Garmin GPSMAP 60CS Water Resistant Hiking GPS Review

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(More customer reviews)Read all the reviews at GPS sites and then try the GPSmap 60CS out for yourself. You'll see why everyone is so impressed. Garmin's eTrex models were a nice design, but users had to put up with several compromises (limited memory, poor screen, relatively weak satellite reception, etc.) that limited their functionality. The GPSmap 60CS effectively addresses many of the limitations of the eTrex lineup, despite it also being a relatively small, light, rugged device.
Hopefully the following will be helpful to individuals debating whether or not to purchase the GPSmap 60CS. I purchased mine soon after the model was released and think it's overall the best handheld GPS you can buy.
PROS:
- Solid construction (made in Taiwan) with a nice overall "feel". You're getting your money's worth with this GPS.
- Rugged. My main concern about a color GPS was fragility, but I've already dropped mine a few times and suffered no ill effects.
- Nice screen. The 256 color transreflective screen makes a huge difference in using the GPS and I could now never go back to using a monochrome model. The color maps are very easy to read, not only at night but also even in direct sunshine.
- Good battery life. Depending on how much the backlight is used I see anywhere from 10 - 20 hours of use between charges of my two NiMH AA batteries. With the backlight kept off, some people have reported almost 30 hours of use with alkaline batteries.
- Intuitive controls and menus. Even if you've never used a GPS before you'll probably be able to use the GPSmap 60CS right out of the box without consulting the (well-written) manual. There's also a nice (single sheet) color "quick start guide" that gets you up and running in less than five minutes.
- Acquires satellites quickly (fixes position usually in less than a minute) and maintains tracking fairly well.
- USB downloading of Garmin's optional maps is relatively fast. Also accepts serial cable, so I can still use the GPSmap 60CS with an older (non-USB) computer.
- Optional accessories unlock the true potential of the GPSmap 60CS (but count on spending at least another $200 - $300 on maps + accessories). The AutoNav Kit includes a nice beanbag mount to keep the device stable on the car's dashboard, a cigarette lighter power adapter and a CD with the - essential - residential street level maps of the U.S. and several major Canadian cities. I also bought bike mounts so I can use my GPSmap 60CS on my mountain bikes. It's nice to be able to explore the great trails in Marin County and the rest of California without having to worry about getting lost. (It's also easy to then later download your route from the unit to your desktop computer so you can keep a record of a trail if you want to go back in the future.)
- Amazing degree of customization. Background/text colors, sequence of presented screens, orientation of maps (north up vs. track up), metric/imperial units, backlight level, tones, WAAS mode, text language, backlight timeout and a number of other options can easily be turned off or on.
- Present position-to-address routing. Gives turn by turn directions to any addresses that are typed in on the "Find" screen (if you have purchased the optional maps). Having this "autoroute" ability in a GPS as small as the GPSmap 60CS is incredible. The unit also automatically recalculates a new route (but unfortunately takes half a minute or so to do this) if you wander off the previously chosen route or miss a turn. While I will never throw out my paper maps, since getting my GPSmap 60CS I now almost always use GPS when driving to an unfamiliar address. The directions are almost always reliable, but sometimes the suggested route is a bit more circuitous than necessary. It would be nice if Garmin could update the firmware to easily allow users to specify a route that goes by way of an intermediate location.
- Ability to leave "track points" i.e. an electronic breadcrumb trail that can be followed back to your starting point.
- Great speedometer/odometer for bicycles, etc. Thanks to my GPSmap 60CS, I now know that the speedometer for one of my cars is off by 7%! Lists odometer, trip odometer, maximum speed, moving time, moving average, stopped time, overall average speed, total ascent, maximum elevation, current elevation, distance to destination, time to destination, estimated time of arrival and a lot more. It's also easy to customize which fields are displayed.
- Replaces those ridiculously overpriced GPS units sold for cars and can be easily moved from vehicle to vehicle.
