Pros & Cons
Apple iPod 40GB Specs
| Audio Battery Life: | 7.33 hr |
| Dimensions: | 4.1 x 2.4 x 0.8 inches |
| Player Type: | Hard Disk MP3 Player |
| Radio: | No |
| Recording, FM: | No |
| Recording, Line In: | No |
| Recording, Voice: | No |
| Screen Resolution: | 160 X 128 pixels |
| Storage Capacity (as Tested): | 40 GB |
| Weight: | 6.1 oz |
The chic chrome-and-ivory chassis found on the latest Apple iPod is lighter and thinner than the other hard drive players here, and it has a smaller footprint than any other hard drive unit we tested. Not to mention that the iPod's elegant user interface could be the most intuitive we've seen in a handheld player. We examined the 30GB model for this review. By the time you read this, however, the 30GB iPod will have been replaced by the nearly identical 40GB model.
Like most hard drive music players, the iPod lacks a radio tuner and recording capabilities. Typically, it uses FireWire for file transfers, though a USB 2.0 cradle is available for $39. The iPod features nearly effortless library synchronization and playlist options, a nifty in-line handheld remote, and even a collection of PDA-style personal-productivity applets.
The iPod provided only about 9 hours of playback per charge on its rechargeable battery, and it's one of only two models in the survey that can't play WMA files. But the real dealbreaker for many buyers will be its stratospheric price tag. The iPod may be best-of-breed, but it's only an option if money is no object.