Apple iPod mini 6GB - Silver [M9801B/A]

• The Golden Compass [2007]

The only thing now is that their is new-er ones out like the the black and white smaller nannos ipods, but i still prefer these... i think nanos are too small

As I said, I original got into MP3's some 8 years ago, back in the day when we had to write our own ID3 tags to ensure the tracks came up with the right titles on WINAMP. Thankfully these days are over and we have programmes such as iTunes to do this for us but it is important to know where we came from in this world. I actually bought an MP3 player in the backend of the 90's, it was 32mb. Yes I really said 32mb, enough for around 8 songs. I mean my phone has more than that and this iPod can hold around 1,500. Granted the units were about the same size but you get the picture.

My iPod is loaded with all the CD's I have in my collection, alongside what I have downloaded from iTunes. It is impossible to review an iPod without looking at iTunes as the two are so intrinsically involved. The iTunes software allows you to manage your music collection through uploading your own CD's and converting them to MP3, or allowing you to purchase music through the iTunes store.

Firstly the uploading process.

With iTunes it is very slick, just put a CD into your drive and if iTunes isn't already running it will open up and ask you to upload it, or if it is it will allow you to enter it to your collection. It takes around 6-7 minutes per CD (dependent on CD drive speed and CD length) so can take a while when you are first firing up but isn't too bad once you are going. The iTunes store also offers quick download but I would offer a word of warning if you don't have broadband. Its gonna take a while...

Once all your tracks are on iTunes you are ready to sync with the iPod. This takes a while if you haven't done it before as the iPod has to move a lot of tracks. Once it has been done for the first time it becomes less arduous. The iPod connects through a standard USB although you can purchase a Firewire connection and docking station to make this a lot faster. I don't really see this as important however, as I have said once the initial sync is done it never really takes that long. What you are far better off spending your money on is a separate charger for the iPod. The iPod assumes you will charge it up through syncing it with your PC through the USB. Now if you are like me you won't upload songs more than once a week / once every couple of weeks and if you are a high user you will need to charge it more than that.

The player itself offers excellent management of songs, a 6gb hard drive, ok battery life (around 8 hours) tiny size, (this thing really is mobile phone size) and really easy navigation. The Click Wheel is such a simple way of navigating around your music.

I would recommend that you get a decent set of headphones as the ones that come with it aren't great and £30 spent here can really improve the quality of the music you are listening too, far more than all the covers / accessories Apple will try and convince you to buy.

Overall and excellent player with the widest accessibility. Unfortunately some software packages don't sync with it but the iTunes software is excellent, and that coupled with all your own music is more than enough to keep you going.

It may not have 20GB of space compared to a lot of players in this price range, but the menu layout and playlists make up for this.

The games, although a little too simple add a nice finishing touch for when you get bored on that long journey. A song quiz (one of the games) will put a smile on your face.

Pro's,
Cost,i don't mind paying it it's worth it !!.Size of the I-POD,
General quality sound & the 18hrs + Battery !!

Con's,
As someone said earlier....not getting one sooner !!