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Apple iPod classic 120 GB Black (6th Generation) [Previous Model] by Apple

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494 of 508 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars The Original - Survives
The updated iPod Classic was probably the least exciting of the new iPods announced in the September 2008 update, but that does not mean it should be dismissed.

I own the 160 GB iPod Classic that has now been discontinued, but there are few differences (perhaps the biggest being the much slimmer shape of this 120 model), and I did get to check this updated...
Published 24 months ago by Stephen

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117 of 121 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars The iPod for the deaf
Well, I bought two of these. No, don't ask me why. Please just believe that I purchased two new 7th generation iPods - against the advice of the reviewer who obviously did some homework as to why the old units sound better, I might add. I looked at many forums and read from many people who think the new iPods, (6th generation and later,) have a poorer sound quality than...
Published 15 months ago by D. Porter

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494 of 508 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars The Original - Survives, September 9, 2008
By Stephen "books911" (Brawley, US, Canada) - See all my reviews
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The updated iPod Classic was probably the least exciting of the new iPods announced in the September 2008 update, but that does not mean it should be dismissed.

I own the 160 GB iPod Classic that has now been discontinued, but there are few differences (perhaps the biggest being the much slimmer shape of this 120 model), and I did get to check this updated 120 GB version out at the store, when picking up the new nano and touch.

Firstly, the 120 GB version is again smaller than the largest capacity available last year, but it is a single platter hard drive, which allows it to maintain the slim shape of the 80 GB version from last year. More storage, a hundred dollars less, and just as small. That is progress despite calls from others that the classic isn't exciting. It still serves its purpose as the original iPod idea. Big capacity in a simple to use device.

Next, the software has been slightly updated on the iPod Classic. It now includes Genius, like iTunes and the other new iPods. This allows you, when on a song you enjoy, to select the genius feature. The iPod will then compile a list of songs (playlist), which goes together with the original song you were listening to. This helps you rediscover music in your library, with a playlist to fit your mood at the time. I have been using the genius feature for a few days now, and it is impressive the way it compiles these playlists. I was skeptical, but overall, it does a good job. Furthermore, as another review mentioned, the iPod does seem more responsive with this update from what I saw at the store compared to my original 160 GB iPod Classic. Some speculation has been that the older iPod Classics will receive the software update of this new one, but I'm not holding my breath on that.

Overall, the original iPod concept was so good, and that is why the iPod Classic is still a solid choice for a music and media player. It will hold thousands and thousands of songs (up to 30,000 according to Apple at 128 bitrate). I also backup some important files to my iPod Classic, in disk mode, so that I have that additional extra copy of my most vital files. When you have such a large iPod, you can do that. It shouldn't be forgotten either that while the display of the iPod Classic isn't as good as the iPod Touch or iPhone, it is still quite good and you can play music videos, TV shows, and movies purchased on the iTunes Store.

Battery life for this new 120 GB model improved over the 80GB model from last year. Apple now estimates it at 36 hours audio and 6 hours video.

