edog
100+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Oct 21, 2001
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I just got my iPod for Windows (20 GB version) today. In the SF Bay Area, one can get them at CompUSA and Fry's Electronics. So, here's a short review for those of you who, like me, were anxiously waiting for an officially supported iPod for Windows.
Test system
- Athlon XP1700+, 512 MB RAM (ASUS mb)
- Windows XP Pro
- Adaptec FireConnect Pro 4300 FireWire PCI card
- iPod for Windows 20 GB version
- Etymotics ER-4P
Contents
- wired remote control
- stylish, slim AC adaptor
- 6-pin to 6-pin firewire cable
- 6-pin to 4-pin firewire adaptor
- a mesh pouch
- a hard case with a belt clip
- CD with iPod drivers and MusicMatch Plus
- instruction manual
- the iPod itself, of course
Setup
Setup was super-simple. After installing the firewire card, I connected the iPod to it. It immediately started charging. Then, I installed the included software and EphPod.
Please be careful when selecting a PCI firewire card. Not all firewire cards are created equal. Lots of people have had a whole lot of pain with questionable cards. The Adaptec card I have is very solid, and it was a great deal too ($40 - $20 mail-in rebate).
Amenities
IMHO The included "cases" are not very good. The hard case doesn't completely cover the sides of the iPod. That allows for some potentially nasty scratches even when the iPod is in its case. The pouch is pretty much useless.
I also think that the material used in both "cases" is a bit rough. Furthermore, neither case allows you to see the LCD or use the touch wheel while the iPod is in the case. I've already ordered an alternative.
The remote control is pretty nice. However, I thought mine was non-functional at first. Fortunately, all I had to do was push the remote control plug in all the way. Otherwise, you'll get sound, but the remote will not work.
Software
The iPod for Windows comes with MusicMatch Jukebox Plus. I personally think that this program is bloated (34 MB!) and inefficient. So, one of the first things I did was to disable MusicMatch (uninstalling it will disable the iPod drivers!) and install EphPod. EphPod is much simpler and it's free. Unfortunately, one has to run MusicMatch to disable it. By that time, it's already hijacked all of your file associations.
Transfer speed
I've only had it for a couple of hours, but it's already more than half-full. I think I spent less than 40 minutes doing the actual transfers (not sure though). In any case, I love FireWire!
Sound
We all know the iPod is really cool looking and super-portable. Fortunately, it also sounds great! For portable equipment, I've used:
- Panasonic SL-CT780 PCDP
- Sony MZ-R55 MDR
- Sony MZ-E95 MDP
- Sony MZ-E900 MDP
- RioVolt SP100
- RioVolt SP250
- Personal Jukebox PJB-100 (20 GB version)
The iPod sounds better than all of those unamped (I'm focused on ultra-portable use). The extra juice in the amp really makes music sound substantial. The sound seems pretty accurate to me, after listening to it for a couple of hours. This is the best sound I've heard from something so small.
One great thing about the sound is that there is no hiss. So many MP3 players out there have hiss. My PJB-100's hiss was very bad, because it uses a bad digital volume control. I had to crank up the internal volume control and use an inline Radio Shack analog volume control to make the hiss go away. Such a hack should not be needed for an expensive device. The SP100 and SP250 were very hissy as well; I returned the SP250 because of that.
So, us Windows users finally have a great sounding MP3 player that's also the most portable, nicest-looking (IMO) MP3 player out there.
Test system
- Athlon XP1700+, 512 MB RAM (ASUS mb)
- Windows XP Pro
- Adaptec FireConnect Pro 4300 FireWire PCI card
- iPod for Windows 20 GB version
- Etymotics ER-4P
Contents
- wired remote control
- stylish, slim AC adaptor
- 6-pin to 6-pin firewire cable
- 6-pin to 4-pin firewire adaptor
- a mesh pouch
- a hard case with a belt clip
- CD with iPod drivers and MusicMatch Plus
- instruction manual
- the iPod itself, of course
Setup
Setup was super-simple. After installing the firewire card, I connected the iPod to it. It immediately started charging. Then, I installed the included software and EphPod.
Please be careful when selecting a PCI firewire card. Not all firewire cards are created equal. Lots of people have had a whole lot of pain with questionable cards. The Adaptec card I have is very solid, and it was a great deal too ($40 - $20 mail-in rebate).
Amenities
IMHO The included "cases" are not very good. The hard case doesn't completely cover the sides of the iPod. That allows for some potentially nasty scratches even when the iPod is in its case. The pouch is pretty much useless.
I also think that the material used in both "cases" is a bit rough. Furthermore, neither case allows you to see the LCD or use the touch wheel while the iPod is in the case. I've already ordered an alternative.
The remote control is pretty nice. However, I thought mine was non-functional at first. Fortunately, all I had to do was push the remote control plug in all the way. Otherwise, you'll get sound, but the remote will not work.
Software
The iPod for Windows comes with MusicMatch Jukebox Plus. I personally think that this program is bloated (34 MB!) and inefficient. So, one of the first things I did was to disable MusicMatch (uninstalling it will disable the iPod drivers!) and install EphPod. EphPod is much simpler and it's free. Unfortunately, one has to run MusicMatch to disable it. By that time, it's already hijacked all of your file associations.
Transfer speed
I've only had it for a couple of hours, but it's already more than half-full. I think I spent less than 40 minutes doing the actual transfers (not sure though). In any case, I love FireWire!
Sound
We all know the iPod is really cool looking and super-portable. Fortunately, it also sounds great! For portable equipment, I've used:
- Panasonic SL-CT780 PCDP
- Sony MZ-R55 MDR
- Sony MZ-E95 MDP
- Sony MZ-E900 MDP
- RioVolt SP100
- RioVolt SP250
- Personal Jukebox PJB-100 (20 GB version)
The iPod sounds better than all of those unamped (I'm focused on ultra-portable use). The extra juice in the amp really makes music sound substantial. The sound seems pretty accurate to me, after listening to it for a couple of hours. This is the best sound I've heard from something so small.
One great thing about the sound is that there is no hiss. So many MP3 players out there have hiss. My PJB-100's hiss was very bad, because it uses a bad digital volume control. I had to crank up the internal volume control and use an inline Radio Shack analog volume control to make the hiss go away. Such a hack should not be needed for an expensive device. The SP100 and SP250 were very hissy as well; I returned the SP250 because of that.
So, us Windows users finally have a great sounding MP3 player that's also the most portable, nicest-looking (IMO) MP3 player out there.