Amazon.com Product Description

Designed especially with the Mac G4 in mind, the Apple 21-inch Cinema Display is a new standard-bearer for both design and technology. Dragging your desktop into the new millennium, its nearly invisible frame blends into any décor, while providing that necessary touch of cutting-edge style.

Graphic precision far exceeds the norm, with a maximum resolution of 1,600 x 1,024, a 300:1 contrast ratio, and over 16 million colors. Truly digital video signals further improve picture quality and help provide the most accurate possible color.

The true-size 21-inch flat viewing screen provides a 16:10 viewing ratio ideal for working with professional video, and also allows you to display two full-size text pages at once. Whether you plan on using this monitor professionally or just gaming to your heart's content, you won't find a more impressive show.

A two-port USB hub supports Apple speakers, while the proprietary display connector handles digital video, USB, and power (users of non-G4s will require an adapter). Weighing just 25 pounds, it supplies twice the screen size for less than half the total weight of an older CRT model. The manufacturer includes a one-year warranty that covers parts and service. ... Read more

Features

• Designed for Power Mac G4
• 1,600 x 1,024 resolution
• 160-degree viewing angle
• Wide 16:10 aspect ratio
• Large 22-inch design; view 2 A4 pages simultaneously

Reviews (5)

Best monitor in the world
The Apple Cinema Display is, quite simply, the best monitor in the world.
Like all LCD monitors, the 22 inch diagonal measurement of the Apple Cinema Display is a measurement of viewable area. Add a couple of inches to this measurement to get an equivalent CRT monitor size, since CRT measurements include an inch or so of black around the edges. This is a huge amount of space - enough to display two full 8.5x11 inch pages side by side, including margins, and still have an inch left over around the edges.
In addition, LCDs, at their native resolutions, are significantly sharper than CRTs. As a result, I find that an LCD screen feels as big as a CRT that is half again as large.
Apple's LCD monitors are all digital, unlike many LCDs on the market, which take an analog signal from the computer (intended for a CRT display) and convert it to digital. As a result, Apple's LCDs have no flicker - important for people like me who are sensitive to flicker and subject to migraines. Picture quality is also improved over analog driven LCD displays.
Apple's current LCD desktop monitors, including the Cinema Display, also eliminate the disadvantages of earlier generation LCDs. The color is much better than older LCDs - suitable even for print prepress, which LCDs used to be useless for - and the Cinema Display is twice as bright as a CRT display. Don't be misled by notebook flat panels - they have power consumption limitations that Apple's desktop LCDs don't have!
One note: the Cinema display uses Apple's proprietary Apple Display Connector. This is very convenient if you have a current or recent G4 Mac; if you have an older Mac or other machine, you'll need to buy a third party adapter.
If you work in front of a computer and ever feel like you need more screen space, I can't recommend the Apple Cinema Display too highly. I own two - one for work and one for home.

The most amazing display on earth...
I have had the Apple Cinema Display since around the time it came out. (Yes, I paid [a lot] for it!) And to be honest, I would pay it again because this is truly the best display on the market. I use both a MAC and PC in my profession (Designer) and am very dissapointed that an equivalent hasn't been made available for the PC.

The crispness, quality, color, and size cannot be matched by any product currently available. It's a beautiful piece of technology and goregous to look at, at any angle. It's even sexy from the back!

I highly recommend this display if you design on a Mac. There is simply nothing better...!

The finest display on Earth
Use one of these, and all other displays are revealed to be a cruel joke. I have had a for 9 months, and I am never going back. The single ADC cable and connector provides data, power, and USB ports to the display. The enormous display supports multi-page photo and layout editing, and the video output from a DVD in letterbox format will take your breath away. This is a video display that can change your life, it has changed mine.

In its own class
Try to find another 22" widescreen LCD at $2499 that isn't an Apple Cinema Display. This monitor is at the head of the class in brightness/contrast, viewable angle, and color accuracy. It's not bad looking either!

An Apple Convert
This monitor caused me to switch over to Apple. This screen is the best flat screen monitor on the market. Its excellent resolution and large size make it perfect for video editing/layout, surfing the web, and desktop publishing (not to mention flight simulators). I was a loyal Gateway customer who took a leap of faith to Apple after seeing this baby! I won't be going back to Gateway anytime soon (nothing against Gateway). If you haven't seen this monitor, and spend alot of time in front of your PC, you don't no what your missing. ... Read more

Product Description

This item is brand new and comes complete with all manufacturer supplied accessories.
It also comes with a USA warranty.

