Apple iPod (20GB, color)
Manufacturer: Apple Part number: MA079LL/A
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Accessories
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- The iPod Photo is a beautiful and versatile device with a new, affordable price.
Read more
Where to buy
| store | customer rating | inventory | tax & shipping | price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon.com Marketplace |  | See Site | Enter zip code to get total price: Price +Tax +Shipping =Total price | as of 12/08/2009 |
CNET editors' review
Apple iPod (20GB, color) price range: $399.99
- Reviewed by: James Kim
- Edited by: Jasmine France
- Reviewed on: 03/25/2005
The good: Intuitive photo viewing; displays album art; adds color to your iPod experience; choice of 20GB or mammoth 60GB hard drive; lets you view photos and listen to music simultaneously; speedy performance; optional Camera Connector will allow direct digital-camera transfers of photos, which will be viewable on iPod; solid battery life.
The bad: Package doesn't include iPhoto 4, FireWire cable, A/V cable, or dock; slightly heavier and thicker than fourth-generation non-color iPod.
The bottom line: The iPod Photo is a beautiful and versatile device with a new, affordable price.
User reviews
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20GB iPod "Photo" (minus photo) will be sure to please still at $299
by longofest on June 29, 2005
Pros: Sweet-spot capacity, price remains the same, color display, photo viewing and importing, podcast support, small as ever, 15 hour rated battery life
Cons: slightly more expensive than competition, no movie playback (yet), surface scratches really easily
Summary: I have owned a 30GB iPod "photo" for a little over a month now, and absolutely love it. I am pleased that Apple is now offering the benefits of a ...
Summary: I have owned a 30GB iPod "photo" for a little over a month now, and absolutely love it. I am pleased that Apple is now offering the benefits of a color screen and 15 hour battery life to the standard line, and doing away with the separate iPod and iPod "Photo" designations.
Here is what I looked at when I bought my iPod. Look at the current size of your music collection (mp3 or aac. wma can be converted by iTunes, but it is a lenghy and lossy process). Double that number, and get the capacity iPod that fits the doubled number the best. For most people, it will be the 20GB model. The reason for doubling is to take into account the lost room due to format of the drive, and also to the accumulation of more songs over the lifespan of the product (figure in 3 years you will either want another latest and greatest gadget, or you will think its not worth it to replace the battery for the second time). If you have a lot of photos, you may also want to account for those as well.
General comments: battery life was pretty darn good. Try to actually follow Apple's guidelines and let the battery fully charge up, and then fully discharge it for each cycle. That way it will stay healthy longer. The color screen is best viewed with the backlight on, but is definitely viewable without the backlight. Sound quality is phenominal.
8/10, with marks down because no product can be perfect, and because it got scratched too easily. Also, Apple, will you update the software to support movies for gosh sakes? Screw what Jobs said!!!10 out of 10 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Great, but a little chubbier than the colorless
by Iceslip on July 20, 2005
Pros: Bright color screen; Improved battery life
Cons: Slightly thicker and heavier than the colorless version
Summary: My cousin recently bought the new color 20GB ipod and we did a side-by-side comparison with my colorless 20GB version. Although an increase of 0.2-0.3 in. in thickness ...
Summary: My cousin recently bought the new color 20GB ipod and we did a side-by-side comparison with my colorless 20GB version. Although an increase of 0.2-0.3 in. in thickness on the new color ipod might not seem like much on paper, it is a noticeable increase when visibly compared with the colorless version. The weight is only marginally more, but taken together with the increased depth, the color Ipod is just slightly snugger in the pocket.
On the plus side, however, the color screen is great to look at and easier on the eyes (particularly if you're into playing solitaire or the other games included on the ipod). The battery life is slightly better, but not noticetably if you make sure to keep your colorless ipod adequately charged before long trips.
All in all, I would recommend the color ipod if you plan on utilizing the picture viewing feature and really value the color screen. Otherwise, search online for the colorless version since it is a bit smaller and will now be sold for a cheaper price.5 out of 5 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Must be some type of joke?
by xpose on June 29, 2005
Pros: Only thing new. . is available by new software/firmware
Cons: No new hardware!
Summary: What is the Preview editor thinking? "Much improved"? How is that? How is an itunes update and a firmware update (to add podcasts) much improved for the same price? They ...
Summary: What is the Preview editor thinking? "Much improved"? How is that? How is an itunes update and a firmware update (to add podcasts) much improved for the same price? They desperately need a real hardware update with new features.