- Nice industrial design - about the size of a small walkie-talkie or a large cell phone, but the GPSmap 60CS looks good and feels comfortable in the hand.
CONS:
- If you travel a lot, the built in 56 MB of memory used for storing downloaded maps will be constraining. 128 MB would have been better and the ability to read from CF or SD cards would be ideal. On the other hand, reading from external memory cards would probably have decreased battery life. Furthermore, maintaining simplicity and reliability by forgoing expansion cards may have been a good decision in a device that will be subjected to the abuse that a handheld GPS will frequently see.
- Basemap included with the GPSmap 60CS is very limited. You really need to buy Garmin's residential street level and topographical maps to use the device to its fullest.
- Residential street level and topographical maps cannot be displayed simultaneously.
- Users cannot easily specify plotting alternate routes (e.g. if recommended route is blocked with construction, traffic, etc.).
- Autozoom mode tends to zoom out too much, forcing users to zoom back in to see street details when following a route. I ended up just turning autozoom off.
- Attaching external power supply doesn't recharge NiMH batteries (very minor complaint).
- Alarms aren't very loud, especially for vehicle use.
- Removing the GPSmap 60CS from the cradle in the beanbag mount is somewhat awkward.
- Altimeter tends to drift quickly and requires periodic recalibration.
All things considered, the GPSmap 60CS is an amazing GPS. It represents a quantum leap forward and is a great value given the features it offers. I'm extremely selective about the things I purchase and would rather spend a little extra to get the best. The GPSmap 60CS was an obvious choice and I expect it will quickly become the most-recommended handheld GPS unit on the market. This model now makes almost every other GPS on the market (including Garmin's own eTrex lineup) look dated by comparison. If you can afford the extra $200 or so the GPSmap 60CS costs compared to the midline eTrex models, you won't be disappointed.UPDATE (September 6, 2004):
Using the GPSmap 60CS daily since Spring 2004 has reinforced my belief that my previous review is an accurate summary of the most important good and bad points of the unit. This GPS recently paid for itself when it saved me from missing a flight after I got lost en route to an unfamiliar airport. (I had left the GPSmap 60CS in my suitcase. After missing a turn and getting hopelessly lost I simply pulled over, unpacked the GPSmap 60CS and let its autoroute function guide me quickly back to my destination.)
The only significant limitations are the unit's inability to plot a route via an intermediate point/specify detour routes and the limited memory available for map storage. It appears that Garmin has deliberately chosen to cripple the functionality of the GPSmap 60CS in order to "encourage" customers looking for those features to purchase more expensive units like the new Garmin Quest. Garmin could easily upgrade the GPSmap 60CS memory to 256 MB (the added memory would cost less than $5) and include the detour routing abilities of the Quest, but then why would anyone buy their more expensive units? It's a shame, because the GPSmap 60CS is in many ways a better design than Garmin's more expensive units. (Small, light, works with AA batteries, rugged, maps can be uploaded via either USB or serial cable, etc.) I would have been willing to pay more for a version of the GPSmap 60CS with more memory and revised routing software, but I doubt that we will ever see these improvements made.
While I remain quite impressed with the GPSmap 60CS, my sole interaction with Garmin's customer support department was very disappointing. A couple of months after I purchased my unit, Garmin emailed me, announcing that they were releasing version 6 of North American City Select. This version finally includes street level coverage of Canada and updates the map and business data for the U.S.A. I emailed Garmin to receive what I thought was a free update, only to find that they were demanding a fee of $75 for the update. Only individuals who had purchased the software within a month of the new version's release were to be given free upgrades. Garmin's mean-spirted support policy has definitely dampened my enthusiasm for this company and leads me to wonder if they will stand behind the product should something ever go wrong. Just something else to consider if one is in the market for a GPS.
If I was a teacher, I'd issue Garmin the following grades:
GPSmap 60CS = A+
Garmin support = D-

