The new iPod Arrives

My trusty 4th-generation 40GB iPod, which I have had since last October, is on the verge of filling up. It is time to replace it with an 80GB model.

Progress is not always a good thing; the new 6th-generation iPod “Classic” has a sexy aluminum front, a slimmer body and a longer-lasting battery, but there were a few factors that made it not an option.

1. First of all, it required iTunes 7.4+. According to Apple’s support peeps, it will not play at all with earlier versions - not even in some kind of reduced functionality mode. The problem is that 7.4 requires Windows XP; I am not willing to upgrade a desktop Operating System just so I could run the latest iPod.
2. Secondly, I was not particularly fond of the new iPod GUI; I don’t care much for coverflow, and don’t like the new “two-lines-plus-cover-art” listing format.
3. Finally, and most importantly, Apple redesigned the case for the sixth-gens so that they cannot be opened by anyone except Apple. This means that if your iPod fails outside of warranty you have no choice but to send it to them - and forget hacking it…

Thank you, but… no. Luckily, Apple is selling Refurbished 5.5G 80GB models on its website at a very decent price, and I bought one from them last week.

Some people have an aversion to refurbished items - often with good reason. However, Apple’s refurbished iPods come in retail packaging with a full one-year factory warranty. I ordered one a few days ago, and it just arrived. Opening the package it is indistinguishable from new.

Once it has been cased it will be ready for active duty.