So, I call what they call Customer Service and find that they wont give me any advice whatever until I FAX in a copy of my shipping document from Amazon and another sheet with a magic number on it from within the extended service package. They say that Amazon is not an authorized reseller and that they cannot check my order and date of sale from Amazon.

I explain that I do not have a FAX machine, and that I will go send the stuff in a few days when I feel like walking that far using my crutches.

I think that it is probably a good product, but if you are in any way handicapped and it is not convenient for you to run around to get their service, I recommend not buying it.

No FireWire port? Thats a problem, because you need to connect the iPod to a FireWire-equipped Mac in order to get tunes onto it. It takes about 5 seconds to transfer an average track - blazing fast! You can put your whole library on here in less than an hour, using the easy drag-and-drop iTunes software.

And now, you can even use your iPod to play back tunes purchased from Apples online music store, in the high-quality AAC format!

I get about 2 hours per charge (I play high volume to drown out subway noise), and my iPod is sturdy enough to go biking with no skips. I dont bother using the wired remote or the belt clip; but I do use a car adapter to get my tunes playing over my cars stereo system! And I occasionally use the iPod as a portable hard disk as well! Fits right in my pocket!

So, if you want maximum cool and maximum tunes, look no further!

The outcome is still to come. My ipod is in for service and was told that I will get a refurbished model to replace my [money] purchase. My confidence has been severely broken. I suggest that you look into this product very carefully before purchasing.

I use my iPod with both my Macintosh and my Windows machines. If you want to use a Mac iPod with a Windows machine, you need Mac file-reading software (such as MacDrive or MacOpener) and a freeware program called EphPod. It is a little slower than using it with a Mac, but allows you to sync MP3s across both your Windows and Macintosh computers.

Syncing MP3s is very fast. If youve ever transferred MP3s to a USB MP3 player, such as the Creative Labs Nomad Jukebox, you know what I mean when I say that doing so is painful. With a Nomad Jukebox, I would set it to sync before I went to bed. With my iPod, I let it sync while Im having a quick lunch. Its so much faster!

My primary reason for loving the iPod is that it is so portable. It is smaller and lighter than any other MP3 jukebox available. I always get at least nine hours of battery life out of it, and usually ten or more. I use it when I ride the train to work. Its perfect for flying across the country or around the world. Ten hours of battery life covers all but the longest of flights.

There are two downfalls of the iPod, which prevent me from giving it five stars. The first is a software issue. If you install the most recent version of iTunes, you cannot use the iPod to transfer MP3s between two machines. (This isnt entirely true; you can do so if you know enough Unix to get around it in your Terminal window.) As I said, I use my iPod on two different computers all the time, so I find this to be quite annoying.

The second problem with this device is its price. The Nomad Jukebox, which also is 20GB, is currently significantly less expensive than the iPod. However, I think that the size, weight, and battery life of the iPod make its increased price worthwhile. If you have a smaller budget and dont mind some drawbacks (larger, heavier, significantly lower battery life, slower to transfer), consider the Nomad Jukebox instead. If you can afford it, though, I highly recommend the iPod.

The included earbud headphones sound fine, but I bought a pair of Koss KSC-55 headphones that sound better and stay on my head.

I like the remote control, especially when I use it in the car (who needs satellite radio when you have 4000+ songs in the center console???).

Overall, I am extremely satisfied. You will be, too.

It is small, light, easy to use, and sounds fabulous.

What else could you ask for?

The design of the iPod is great. Putting a laptop hard drive in a portable music player was an ingenious idea. Its so small and lightweight, yet rugged, and it looks terrific. Sound quality is good (although I recommend upgrading the earbuds that come with it), incredible battery life (10-/+ hours). Putting new tunes on the iPod is easy--simply put your songs in iTunes on your Mac, plug in your iPod, and it gets updated automatically. Sending a CDs worth of songs to your iPod literally takes a few seconds. Leave it connected to your computer and it charges up the battery!

I cant say enough great things about this MP3 player. After comparing it to other MP3 players, I can definitely say that nothing even comes close. Its the best.

It is easy to use. It is elegant. The cascading menus work great. Although I thought I wanted the scroll wheel, I like the touch wheel very much.

I use the rest of the volume to back up my entire ibook (10 gig) and have room to spare to use as a hard drive.

I am very pleased with this purchase

My iPod freezes up about every 15 - 20 minutes and has to be manually reset all the time. You can almost set your watch by it. Ive tried to have it fixed but Apple says that nothing is wrong with it...Think my problem is rare? Go to Apples website under the discussion board to find out just how "rare" it is. Believe me, EVERYONE is having this problem.

These things also have chronic battery life problems. Expect it. This thing should be called the iPOS (think about it)

I bought my first iPod when the 5GB model came out over a year ago. It kept me company on the four-hour drives (one-way) that I frequently had to make for a few weeks. That alone was worth the cost of the iPod, considering the drive was in an area where there are no radio stations.