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The GPSMap 60CS is packed with navigational features, but Garmin knows that a great device has to go beyond a simple color display to be the cream of the crop. With that, Garmin has upped the ante on this lightweight, rugged, waterproof unit, offering a 256-color, highly reflective display that provides easy viewing in almost any lighting condition, including bright sunlight. This transreflective TFT, 2.6-inch-diagonal screen provides excellent viewing while maximizing battery life (up to twenty hours with typical use).
The GPSMap 60CS adds two premium features to the basic design of the less expensive 60C model: an electronic compass and a barometric altimeter, both crucial for highland adventures. These sensors, when combined with GPS technology, provide enhanced bearing and elevation readings. A barometric sensor with automatic pressure readings allows you to view changes in pressure for a set period of time. With the elevation computer, you can find current elevation, ascent/descent rate, minimum and maximum elevation, total ascent and descent, and average and maximum ascent and descent rate. The trip computer provides odometer, stopped time, moving average, overall average, total time, max speed, and more.
The WAAS GPS receiver has an accuracy of 10 feet in North America. With the 50 reversible routes, 10,000 track points, and 500 waypoints, you're sure to have enough tools to find your way. A fast processor allows the 60CS to provide quick auto-routing, turn-by-turn directions, and audio alerts when the unit uses optional MapSource software, which can be stored on the 56 MB of internal memory. Downloading information is quick with the USB or serial port interfaces. By using the dedicated serial port, the GPSMap 60CS can share navigation instructions with repeaters, plotters, and autopilots. The four-position rocker pad and dedicated high-use buttons make navigating through the unit's features easy, even when your fingers are cold or wet.
The GPSMap 60CS is also packed with some extra fun features. An integrated outdoor calendar provides ideal hunting and fishing times, plus moon rise/set/location information. There is a dedicated geocaching mode for those of you into the popular, GPS community treasure hunt game. And finally, there are indoor/outdoor GPS games to help you and your friends enjoy the outdoors.
Garmin produces some key accessories for the 60CS. If you'll be on the road, Garmin's U.S. topographical MapSource CD-ROM provides the most detailed maps available. Or, for a combination of detailed U.S. maps and a car kit for mounting and powering your GPS, there's an automotive accessory pack for North America.
What's in the Box GPSMap 60CS receiver, basemap (Americas Recreational), MapSource Trip & Waypoint Manager CD, PC/USB interface cable, lanyard, belt clip, quick start guide, and owner's manual.

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Audiovox D1708 7-Inch Portable DVD Player Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought this when my "Durabrand" dual-screen DVD player died after only 8 or 10 uses in the car. I was very impressed with the screen when I compared it head to head with the Panasonic (and the Panasonic was more than double the $$) and the screen was worlds better than the Durabrand. The screen has great resolution (not top of the line, but nearly so, and probably better than all others for the same price). Even more important for a portable, it has excellent field of view; you can see it clearly almost completely to either side or the top (much better than my laptop computer). The brightness control gives crisp screen colors and the contrast is nice. The volume is high enough to hear over road noise or across the room. I copy my movies onto DVD+ and DVD- discs so the kids don't ruin the DVDs, and the player plays them just fine (unlike the Durabrand). It has logically placed, crisp control buttons and the remote works well.
I use it in the car for the kids so it has taken some abuse and keeps on ticking without a hitch. It has rounded corners and a solid feel, though not too heavy (unlike that piece of junk Durabrand). The battery is rather big; I haven't tested it to see how many total hours it will run on one charge, though it seems to do well. The battery is flat and fastens on underneath the player and gives it stability if you use it. The only thing I don't like about the battery arrangement is that you can't charge the battery and use the player at the same time (the DVD player is cut out if you plug the power into the battery charge spot). There are DVD out and AV in connections. It works well with one as a slave viewer if you have two and both kids want to watch the same movie with their own screen. The carry case is nice, and you can actually fit the player and the accessories back into it (again, unlike the Durabrand). I have had no problems with it producing noise like some have reported here.
I thought it was a good value at what Amazon sells it for, which is what I paid for my first one, so I went out to buy a second one and it was a steal because it was on sale for even less. The second one works as well as the first, and at that price, it's almost a throw-away item. If it conks out after 6 months, I've got my money's worth.
Addendum: A day after I wrote this review, one of my DVD players had a problem. In the middle of the movie, the screen turned to black and white, and I can't get it back to color. I didn't get my 6 months out of it, so don't consider it as much of a value as originally thought. I would reduce the number of rating stars if I could.
Addendum 2: I wish I would have written this review just a few days later. Since I added the last addendum a day ago, the other DVD player has developed a problem. All the buttons quit working. Luckily the remote still works. Unfortunately we are on a trip right now or they would both be taken right back to the store.
Sidenote: Why is it that so many DVD players, all brands, brake so soon? It's an epidemic! Must be because so many are made in China. We should all stop buying anything made in China!