Nice electronics is your source for everyday low prices on theSpeck SK-GREEN-SHUF - iPod Shuffle Skin - Green and all other Speck iPOD Access

Features

• Protects iPod from scratches and bumps
• Fits all iPod Shuffle
• Two-Part design covers Shuffle and included cap for easy synching
• Easy access to controls and earphone jack
• Made with form-fitting and lightweight Kraton polymer

Features

• Features a play-through design that is audio transparent, and provides total access to all the iPod's control buttons and scroll wheel
• Approximately 1.5mm thick
• Features a nice grippy feel
• Top opening provides complete access to the FireWire port, headphone jack and hold button
• Finish -Clear

Features

• Clear screen protection
• Full access functionality
• Earphone access
• Belt or strap attachment
• Soft suede lining

Reviews (1)

baby blue babies your iPod
Snug-fitting case is real leather with suede on the inside that is smooth and non-abrasive to the plastic and metal surfaces of your iPod. An access opening on the bottom lets you charge your iPod while it remains in the case, protecting the screen from scratches with a transparent plastic shield. Fits like a glove with a well made leather-covered metal clip. True class in workmanship. ... Read more

Features

• Apple¿s powerful desktop management solution for Mac OS X
• Distribute software and remotely control and configure systems
• Offer real-time online help to end users
• Create detailed software and hardware reports
• VNC-compatible screen sharing, task lists, and more

Features

• Apple SuperDrive required for iDVD
• Create your own music mixes with iTunes 4 -- the powerful software for instant access to a world of music
• iPhoto 2 turns your ordinary pictures into great works of art -- correct color, remove blemishes and add music to your homemade photo albums
• iMovie 3 lets you add 8 powerful new video effects and 35 new titles -- pan and zoom with still photos for more impressive home movies
• iDVD 3 makes it possible to create fantastic-looking DVDs at home, complete with stunning Hollywood-style DVD menus, plus 24 new themes and chapters

Reviews (3)

Old version!
iLife '04 has replaced this product. Do not order iLife 1.1, order iLife '04.

The most fun I've had with a computer in 2 years
Truly, what this makes easy is amazing.Photo albums and do-it-yourself coffee table books, movies, DVDs, music and more.

If you have any older i-___ apps, upgrade now to iLife.It fixes bugs and problems that formerly required work arounds...like now you can adjust the volume in movie tracks...it's elegant and so useful.

But the big advance in iLife is that it the formerly disparate media types now all work together.Laying music tracks into my home movies is a snap.The Ken Burns effect puts photos into movies with style and beauty.Then it all flows into iDVD.

We have friends who hire a computer maven to manage and edit their photos and camcorder video.I just gave them a photo book I made in iPhoto of the wife's 50th birthday party.It earned her thanks and praise.And her computer guru had never seen something so nice.It was easy and fun.

OK, it has some bugs and hangs occassionally...but crashes have never lost any of my data.Just force quit and restart the app and you're rolling again.

But it makes it easy and fun for us non-techies to make beautiful results.

Not even Microsoft has stooped this low!
I am a film student trying to get some work done and what do I discover?Those lovely, FREE updates to iTunes, iPhoto and iMovie (included in this software) make it so that if you want to export from iMovie to iDVD, you have to upgrade iDVD.Now guess what the only way you can accomplish that is!By buying this software package.So, you get to spend your fifty bucks on one piece of software and the upgrades for the other 3 that are available for FREE from Apple.So basically, they screw you into buying iLife to complete the upgrade.Seriously, Microsoft isn't so underhanded!!!Shame on you, Apple!!! ... Read more

Features

• Sleek silicone case hugs the iPod to provide stylish protection
• Convenient openings provide easy access to controls and ports
• Clear window protects the LCD screen
• Stretchy construction ensures a tight fit without adding bulk
• For 3rd Generation (non-click wheel) 40GB iPods; five year warranty

Features

• Versatile, resolution-independent, professional, digital-effects compositing software
• Quality transformations and tracking tools; shape-based morphing and warping
• Timing controls for speeding up, slowing down, or syncing a clip
• Masking and rotoscoping; paint tool; color-correction tools
• Integrated Primatte and Keylight keyers for high-quality results

Amazon.com Product Description

Now there's even more to love about Apple's iBook notebook. Weighing in at a respectable 5.9 pounds and featuring an 800 MHz PowerPC G3 processor, a 30 GB hard drive, and 256 MB of RAM--plus AirPort wireless networking and FireWire, USB, and Ethernet ports--the iBook connects to hundreds of peripherals designed to fit your life.

