Okey dokey, let's go.
I have a brand new Classic 160 and I love, love, love it!
My previous iPod was a 5g 60 that served me well for almost three years. It has been used day in day out for hours almost every day; it's been dropped from chest height onto concrete several times(I'm not clumsy but when one takes a full size ipod out every day for years and continually takes it out to add songs to on-the-go's, well, the law of averages does indeed stipulate that it's gonna hit the concrete a fair few times! But it's never not once paused, hiccupped or asked to be given a rest. Not built to last?! I beg to differ!
I loved it!
Things move on. My music collection soared past 60, 80 and then 100 giggeroo's. What to do? Well, the 160 had already been out a good while so I thought, why not wait for the capacity increase come September? That I did.
And then the disappointment. 120? Nope, not good enough. If the 160 really did not shift the units then fair enough, but I don't think it's that simple. Regardless, that's where we are right now. I needed more than 120; I had just given my father my 60'er as a birthday gift pre-loaded with a little music from his era(and oh my God is he not like a little boy in a sweet shop, and, incidentally, it is amazing just how many older folks have no idea what an iPod is, and on being shown one, gawp in open-mouthed astonishment(his friends!)).
So, I have no iPod for the first time in three years and suddenly finding myself lacking a limb. I was also, unexpectedly, finding myself with not enough money to buy even an 8g Nano! However! Girlfriend and parents, upon accurately assessing my turmoil, stumped up the monies to help me plump for a brand new 160; nearly full price but what the heck - of the four stockists that still had it, the sum total came to nine units and only one black, so, purchase!
And I have to say, just in case I haven't already, that I love this thing!
And that I feel, and believe, that Apple will make a rare bad move if they do indeed, as some folks feel, kill off the Classic once the solid state drives equal the Classics capacity and come down in price.
I don't know, things change, they have to. But there's something prescious about this device. Really! This clickwheel is something very special indeed. I mean, I know the Touch is in many ways a wondrous creation, and the interface is fabulous, but I still feel that the clickwheel interface, for music usage alone I suppose, beats it hands down. And this is the rub; I only want an iPod for music!
To digress slightly, I am kinda surprised that there isn't an option(is there?)to have a virtual clickwheel pop up on the Touch's screen, for those that would still quite like to have that interface when just listening to music.
Anyway, back to the Classic, as you no doubt know by now, I love everything about this machine. The form factor: why is thinner the holy grail at the moment with Apple? I love the weight, the heft, of the Classic, and the fact there is a little room to manoeuvre when using it(new Nano just too cramped for me), and actually think the Touch 2G could do with being a little thicker!
And as for the numerous stories of 160's stalling mid-song, well, all I can say is that this one has been faultless. If anything, it's operation is even more fast 'n fluid than my old 5G. The metal front feels and looks better(again, to me)than the plastic 5G and in general it just feels nicer to use.
One last point, both a negative and a positive.
I make playlists. Long playlists. I cannot tell you how much it used to annoy me that when listening to a long playlist, one couldn't know who all the individual artists were until actually playing them. Only the song titles were listed. Of course, this has since been addressed, and now, when listening to a playlist, as I was today, with almost 200 songs on it, I can see who all the artists are, right there under song title!
It feels as though the iPod has just learnt that the Earth is not in fact flat!
But why oh why don't Apple backdate these improvements? I see no reason for this. Why deny owners of previous models the obvious benefits that improvements such as this bring, except for petty-minded inclinations.
Nevertheless, to sum up, I, Love, My, iPod, Classic!
And yeah, I think it's days are numbered.
And yeah, I think Apple should look at it anew, and increase it's screen size as they further increase it's hard drive(yes, meaning keeping it thick!), and yes, upping it's cool factor by perhaps releasing a 100% black anodised(back & front)model. But we know that's not going to happen unfortunately.
Is this the last Classic? Let's hope not. But if it is(and maybe 120 really is enough for most)then it's going out as, for many, the best iPod bar none.
When I go out, all I want is the music. Nothing else.
For those that want any or all of the extras that the Touch offers, well, they have the best device going.
For me, and maybe a few others, with the Classic we have the best!
Long live the new flesh!
Long live the Classic.
) Apple killed it without killing it. How hard would it be to put the 250GB in the classic and bring it back to life?