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Take a mini home entertainment center with you wherever you go with the Audiovox D1708 portable DVD player. The D1708 features a 7-inch TFT active matrix widescreen display with aspect ratio control so you can choose 16:9 for widescreen movies, standard 4:3, or a switchable option. It plays back DVD, CD, and MP3-formatted discs for a variety of options. DVD features include multiple angles, multilingual subtitles, parental controls, and slow motion.
The D1708 comes with built-in stereo speakers with simulated surround sound, and also features two headphone jacks so two people can watch movies in privacy. It also features a digital output so you can connect to a home theater system and enjoy Dolby Digital and DTS audio when you're at home. The included rechargeable NiMH battery has up to three hours battery life so you can watch even the longest movies and not worry about losing power.
What's in the Box Portable DVD player, rechargeable NiMH battery, remote control, warranty information, and user's manual.

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Garmin nüvi 250 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator (English/French Version) Review

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(More customer reviews)I have used Garmin products before and like the reliability and performance. This unit works very well and in addition a great value price wise. The touch screen works perfectly - no more hassling with non-user friendly buttons. Very easy to navigate the GUI and always seems to find a signal quickly. Routes seem to work well for me (have had it for 2 weeks so not fully tested on routing). Voice prompts are functional and options exist for different languages - I like using the English accent voice. Another great benefit is the size - no external antenna and a small thin unit with a big screen (big enough for me)very well packaged. You could carry it around for hikes or biking as it has that mode and can easily fit into a pocket. All in all I'm very satisfied and use it every day for business because it saves me time and money.

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Simple navigation at an affordable price--that's nuvi 250. This entry-level Personal Travel Assistant comes with preloaded maps for North America, including all of the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico. For added flexibility, choose nuvi 270 with preloaded maps for both continents or save more with nuvi 200 which offers less map coverage at a lower price. Like all nuvi 200-series members, the 250 features an easy-to-use colorful touchscreen and ultra-slim design--perfect for everyday navigation.
Smart, Powerful Design The nuvi 250 is built with a high-sensitivity WAAS-enabled GPS receiver for extreme accuracy, as well as an SD card slot for storing your media and additional navigation tools, and a USB interface for loading data. All this is wrapped up in a package that measures 3.8 x 2.8 x .8 inches (W x H x D) and weighs just 5.2 ounces. The nuvi 250's 3.5-inch (diagonal) display is touchscreen-enabled, making it a cinch to control the device with your fingertips. A rechargeable lithium-ion battery provides up to five hours of battery life depending on use.
Navigate with Ease nuvi 250 comes ready to go right out of the box with preloaded City Navigator NT street maps, including a hefty points of interest (POIs) database with hotels, restaurants, fuel, ATMs and more. Simply touch the color screen to enter a destination, and nuvi takes you there with 2D or 3D maps and turn-by-turn voice directions. In addition, nuvi 250 accepts custom points of interest (POIs), such as school zones and safety cameras and lets you set proximity alerts to warn you of upcoming POIs.
Go Beyond Navigation Navigation is just the beginning. nuvi 250 features many travel tools including JPEG picture viewer, world travel clock with time zones, currency converter, measurement converter, calculator and more. It also comes with Garmin Lock, an anti-theft feature, and configurable vehicle icons that let you select car-shaped graphics to show your location on the map. Optional plug-in SD cards for our line of Garmin Travel Guides and Garmin SaversGuide provide detailed data for attractions and information on nearby merchants offering discounts, so you can customize nuvi for your travel needs.
Note: Like most USB Mass Storage Devices, the nuvi is not compatible with Windows 95, Windows 98 or Windows Me.
What's in the Box nuvi 250, preloaded City Navigator NT for North America (full coverage), vehicle suction cup mount, vehicle power cable, dashboard disk, and set up and go guide.