I'd recommend the iPod Classic without hesitation, to those who have more than 8 or 16 GBs of music in their iTunes library and want to carry their entire collection. Furthermore, if you have videos and video podcasts you want to always carry with you, again, you can't beat the storage. I have the lower capacity flash devices as well, but the big hard drive based iPod Classic continues to play an important role in my iPod Collection.
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117 of 121 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars The iPod for the deaf, June 8, 2009
By D. Porter (Houston, TX) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Apple iPod classic 120 GB Black (6th Generation) [Previous Model] (Electronics)
Well, I bought two of these. No, don't ask me why. Please just believe that I purchased two new 7th generation iPods - against the advice of the reviewer who obviously did some homework as to why the old units sound better, I might add. I looked at many forums and read from many people who think the new iPods, (6th generation and later,) have a poorer sound quality than their predecessors. Then I read from those folks who believe that yes, Apple changed the audio codec chip, and yes, several audiophiles have done some qualitative testing and the old units won, but nevertheless, the difference should be impossible to hear with the naked ear. Let me just assure you right now, it is not. The difference in sound quality between my wife's 5.5 gen 80 gig iPod and my two new 120 gig units is vast. Using the same headphones and songs, downloaded from the same computer, the new iPod sounds like listening to music played inside a tin can compared to the old one. For instance, in one song a drummer rakes his hand across some chimes and on the 80 gig, the chimes are crystal, distinct, and separate from all the other things going on at the time. On the new 120 gig at the same spot, the highs are all compressed into a jumble of noise with flat, tinny, cut off sounds. The chimes sound far off and suppressed. The list of music defacement goes on. I noticed this problem across all tonal ranges. So what did I do? I opened a case with Apple and made an appointment at the nearby Apple store. Yes, I lugged in my laptop and two of the iPods. At the store I synced one of their units to the same song and we went through all three iPods, my one new unit, my one old unit, and the store unit, listening to the same 30 or so seconds of song on each iPod over and over. And over. The results were clear... much clearer than the sound from the new iPods, I'm sorry to say. At the store I also inquired about the noticeable lag when starting songs on the new unit. I was told, "It's much more complicated software." Obviously the ability to view the album covers has won out over quality sound. So I'm returning the two 120 gig iPods. Apple is getting them back. Good riddance. Perhaps Apple has forgotten that people buy iPods for entertainment's sake. Music and movies. I hope this helps them to remember that people buy music playing devices to actually listen to music. Now, I've read from the reviewers who suggest that we who want good sound from portable music devices should just get over it. Well, I say blah! Blah on them all! I assert that Apple should be improving sound with new generations of devices. If they want my money that's what they will have to do. I don't believe it's unreasonable to expect newer models of expensive electronic devices to outperform old ones. As for sound quality, the older iPod puts forth very adequate sound. Certainly it could have been improved upon, or at the very least left alone. In fact, how dare the naysayers suggest that we all settle for poor sound? That we should expect poor sound? I say my money goes to the company willing to aim for high fidelity from its music devices. That won't be Apple for the nonce. If all you want is an expensive portable hard drive with a video screen, this is definitely the unit for you.
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197 of 209 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars I Actually bought one (Unlike some people) and I love it!, September 10, 2008
This review is from: Apple iPod classic 120 GB Black (6th Generation) [Previous Model] (Electronics)
I am a big tech nerd, and although I am a little disappointed that apple will be paying less attention to the classic ipod I bought one, and I really enjoy It!

I previously had a 30GB Video Ipod and It lasted me about 3 years. Its being repaired for a new battery now, but I figured I would upgrade since my library had grown.

Not much has changed to these new ones, except the interface a little. I love genius and I am stoked that it was worked into the functionality. It remains about the same size as my 5th generation? video and so still fits my old rubber case (which is nice).

Probably the best thing about it is, doing a comparison between my roommates 30GB ipod video and this one, I find that the audio quality on this one has improved quite a bit. I don't know if its the connectors or maybe a d-a converter, but it definitely sounds better. I am a recording engineer so I might be a little more apt to hear it, but its cool.

Overall I am stoked about my new ipod. Its a great device! I will be sad to see apple move on to more of a multi-tool type device, but that doesn't sway my review on this one. Enjoy!
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296 of 317 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars The Music Lover's iPod, November 19, 2008
By Barrett Benton (New York) - See all my reviews
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In a number of circles, the iPod Classic is now considered the "less sexy" iPod. Largely because of the things it appears to lack vis-a-vis the newest "fully-wired" iPods/iPhones: it doesn't have a phone function (d'oh!), it doesn't "do" wide-screen for video and games the way an iPhone/iPod Touch does, and...well, it doesn't seem as much *fun*, darn it! (Memo to the only-two-colors-available fashionistas: silver and [charcoal] black, being *classic* colors, go with everything. When's the last time you saw a pink Audi or Merc? Mary Kay doesn't hand either of those out to its top sales stars, which is just as well.) ;-)

Let's rewind a bit (sorry for the tape-based analogy) to a MacWorld seemingly long, long ago.

At the time, people were clamoring for Apple to include video in their next-generation iPods (they had just announced the iPod Photo, which was the very first iPod I ever owned...sometimes, not being an "early adopter' can pay off). His Steveness replied, more or less, that people value music a lot more than than they value TV/video stuff, so for the time being, no video iPods. While I happened to agree with Jobs' sentiments (I rarely watch the box, so there), I also knew how shrewd a businessman he was, and if the Hoi Polloi wanted video in their iPods, by cracky, he'd make 'em! And while I wouldn't damn him to Hades for such a pragmatic decision (he's doing this stuff to make a buck, okay?), the aesthete in me would be put off just a bit. That was then.

NOW: Through a bit of hard work and happenstance, an iPod Classic (120GB) happened to fall into my lap recently (long story). My beloved 60GB iPod Photo wasn't even half-full, but I welcomed this newest 'Pod with open arms. The reasons?

