Product Review: Apple iPod 5g 30 GB (Part One)

I bought my first iPod, a 3g 10GB model, three years ago. It took me three generations of pods - and an online sale on the 10 gig model - to come around from my "What? A $300 walkman?" stance and embrace the pod. I've used my iPod literally just about every day since. As such, parting with my first iPod was hard.

But not that hard. Once I found a buyer for my "Great Condition 3g iPod with Accessories" on Craig's List and the transaction was complete, I headed straight for the Emeryville, CA Apple Store with Faculty ID and credit card in hand. No lines at lunchtime, so not five minutes after finding a parking spot I was $292 and change poorer (the educator's discount saved me $30 off the $299 retail price) but the proud owner of a black, 30 gb iPod.

Let's savor this, shall we? Half of the Apple experience these days is marketing: From press conferences to advertising to packaging, they sure do have a line on building hype and aura around a new product. When the nice young man at the Apple Store opened the cabinet behind the register to pull out my new Pod, I actually had the nerve to say, "No, not the nano. I want the full-size." The box is so small! Lucky for me he was nice and probably used to dealing with overly excited, know-it-all customers.

Part one of my review is the photo blog. Click any image to view the full-size version:

The allure of the semi-opaque	Apple [heart] Gorillaz	Apple [heart] U2
So Thin	Inside the Box: Yes, it's a Black iPod	Smaller than a Pen, But Holds More Music
More Opaque White: Media, Cables & Buds, Slipcover	New Top Panel: I Sense an Onslaught of New Third-Party "5g Compatible" Gear	Turn on the Bright Lights, It's a Wider Color Screen

* * * *

Get the best price for your new video iPod at PCPrices/iPod

* * * *
Noah Kravitz is an educator, musician, and writer who lives in Oakland, CA and is the author of Teaching and Learning with Technology. You should go buy a copy. Now. It's awesome.