iPod Mini - Not for everyone, but I love it!

People say that, for what you get, the iPod Mini is overpriced compared to other "compact" mp3 players. I spent some time researching alternatives. For $50 more one can purchase a regular iPod with more capacity. There are a few mp3 players that have more capacity for the same price (or less). However, to me nothing else on the market looks better or has such sleek aluminum housings in various colors. There are some competitors that come close but don't quite hit the mark. The biggest difference is in the user experience. After trying different players the click wheel that controls the Mini (and now all iPods) makes all the difference. It allows the user to scroll through a music library faster than any other alternative. Being able to navigate menus and pick your music, even with "only" 4 GB of music (1000 songs), is key to enjoying this type of music player.

I was fortunate enough to get an iPod Mini after a few days of waiting. It is a real experience to open the iPod mini box. It opens like a puzzle, and all parts are smartly arranged inside. The attention to detail on the packaging adds a little something to the whole experience. It took about 4 hours to get the unit charged for the first time, which gives plenty of time to read the user manual and look at the various parts that come in the box. Once the battery is charged, it is time to synch with iTunes.

Synchronizing / Software:
The tricky part with the iPod Mini, and all iPods for that matter, is synchronizing with your music collection. On a PC-based system, the first time your iPod is connected it must be formatted to work with Windows. This is done because the iPod is sent from the factory formatted for Macs. The installation CD handles the details and installs iTunes for PC users in Windows XP with no hassles.

To keep an iPod operating at its best, firmware updates are a good idea. Using the most up to date iPod software adds features that the iPod might not have come with. Two examples are the ability to create multiple "On The Go" playlists while listening to the iPod and to shuffle music from the main music menu. Firmware updates are done by downloading and using the iPod Updater software. The utility can also reformat the iPod and return it to original factory condition, should you ever want to erase everything and "start over." However, it is worth noting that the iPod must be installed and working on your system before the utility can update the software.

My iPod Mini came with the latest version of the iPod Mini software available as of May 2004 (version 1.1). I believe the updated software address issues related to battery life management, overall stability, and synching issues in Windows. Numerous internet postings are related to trouble in these areas. Having said that, I have yet to experience any of the problems other users may have seen, so perhaps the software updates made a difference.

Maximize Your Enjoyment:
For anyone planning to purchase an iPod Mini for use on a PC, I'd recommend doing so in Windows XP so you can use iTunes software. The iTunes software is designed to work seamlessly with the iPod. Playlists of favorite songs can be added to the iPod, which is helpful when you have 1000 songs to choose from. iTunes can also be setup to manually or automatically synchronize part (or all) of your music collection that is in iTunes. The option to selectively synchronize part of your music collection is necessary if you've got more than 4 GB of music!

Purchasing a FireWire card will enable faster synching (2-3 seconds for each song) than USB 2.0. Note that a USB 2.0 cable does come in the box too, but I don't believe it originally recharged the iPod like the FireWire cable. I have since connected the iPod to a powered USB 2.0 port on my PC and it does charge. This might have been a function that was enabled via another software update.

For the FireWire cable to charge the iPod it can be connected to a powered FireWire port on a desktop PC, a built-in FireWire port on a laptop, or plugged directly into the AC adapter that comes with the 4 GB Mini. Some laptop owners might need to buy a USB 2.0 or FireWire card in order to synchronize properly with an iPod. A FireWire card adapter, to my knowledge, will not charge the iPod directly on a laptop.

Who might (and might not) want to own a Mini:
Anyone who wants to carry lots of music in a compact space will like the Mini. It is easy to wear on a belt clip without being as obtrusive as the regular iPod. I have gone walking and running with mine, and it is so light that it is unnoticeable. It is also compact enough to tuck into a backpack, briefcase, pocket, etc. which is ideal for a commuting or travel. Flash media players are smaller, but media cards can cost almost as much as an iPod. For now, flash media players can't cost effectively approach the 4 GB of space a Mini has, and some won't have a nice LCD either. There are also some extras on the Mini, such as calendar, contact lists, games and so forth. However, I suspect that the average user will not use these features much, if at all. This is all about the music!

Something else to consider is the amount of music that you want to carry with you at all times. How will you use it? The Mini will hold approximately 1000 songs using AAC format that works with iTunes. That is close to 100 CD's worth of music, or tons of audio books. However, if you have an extensive music collection, and absolutely MUST have all of your music at your fingertips, a 15 GB (or larger) iPod might be more suitable.

For now, there are a handfull of after-market devices, originally manufactured for the 3G iPod, that the iPod Mini cannot always use. The two devices that stand out are a Backup Battery Pack and the Media Reader by Belkin. Users who are going to want more than 8 hours of continuous music between charges can purchase several battery packs that will work with the mini. This will give you more time between charges, but with the battery pack attached to an iPod the whole thing package is bigger. Also, the Belkin Media Reader will not currently work with the iPod Mini either. The media reader allows users to transfer files from media cards to their iPod. As you know, the iPod is essentially a small portable hard drive. If you have the need to use the iPod to store media files (such as storing digital pictures when you are traveling, etc.) then a iPod Photo might be a good, although more expensive, alternative. The number of after-market products available for the Mini (and for all other iPods) is growing every day, so perhaps it is just a matter of time.

Like I said though, this is all about the music and the coolness factor of the Mini. For those who like the size of the Mini, don't need more than 1000 songs with you at a time (that is about 2.5 days worth of continuous music!), and don't mind the relatively high price per Gigabyte of storage, go out and take a look at a mini. If you buy one... enjoy!

Product Specs:
4 GB capacity (approx 1000 songs in AAC format)
8 Hour playback / 4 Hour charge time
Rechargeable Lithium Ion battery (non replaceable)
Touch-sensitive Click Wheel interface
Aluminum body available in Silver, Blue, Pink, Green, and Gold
3.6 Ounces
3.6 x 2.0 x 0.5 inches in size
FireWire Cable, USB 2.0 Cable, Belt Clip, Earphones, AC Adapter, installation CD, and user manual included in the box

System Requirements (from Apple website):
iPod for Mac requires a Macintosh with built-in FireWire and Mac OS X v10.1.5 or later (Mac OS X v10.3 recommended). iPod for Windows requires a PC with built-in FireWire or USB 2.0 port or a Windows-certified FireWire or USB 2.0 card and Windows 2000 (Service Pack 4) or Windows XP Home or Professional.