Since then, I have upgraded to the 20GB model, and bought my wife a 10GB iPod. She loves hers, and the independence it gives her to have her music available in the car, while she exercises, in the shower, etc. My 20GB comes with me everywhere. I work in law enforcement and drive around all day in a service area covering several hundred square miles. I have "myPod" (as our three year-old son calls it) loaded with not only all my favorite music (about 3800 songs), but also radio programs I like to listen to, downloaded from the internet. I also happen to be a fan of Old Time Radio shows, and have been able to listen to hundreds of old shows while driving around on duty.

The iPod has allowed me to enjoy songs I forgot I had, listen to current radio shows that my schedule doesnt allow me to hear live, and to enjoy my collection of old radio shows. I honestly cant think of a better "gadget" to have. Its not just a gadget, it is a truly revolutionary device.

I read a story online of a man who digitized his elderly fathers record collection, loaded it all onto an iPod, and gave it to his dad...letting his dad once again enjoy the music from hundreds of old records, with no need to shuffle through the LPs, dust them off, put on the phonograph, etc. Instead, the iPod gave this gentleman the freedom to enjoy all those memories again. Indeed, the iPod is about more than just music. it is about FREEDOM. It is about YOUR LIFE.

BTW, I am a PC user (soon to become a Mac user). I am using Mac Drive and EphPod to sync my music collection. I have not encountered any problems so far, and because of the firewire connection the transfer times are FAST!

If you can afford it look no further than this device to feel your mobile mp3 needs.

FEATURES:

The touch wheel is so smooth and intuitive that I got used to it in about 20 seconds.

The menus are clear, straightforward and, again, intuitive. You can browse by artist, genre, composer, song title, album. You can have playlists of songs. You can repeat one song, or a group of songs. You can shuffle. And you dont need a reference book for how to do any of it. Its all right there, at the touch of your finger.

The sound is absolutely amazing--Equalizer settings are extensive. If you know how to play with iTunes, you can create your own settings, too, and theyll load into your iPod.

The download speed is fricking unbelievable--When I finally had a "few" songs loaded into my new iMac (about 140), it took less than 2 minutes to download all of them, including the playlists Id set up. iTunes made the download process itself so easy--all I did was plug in the iPod and iTunes took care of the rest for me. Thank goodness for iTunes. I cant imagine handling mp3s without this nifty (and FREE) program! Oh--and while I was downloading my mp3s that first time, the iPod used my network clock to set the date and time on the player.

I havent used the iPod as an alternate hard drive yet, but I definitely plan to. My husband has a PowerBook, and there are some files from my iMac that Ill want to bring with me when we travel. The iPod will be the perfect device for that.

Ive looked at the calendar/contact features, but I dont really need them. My husband definitely plans to use both, though, in his work as a consultant.

I have one complaint about the headphones that come with the iPod: The earbuds are too big for my ears, and hurt after prolonged listening. This is most annoying, because the headphones are very, very good. The audio quality is wonderful--my husband considers the trade of his Sony earbuds for the iPod buds a great trade in HIS favor.

The remote control is great--I use it all the time, and it keeps me from having to pull the iPod out of my pocket or case to adjust the volume, pause, or skip a song (or part of a song--hold down the forward/backward button to fast-forward/rewind the current song).

The battery really does last 8 -10 hours, depending on how you use the iPod. Some battery drainers are excessive scrolling and backlighting, but, even then, the iPod lasts a LONG time without a recharge. This makes the iPod perfect for me, since I work in a factory and have my headphones on most of the time. Apple doesnt tell you that, yes, you can charge the iPod through your computer, BUT it doesnt charge as quickly as with the provided AC adapter. You also dont get as much info about the charging process when the iPod is plugged into the computer. A third party manufacturer makes a car charger for iPod. I bought one and it works great.

INTANGIBLES:

As always, Apple makes you feel good about spending so much money for one of their products, with the little things that make your ownership a delight. Providing nice headphones, a belt clip case, a remote control, a FireWire cable and an AC adapter are great touches [...] . The belt clip is well-made and the iPod wont fall out of it under most circumstances, but the clip isnt 100% safe. I was lucky to catch my iPod before it hit the floor when the cord caught on something once, and I dont know that I would feel safe doing strenuous exercise with it; I eventually bought a more secure case from a third party.

The convenience factor alone makes iPod worth every penny. Through audible.com, I can download books, and, thanks to my old portable CD car adapter, Im able to listen to the iPod in my car. This means no more lugging around pre-recorded audio books and huge CD wallets of music. No more switching CDs while Im driving. No more agonizing over which CDs to keep in my 6 + 1 player. I can record the songs I like off a CD (or the entire CD), and put the disc away, which means less wear and tear on the disk itself. I can put the iPod in my purse, rather than leaving all those listening goodies in my car, where they can get stolen or exposed to intense heat that destroys them (a serious problem here in Texas).