This system features a brilliant 14.1-inch TFT XGA active-matrix display and razor-sharp 1,024 x 768 resolution. It's the perfect place for doing everything from working on spreadsheets to displaying your movies and digital pictures in millions of colors. (Incidentally, the iBook display scales down beautifully, again with millions of colors, for special games and applications optimized for 800 x 600 or 640 x 480 resolutions.)

Included is a combo CD-RW/DVD-ROM drive for playing games and music CDs and enjoying DVD movies. The 800 MHz iBook ships with a 30 GB hard drive that provides exceptional storage space. In addition, this system comes with the ATI Mobility Radeon graphics accelerator with 16 MB of SDRAM and AGP 2x support for gorgeous 3-D graphics.

The iBook also comes loaded with iPhoto, iTunes, iMovie, and iDVD application software, making it easier than ever before to manage your digital images, video, and music. ... Read more

Reviews (17)

I use my laptop for better and better things everyday.
I can see a lot of criticism of Apple on this product page and it shocks me. I made the switch in college, running the top Apple computers against the top Dell computers and Apple was easier to use, and ran faster. Today, I use Dell in the office, and Apple at home. I also use Apple at work, the laptop on this page, and it is still easier to use, and runs faster than the very nice Dell which sits on my desk.

The iBook has plenty of power, has a great battery, and runs on my Windows network at work. It opens Windows files easily, and basically goes with me everywhere. It also does lots of things that it's windows counterpart cannot do, things that really matter--like not crashing. I haven't rebooted in months, and I use it daily. Everybody that sees how often and how easily I rely on my iBook is impressed. My iBook simply works and works, while my Dell finds new and innovative ways to slow me down each and every day. I only have one regret....I should have bought an iBook sooner.

The jaguar of laptops for discerning users
I have had the Apple iBook 800MHz laptop for about 6 months and have yet to experience any technical difficulties.

If you're seeking a stable, reliable, high-performance, and visually appealing laptop, you should seriously consider the venerable Apple iBook. Though more expensive than today's P4 1.X laptop PCs, Mac OS X alone is enough to convert even the most diehard PC user. Though getting around the "unique" interface of the OS can take some getting used to, you will surely appreciate its stability and user-friendliness.

With upgraded memory, an AirPort card for wireless web surfing and Office:Mac, you will have everything you need to work or play with incredible performance for everyday tasks. Throw in the iLife suite of applications for DVD playback, music/MP3 management and much more, and you have an amazing productivity pack for multimedia, a longtime strength of Apple computers.

I would wholeheartedly recommend the iBook for those seeking a trusty companion for work, play, or multimedia. The 800MHz G3 processor has never been insufficient for any task I've thrown at it and the AirPort card makes an ideal accessory for connecting to the Internet without wires.

If you have $1400-2000 to spend on a laptop, don't overlook Apple.

Edit: My pre-owned iBook is now nearly 11 months old and has developed the rampant logic board failure, which has plagued many a user. Luckily, with about a month left in my 1-yr AppleCare warranty, I did not have to pay a cent and waited about a week and a half to get it back.

Please keep in mind that if you purchase a newer G3 iBook, you may very well be one of those who experiences a logic board failure, and apparently it can come back again and again. Buy the 3-yr AppleCare Protection Plan and you won't be sorry.

Should work well...but doesn't.
I have used Mac's for a bout 4 years now and I quite like apple products for the most part (other than the usual complaints!). But I bought this ibook in Dec of 2002, and at this point I really wish I could get my money back. Maybe I just got a lemon, but it has already had to be sent back to apple once (took over a month to get back too!). After 2 months of heavy usage (I travel, and it's my only computer) the machine just died and would not start up. After much difficulty sending it off (and hours of stupid tech support walk throughs) they replaced the hard-drive and optical-drive. I don't really think it fixed the problem though. The machine gets very hot with extended use, and I am still having the same problems as I was before I had to send my machine off. Problems like slugish performance (that wasn't the case when i first got the machine, as it was very quick), programs crashing unexpectantly, modem errors, programs not performing correctly, etc. I am very afraid the hard-drive will just die on me again, so I neurotically back up my data every week. honestly I really think it has to do with the fact this machine gets so hot, but that is just my layman theory.
Basically I wish I had spent the extra cash and got a powerbook. Maybe that would have worked better.
I hope this reveiw helps you make a better buying decision. Maybe I just got a lemon, but I wouldn't buy an ibook ever again.

