Apple iPod (20 GB Model) Review

Returning to the hardware for a moment, the iPod also has a calendar and contacts view, plus a notes section - used for viewing text files (though obviously not creating them!). These additional features are perhaps hinting at an area Apple could exploit more in the future - why have an iPod and a PDA when you can have it combined in one? The calender and contacts use the standard iCal and vCard formats; and these files are simply copied over into the appropriate folder on the iPod. The major downside at the moment isn't a flaw with the iPod, but with Outlook - which handily only lets you export one iCal or vCard at a time (ie one calendar entry or one contact), which makes exporting the next months worth of events impossible. If you really do want to take advantage of these features, and use Outlook, you'd have to purchase some third party software such as iPodSync - fingers crossed a free equivilant will appear eventually.

The iPod is a great bit of hardware - and is still in my view the best offering available; its the smallest, lightest, and arguably the most stylish MP3 player on the market. However, you have to pay for the priviledge; the 20GB iPod currently retails at $399 USD, or £299 direct from Apple. Aside from the price, there are a two niggles that I'll just point out. The first is the battery life. Although 8 hours is acceptable, when Dell manage to squeeze out almost double that for their Digital Jukebox, it would be nice if this could be longer. The second is the ease with which the iPod is scratched. Metal cases are always a problem, and are always easy to scratch... unfortunately, the white plastic front can also be scuffed quite easily if you place it on the wrong surface - so take care, and use its docking station and carrying case!