Apple iPod

Conclusion

So what did we think of the iPod? Well, if you couldn't tell from the review, we liked it, we liked it a lot. The iPod is the best MP3 player we have seen to date, with plenty of storage space to fit our ever expanding music libraries. The packaging is great, the hardware behind the device powerful, and the interface a breeze to sort through whether you have 9 or 900 songs. Add to the mix the time saved by using a firewire connection, and it is clear that the iPod is a winner.

We do have a few gripes about the product itself. First off, the $399 price tag that it carries makes it one expensive music player. Non hard drive based MP3 players have fallen drastically in price recently and can be found at around the $100 or $150 mark. The problem with these players is that the memory available for songs rarely grows above 128MB. Other hard drive based solutions offering similar storage capacity, such as the Creative Labs Nomad Jukebox and the Archos Jukebox 6000 can be found for around $250. Then again, none of these solutions even come close to the iPod's size.

A second complaint we had with the iPod was the fact that the unit does not ship with a carrying case. The polished stainless steel on the back and the acrylic face are prone to not only fingerprints but also scratches. Apple does not offer a case of any type for the iPod, forcing users to turn to third party case manufacturers.Would the inclusion of a protective case really have pushed the price up that much?

Our final complaint, and perhaps what would have been our largest one, has already been solved. Initially we were quite concerned with the lack of PC support that the iPod shipped with. Thanks to Mediafour, we no longer have to worry. Their XPlay software brings to the iPod what Apple left out: Windows support. We are quite happy with the way that XPlay is shaping up, with an intuitive user interface, seamless communication with the iPod, and effortless synchronization with a PC. We are excited to see what new features future versions of XPlay bring.

There are quite a few rumors floating around the internet discussing a Windows version of the iPod set to arrive sometime in the first half of this year. Although we cannot say if this rumor has any substance to it (Apple is great at keeping secrets), it only seems like a logical transition for the company to take. Naturally, Mediafour is concerned with this but questions if Apple will need to create a PC version of the iPod if their XPlay software is selling iPods to PC owners. Word has it that even some Apple representatives are referring PC using iPod owners to XPlay. Ideally, Mediafour would like Apple to recommend XPlay as the software solution for iPod owners who use Windows. Even if this does not occur, Mediafour is confident that even if a PC version of the iPod is released that their XPlay software will be just as good if not better than Apple's offering.

So the iPod is the best MP3 player we have seen on the market to date and XPlay software that allows the device to work with a PC is coming along nicely. Should you go out now and get one? That depends on how much you want one. Right now, bringing an iPod home for use on a Windows system costs approximately $60 more than bringing home an iPod for a Macintosh. $20 of these dollars go towards a firewire card (assuming your computer does not have one already) while approximately $40 goes towards XPlay software. If the rumors are true and Apple does produce a PC iPod, it is almost certainly going to come in with the same price tag as the Macintosh version. But is the PC iPod going to come out?

Well, it is really just a matter of waiting. If Apple does not release a PC version of the iPod in a few months, other companies are sure to produce PC compatible iPod knockoffs as soon as they can ramp up production. The decision of whether or not you get an iPod to go with your PC is dependent on how bad you want an iPod. Just like everything in the fast paced world of electronics, a superior product is sure to come out some time. Those needing the best MP3 player now should go for the iPod: although it is quite an investment, it does pay off, rewarding its owner with stunning looks and great usability. Those who are not as pressed to get a new MP3 player may want to play the waiting game until prices fall and native Windows support comes to iPod or iPod-like devices. Regardless of what your decision is, it is clear that the future of portable MP3 players is exciting.