Apple refreshed its iPod lineup to include (now this is the exciting part) all color screen ipods except for their mini's. Added Podcasts to iTunes. Talk about a feature update. Big news huh? Didn't think so. And they dropped a 30gig mp3 player. So either buy the overpriced $300 20 gig, or the overpriced $400 60gig. And I say overpriced, because there are players out there that will do what iPod does and 4X as much. Search for "X5" at Cnet. Clearly a win-win situation for the consumer? HMMM =P
Apple is LONG overdue with their entry player to support video/fm tuner/voice recorder. This announcement is almost as bad as the introduction of the iPod Shuffle. Seriously, give us something to talk about =\14 out of 29 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Outstanding... PLEASE READ!
by alx1507 on July 10, 2005
Pros: Same simple, beautiful ipod but w/ A ton more features
Cons: no more b/w ipod for cheaper price... and no video support...
Summary: OK, first off, i'd like to say, don't let the 6.5 average user rating fool you, half the comments on here are by people who hate how ...
Summary: OK, first off, i'd like to say, don't let the 6.5 average user rating fool you, half the comments on here are by people who hate how popular the ipod (or apple) has gotten, and want to see it die out. Its absurd to think somone who actually has used one/ or once owned one would give it a 1.
Back to the review. This ipod is spectacular, The vivid lcd and extended batterlife even with a color screen. Yet the ipod still keeps its elegence (sp?) even with the additional features.
I would love to see video support, or even FM radio tho I could care less.
This is for the audio enthusiests, somone who wants a perfectly simple mp3 player to play their music, nothing more. I don't think the mass is ready for video's on the go, especially with a small screen like this like the rest of the harddrive based mp3/ video players.
If you want video, i suggest a psp.3 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Apple buying itself 4 months
by jsrush on June 29, 2005
Pros: United iPod and iPod photo
Cons: Nothing really new
Summary: Ok, whats going on here?
Simple, we all know that the iPod havent really changed that much in around almoust 2 years. So they changed to a click wheel. Wow! ...Summary: Ok, whats going on here?
Simple, we all know that the iPod havent really changed that much in around almoust 2 years. So they changed to a click wheel. Wow! What an improvement, I personally like the 3G better. Anyway, Apple is just trying to get theese new color iPods out for the back to school season. Also you might notice we are al iTunes version 4.9 ... when iTunes 5.0 comes... guess what? iPod 5G will come out, that should be out near november.. You think Apple is going to go into Hollyday season on this old iPods? Hah!!! Yeah right.
Bottom line, Apple is setting the course for the 5th genertion on its players.
taking iPod Photo out of the picture was an important move for the 5G release.
If i were any of you out there I would hold out till november. Im draining my 3G ipod till the 5G comes out.
If your new to iPods get this one, you will enjoy it, its the single most used gadget i have.5 out of 8 users found this user opinion helpful.
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I-Pod delivers another player with nothing
by blingn9169 on June 29, 2005
Pros: Interface, Colorscreen on more players
Cons: No other features
Summary: I-Pod delievers another base player... They added a color screen, why not add a fm tuner...
Summary: I-Pod delievers another base player... They added a color screen, why not add a fm tuner...
5 out of 9 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Even with the new video iPod, this one still wins.
by Woot and Huzzah on November 7, 2005
Pros: Sharp colour screen, click wheel, photo capability, reasonably-sized hard drive
Cons: A bit thicker and heavier than others, back picks up fingerprints too easily, limited battery indicators
Summary: I've always wondered why those who virulently hate the iPod and choose other mp3 players spend so much time defending their beloved machines. Perhaps it's because the know ...
Summary: I've always wondered why those who virulently hate the iPod and choose other mp3 players spend so much time defending their beloved machines. Perhaps it's because the know that the iPod will always hold a very strong spot in the market and will remain at the top not only because of brand popularity but sheer quality. Have these people ever even touched an iPod, much less used one?
I purchased my 20GB colour iPod through my school store, when they were having a (GREAT) sale on them in order to clear out stock and make room for the new iPod with video. (I got the last 20GB, lucky me, at a price tag of $214, tax included.) It was a bit of an impulse buy, since I've been wanting to upgrade from my iPod mini for some time.
And boy, was it worth it. For the same price as a frail 2GB iPod Nano, I received a machine that exceeded all of my expectations. The colour screen? Sharp, crystal-clear, absolutely gorgeous. The timed backlight? Brilliant (I was accustomed to having to turn it on and off with no timer feature on my mini). And plenty of storage for my music collection, plus space to transfer the large files that I create for class. I could have gotten a 60GB iPod for $299, but I don't know why I'd need to. There's a point at which the things become *too* big.