The switch was worth it!
I love my new I-book. In addition to it's sleek appearance it offers everything my PC offered plus more. The picture is so crisp and clear, everyone at work mentioned it looked better than most of their television sets at home. The sound quality isn't the greatest, but isn't an I book all about portability. I bought some inexpensive headphones and the sound is now incredible. I couldn't be more pleased with my purchase. Buy an Ibook it's worth switching to!

Outstanding Laptop
Over the years I have used a wide variety of computers. Recently, I decided to purchase a top-of-the-line iBook (800mhz-40gb-Combo Drive-640mb ram) for personal and professional use. Apple has really done a great job on this laptop. Besides looking great, the iBook provides a first rate user experience. The operating system is ingenious and has yet to crash. I get about 5.5 hours of run time on it's lithium-ion battery. I use my ibook for every imaginable task, from running large graphics through photoshop to testing sites via it's apache server application. I even do some 3D work on it from time to time. I run Word, Power Pt. and Excel with no problems. If fact, it runs these programs better than on the dell I use. If I wish I can even run XP on the rascal via virtual PC. I tried to think of any downshots to buying the iBook, and I can't think of many. My only suggestion would be to get a higher end model and purchase the maximum amount of ram. Two minor increases in the price, but definately well worth it. A word about the one star review - they couldn't have possiblely purchased the same product I did. I hear about this PC/apple rivalry taking this form and that's unfortunate. I guess it's a case of the fox and the grapes. What one of the previous reviews said is true, pc laptops are underclocked to extend battery life and reduce heat buildup. The OS is another matter, XP is a country mile behind the macintosh operating system. If you were to spend time working in both OS(s) it would be clear. The aqua environment is easier to look at and interact with than the interface Windows provides. If you intend to spend any time in front of one of these things that fact alone is a big consideration. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

For all the budding Spielbergs and Lynches out there, Apple’s Final Cut Express is a great first foray into the world of movie magic. Even if you’re only looking to polish up your vacation videos, Final Cut Express offers easy-to-use controls and an open workspace that welcomes all abilities.

In a nutshell, Final Cut Express is a pared-down version of the popular Final Cut. The technology behind both packages is the same, so you can count on high quality output. But you, as the average user, won’t be burdened by the more technically robust features. In fact, while we were editing, we couldn’t think of a feature that we wished was included in Final Cut Express--this package allowed for plenty of different ways to modify your video, including audio effects, filters (like sepia, black and white, opacity, brightness, color control), and transitions (such as fade, wipe, and so on).

We started by viewing Apple’s online help videos to learn the lingo of compositing, transitions, and ripples and rolls. These serve as an invaluable introduction to the package, especially since the package does not include a Help menu.

Setting up Final Cut Express is a breeze, with or without a camera in place. And getting going is easy too. If you’re familiar with other software packages that use layers, you’ll easily transition into the layers (both audio and video) that Final Cut Express uses. If not, it’s easy to learn. You can layer up to 99 clips of video together in the timeline to get just the right effect. Our favorite feature of Final Cut Express is the ability to import not only still images and a range of video, but also Photoshop documents. When importing files from Photoshop, Final Cut Express retains all of the layers, meaning you can animate your presentation’s titles and graphical elements easily. The package’s animation capabilities let you really get some creative results out of your project: you can create an audio-accompanied slideshow, animate your title work, or even create a picture-in-picture effect, just to name a few. --Emilie Herbst ... Read more

Features

• This powerful, flexible Digital Video (DV) features a complete toolset for editing, compositing and real-time effects
• Create your own digital film sequences by inserting, overwriting, or replacing clips -- drag them directly into the canvas or timeline
• Precision tools and techniques allow you to work wonders -- use tools like slip, slide, ripple, roll, split and extend
• Draw from a library of hundreds of different special effects- transitions, filters and effects, all rendered in real-time
• Integrated titling creates flowing text effects across the screen, with filters, effects and compositing