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Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeMusic Card Review

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(More customer reviews)If you are looking for superior sound from your computer this is the card to get. I expect a lot from my soundcards since I do composing, music production, listen to iTunes and even a little gaming too. Previously I had been using the very excellent M-Audio Audiophile 2496. The M-Audio had a few drawbacks to it but nothing that I couldn't work around. However, I decided to upgrade. I looked at the stats of several cards from Turtle Beach and M-Audio but on paper they didn't compare with this card. After installation I gave it a test drive. On playing music from iTunes I noticed a much cleaner sound than my previous card. I didn't bother to use the silly "Crystallizer." If you read about what it actually does, it essentially distorts the sound. This card doesn't need any tricks like that and I can't recommend using it. I think it was just marketing hype. Also, I've listened to music for the last few days I didn't notice any fatigue on my part - the sound was truly better. Next I opened up Cubase (a music sequencing program) and did an audio mixdown of one of my pieces, the quality was equal to a bit better than the original. Ripping from CD to iTunes, I didn't notice any difference in quality. The secret is likely the 5 million transitors. I also will once again enjoy the compatibility with nearly all software programs. If I need it I have access to 24 bit sound fonts, a microphone port and some other do-dads. There were a few downsides. The largest of which was the software installation which took way too long - 40 minutes on my Pentium 4 with 2 GB of RAM. I also objected to having to remove shortcuts from AOL placed in my start menu and Favorites by the installation program. You have to use the install disc and you are not given the option of just installing drivers. I took a small chance (because I had 14 days to return it) on the card because I have read countless negative reviews about Creative products over the last few years. Its nice to see them putting out a quality product once more. I didn't purchase the more expensive big brothers because I didn't need their features. I cannot comment on technical support because fortunately I didn't need to contact them. I highly recommend this card because of its quality and price.

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Take your music, movies and games to the next level with the X-Fi XtremeMusic Sound Card / 24-bit X-Fi Crystalizer / EAX Advanced HD 5.0 / X-Fi CMSS-3D 109dB SNRPackage contents - Sound Blaster X-Fi PCI Card, Quick Start Leaflet, and Installation and Applications CD containing - Drivers for Windows XP, Creative Software Suite, Doom 3 Sound Blaster EAX patch, and User's Guide

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Garmin GPS III Waterproof Hiking GPS Review

