First impressions
The packaging says it all. The iPod classic's durable box with its perfectly-fitting lid, and the neat, densely packed interior, signify this is a product you can rely on completely. Remove the iPod classic from the box and you can feel and see that you have a carefully built, well-proportioned digital media player.
This impression of symmetry extends to the Click Wheel controls, which are the largest of the iPod range. Novice iPod owners will find it easy to keep their thumbs in place, particularly as the Click Wheel has a slightly coarser finish than its predecessor.
Features
The feature of the iPod classic that stands out the most is the storage capacity: 120GB. This is a disappointing reduction of 40GB from the previous top of the range model, but it's still 40GB more than the former standard version. So clearly, Apple has hit upon a compromise.
This compromise shouldn't cause too much concern, however. At 120GB, the iPod classic can store 30,000 four minute songs or one hundred and fifty hours of video. This means you can carry an impressive amount of music, films, and TV shows in a device that weighs just 140 grams (4.9 ounces), and is a mere 103.5 x 61.8 x 10.5 mm (4.1 x 2.4 x 0.41 inches) in size. In other words, the iPod classic is less than half the size of a CD case.
The iPod classic's storage is also great value. Put aside other features, and the classic's 179 for 120GB is very cost-efficient compared to the shuffle, nano and touch.
This is not to suggest that the iPod classic is just a compact, high capacity storage unit. You can now use Genius, Browse Album, and Browse Artist on the latest model as well as a host of other features.
Genius is particularly welcome because the odds are that if you've opted for an iPod classic, you have - or intend to have - a substantial music collection. Genius enables you to take full advantage of the listening possibilities such a collection can offer you. When you're playing a song, for example, and you feel it suits your mood and want to hear more tracks like it, activate Genius on your iPod classic. Genius searches through your collection and creates a playlist of songs that go well with the one you're currently listening to. You can then play the Genius playlist straightaway, save it, or refresh it and see what else Genius comes up with.
Alternatively, you can ask Genius to create playlists on iTunes. If you're happy with the selections, simply sync the results to your iPod classic. The result is a music mix prepared by a digital DJ and based on your preferences.
Browse Album is a convenient feature if you listen to your songs in random order, but occasionally enjoy a track so much you want more of the same. Use Browse Album in these circumstances, and you rapidly switch from shuffle mode to hearing the rest of the songs from the appropriate album. Browse Artist offers a similar feature, except that you can listen instead to all the songs you have available from the particular artist.
Technology
The iPod classic uses a 1.8 inch hard drive for storage as opposed to the flash memories of the shuffle, nano, and touch. The use of a hard drive gives the classic its superior storage ability; but the presence of a spinning hard drive disc may stop the iPod classic ever having a feature such as the nano's "shake to shuffle".
The two and a half inch colour LCD screen has LED backlighting, and 320 x 240 pixel resolution at 163 pixels per inch. The result is superb image clarity.
Built-in video support for the iPod classic is comprehensive. Among other things, this means you can obtain an appropriate AV cable, and watch videos, films, and TV shows on your TV.
Audio support is equally thorough and includes AAC and MP3 (16 to 320Kbps); MP3 VBR; Audible (formats 2, 3, and 4); WAV; AIFF; and Apple Lossless.
Connection to your computer is, of course, USB. Nonetheless, you can also charge the iPod classic using FireWire. This is handy if you still have devices that charge iPods using a FireWire connection.
Performance
The audio quality delivered by the iPod classic across the full sound spectrum is consistently good. This applies whether you're listening to a gentle classical piece for piano, or a full throttle rock track. Similarly, there's no sound distortion with the sudden dramatic bursts of music that may accompany any blockbuster film you're watching.
The classic's screen gives you precisely focused text, including the lyrics of songs, in a no-nonsense font. Colour reproduction of videos is excellent, and may pleasantly surprise anyone more used to the dimensions and specs of today's televisions.
Supporting the 120GB roominess of the iPod classic is a lithium ion battery. This has 36 continuous playback hours for music, and six hours for video. Once you use all this up, you need only spend two hours to reach an 80% charge, and a further two to restore the battery's full power. A charging ratio of 4:36 (1:9) is very good indeed, and along with the iPod touch is the best of the iPod range.
Conclusion
The "classic" tag befits this robust, dependable and powerful iPod. Because of the technology of the nano and the touch, the classic may no longer be the leader of the pack; but thanks to its huge storage capacity, the iPod classic is likely to stay popular for many years.
Pros
- Excellent hard drive
- Great value
- Now has Genius
- Browse Album and Browse Artist are welcome additions
- Still has FireWire charging capability
- Vivid screen
- Long-lasting battery
Cons- Lacks the accelerometer and Spoken Menus features of the fourth generation iPod nano; but then again, the nano can't match the classic's storage capacity
Ben T Wilson writes about iPods including the iPod classic
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