- Capacity. Let the deniers who bought their iPhones, Touches, and nanos prattle on; if you're a serious music lover, you've got a ton of music on the home front, and, if you're Of A Certain Age, probably in more than one format: CD, LP cassette, and, if you're particularly well-preserved, you might even have a few commercially-produced open-reel tapes lurking about. Paying upwards of $400 or so for the "biggest" iPod Touch might be a bit of a stretch for you...am I right? You might not even give a rat's tuchus (it's okay to say that here, right?) about video and gaming capability, but you'll really care about capacity. Are we grokking here?

Good. Because this iPod, even this late in the game, is aimed toward you and me. Apple, now the 900lb gorilla of the portable digital-media market (how strange that must be to Mssrs Gates & Ballmer) has the market covered: you want a device that's all-singing, all-dancing? You can get an iPhone, or, short of that, an iPod Touch. If it's got to be as tiny as possible (I won't ask why...), there's the nano, or, if it really has to be much smaller, the lovely 2nd-Gen Shuffle (which my Significant Other managed to lose shortly after I presented one to her as a gift; she'll inherit my iPod Photo now).

- True Gapless Playback. The iPod Photo had just one glaring flaw: any album by a group that had a thing for track-into-track segues (say, XTC, the Beatles, Pink Floyd...you get the idea) didn't translate at all with the Photo; you'd get an abrupt track change instead of the smooth, proper transition the band and engineers intended. I know the iPod Generation kicked off the "rip/mix/burn-it-like-you-wanna" thing, but if I want to hear the damn album the way it was released, then I should be able to. In the iPod world, this possibility didn't materialize until the 5th Gen iPod (video). Now that I have the newest Classic, I really, really appreciate this.

- The Sound. Most talk about getting good sound from an iPod is almost entirely focused on headphones, usually fairly pricey ones. But, to use a high-end audio mantra, you only get out what you put in. Sometime around the introduction of the first iPod Classic, Apple quietly made some serious engineering changes in the output section of the iPod, resulting in both a reduced noise floor and improved detail. One online review stated that the new design appeared to be ever-so-slightly less "warm" sounding than the previous design, but between the lowered noise floor and improved musical detail the new design was a solid net gain. I concur: subjectively, the Classic's overall sound might sound a tad less "euphonic" than my iPod Photo, but I also notice better transient detail and handling of low, delicate notes with both my semi-isolating, against-the-ear Sennheiser PMX200 headphones and my Sony MDR-EX85LP in-ear 'phones. Somehow this seems to have at least a slight effect on line output, too: playback through the living-room hi-fi (via a Griffin AirDock, also a screaming bargain at its current price) offers similar, but not quite as obvious improvements over the iPod Photo. This isn't a case of bad versus good: this is good versus Mighty Good.

- The Classic is, as close as can be, a direct descendant of the original iPod that turned the portable digital music-player market on its ear. The enhancements it has picked up since then have made sense insomuch as they haven't gotten much in the way of the Prime Directive, if you will: allowing the user to carry and access her/his music collection about easily, and with reasonable fidelity. No, it was never a direct replacement for a killer home 'fi (which most people don't possess), but more than ear-pleasing in the environs in which these devices are most-often used. (Yes, as a New Yorker, the subway comes to mind most often...particularly the F, A, C, and #2/3 lines.)

- While I do admit that the iPhone/iPod Touch interface is mad-cool and industry-leading, I still believe the Click Wheel more than holds its own in terms of overall ergonomics; as has been pointed out in a few other reviews here, it's still the only interface you can manage one-handed, and which allows you to navigate between music tracks without looking at the unit (why isn't THIS the iPod "Touch?"). Like the 5G iPod, you get video, which for the most part I couldn't care less about (although I can now view the video portion of my iTunes purchase of The Traveling Wilburys Collection, which is sort of nice). The notion of watching music videos, let alone feature-length movies, on a not-even-three-inch screen, when we're being assaulted with the idea that a 32" screen at home is woefully inadequate, 'specially if it ain't high-def, is a bit inconsistent.

But, this is about music, music you can take with you.

By this lone standard, the iPod Classic clearly blows everything else Apple offers into the weeds. Anything not made by Apple, IMO, hasn't even found its way to the starting line. The interface is highly functional and sexy enough, without allowing surface to roll straight over substance.

