sMoRTy71.com: Damnit! I like my iPod video

Damnit! I like my iPod video
I've had my iPod for several days now; however, I have hesitated posting about it because of all of the crap I will take from people who know my anti-Apple philosophy. Then I remembered that no one reads my blog anyway, so who will find out?

The good:
1. It looks incredible -- When I took it out the box, I was really impressed with how great it looked.

2. The interface is awesome -- There isn't really a manual for how to use the iPod and, after playing with it for about 60 seconds, I figured out why. It is ridiculously easy to use.

3. The screen -- Video, especially video purchased from iTunes, looks really good. I was really skeptical about the quality of the image; however, the episode of "Lost" that I downloaded looked better than standard definition looks on a TV. And some of the video podcasts, like SGTV, look great, too :)

4. Integration with iTunes -- They made the purchasing, organizing and transferring (to the iPod) so simple that I think my kids could even figure it out on their own (Note to self -- don't let the kids anywhere near my iTunes account).

The bad:
1. Extras not included -- With all of its good qualities, the iPod is basically an accessory trap. It comes with earbuds, a USB cable and a very basic pouch to store it in. Want to have a little dock to sit your iPod upright on your desk? That's extra. Want to connect your iPod to your home stereo? That's extra, too. Want to connect your iPod to your car stereo? Extra. Want a case that will actually protect your iPod? Yep. Extra. And to make matters worse, all of these extras are pretty expensive for what you get.

My plan is to get a case and then use my XBOX 360 (whenever I get the damn thing) to integrate the iPod into my home theater.

2. The front scratches way too easily -- This is actually the biggest negative by a wide margin. I have been very, very careful with my iPod since it arrived last week. As soon as I am done using it, I place it back in its pouch. And when I transport it between home and work, I put it in the inside pocket of my jacket (which has nothing else in it).

Even with those safety precautions, my iPod had two noticeable scratches in the first two days. The worse one was actually the smallest (less than an 1/8"). It was horizontal and over the screen area and seemed to jump out at you when you looking at the screen. Based on some feedback online, I used Brasso to polish out the scratches. They are now about 95% gone.

So now, I have stopped using my iPod completely until my case arrives. It is a heavy rubberized case with a screen protector (from Speck Products). Once that arrives, I'll start using my iPod again.