I note an improvement in the sound quality when using the same headphones over my iPod mini. The ability to carry a few photos around is nice as well (I don't understand why someone would pay a lot more to be able to watch video on a 2.5" screen... talk about your eye strain), especially for a digital design student. My iPod acts as a quick, informal sort of portfolio that I can use to show people what I do, no computer needed. The battery life is also respectable, less than my mini and the new video iPods but still a vast improvement over the earlier generation iPods and the first generation mini. Also? Click wheel. Far superior to the scroll wheel/buttons combination that existed on the B/W 20GB. Thank you, Apple, for bringing that success of the mini to the 20GB.
There are a couple downsides, the first being the weight. The 20GB colour is a bit heavier and thicker than the B/W 20GB. Additionally, the case scratches a bit too easily and the silver back, while lovely, picks up oily fingerprints very easily. Also, you'll want to protect that nice colour screen. This adds up to needing to purchase a protective case for the iPod, which adds weight and size (I do have a fondness for the Otterbox, as it is waterproof and floats and thus enables me to take my iPod swimming). Less if you want a soft case, more if you want a hard case that will protect the screen and the body from dents and dings as well as scratches. Plus, the battery status indicator only has two colours, red and green. With a colour screen, yellow/orange would have been nice as a sort of warning indicator before the red 'charge the battery NOW' turns up.
However, this little beauty is worth every cent of what I paid. If you want a fantastic iPod with colour and photo capabilities but don't want to drop big bucks on the latest model or really don't see the need for video, hunt one of these beauties down. (And who knows, it may even be on sale.) For those who want an FM receiver, a better price tag, etc., there ARE other players and manufacturers out there and you're certainly not afraid to rant on about that fact. But for the consumer that wants a sleek, competent machine that's durable (though dropping is not recommended with ANY mp3 player), functional and a breeze to use, the iPod will always reign supreme.
Just don't talk to me about that Shuffle thing. Or the Nano.2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Now Thats Iprovement.....
by bilalafzal on June 30, 2005
Pros: cheaper then other ipods...
Cons: same as other ipods...
Summary: that's what i was waiting for...what i was waiting for was an arival of a cool and cheap ipod with all feature's as other ipod photo's ...
Summary: that's what i was waiting for...what i was waiting for was an arival of a cool and cheap ipod with all feature's as other ipod photo's but a bit low capacity...because i cant fill up 30gb's...i'll even have trouble filling up 20gb..but i'll handle that...Its a great improvement for apple to come up with something like this..with this low price....I AM IMPRESSED....REALLY..IT DESERVES A 10
4 out of 7 users found this user opinion helpful.
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READ ME: does you're precious cowon have thousands of accessories? NO!
by Deltaflaze on July 22, 2005
Pros: Great mp3 player
Cons: "Featureless"
Summary: OK you Cowon Freaks.
The ipod is an MP3 player, not a PDA. if you want a recorder get a sound recorder. if you want an fm radio go buy ...Summary: OK you Cowon Freaks.
The ipod is an MP3 player, not a PDA. if you want a recorder get a sound recorder. if you want an fm radio go buy a radio! If you want to view texts...then use a computer.
EVERYONE WHO SAYS IPOD IS FEATURELESS...does you're precious cowon have ANY accessories? The ipod may be low on useless features (i'm not complaining) but it sure has many many accessories. Cowon doesnt have any boomboxes that work with it, or sweet iTrips, nothing at least I havnt seen anything.
The ipod is an MP3 player...its meant to play MP3's. And it does a damn good job of it. You pay for what you get. A high quality MP3 player, not some crappy feature butt plugged gadget.2 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
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First time user
by coym85 on September 22, 2005
Pros: Great color screen, great battery life, overall great product
Cons: The only problem is that it scratches easily
Summary: I'm a first time iPodder and I was waiting for something just like this to come out. I was debating between this and the Dell DJ but decided on ...
Summary: I'm a first time iPodder and I was waiting for something just like this to come out. I was debating between this and the Dell DJ but decided on the iPod. Even though the DJ has a couple of more features (FM tuner being the main one) I feel that the iPod doesnt really need this function, it's a good product as it is.