The happy thing is that Apple offers options to fit just about anyone. If you need a single do-it-all device, and don't care (at least at the moment) about capacity for all your fave tracks, you've got either the iPhone 3G or iPod Touch; if you want your device as tiny and unobtrusive as possible, you've got either the Shuffle or the polychromatic nano. And, finally, if, like me, you want, over all else, as much of your music at hand, wherever you are, as your balm, your salve, your relief from waiting-room Hell or airport Purgatory, the Classic is really it. And, for what it's worth, the current (120GB) Classic wil be able to use the newest Apple earbuds with in-line remote control and microphone (they've got a twin-driver 'phone "coming soon" that promises to be grand-sounding; we'll see). If you haven't checked out any 'Pods since the Photo or before, this is likely the one to finally pop for.
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51 of 55 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Upgraded from An iPod photo, September 16, 2008
By W. R. Stockstill Jr. ""Bill"" (Marietta, GA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Apple iPod classic 120 GB Black (6th Generation) [Previous Model] (Electronics)
My trusty Apple iPod 30 GB Photo White M9829LL/A (4th Generation) finally got filled so it was time for a bigger capacity model. Surprisingly, the battery has never been replaced so its been a very reliable unit. I went as long as I could, taking out the album cover art, podcasts and contacts. I could have still used my old iPod, iTunes is so smart, it just made a playlist that was small enough to fit on the 30GB drive.

There are several choices, even the Zune, but I have purchased music from iTunes so I would lose them since they can't be played on the Zune. I really didn't want an Apple iPod touch 32 GB (1st Generation) because the capacity is too small and I have LCD HD TVs everywhere in my house, so there is no way I am watching a movie on such a tiny screen.

The new "Classic" fit the bill with its large capacity, small size and it has features the old iPod photo doesn't. I did have a couple of music videos so I could watch them on the new Classic which have just sat on my iTunes. The screen is better and bigger, so I can put some of my best photos on it and show people when out and about. I like the new Genius which takes a song you have on either on your iTunes, where it matches it to songs on your iTunes or the iTunes store, and its on the iPod where it will make a list of songs like the one you are currently listening to. The main screen is split with a screen saver on the right of your album cover art.

If you want to buy a protective cover, it is the same size as the 80GB model, something it took me a little research to confirm. I bought a cover by iFrogz.

Vastly increased capacity, better and bigger screen, smaller size, video capabilty and at a lower price. For anyone upgrading, this is a great choice.

*Amazon has this labeled incorrectly as 6th Generation. Its the 7th Generation Classic.

Oh, and as usual the iPod buds are still garbage. Muddy lows and weak highs. You may not agree until you try a quality bud like the Yuin Pk2 Earphones or Sennheiser PX 100 Collapsible Headphones but once you try them you will and you will hear things you never did before in your music. Its worth the extra money.

UPDATE-Still loving my iPod. I am now buying my Blu-Ray movies with Digital Copies to load into my iPod and watch while waiting for my daughter at her dance classes. But I have found that some Digital Copies are not iPod compatible, so make sure you check that first when buying them. I watched Wanted [Blu-ray] and it was very enjoyable on the tiny screen. Of course when I got home I popped it onto the big set with the surround system, but for a movie on the go it was great.
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39 of 41 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars They call it the "Classic" for a reason, October 14, 2008
By Marko Kloos (Enfield, NH) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Apple iPod classic 120 GB Black (6th Generation) [Previous Model] (Electronics)
The iPod classic is a bit of a relic. In the current iPod lineup, it looks a bit tawdry and bland next to the new iPod nano and touch. It does, however, offer something all the other iPods don't--lots of storage space.

While the iPod nano and touch are sleek and streamlined devices, they only hold a maximum of 16 and 32 GB, respectively. That's plenty of storage for the average user, but there are some people out there whose music and video libraries would fill up even the highest-capacity iPod touch instantly.

The iPod classic has one reason for its existence: it's the only iPod choice for people who a.) have iTunes libraries bigger than 30GB, and b.) want to carry all their music and videos around with them at all times, without having to mess with play lists and selective syncing.

The iPod classic doesn't have the beautiful glass screen of the iPod touch, and it's much more bulky than the sleek little iPod nano, but it holds a lot more data on its internal hard drive, and the screen size (2.5" at 320x240 pixels) is an agreeable compromise between the "squint-o-vision" stamp-sized screen of the nano, and the incredible 3.5" widescreen on the touch.