Reviews (6)

Finally updated -- addendum to my previous review
Okay, Apple finally updated FCE, and after downloading the patch, FCE now will do what it is supposed to do without crashing. A few of the controls still are not quite up to the "pro" standard -- which is mildly annoying, given that the promotion for the software was that it was "just like Final Cut Pro except that you are limited to DV editing." However, it is now more than adequate for even advanced amateurs and its compositing and slow-motion capability are outstanding. 99% of users will never push it as far as I do, and I recently did an 8-layer composite with greenscreen, three layers of pyro effects, filters and motion on every layer and slow-motion applied. Came out great and didn't crash once. I only wish they had updated it earlier.

I had real problems
Okay, maybe I'm pushing the limits of Final Cut Express doing 5-layer composites, but I routinely crash the program so badly on my 800mhz iMac that the program actually won't boot again until I throw away the User Preferences file. It also crashes if I try to adjust "Brightness and Contrast" and export the file as an AVI. Be warned -- it's better than iMovie but it does NOT have all the features of Final Cut Pro -- not even close. The motion commands are crippled and the software itself has yet to be updated, which indicates that Apple isn't making this a priority. I've tested FCP and found it has none of these problems, so I expect I'll have to upgrade.

Great intro into pro editing...
Believe it or not I purchased FCP 3.0 a year ago as well as several books and cdRom based tutorials, but never really caught on to Apple's way of editing. The migration I made over from PC based Media Studio pro and Rex Edit proved difficult for me. That said I recently purchased a new PowerBook and took advantage of a $99 promotional buy of FCE. With nothing to lose I have found the intro to Fianl Cut Pro within Final Cut Express very encouraging.

This software along with PeachPit Press's Final Cut Express Quick Start have proven to be a great combination and easily understandable introduction to a very Pro based Tool. And, don't just look at FCE as a temporary editing solution until you spend the $1000 for FCP4, but even as a full featured set editing app all by itself.

With the exception of Studio's and individuals requiring professional level editng and capabilities intended for commercial and theatrical releases etc... FCE should prove to be money well spent at either$299, $249 and for sure $99
dollars!

NEF

Fabulous
This is a great software if u are inbetween iMovie and Final Cut Pro but you are worried about price. Great title and effects editing. Overall a smart purchase for a smart product

Powerful, intuitive, and easy to get started
I bought a copy of Final Cut Express to edit a short film that I had shot on MiniDV. My previous experience was with Adobe's Premiere which I used without any formal training to my unfortunate frustration. These are some of my observations after finishing my first rough cut with Final Cut Express.

Final Cut Express 1.0.0 had a scary "unexpectedly quit" error that had me simultaneously sweating and squirming. There's a temporary work-around and it's fixable with a downloaded patch (1.0.1) from the Apple Support website.

Rendering clips happened quickly enough on my 700MHz G3 iBook.

I've found Final Cut Express to be very easy to use and control. The controls are simple to use and understand. The main thing is that, unlike with Premiere, I didn't become immediately frustrated with it. I'm positive that Premiere was simply "too professional" a package for me to handle. I'm sure that on the right system and with the right training it is an excellent product. For me right now, I just need a step up from iMovie.

According to the manual all the controls and instructions are applicable to the Final Cut Pro interface. Final Cut Express appears to be a good training ground for those who eventually will migrate to the Final Cut Pro. The documentation also says that Final Cut Express projects can be opened in Final Cut Pro, though Final Cut Express cannot open Final Cut Pro projects.

I still haven't scratched the surface of the capabilities of the package. The manual on the CD-ROM is a 600+ page .pdf file that covers not only the technical procedures for performing video and audio tasks, but also provides some advice and hints that you should keep in mind during shooting to make the post-production steps easier. ... Read more

Product Description

Apple is committed to bringing the best personal computing experience to students, educators, creative professionals and consumers around the world through its innovative hardware, software and Internet offerings. This AirPortExtreme Base Station Power Supply is intended for use with the products: AirPort Extreme Base Station without a 56k modem (M8930LL/A), AirPort Extreme Base Station with a 56k modem (M8799LL/A), and AirPort Extreme Base Station with Power over Ethernet and UL 2043 (M9397LL/A, M9468LL/A). For a complete compatibility list please refer to the original manufacturer's web site. ... Read more

