Apple iPod 4 GB mini M9160LL/A (Silver) OLD MODEL
by Apple Computer
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Our Price: $304.99 Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $33.99 (click here) Category: Network Media Player See more product details |
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Apple iPod 4 GB mini M9160LL/A (Silver) OLD MODEL
Customer Review: As much art as it is science!
Summary: 5 Stars
I have been an iPod evangalist since I first turned on the 5GB. As you may know from my reviews of the 5, 15, 20, and 40GB models, I've owned (or given as gifts) just about every incarnation of this glorious device. So, when Apple announced that it was releasing a dramatically redesigned version of the iPod, I knew right away it would at least be a hit, perhaps even enjoy the almost "cult-like" status of its larger parent.So I pre-ordered 3 of them; one for each of my sisters and myself. They arrived about a week ago and I'm happy to report that Apple has done it again with the release of the iPod Mini. It totally ROCKS!
There are allot of things I like about this model, but before I get into them A VERY IMPORTANT WARNING TO THOSE THAT PURCHASE THIS PRODUCT:
YOU MUST CHARGE AT LEAST 4 HOURS BEFORE USE!
I, like so many I'm sure, was very eager to "plug and play". I did, without fully charging them, and they experienced all kinds of impossible to resolve errors.
Now, in the event you've already bought one, or simply can't help yourself, there is a little known "reset feature" on the mini that will come in handy whenever you have an issue.
TO RESET THE MINI, PRESS AND HOLD THE MENU AND SELECT BUTTON (the middle round button) FOR SIX SECONDS.
That'll bring your baby back to life.
The colors are awesome (I have the blue, silver, and pink), look very stylish, and will likely show less wear. If you have the patience, consider having Apple engrave them for you (looks very cool).
The sound is excellent. I don't have a testing lab, but I could swear that the sound quality is better; and I'm almost certain that they can play at a higher volume.
Another important improvement is the fact that when skipping forward more than a handful of songs the mini doesn't stall (for a second or two) like it's predecessors.
So, in conclusion, this is a wonderful new player that'll be sure to WOW everyone that owns it, and create envious spectators out of those that don't.
Hope this was helpful.
Christian Hunter
Santa Barbara, CA.
Customer Review: The #1 Digital Music Player
Summary: 5 Stars
Since the inception of the digital music craze, I have owned several portable MP3 players, but always resisted the urge to purchase an Ipod. I always thought I could get the same value and quality with a lesser-known or cheaper player. Boy was I wrong. I recently received the Ipod Mini as a gift, and I have no idea how I ever got along without it. The small, lightweight, compact design is perfect for the music lover on the go. With the included belt clip, or the neoprene armband (sold separately) you can take your music virtually anywhere. I use it when working out, working in the yard, washing the car, or when I just want to relax. The thumb wheel makes using the Mini a breeze and takes no time at all to get used to. Organizing and transferring music is a snap using the included Itunes software, and if you are like me you could use a little help getting all of your titles organized. The Mini also has several extras you might enjoy such as an address book, alarm clock, and a few games. The backlit display is bright and easy to read. My favorite little perk of the Mini is that you don?t have to worry about wasting your battery while you are transferring your songs or data because the Mini will actually charge itself while connected to your PC if you are using a USB2.0 or Firewire port.
Overall my impressions of the Ipod Mini are very positive and this is without a doubt the best digital music player I have ever owned.
Pros:
Small, Compact, and Lightweight
Effortless Navigation
Fast Data Transfer (USB 2.0 or FireWire)
Great storage capacity (4GB) for such a small player
Very Good sound quality
Bright Backlit Display
Battery will charge while you are transferring data (USB 2.0 or Firewire)
Tons of available accessories
Will play nearly any music format
Available in several colors
Cons:
Supplied Ear Buds are uncomfortable and do have great sound quality
Too hard to obtain (lead times running as long as 6 weeks)
Customer Review: Simply Amazing!
