Customer Reviews

Apple Universal Dock for iPod (White)

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

First things first, Apple is a great company and the IPOD is a wonderful product.
However, I have to recommend others to go a different direction when considering a home stereo dock.
You can choose to buy this product. If you do, be prepared to shell out significantly more than the cost of this unit to be happy in the end.
The only thing that come with it are the adapters for different Ipod models. At a minimum you will need to spend on the following add ons: wireless IR remote ($30), and a charger ($30-$40) as well as the RCA cable adapter to connect to your hone stereo ($10-$20+)
The Kensington includes all of the following: Stereo Dock, IR remote control with (2) AAA batteries, 7ft. gold-plated RCA output cable, AC adapter. It is designed to take all ipods as well.
You literally will spend double after on all the Apple add ons.
Its not a coincidence that the customer rating on the Kensington is 4 1/2 stars vs. 3 stars for Apple's dock. Most people recognize great values when the see them.

Apple iPods have sported dock connectors, on the bottom of the unit, since the third generation. However, despite the universal connector, the iPods have been unable to use the same docking station, from one model to the next. Why? iPods come in a variety of sizes, sometimes the same line is made of up different sizes, due to a higher capacity iPod being larger in size.

This all means that as someone upgrades, from one iPod to the next, they have had to purchase an entirely new dock. At a price of almost $40, buying a new dock, whenever you buy a new iPod, can be annoying. Apple is trying to make that change, with this new universal dock.

This dock comes packaged, in a a beautifully-designed box. Inside, you will find the dock and several adapters. The dock uses adapters, in order to allow it to fit, so many iPods. There are adapters included, for the various sizes of third generation and fourth generation iPods, plus iPod Minis. Adapters for the iPod Nano and iPod Video are not included because those products come with the adapter, when you buy them.

To sum up compatibility, the dock will work with any iPod that has the bottom dock connector (which is on all iPods, since the third generation).

Features - The most obvious feature is that you connect your normal docking cable, to run from this dock, to your computer. Then, when you're ready to sync music or charge your iPod, you simply slide your iPod into the dock. No fuss. Easy, and a time saver. Furthermore, your iPod looks cool on your desk, when charging or syncing in the dock. There is convenience to the product.

Connectors - The back of the dock also features audio-out and s-video out. With the audio out you can connect the iPod to a stereo, or speakers. There is also an s-video output. You can connect an s-video cable between your dock and television, if you have an iPod Photo or iPod video, to output that content.

Brand New Feature - Infrared Receiver. The front of the dock features an infrared sensor. This feature can be utilized, if you purchase the new Apple remote, available separately. This allows you to change volume, or tracks, with a remote control, when listening to your iPod through its output (presumably connected to speakers), on the dock.

Overall, the new universal dock gives iPod users several new features. Yes, it is yet another dock to purchase, but at least it is compatible, with every iPod that has a dock connector. Furthermore, the outputs and infrared sensor will be useful to many. This universal dock is an accessory many iPod users are going to buy, for the convenience, and it is worthwhile. However, the nearly forty-dollar price tag continues to seem steep. Add the remote, an additional thirty-dollars, and you can be out significant costs. If you think the dock is for you, pick it up. However, if you can live without the convenience and ports, you might wait.

This dock is worthless unless you go out and spend another $30 to get the cable needed for it. It is fair to assume most people out there purchasing a dock are doing so to provide a secondary location to listen to the music (i.e. home stereo)...so they need another usb cable. Does Apple anticipate this? Yes. Do they provide it? No. They're ashamed to charge $70 for a dock (as they should be), so they break up the cost into a $40 dock and a $30 glorified usb cable. Would it make more sense to just make the connection to the dock the universal usb connection type so customers could use one of their own $5 cables they have lying around?

I have to say, I was all for the new 5G iPod until I started getting into making the portable device usable in various settings. Apple is killing their customer base by turning a highly priced $400 portable music device into a $600 item by gouging customers for every single accessory needed - even splitting up the wall charger and the cable needed to connect the charger to the iPod ($60 to charge your iPod through an outlet)!

Be prepared to spend $70 on this dock, not $40.