Features

• Comprehensive set of music creation tools
• Combines composition, notation, and audio production facilities
• Total-recall mixing and automation; plug-in processing
• Hundreds of customizable key commands
• Ideal for film, TV, and video post-production facilities

Features

• Super-modern operating system combining the strength of UNIX with the elegance of Macintosh
• Aqua user interface is intuitive for new users; has powerful features for professionals
• Innovative organizational features such as the Expos? and Finder
• Protected memory and advanced memory management increase system stability
• Designed with built-in best-of-class applications includeing Mail, Safari, and Internet Connect

Amazon.com Product Description

The iPod is not just for Macs anymore. Windows users can now join the iPod revolution, and enjoy several exceptional new iPod features as well. The 10 GB Windows model packs 2,000 songs and a 10-hour battery life into a stunning 6.5-ounce package, and Apple ups the ante with new MusicMatch software; a redesigned, touch-sensitive scroll wheel; red-hot FireWire digital file transfers; a wired remote control; and an overhauled calendar/scheduler.

The iPod’s setup and interface are simple: just plug it into your PC and all your songs and playlists are automatically downloaded into iPod at blazing FireWire speed--typically 15 seconds or less. (FireWire is also known to PC users as i.Link and IEEE 1394.) Don’t forget that the player also doubles as a FireWire drive for applications and other files. This new model also comes with a FireWire port cover to protect the player from dirt and other gunk.

In addition to its 10 GB hard drive, iPod has a 32 MB memory cache. The cache is made of solid-state memory, meaning that it has no moving parts, so it's not affected by movement of the device. Skip protection on the iPod works by continually preloading up to 20 minutes of music into the cache.

The iPod has a large, high-quality LCD (liquid crystal display) for viewing up to six lines of text. And the LCD features an LED (light-emitting diode) backlight for clear visibility in low-light situations--indoors or outdoors. Pocket-size and just 6.5 ounces, it weighs appreciably less than the stack of CDs it can store music from.

Featuring MusicMatch software, the iPod can synchronize with newly added music files and playlists. Simply plug the iPod back into your PC and the changes are automatically updated in seconds. With MusicMatch, you can rip MP3s, create playlists, and burn custom CDs all from one simple interface. And thanks to a cool new partnership with audible.com, you can now download audiobooks to the iPod.

You can also download your calendar and schedule to the iPod from applications like Outlook and Palm Desktop. Plus, the iPod now has a built-in digital clock.

The iPod's rechargeable lithium-polymer battery is charged using the FireWire cable when connected to your PC. You can also recharge the iPod using the included FireWire cable and AC adapter when you're on the go.

The iPod supports MP3 (up to 320 Kbps), MP3 VBR (variable bit rate), WAV, and AIFF files, and is firmware upgradeable. To use the iPod with your PC, you'll need a FireWire port and you must be running either Windows Me, Windows 2000, or Windows XP Home or Professional.

The unit comes with a wired remote control, revamped earbud-style headphones, a FireWire cable, power adapter, and CD-ROM with MusicMatch. It's backed by a 90-day limited warranty. ... Read more

Features

• Discontinued by manufacturer, replaced by model #M8946LL/A
• FireWire interface for fastest digital transfer available; covered FireWire port
• Download audiobooks from Audible.com; keep up to date with new calendar/scheduler and built-in clock
• System requirements: PC with built-in FireWire or Windows-certified FireWire card; Windows Me, Windows 2000, or Windows XP Home or Professional
• Includes wired remote control, remodeled headphones, Musicmatch Jukebox Plus software and carrying case with belt clip

Reviews (75)

Good Hardware...Bad software
First of all, let me say that I'm returning my ipod. Why? First the good things.

1. Extremely compact.
2. Extremely easy to use. Really don't need to read the manual. The touch sensitive scroll wheel works like a charm although it's a bit too sensitive.
3. Sound Quality is very good. Volume is more than adequate for most users. Maybe an equalizer would be good (Take a hint from Creative)
4. Fast startup time.
5. Good LCD display although when the contrast is increased,black vertical bars seem to appear and when the song title scrolls, the text is not very clear.

Now the bad part.

1. [Pricey]... is a lot of money for a portable MP3 Player, but the price/storage is very attractive. Compare this to spending [less] for a top Sony MP3 player with 128MB Memory stick. Buy another memory stick and you've just spent about the price of a 10GB ipod which has 40 times the storage capacity.