Summary: 5 Stars
From the moment you open the box till the final song you hear, the iPod is an experience unlike any other. When I first got thing, I sat down and opened up what was to be the best 250 bucks i've ever spent. After sliding off the cover and opening the two halves of the cubic box, there is one word on the inside cover, "Enjoy." And thats what I've been doing ever since. This thing is an absolute joy to use!However, many people complain about the 4gb space and how for only $50 more you can get more than twice the space. However, all of you should stop and take a look at how much space you really are using. 2gigs? 4gigs? 500mb? Come on, only a small percentage of you actually have more than 5gb of music on your computer. And even if you have 50gb of music, will you actually listen to ALL of it before listening to the same song twice? I think not. When I bought this, a friend of mine with a 10gb iPod laughed at me and said, "What a waste of money. You could of gotten so much more space for only a little bit more money." Okay, that is true. But after looking at his iPod, he only had 2GB of music on it! This, I belive, is the truth for most (but not all) the music lovers out there. We need a reality check everyone...
And here it is: 4gb is about 3 days STRAIGHT listening to music. If you happen to listen to all 4gb of music and get tired, simply hook it back up to your computer and get a fresh set of music. Not too difficult, huh? You just saved yourself 50 bucks.
The truth is, if YOU like the iPod mini, then YOU buy it. Who cares if your friends with the regular iPods make fun of you? You know that deep down inside, they really envy your mini. Yours is smaller, lighter, more scratch-resistant, comes with a USB 2.0 cable, has a longer battery (in most cases), and is cheaper. And lets not forget the coolness factor, which simply dominates all other music players on the market today. But whatever model you choose, you can't go wrong with an iPod.
Customer Review: Think about capacity before you buy this vs Regular iPod
Summary: 5 Stars
The silver iPod mini was my first foray into the iPod craze. Part of it was to see what all the hype was about and I was not disappointed. It is one of those rare devices that is not only very functional but also generates a huge emotional attachment.
I was surprised at the envious looks I was getting, some people even obviously pointed and commented at it.
I LOVE the feel of the clickwheel. I did not understand what that was from descriptions until I actually used it so I will try and explain it. When you slide your finger over the round touch wheel it allows you to adjust volume, scroll or do whatever the function you are on. All it takes is a light touch and it can be done in any direction up/down, round and round etc. It is also speed sensitive, meaning it accelerates your scroll the faster you slide your finger. The clickwheel makes it possible to control most important functions without even looking at the unit. This feature alone puts the iPod mini and regular iPod (4th generation) in a different league from it's competitors.
I never had any technical problems using it, and I enjoyed how well everything worked seemlessly together even though I am using iTunes on Windows.
Now for the only negative. 4GB memory. At first I though this would be more than I could possibly want. However, once I started using iTunes I quickly decided to import all my CDs into it and dump my CD changer. Then I also found out that to get true original CD quality I needed to use the lossless encoding which makes each song about 30MB on average or about 6-8 times larger than the default encoding. There is a noticeable difference in sound quality if you import songs at the smaller sizes. On top of that I started to use the mini iPod to transfer files like a mini hard disk.
The end result was I had to buy a 40GB iPod and gave the mini to my daughter. I miss the small size and cool look of the mini though.
Customer Review: Small in Size not in Functionality
Summary: 5 Stars
The iPod mini is built from the ground up as a portable device for people with fast-paced lives. It's small and lightweight physical dimensions are perfectly suited to be being placed in a pants or shirt pocket without being a burden.But don't let its light weight fool you into thinking the iPod mini is a pushover. The 4GB hard drive (3.7 GB actual) can hold about 1,000 songs - enough to last almost three full days. The installed software includes four games; calendar; notepad; contact database; clock; backlight with timer; alarm clock; and the abilities to customize the main menu; create playlists; and rate songs. All this is in addition to being able to be used as an external hard drive.
However, the most revolutionary aspect of the iPod mini (aside from it's size and weight) is its control interface. Incorporating the `Menu', `Pause/Play', `Forward' and `Back' buttons directly to the touch sensitive scroll wheel not only creates simplicity from a design standpoint, but form a user one as well. Accessing these controls is a breeze. Thankfully the touch wheel is designed well enough that accidental pressing of a control is unlikely to occur since you have to press down a bit to activate the button. I'd actually like to see the entire iPod line adopt this interface.
Some people complain that the iPod mini is only slightly cheaper than the 20 GB iPod and offers a lot less storage space. But what you loose in storage space you gain in portability. It is also important to consider that compared to other players of its size and weight, the iPod mini offers much more storage space, many more features, and a better music jukebox in iTunes 4.0.
I want to carry the most music I can in the smallest possible device that offers the best interface and features. For me, that device is unquestionably the iPod mini. If you have similar demands of a portable music device, the iPod mini is sure to become a permanent accessory to your lifestyle.