. The click wheel makes finding a given song the work of moments, and the main menu can be customised to an extent depending on how you best like to navigate through your music.

Playlists are a central feature of the iPod/iTunes experience and in addition to creating these on the computer with iTunes (drag and drop again) you can now also create them 'on-the-go' on the iPod. This is actually a lot more useful than I thought it might be - I can;t usually be bothered to create Playlists but creating them on the iPod gives me something to do if, say, I was on a train or car journey. Pressing and holding the select button adds a song to the current play list, which can then be saved as 'playlist 1', 2, etc. You can give these better names when you get back to your computer.

Sound quality is very good indeed, although the supplied headphones aren't all that great. I used a 150 set of Sennheiser 'phones which were awesome but the apple ones sound a bit muddy by comparison. I'd definitely recommend upgrading to a decent set of headphones or buds depending on your preference. I have to add though that most devices come with pretty crappy 'phones.

Battery life... Supposedly the weakness of the iPod with a mere 12 hours. Well, on its first charge my iPod was still going strong the next evening despite my thrashing it all day. Of course I didn't use it all that time but you have to ask the question: how much battery life do you actually need?! What is the minimum requirement to make such a device usable? To my mind 12 hours is perfectly adequate most of the time so it doesn't bother me unduly, although I am sure that there will be the odd occassion when I do run out of juice.

All in all I am very happy with my purchase and wouldn't heistate to recommend an iPod to anyone. In terms of usability it is simply awesome, I'm no mug when it comes to computers and gadgets but I appreciate an intuitive and well designed interface that saves me time and is enjoyable to use. Literally anyone could work one of these things. So what are you waiting for? Just buy one...


A fabulous musical toy   October 21, 2004
anonymous (London)
18 out of 19 found this review helpful

...this must best be the best musical toy I have ever laid my hands on. The Song Shuffler is just genius: if you like your CD collection, the song shuffler acts as a nice surprise: like listening to a radio station where you'll enjoy all the songs. The Ipod is also very easy to use and the sound quality is excellent. It's worth investing in slightly better headphones, as the Apple ones slip out. The Musician's Sound Isolating earphones do the Ipod the justice it deserves: as the Ipod itself will to your favourite songs. I'd invest in the InStation as well, so you can listen to your fave songs without having to be plugged in to the headphones all the time.
It's totally magic: nice one, Apple !


Also useful for us classical music listeners   December 30, 2004
Opera fan from Manchester (Manchester UK)
37 out of 41 found this review helpful

This is an astonishing piece of equipment - not just useful for popular music fans but also for those of us who cart boxes of compact discs on holiday or to work. The transfer rate is amazingly fast and in the week I have had the ipod I have transferred the Solti Wagner Ring Cycle, a selection of Verdi, Richard Strauss and Mozart Operas and such staples as the Beethoven Symphonies, Rachmaninoff Concertos and other delights. Also I have included a selection of light listening - altogether about 3 days worth and I have not yet reached 4 Gigabytes i.e.is a tenth of the capacity.
The headphones provided give an excellent sound but for prolonged listening I would recommend the use of more comfortable noise reducing cans such as those by Bose or a very good version made by Maplins for about 30.
The classical music listener may need to adjust some of the data provided by Gracenote, Apple's information provider, which varies in its quality but this is quite easy even for a technophobe such as myself.
The case is robust but does tend to smear and the response to the controls is a little variable and relies on a degree of dexterity but the i-skin covers which you can buy seperately for about 20 offer a degree of protection though do not allow you to use the dock when the cover is on. These are small quibbles about what is otherwise a superb and quite inspiring piece of audio equipment. Oh also my wife doesn't like it - she claims it is unsociable and spoils the art of conversation and makes you wave your hands (conducting) and talk VERY LOUD - but there nothing is perefct (the Ipod is however!).


BUY ONE!!   November 26, 2004
kekouan (Oxford, Oxfordshire United Kingdom)
28 out of 31 found this review helpful

I'm completely in love with my iPod.. it's never further than 10 metres away from me (shame it's not bluetooth!) and it's got everything i love about music, right there, sitting in my pocket and ready to listen to in a few clicks of the incredibly intuitive click wheel.

Seriously.. how many times have you picked up a new gadget and known how to instantly use it. You pick up iPod, and literally seconds later you're sorted.. it amazed me that it even needed an instruction manual printed!!

buy one buy one buy one!!
I'm converting all my friends, slowly but surely... but make sure you get the 40gb one - that way you can encode you CD's at the maximum bit-rate and you'll still have plenty of room to expand you collection (and steal you friends CD's to MP3 as well!)

oh yes... one more thing.. BUY ONE!! BUY ONE NOW!! (but get it from amazon - apple takes up to 4 weeks delivery and is 40 more expensive at the moment!!)


The beautiful gadget   October 4, 2004
A. M. Blacker (London)
27 out of 30 found this review helpful

Got mine yesterday along with nice new jacket and gorgeous Sony DVD player. Forgot about jacket and DVD player within 2 minutes of opening my iPod box. Spent all afternoon downloading CDs and dumping them on to the iPod on the ridiculously easy to use, intuitive and clever iTunes software supplied (I have Win XP home edition).

Wife has complained already that she's an 'iPod widow'. My iPod is a beautiful, bottomless, music eating pit. Have only managed to load a measley 3.5 Gig, which is about 2.5 days of non-stop music.

Who cares about 8 - 12hours battery life ? When, unless you are on a long haul flight, are you ever going to run out of battery ? Sure, go for Zen or iRiver if you like, but millions of iPod owners can't be wrong can they ?

The coolest, most beautiful gadget ever....