The classic is the only iPod with a hard drive, which means that it's a bit more fragile than the flash-based nano and touch, but it also means that it has vastly more storage space. It's also by the best value when you compare the dollars-per-megabyte ratio of all the iPod models. If you go jogging with your iPod, this is not the best choice, but for everyday use (working and walking around with the iPod in your pocket, for example), the classic is plenty sturdy enough. (Mine has taken two falls from my desk onto our hardwood floor while the hard drive was copying data, and the iPod survived both falls just fine.)

The hard drive isn't as fast as the flash memory in the nano and touch, but in everyday use, the slower read speeds are not an issue. You'll mainly notice that it takes the Cover Flow view a second to replace the placeholder graphics with the proper cover art as the hard drive tries to catch up while you scroll through your album covers. On the plus side, the hard drive has much faster write speeds than flash memory, which makes the sync process with iTunes faster.

The classic's click wheel allows for one-handed changing of tracks and volume without looking at the screen, which is not possible with the iPod touch. It also offers superior battery life to either the nano or the touch at 36 hours of music and 7 hours of video playback. (I routinely get 40 hours out of mine, so Apple's battery life estimates are a bit on the conservative side.)

The technology under the shell of the classic is not the latest and greatest, but it's the evolution of a proven, user-friendly concept. It lacks the Wi-Fi connectivity and large screen of the iPod touch, and it's not nearly as svelte as the iPod nano, but it combines lots of storage with a decent screen, a proven and intuitive user interface, and excellent battery life.

Lastly, you can use the iPod classic as an external USB hard drive for backups and data transfer, which is a bit pointless with the nano (because of its low capacity), and not possible at all with the touch.

Like any other piece of kit, the iPod classic has a few weak spots. The back is still polished chrome, which collects scratches extremely well, and the screen is plastic rather than glass, which means it's more prone to marring. If you want to keep it pristine, you won't get around purchasing a good case for it. (The slick chrome back also makes it a bit slippery in the hand if you use it without a case.)

It doesn't do Internet access, you can't make calls with it, and it's not a PDA...but for just listening to music and watching videos on the run, the iPod classic is still one of the best devices on the market.
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203 of 238 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars 1 step forward, 2 steps back, October 11, 2008
This review is from: Apple iPod classic 120 GB Black (6th Generation) [Previous Model] (Electronics)
My 4th Generation photo ipod broke this week and I was forced to purchase the latest 6th generation ipod.

Whilst this new slimmer version looks better, has more capacity and runs longer, there are a few things it doesnt do aswell.

There is some backward technology here that annoys me.

I have over 4000 songs categorically filed in their respsective albums with cover art. Everytime I delve into an artists directory Im annoyed by the (albeit momenatary) load up time of the cover art. It is a small lag, but the delay is frustrating. I hate load up times. And this is something I never had to endure in my 4th Generation ipod. Perhaps it is a software weakness.

And this small minute but gigantically annoying lag also exists everytime I want to skip a track. There is a small but noticable lag between pressing the button and processing the change. Its small... I know... but it wasnt a problem before.

And my biggest gripe is the lack of sturdiness in the ipod itself. It looks flashy but I'm scared its going to break the first time I drop it. ANd I will drop it eventually. The original ipods were wrapped in a layer of thick acrylic. This thing is glasshouse in my overly excited hands.

Ultimately Apple needs to remember that a percentage of its original customer use the ipod for what it was intended. A huge portable collection of music that they wish to access with ease, speed and safety. The bigger screens, the flashy metal and the video capacity comes second. Leave that stuff for the ipod touch.

The ipod classic as it is intended is a step forward but two steps back.
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70 of 82 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars DRM crippled device, March 14, 2009
By Wesley Robinson "headwes" (The Mythical State of Jefferson) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Apple iPod classic 120 GB Black (6th Generation) [Previous Model] (Electronics)
For this latest generation of iPods Apple added authentication chips which check to see whether your accessories are genuine Apple or Apple licensed. As a result, many popular accessories such as AV cables and camera adapters no longer function--because Apple doesn't want them to. For me, this means I can no longer use my inexpensive Belkin AV cable to connect the iPod to the TV. Instead, my only option is the spend $49 on Apple's cable.

This will be my last iPod. I never would have purchased it had Apple been forthcoming about this new limitation. Shame on them.
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34 of 38 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Still bought it!, September 11, 2008
This review is from: Apple iPod classic 120 GB Black (6th Generation) [Previous Model] (Electronics)
This is my review after buying this fresh incarnation.