The mirror finish on the case and remote is beautiful, but it shows fingerprints very badly. I keep a polishing cloth handy and use it at least once a day. I dont remember if Apple mentioned it in their documentation, but the cover needs special cleaners. Alcohol and acetone-based cleaners will ruin the lucite layer on the front of the iPod. Ive found that the iKlear polish kits work best for cleaning the iPod.

I didnt quite understand an earlier complaint about the lack of options for naming the iPod. Maybe on the Windows version this is a problem, but, on the Mac version, renaming the iPod is as easy as clicking on the name field when you first plug the iPod into your computer, and typing a new name for your new baby.

To be honest, the iPod has so many wonderful features that its just about impossible to list them all here, and the potential uses for it are mindboggling. This is THE Mp3 player to have; no other comes close. BUY IT.

I quickly filled the 5gig capacity (my only complaint about the first version) and decided to buy the 20gig version. Now, Ive got around 1200 songs in the iPod and Ive only scratched the surface of its enormous capacity by using 6gigs of the available 20. Also, Apple has opened their corporate arms to the millions of Windows users by including Windows software with the iPod giving them a lesson in how Apple has developed one of the best interfaces on the planet in the iPods wonderfully simple software.

So, to my mind its a no-brainer. The 20gig iPod is simply the best MP3 player you can buy and it doubles as a 20gig hard drive if you want to move some really huge files from one computer to the next.

I previously had an old USB Nomad Jukebox, with the drive upgraded to 30GB. My purchase of an iPod was prompted by an attempt to sync the 10GB or so of MP3s Id ripped into iTunes to it. After 30 minutes, it was about 10% done - then it crashed for no reason. Id previously ruled out the iPod as having too little capacity. Then along came the 20GB model. Technically speaking, its still too small - I think Id need at least 80GB to get my entire CD collection stored at reasonable quality - but the speed of the iPods Firewire connection makes it so easy to drag music around that, once I get to the point where Ive got over 20GB ripped, I can just sync particular playlists, rather than the entire iTunes collection.

Syncing is very fast indeed. The collection that caused my Nomad Jukebox to choke transferred in under ten minutes, automatically, the very first time I hooked the iPod to my PC. The only human intervention required in the entire process was to select English as my language when I first switched it on, plug it into a free Firewire socket and accept the default name it gave my iPod (the rather unimaginative "Alan Crawfords iPod").

The menus are easy to navigate (the circular dial for scrolling up and down is great once you grasp the idea of going round and round instead of linearly), the earbuds are comfy (as earbuds go - at home I still use my big honking Sony headphones), you can either charge it via the computer while its connected or use the separate AC charger, theres a keylock to prevent sudden unexpected bursts of music, and theres a nice little belt holster to keep it in. Oh, and a little inline remote control gizmo that I havent really had cause to use yet.

Its all packaged in that typical Apple style that makes just opening the box an event, the design is attractive (although I believe its prone to scratches - maybe the holster will reduce that problem).

I really cant find anything wrong with it. I think thats a first.

For those wondering about the fate of the Nomad Jukebox - the drive went into a miniature Firewire enclosure for my wifes laptop, and the discarded husk is now a rather aerodynamically-poor frisbee.

I previously had an old USB Nomad Jukebox, with the drive upgraded to 30GB. My purchase of an iPod was prompted by an attempt to sync the 10GB or so of MP3s Id ripped into iTunes to it. After 30 minutes, it was about 10% done - then it crashed for no reason. Id previously ruled out the iPod as having too little capacity. Then along came the 20GB model. Technically speaking, its still too small - I think Id need at least 80GB to get my entire CD collection stored at reasonable quality - but the speed of the iPods Firewire connection makes it so easy to drag music around that, once I get to the point where Ive got over 20GB ripped, I can just sync particular playlists, rather than the entire iTunes collection.

Syncing is very fast indeed. The collection that caused my Nomad Jukebox to choke transferred in under ten minutes, automatically, the very first time I hooked the iPod to my PC. The only human intervention required in the entire process was to select English as my language when I first switched it on, plug it into a free Firewire socket and accept the default name it gave my iPod (the rather unimaginative "Alan Crawfords iPod").

The menus are easy to navigate (the circular dial for scrolling up and down is great once you grasp the idea of going round and round instead of linearly), the earbuds are comfy (as earbuds go - at home I still use my big honking Sony headphones), you can either charge it via the computer while its connected or use the separate AC charger, theres a keylock to prevent sudden unexpected bursts of music, and theres a nice little belt holster to keep it in. Oh, and a little inline remote control gizmo that I havent really had cause to use yet.

Its all packaged in that typical Apple style that makes just opening the box an event, the design is attractive (although I believe its prone to scratches - maybe the holster will reduce that problem).

I really cant find anything wrong with it. I think thats a first.

For those wondering about the fate of the Nomad Jukebox - the drive went into a miniature Firewire enclosure for my wifes laptop, and the discarded husk is now a rather aerodynamically-poor frisbee.