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Apple
- Part number: MA079LL/A
- Description: The original iPod changed the way you listen to music by putting thousands of songs in your pocket. Now it changes the way you see your music, with a crisp color screen. Browse playlists via vivid menus, thumb through album cover art, even play games and view calendars in color. Or sync photos and view them in color, anywhere. Your personal, portable entertainment library, iPod looks as good as it sounds. iPod incorporates the same touch-sensitive Apple Click Wheel that debuted on iPod mini. Use it to navigate your music on the iPod's 65,536-color, 220x176-pixel display. Spin the wheel to scroll effortlessly through dozens of playlists, hundreds of albums or thousands of songs and podcasts. Or highlight photos. iPod displays 25 full-color thumbnails at a time, and you can scroll through them the same way you scroll through song titles. When you see a photo you'd like displayed all by its lonesome, just click the center button and voila. No one will have to say "cheese" as long as you have iPod around. Whether you're listening to tunes or checking out photos, you're sure to be all smiles. iPod lets you play your music for up to 15 hours on a single battery charge. Imagine: you could fly from New York to Paris and still have hours of listening time left as you stroll the Champs Elysees. While you're on the move, iPod keeps you aware of its charge level, and when it's time, iPod's quick to recharge. Plug it into your computer or a handy wall socket (via the included power adapter) and you can fast-charge iPod in as little as two hours. The perfect companion to iPod, iTunes lets you easily build and manage your digital audio collection. Browse the built-in iTunes Music Store for more than 1 million songs, 11,000 audiobooks and 3,000 podcasts. Jazz, Pop or Hip Hop. Mystery, memoir or thriller. Comedy, news or politics. From reading to radio, the iTunes Music Store has it all. Download what you want, then sync everything - including full-color album, audiobook and podcast art - to your iPod using the included USB 2.0 or optional FireWire cable. Even your photos come along for the ride, either via iTunes or the iPod Camera Connector. Once you sync, everything appears on your iPod, so you can look or listen anytime, anywhere. As for the CDs you already own, iTunes makes it easy to transfer your favorite songs and albums. Just pop a CD into your Mac or PC and click the Import button. You can import music in a variety of formats, such as MP3 or AAC, and at whatever quality level you'd prefer. Choose the Apple Lossless encoder for sound quality indistinguishable from a CD at about half the original file size. And with USB 2.0 and FireWire support, you can transfer the music from an entire CD to iPod in just 5 seconds or less.
General
- Product type Hard drive
- PC interface(s) supported FireWire, Hi-Speed USB
- Digital storage Built-in 20 GB Hard disk drive
- Weight 5.9 oz
- Dimensions (W x D x H) 2.4 in x 0.6 in x 4.1 in
- Color White
- Software type Apple iTunes for Mac, Apple iTunes for Windows
- iPod Generation 4G
Digital Player / Recorder
- Supported digital audio standards AAC, MP3, WAV, AIFF, Audible, Apple Lossless
- Playback modes Playlist, One track repeat, All tracks repeat, Random play / shuffle
- Response bandwidth 20 - 20000 Hz
- Supported bit rate 32 - 320 Kbps
- Shockproof memory 1500 seconds
- ID3 tags support Yes
- External hard drive function Yes
- Additional features Variable bit-rate compatible
Built-in Display
- Audio system built-in display LCD
- Diagonal size 2 in
- Resolution 220 x 176
- Backlight display Yes
- Display illumination color White
- Display menu language Dutch, Danish, French, German, Korean, English, Finnish, Italian, Spanish, Swedish, Japanese, Norwegian, Chinese (simplified), Chinese (traditional)
Audio Features
- Sound output mode Stereo
- Timer Wake, Sleep
- Built-in clock Timer, Digital clock
- Additional features Notes, Calendar, Phone book, Hold button, Date display, Photo wallet, Built-in games, Upgradeable firmware, Playback speed control, Rechargeable capability, Battery level indication
Equalizer
- Equalizer factory preset qty 20
Headphones
- Headphones type Binaural Ear-bud
- Sound output mode Stereo
- Response bandwidth 20 - 20000 Hz
- Impedance 32 Ohm
- Connectivity technology Wired
Connectivity
- Cable(s) included USB cable - External
- Connector type Docking station, Headphones, Remote control
Battery / Power
- Battery Lithium ion Rechargeable Player batteryIntegrated
- Mfr estimated battery life 15 hour(s)
- Recharge time 5 hour(s)
- Power device type Power adapter
System Requirements
- Peripheral / Interface devices USB port
- Operating system Apple MacOS X 10.2.8 or later, Microsoft Windows 2000 SP4 or later, Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition SP2 or later, Microsoft Windows XP Professional SP2 or later
Accessories
Manufacturer info
- Apple
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Apple products on Shopper.com
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- Website: http://www.apple.com
- Address:
One Infinite Loop, Cupertino, CA 95014 - Phone: 1-408-996-1010
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