My Review of 30GB iPod

(and it works fine with EphPod. File system under firmware 2.0 appears
to resemble previous filesystems. I've already transferred my previous
20GB onto it with no errors. Tested and listened, its fine.)

First of all, there are no 'sharp' edges like the previous models.
'Curvy' is the way I would describe it.

It's a good 3-4mm thinner than my old 20GB, but the screen is a touch
smaller.I think they made the fonts smaller too.

The buttons will take some getting used to, placement-wise. I don't
really know why the got rid of the 4-button surrounding the scroll wheel
setup, but I think it has to do with these new backlit buttons. Perhaps
they couldn't get the backlighting in the previous setup.

Speaking of the buttons, and the scrollwheel, they are all touch
sensitive. They will also take some getting used to. The buttons don't
move when you touch them, they just respond to whatever command - play,
pause, menu, etc.

The dock is great. It's rubberized on the bottom so it doesn't slip
around. I think its mildly annoying that they didn't ship an extra cable
out with the thing so you can charge it. Right now if I need to plug it
into a/c power when I go on the road I need to reach around to the back
of the computer to remove the cable since it's no longer a standard
firewire cable. I also like the fact that I can plug the ipod straight
into an amp from the dock and just leave that cable. With the new iPod
desktop manager software, you can unmount the ipod and use it regularly
without having to remove it from the firewire cable.

The remote is different and plugs into BOTH the new remote jack AND the
headphone jack. This is probably a better setup. I used to have problems
almost every day with the remote coming loose and I couldn't control the
iPod, but I could still hear music.

Software wise, the on the go playlist feature is cleared when you
reconnect the iPod. I don't know if it transfers over or what. Wasn't
expecting that. The customizable menu feature is really cool, since you
can add the 'songs' or 'games' or any submenu to the root/main menu.

I personally like Solitaire, but the new Parachute game seems, well,
pretty lame. I wouldn't upgrade for the games, as I've read board where
people are just enraged that they can't get 2.0 firmware and play the
new games. The firmware is definitely better, and worth bitching about,
but not for the games.

In the box: iPod, headphones w/slipcovers, software/documentation, soft
case, dock, 4-pin to 6-pin firewire cable adapter, redesigned
firewire/iPod power/data cable (1394 to proprietary apple design - 3rd
party engineers, please make an adapter), plastic covers for data/power
port.

If you all have any questions that I haven't answered here, I'll be
happy to answer them if posed to the group.

rich




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