Home > Consumer Reviews > Apple iPod 10 GB White M8976LL/A (3rd Generation) OLD MODEL

I am an iPod fan, and I would caution the potential buyer of a 10GB unit to carefully consider the value when you realize that this one ships without a docking cradle, remote control and case. You'd spend very nearly the full amount of the difference between this iPod and the 20GB unit just getting those things separately (you do not want to do without the cradle or the case; the wired remote is a toss-up). At that point, you'd have spent the same amount of money for an iPod with only half the capacity you deserve.

Don't listen to people who tell you it doesn't work on Windows. I have a Windows PC and know nothing about computers and i just installed the standard software and it worked like a dream. Musicmatch is a very good media player anyway and works well with the iPod. Not only is it the best MP3 player on the market by miles and miles but it looks great and works easily on windows. I just plugged it in and it instantly downloaded all my music in under 5 minutes. Also, unless you work at a radio station the 10 GB is the best value for money and is smaller aswell. IF YOU WANT AN MP3 PLAYER GET THIS ONE, REGARDLESS IF YOU HAVE WINDOWS OR MAC!!

The Apple iPod is definitely the best mp3 player out there. The 10GB model is enough space for almost anyone to fit an entire music collection. It is also amzingly easy to use. I have a Windows PC and it even works with my computer. Don't listen to people who say you need an Apple Computer to make it work and also don't listen to people who say you need to have a firewire port installed in you Windows PC. If you buy the USB connector cord (www.apple.com) it syncs very quickly through USB on a Windows PC. Definitely a great product for all music lovers.

I received my iPod yesterday and i love it. When i received it and opened the packaging you can tell how much Apple pays attention to detail. The box it comes in is odd at first because i never seen anything like it. When i saw it i was amazed how small it was, i had been told it was small but WOW. It fooled my hand for a second with its weight. Everything went smoothly with installation with a minor glitch, which was my fault. It loaded my 2gb playlist in about a minute. Im using 4pin firewire because i have a Win. laptop, i charge with the adapter and contrary to what i've heard it doesnt fry the battery. The bad thing about 4pin is that when you download it takes a lot of battery and it could go dead.

Pros:
-Easy to use and setup (menu is pure genius)
-Battery life
-SYLE

Cons:
-scratches easily (i taped some of the plastic to it until i get a case.)
-pricey, but you get what you pay for

For my daughter's 16th birthday, my wife and I bought her the 20GB iPod. She's been using it with an iMac. The setup was very easy and she's happy not to be carrying around a CD player anymore. (Let alone, burning CDs to take with her.) The one thing that I noticed was that the case that comes with this unit is useless, since you can't access the controls while your iPod is in it. She ended up using the case sparingly, and as a result, her iPod is really scratched up. She doesn't use the remote control either. Well, at least the $40 dock is worth the added cost.

So when I was looking at buying an iPod for myself, I decided to go with the 10GB model, so I could spend the difference on a better case ($40 by MARWARE) and other accessories. My PC laptop has a firewire port, and I moved over my large iTunes music collection (200 songs) in about 2 minutes. Oh yeah, my setup was just as easy for Windows XP as the Mac. Sorry, but no crashes or anything crazy to report.

By the way, I already went the $79 128MB MP3 player route. It was full with only 29 songs. After looking at paying another $110 to increase the player to 640MB, I decided to return it, and get an iPod. I liked Rio's Music Manager software, but iTunes is infinitely better than Rio's software and (the dreaded) MusicMatch.

And finally, I don't think any of the other players can match the iPod in accessories. Attachments, like the one to store digital images, aren't found for the other MP3 players. If you want a device that your relatives can buy you accessories for (e.g., a birthday or Christmas present), the Ipod is it.

Good Luck!