2. Non removable battery. This may be a compromise done to acheive the incredible size of the ipod, but this has serious implications. In most electronics devices, the life of a battery is much shorter than most other components, so it's a fair assumption that your battery will be dead sooner than the other components in your ipod. Toshiba rates the life of the hard disk in the ipod as 5 years, but the battery will lose much of it's capacity in a period of 3 years.

3. The battery discharges on it's own after a few days even if the ipod hasn't been used. This might be a design flaw or a bug in the software.

4. The case of the ipod is very easily scratched and very fingerprint prone. You have to be very careful in handling the ipod if you want to preserve it's beauty. The mirrored back looks great but it's beauty is short lived.

5. The software included (Musicmatch Jukebox) is terrible. It's sad that Apple decided to include third party software instead of porting iTunes to Windows, because the hardware and software are light years apart. Too many problems with Jukebox to mention it here....Avoid it and use Ephpod...It's much better although you can't save your playlists in your PC with Ephpod.

All in all, when I really think about it, I feel that I should wait till a better version comes out before I fork my hard earned money. Apple has done a great job but there is a lot of room for improvements and a step in the right direction would be to avoid Musicmatch Jukebox (Junkbox???).

simply put, the best designed MP3 player on the market
I've had my Ipod for about 2 months, and it's working great, not a single glitch, nor a compatibility issue to complain about. However, there are some things to know.

First, let me warn you, Musicmatch is not Itunes. If you know anything about the wonderful play list program that allows Imacs to hook up with Ipods, then prepare to be disappointed. Musicmatch will sync up your PC with the Ipod, but you can't do major syncs without first erasing everything on your Ipod and re-uploading all your songs in one swoop. That makes swapping the Ipod to and from different computers very difficult because if you want to add songs from more than one computer to the Ipod you have to do it manually.

However, Musicmatch does allow you to set up playlists, a major function of the Ipod. Once your music is loaded, you can browse through your songs via playlists, song list, artist, genre, etc. And it's all done with the wonderful and effortless touch wheel in the center and the simple five-button interface. Simplicity is the key here, and boy does it work. Even Helen Keller could have figure out how to use this thing.

Play time for the ipod is about 10 hours plus on a rechargeable battery that can be charged via the computer (depending on your firewire card) or external AC. The audio quality is some of the best I've heard on an MP3 player, especially when the MP3 quality is 128 or higher.

As mentioned above, the Ipod DOES require a firewire port in order to sync with a computer. They're cheap, about $$$$ (Belkin makes a great 3 port IEEE 1394 Firewire card) but it is an added expense. If you have a laptop, the Ipod comes with a firewire to mini-firewire converter, which is usually the standard on laptops.

Also, unfortunately, the Windows Ipod cannot play WMA files (direct CD rips or high quality Windows Media sound files). MP3 files only. There are features like Date/time/calendar/and contact list but to synchronize them with your computer is more painful than pleasant or worthwhile. And while Musicmatch isn't perfect, I've had no trouble with it. Although If you have Musicmatch 7.2 or higher, you might be slightly annoyed with having to go "backwards" to a lower version of Musicmatch, which as of yet has no updates.

Also, it has the distinct feature of being one of the most expensive players on the market, beaten only by it's sister model, the 20 gig, at $$$ dollars. However, if it's the difference between buying the Delorian and the Diablo (and you can afford it), I'll take the Diablo any day.

The Final Word: If you want the best, this is it, however the best comes at a price!

Apple's Seeds of Joy
I take my iPod everywhere, I have had it since Christmas, it is the single most useful invention I have ever owned, I have my whole Hip-Hop collection on it. But a few weeks ago it said I only had .5 gb left and I only 800 songs on it, but after a quick reset and reload of songs (it took 5 minutes honest!) it was back to new. You should definately get a case for these, I have kept mine in a case for its whole life and it looks as good as new.

Pros: Holds all but the biggest music collections, great quality in sound and product, long battery life, great software

Cons: Occasionally crashes

For all those people that say by a cheaper mp3 player I used to have the iRiver, and I through it out of my window 1 day because it was so terrible, trust me the ipod is the best designed and for the price you are paying you get more songs.

