What you should know:
An anodized aluminum faceplate covers the front of the Classic in either black or silver, while the back of the iPod is covered in the same scratch-showing, smudge-loving chromed steel found on iPods for generations. Inside its 2.4-inch-by-4.1-inch-by-0.41-inch enclosure you'll find a whopping 160GB hard drive capable of holding over 40,000 songs. The 2.5-inch screen found above the click wheel is unfortunately still covered with plastic, making it the only remaining iPod that hasn't yet switched to a scratch-resistant glass screen.
There are no apps on the iPod Classic. There's no Web browser or e-mail. You won't even find options for Bluetooth music streaming or AirPlay. True to its name, the iPod Classic keeps with the basic formula for the iPod's original success. You just load it up with music, podcasts, audiobooks, and video using Apple's free iTunes software on your home computer (Mac or PC). And for better or worse, once you've loaded up your media collection, it's just stuck there until the next time you connect back to your computer.
Perhaps the last feature added to the iPod Classic is the capability to create instant Genius playlists. The Genius feature lets you create an instant 25-song playlist based on the musical characteristics of a single song, offering a new way to group together similar songs in your collection.
What it offers:
The iPod Classic refines the formula that put the iPod on the map. None can match its combination of storage capacity, battery life, and intuitive user interface.
The advantage:
The iPod Classic offers a solid, understated design with an easy-to-use interface and unbelievably generous capacity.
The unfavorable:
EQ control is limited; the plastic screen is susceptible to scratching; and the only way to move media on and off the device is through iTunes.
The price:
$209.99 to $250.02
An anodized aluminum faceplate covers the front of the Classic in either black or silver, while the back of the iPod is covered in the same scratch-showing, smudge-loving chromed steel found on iPods for generations. Inside its 2.4-inch-by-4.1-inch-by-0.41-inch enclosure you'll find a whopping 160GB hard drive capable of holding over 40,000 songs. The 2.5-inch screen found above the click wheel is unfortunately still covered with plastic, making it the only remaining iPod that hasn't yet switched to a scratch-resistant glass screen.
There are no apps on the iPod Classic. There's no Web browser or e-mail. You won't even find options for Bluetooth music streaming or AirPlay. True to its name, the iPod Classic keeps with the basic formula for the iPod's original success. You just load it up with music, podcasts, audiobooks, and video using Apple's free iTunes software on your home computer (Mac or PC). And for better or worse, once you've loaded up your media collection, it's just stuck there until the next time you connect back to your computer.
Perhaps the last feature added to the iPod Classic is the capability to create instant Genius playlists. The Genius feature lets you create an instant 25-song playlist based on the musical characteristics of a single song, offering a new way to group together similar songs in your collection.
What it offers:
The iPod Classic refines the formula that put the iPod on the map. None can match its combination of storage capacity, battery life, and intuitive user interface.
The advantage:
The iPod Classic offers a solid, understated design with an easy-to-use interface and unbelievably generous capacity.
The unfavorable:
EQ control is limited; the plastic screen is susceptible to scratching; and the only way to move media on and off the device is through iTunes.
The price:
$209.99 to $250.02