Also, here's a break down of what I've spent so far on my $400 iPod:
$400 - 60 Gig 5G Ipod Video (comes with a usb cable and worthless earbud headphones that will have to be replaced.
$30 - usb power adapter (allows the iPod usb cable to charge the iPod. No usb cable provided, so you'll have to use the one that was provided for your computer synching (a pain, I know).
$30 - usb cable for the usb power adapter
$40 - universal dock for my home stereo
$30 - usb cable for my universal dock (none provided with the dock)
$22 - 1/8" mini headphone to RCA cable for connecting to my home stereo (Monster Cable brand, could have gone cheaper for basic Radio Shack cables)
$20 - 1/8" mini to 1/8" mini cable for connecting the iPod to my car stereo or other speaker systems (Monster Cable).
$20 - for the cheapest rubber protective sleeve to keep the HIGHLY scratch prone screen from scratching.

This turns a $400 item into a $592 item. If you want the remote for the dock or any other accessories, the dollar figure continues to grow. In my opinion, if you haven't already heavily invested in the iPod, go another route. There are a plethora of other portable media devices out there that give you much more bang for your buck. And besides, you'll be cool and unique and not like every other conformist out there (like myself).

If this review was helpful to you, please click on "yes". Thank you kindly.

It's nice to have a "one size fits all" dock that will not need to be replaced along with your iPod, if you ever upgrade or add another to your collection. The S-Video output will give you better picture quality, plus you will not need to buy the special iPod AV cable (not included with your iPod). The infrared sensor is nice, but unfortunately Amazon does not sell the remote that is required to take advantage of this feature...

Works with Ipod skin,no need to take off cover.Looks good.Has connections for Audio,TV. Cables and remote are additional. Included are 5 adapters for all Ipods that have doc connector.
Paid 29.95 from Amazon including shipping.It is what it is.It's a dock.

Im certain that a majority of us would like 2 protect our investment on a luxurious iPod, we would have protective casing. There should be an accessory that can extend the plug on the dock so whenever we want to dock our iPod, we wouldn't have to remove our case every time.

I returned the dock, since I realized it did not have a firewire port, which is what I needed. Before getting the new iPod 60gig video, I owned one of the fist generation ones. It included the firewire charger, so I figured getting the cradle would allow me to use the charger with it. But it didn't provide me with the firewire port so I found it totally unnecessary. And it is too expenssive, for nothing, unless you plan to get the remote.

I've had the Universal Dock for two months, and it's worked just fine for me, as expected. It might cost alot more if you don't already have a power adapter, but the firewire adapter/cord I use to connect it near my TV for the video iPod features still works for plugging it in, and I have no firewire in my PC in the first place. I don't have the remote so I can't review that, but it's a dock, and it does it's job. That's all I need in something I want to charge and prop the iPod when not in use.

As for buying the additional Apple AV cable, you really don't have to. It's just over $12 to go with a combo of an S-Video cable and L/R stereo cable to hook the iPod and iPod dock up to your television, and you get much higher quality from the S-Video than you would from the component AV cable Apple sells.

This dock has all the conviences for making your ipod stand up, and not only that, it has an optional remote for control from afar. If you have an agent 18 video shield kit(or plan on getting one) it comes with it's own universal dock adapter, making it really versatile. I have a variety of ipods and this allows me to dock them all in the same dock to my stereo. However if you don't allready have the AV cables and/or an extra sync cable, I would recmmend the ipod AV connection kit, which includes a dock, remote, AV cables, and a sync cable. All for only ($) I have these allready so i just got the dock to tie it all together.

I recently purchased a 30gig iPod with Video and this Universal Dock. I have to say that this dock does everything Apple says it does. I don't understand how everyone else can make such a fuss over this thing. What is the need for a wall charger when these can be charged from any computer with a USB 2.0 port? The expensive cables needed for some connections, to a stereo or tv, can be purchased at Radio Shack for $5. Plus, the iPod docks never came with these things. This dock does and includes everything that every other iPod dock has. It makes it nice and easy to run into your house and update and charge the iPod, no more fishing around for a cable, you can just drop it in. It has Svideo out and another line out, which is nice if you don't have a DVD player hooked up to your tv. The major difference from older iPod docks is this thing can be used with the Apple remote and is compatible with all iPods. What more could you ask for? If you realize that this isn't going to charge your iPod by a wall outlet, doesn't come with a USB cord, since the iPod already came with one, and won't walk your dogs for you, you will get everything you paid for out of the Universal Dock. Plus it makes your iPod look really cool when it's on you desk, and if you happen to get a student discount from Apple the iPod and dock together only cost $310.