Best There Is!!!
Just got the 10-gig I-pod Friday (picked up on sale as Apple is dropping 10-gig in favor of "mini" and "15-gig"). All I can say is awesome. I never had Apple before and was skeptical. But all my fears were erased. I have a 6 month-old Compaq at home and had no problems getting the two to sync up. Literally "plug and play". Bonus is, if your Windows PC has a newer fire-wire port, it will even charge the I-pod while downloading music. I have about 250 songs (20 albums) on it right now, and using just over 2-gig. I read a lot about people having problems sync-ing their window-based PCs to I-pod. Based on my experience, I can only guess they are using older PCs (I have a pentium-4, 2.2, 256). One tip, if you're "ripping" CDs to put on your I-pod, be logged into the web. I-tunes will literally fill out all the song/track information for you (a little tid-bit I found by accident).

Nomad beats the Ipod by a Mile
I have recently got an Ipod and I thought is was the best Mp3 player until I did a lot of looking around. The Nomad Jukebox Zen Xtra kicks the Ipod so much.

Pros:
1. Eax sound feature which is creatives sound card technoligy so it sounds a lot better
2. The 30gb Nomad cost $300 while the 10gb Ipod cost $400
3. built for windows. No firewire stuff.
4. better features and custmizing
5. no need to use musicmatch or anything just install software and you can put any song on it no matter where the location.
6. big screen with blue backlight.
7. Can replace rechargeable battery
8. Up to 60gb hard drive

Cons:
1. A little bigger than the Ipod ... Read more

Features

• Video editing tool for editing and finishing in SD and HD formats
• Native DVCPRO HD editing of broadcast-quality HD 720p and at 1080i
• RT Extreme with HD real-time multi-stream effects and transitions
• Digital Cinema Desktop for easy HD previewing
• Creative, professional, and extensible; easy-to-use

Reviews (2)

Tron, and on and on!
Get this game if you know any of the following: (a) what a lightcycle is? (b) who the MCP was? (c) why 1982 was a great year for Disney?

Back in 1982, the original movie Tron was an incredible change in how computer animation and live motion video merged. It was an introduction into the world of the microprocessor ... a world geeks like me just knew really existed! (OK, the cat's out of the bag ... I am a Tron geek, and I just had to get my hands on this edition of the video game, newly released for the Macintosh.)

One the other hand, as big a geek as I am, I am not really much of a gamer. After I had downloaded the Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy demo, it wasn't ten minutes before I had accidently killed Chewebacca with my lightsaber. I'm fairly sure that my karma, along with my force-self, is permanently damaged. As usual, I digress ... back to the game.

Tron 2.0 opens twenty years (surprise!) after the original. Your role, as Jet Bradley, the son of Adam Bradley (once again played by Jeff Bridges), is defined by the fact that your father has disappeared, his prize computer system is under a mysterious attack, and you've been transported into the virtual world of the microprocessor, a world where software programs are the characters populating the scene.

Immediately, I was in love. I felt like I was deeply and thoroughly immersed into the game.

After a brief introduction, I was pleased to find a nice training field which helped me learn to control actions via keystrokes and mouse movements (you can play the game with a track-pad, but I didn't have any luck with controlling fine movements that way.)

The story was fun, with a nice sound track and voice quality.

Plus, actually playing with the lightcycles was really, really fun.

I needed to keep the guidebook out, and periodically pause the game to collect and plan out how I wanted to move and interact with the game. I didn't find this much of a burden, but it wasn't entirely routinely obvious to me what I was supposed to "do" next.

One thing I liked, unlike some games which allow the main character to obtain a limitless supply of tools and devices, Tron 2.0 requires the player to plan out what things to add, and what to let go (much like really programs, bogged down by too much stuff or insufficient resources, the character is challenged to routinely upgrade in order to succeed.)

While the game allows interaction over the net for gameplay, I didn't actually connect with anyone and try this. But as a single player action game, I was more than suitably impressed.

I'm off on vacation now, where I'll introduce my young nephew to the movie Tron and to the game Tron 2.0; he is very good at games, and I imagine he'll be showing me a thing or two within just a few days.

Tron 2.0
Tron 2.0 (for mac) makes you feel like you are back in the 80s, back when you first watched the movie, now you can play the game, you feel like you are actually in the game and running around and saving people.
simply,
this game rocks ... Read more

Features

• Grippy feel to help prevent the iPod from slipping from your grip
• A top opening that provides complete access to the headphone/remote jack & Hold Button
• Color - Graphite