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(More customer reviews)A recent TV commercial shows a guy walking around the house with his new GPS from Amazon.com mumbling things like, "at this rate it will take me XX days to get to XYZ" after which his wife comments, "I should have bought him the tie." It's cute, my wife loves it and emphasizes, tongue in cheek, how much guys love gadgets, but these things really are useful!
I own the Garmin GPSIII and the new eMap. I have found these GPS units to be extremely useful, competent and entertaining. I've used them for sailing, vacations, business trips, commuting and motorcycling. For motorcycling, I find using a GPS unit to be indispensable, especially when traveling in unfamiliar areas. Pulling over to the side of the road to look at a map requires taking off my gloves and helmet, which is time consuming and frustrating. With a GPS unit, I can preprogram a 1,000+ mile trip and never have to pull over to look at a map, never miss a turn, always know how far and how long it will be to my next rest / fuel stop, etc. It's also nice at the end of the day to precisely know how long you've been traveling (with the eMap, your moving, stopped and total time), your average and top speed, and miles covered. Should you have a problem requiring service, you can communicate your exact location. If you have children, you can answer that perennial question, "are we there yet" to the minute and tenth of a mile.
I was going to upgrade to the GPSIII Plus for its ability to import maps from my computer but learned Garmin had produced a new model, the eMap. Having had a GPSIII (i.e., GPSIII Plus without the maps) for years, I knew how well made, reliable and valuable the unit is but was intrigued by the eMap. The eMap is slightly lighter, definitely thinner and has a screen that is 20% larger than the GPSIII Plus. It is also less expensive. I also liked the fact that the eMap has memory cartridges in 8 or 16 meg sizes whereas I've read that the GPSIII Plus has only 1.5 megs of internal map storage (not upgradeable), considerably smaller. On the plus side for the GPSIII Plus it is significantly more water-resistant (an absolute necessity for water activities), your information can be displayed on a number of different "pages" or screens and it is much more user configurable.
Although I love my new eMap, I'm not getting rid of my GPSIII. As between the GPSIII Plus and the eMap, I would say this. For the vast majority of people using a GPS, especially those new to GPS, the eMap is THE handheld GPS to have. If things like VMG ("velocity made good") are important to you, if you want a unit that can be configured for a number of specialized applications, if you aren't bothered by the memory limitation of the GPSIII Plus, then I'd highly recommend that unit. You could hardly go wrong with either.

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Garmin's new GPS III Plus offers cartographic capabilities formerly found only in high-end automotive navigation and marine chart plotting units. The basemap in the GPS III Plus will get you where you're going with more than 10,000 new towns added to the permanent basemap. It also includes airport locations, secondary roads in metro areas and even detailed exit information for the federal interstate highway system, including information about available lodging, food, and service stations.
Its powerful 12 parallel channel receiver tracks and uses up to 12 satellites for fast, accurate positioning. Its versatile screen switches between horizontal to vertical orientation with the press of a button, and it has a detachable antenna. The GPS III Plus also features an adaptable navigation page with either compass or highway steering guidance, and user-selectable data fields. In addition, you get the Garmin-patented TrackBack feature, which lets you quickly navigate your track log back home without manually storing waypoints.
The Garmin GPS III Plus comes with a PC interface cable, Velcro mount, user's manual, and quick reference guide. It has a tough case that is waterproof to IPX7 standards.

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Garmin GPS 72 Handheld GPS Navigator Review

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(More customer reviews)The Garmin GPS 72 is the lowest priced model that has all the basic (non-mapping) features I was looking for. It is waterproof and floats. It has WAAS capability, which means it is accurate to about 10 feet. Where I live I haven't been able to use WAAS, but it still accurate to about 16-20 feet. Close enough. It has a quadrifilar antenna, which is supposed to work better under dense forests. It also means the unit works better when you hold it vertically instead of horizontally. The display is 120X160 pixels, which wouldn't be that great for a unit with mapping capability, is sharp and clear enough to use even while driving (though try to keep your eyes on the road). While it doesn't have a built in base map, it does have the locations of cities worldwide with a population of more than 200,000. For hiking, geocaching and finding your way back to your car, it's more than adequate. It has some cool features, like the estimated time you will arrive at your destination and it allows you to customize what information gets displayed on the screen. It looks and feels solid and professional (a little stripped down, but this is supposed to be a base model).
Yes, it would be nice if it had mapping capability, could connect to an external antenna, included a pc cable and had an electronic compass, but all this really isn't necesssary. It will tell you want direction for are going, but you have to be moving. If you stand in the same spot and turn around, it won't update your direction. Is that important? I carry a compass in addition to my gps. You're always supposed to have back up navigation, anyway. Battery life is around 12-15 hours if you use it continuously, but it saves all your information even you take the batteries out. The size is bigger than an e-trex, but it still fits in a jacket pocket. The buttons were all on the front and easy to use. It would be nice if it were a little smaller, but for the price, it was what I needed, no more and no less. Remember, if you want a GPS unit mainly for driving, pay the extra money and get one with mapping capability.