I have the fifth generation iPod. Did not acquire the 6th gen because I feel that that update last year was not much of an upgrade. Now, this offers no major improvement as well, but I still bought it for the following reasons:
1) At 120 GB and 249 USD, it still offers a good USD over gigabyte value. Good as an extra external harddisk for my other hobby: photography. 2) Im planning to buy the new in-ear iPod earphone with controls that might not be backward compatible with my 5th gen. Although I wasnt able to test this in-canal two-drivered, tweetered earphone (not in the stores yet), Im betting that Apple tweaked and appropriately consulted with expert sound engineers. Im still a believer in Apple's meticulousness in sound. I wont forget that iPod offered best mp3 sound (you would think it's coming from an audio-discman) in its first launch. The one with controls is in demo, control 'pad' is very thin and convenient, sounds about the same,
3) the battery of my 5th gen is now performing to just about 60% of its original capacity
4) I like the new black color, it's not black black, but approaching charcoal. A rugged color to me that doesnt 'get dirty' easily.
5) Ive been wanting the song search function since my library is now 3000+. (why didnt Apple apply a firmware for this for the 5th gen?)
6) Substantial battery improvement as well.
7) There's a considerable reduction in size. With silicon case added, it's equal to my 5th gen's size.
8) Less lags compared to my 5th gen (although fed a library of 3000+ songs plus several movies and video podcasts)

Now, my objections:
1) Why didn't they include the shake/shuffle function. Is it because it's hard-drive based? Do people really shakesohard to do that big damage on the hard-drive?
2) There's a general impression that this iPod classic is being `left out'," for example just with upgrades that's only firmware-based. The word "classic" in itself already connotes "old," and other negative things. I hope Apple doesnt put this previous flagship down so much. In forums, there's already much comment on how "this update is not included in the classic..." are all these intentional so the iPod Touch would increase its sales? No gratitude at all to this iconic model which brings so much memory. No gratitude when it comes to business strategy? Just for me, I wont consider iPod Touch until its flash-based memory breaks 60 GB at least and price gets below 300 USD. With all the video podcasts available, 32 GB (at 400 USD at that!) is just not enough.

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33 of 39 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars It's hard to improve on a "classic", September 14, 2008
By Samuel Chell (Kenosha,, WI United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Apple iPod classic 120 GB Black (6th Generation) [Previous Model] (Electronics)
Apple's name for this device is aptly chosen. It was an "innovation" when the iPod was first introduced (my 10 GB is still running and looking great). Since then the "upgrades" to the non-solid state models have been changes reflecting the latest technology--video, color, storage capacity. It remains the most practical and convenient way for the user to back up, maintain and access a large collection of audio/video files--and my 10 GB was no longer nearly enough.

The negligible price difference (at Amazon) between the 160 GB Classic 6th Generation and the 120 GB Classic 7th Generation makes for a tough decision. The new Genius feature certainly was not a factor in my thinking (thank goodness Apple didn't go with multiple colors, FM capability, and other largely superficial add-ons to their "Classic" line). But after reading some of the negative consumer reviews on Amazon (perhaps not the best idea) for the previous, 160 GB model, I decided to sacrifice the extra 40 gigs and place my bets on the current model. I'm not sure that I "gained" anything, especially since I have no use for Genius or cover flow (hence, better performance of that feature is irrelevant to me), and I don't watch movies on anything less than a 20" screen. But it's true that this model is slightly thinner than Apple's previous largest-capacity model, and it still performs like the winner it always has been.

It's unclear to me why users of a device like this require files much larger than MP3 or AAC compression. In previewing all of the possible formats in WireTap Studio, including WAV and AIFF, the differences in fidelity between the compressed and non-compressed files are barely discernible to the best ears--even more so when using the Classic with one of the popular iPod speaker systems. And although I don't expect the iPod to replace my CDs, tapes and LPs, I'm surprised at how close its compressed files come to the original. Primarily, I regard it as an invaluable index and library. Unlike the Touch or iPhone, it's user-friendly even to those of us who don't have the patience for "texting," multitasking, reading maps, viewing movies on what are miniature, pocket-sized computers. The Classic is a different animal--a record library that's practically the equivalent of a Walmart store filled with LPs.

If you still have any misgivings about price and value, consider that the storage capacity of a Macbook Air is 60 GB and 80 GB, and the cost 7 to 10 times that of an iPod Classic, which lacks only the keyboard and internet capability (on the other hand, a Mac Air won't fit in your pocket).
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Apple iPod classic 120 GB Black (6th Generation) [Previous Model]
$279.95
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