With all these new versions of the iPod being released by Apple in the past week, I thought that I would take the time to reflect on my very own piece of machinery that I have had for many years. It isn't fancy like an iPod Nano or have cool features (at least what I consider cool and most definitely an upgrade) like color and picture ability, but at the core of it, my iPod is still able to do its intended purpose and that is play music.

Specifically, I have the 15GB dock-connector touch wheel version that was released in April of 2003. Goodness, I feel like a lot has changed since 2003, but not my iPod. It still gets its primary function done and that is to store and play music. The screen is monochromatic which doesn't overwhelm you with an array of colors and you can turn on a setting to make it light up a fluorescent bluish color when you touch it. This is a real special feature in my opinion and has kept me entertained for over four years now.



The thing that makes this iPod so special I think is its modified design that you don't see anymore, and is the only model of its kind to have this particular set-up. While you probably see the play, forward, back, and menu buttons of the click-wheel today, my iPod is the one that has no click wheel and is rather a touch screen. I'm not sure how Apple found the sweet technology to do this in 2003, but in a way I feel it was a precursor to the now iPod Touch and iPhone. The buttons to go to the menu, play a song, or go to the next song, are located horizontally above the touch wheel. This is the only version of the iPod that has this type of setup, and its funny because even when people see it some of the time they don't even recognize it.

Apple came out with a version of the iPod with the standard click-wheel that is available now on their first model, but then they went to this new touch wheel, but that was very short lived. I am unsure as to why they tried it out and then stopped using it, because it is a very nice way of laying things out. It's look is significantly different to the rest of every single iPod that has been created since then.



This model of the iPod is very crude and can only do things relating to sound. It can't store your pictures of your movies, but as far as songs are concerned it gets the job done just right. It sorts things alphabetically and the integration into iTunes is probably just that of any model that Apple has ever come out with.

One of the biggest issues with iPods that I have noticed has been battery life. This iPod has tremendous battery life. I did replace it about 2 years ago for the same model, but even today it has a life of about 3 to 4 hours which probably isn't all that impressive compared to the newer models today, but for something that old I think it is tremendous. It doesn't have silly things eating up its battery time like color screens and pictures, so I find it to be most efficient at what its primary use is.

I will admit that I'm getting closer and closer to upgrading to a new model and something a little more up-to-date, but this isn't because I can't stand my current iPod. Rather, it is because while iPod's used to be for just music, they have evolved to be a mini-computer of sorts. With the wi-fi capabilities of the iPod Touch, you are capable of surfing the net, while listening to music or videos, or looking at pictures. If this isn't all encompassing of recreational computer use, then I'm not sure what I've been missing out on.

Apple is truly taking one of their premier commodities to new heights. With the launch of the iPod Touch, new iPod Nano, and iPod Shuffle, literally within hours of one another, I see iPod frenzy starting up again. Apple has always produced a quality product, and I think it is a testament to their company that I still use my outdated iPod to this day, even four years later, with no problems at all. Be smart. Be aware. Be the solution.

This post was originally written by Tyrone Schiff
University of Michigan · Organizational Studies · 09 Sep 2007