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The Garmin GPS 72 is a solid, low-cost solution for land or marinenavigation designed to provide precise GPS positioning using correction data obtained from the Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS). This handheld GPS unit can provide position accuracy to less than three meters, while being rugged, water-resistant, and unsinkable--making it perfect for fishing outings, whether you are boating or hiking.
The GPS 72 is a full-function GPS with a factory-loaded Marine Point Database that contains data for cities with a population of 200,000 or more worldwide, nautical navaids for North and South America, and tide stations for the United States. Using MapSource and the built-in 1 MB of internal memory, you can load and display a variety of points of interest. This unit features a permanent user data storage, 500 user waypoints with name and graphic symbols that allow up to 50 reversible routes, and audible alarms for anchor drag, arrival, off-course, proximity to waypoint, and clock functions.

The GPS 72 also features course and speed filtering, an automatic track log with up to 10 savable tracks that let you retrace your path in both directions, and a trip computer that provides odometer, stopped time, moving and overall averages, total time, max speed, and more. And just to make sure your fishing trip is as successful as possible, the GPS 72 includes built-in celestial tables that tell you the best times for fishing in your area, as well as showing you sun and moon location calculations.

The GPS 72 is a 12-channel, handheld GPS receiver with a built-in quad helix antenna. It has nine keys located on the front of the unit that allow the user to quickly access all of the unit's functions. The large 120 x 160 pixel, high-contrast FSTN, four-level gray monochrome backlit display and a large-numbers viewing option make it easy to view under variable lighting conditions. Powered by only two AA batteries, this unit will run for up to 16 hours.

Designed with the outdoor user in mind, this Garmin GPS unit weighs a light 7.5 ounces and measures a pocket-sized 2.7 x 1.2 x 6.2 inches (WxDxH). The GPS 72 is waterproof to IPX7 standards, meaning it can be submerged down to one meter of water for up to 30 minutes, floats, and is rugged enough to endure the most trying use. The included wrist strap, owner's manual, and quick reference guide, combined with Garmin's friendly user interface, will allow you to navigate in no time. And beyond the features and functionality, the GPS 72 provides that most critical of benefits--peace of mind. With the GPS 72 you will always know where you are, where you have been, and where you are going. And since you will always know the way back home, you can concentrate on what you set out to do--explore the outdoors.

What's in the Box GPS 72, Database: Marine Point Database (Americas), Wrist strap, Owner's manual, Quick start guide

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Magellan SporTrak Map Waterproof Hiking GPS Review

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(More customer reviews)This is my first handheld GPS. I'm using it for my new hobby - Geocaching. This unit works great. Use free software to download waypoints into the GPS, and then just follow where it points. The unit is small (fits in my pants pocket), and light, and has all the features you might need, including back-tracking if you make a wrong turn. It holds plenty of waypoints (locations) and 20 routes, which seems about standard for handheld units. It has several different ways of displaying navigation information, so you're bound to find one that works for you. If you're looking for something with lots of built in maps, then this may not be the right unit for you, as it only has a 2Mb base map and 6Mb for downloadable maps. For in-car navigation, I plug this little guy into my portable computer and run Microsoft Streets And Trips and get a whole computer full of maps. When going off-trail, I take just this unit, where maps aren't much help anyway. I've used it to locate 3 "geocaches" so far, and it has put me within a couple of feet every time. The WAAS support is great for getting good accuracy.
By the way - don't purchase the add-on memory SD card accessory - this GPS doesn't take add-on memory cards.

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The Magellan Sportrak Map GPS receiver is WAAS enabled with a 2 MB North American basemap of highways, parks and major waterways, as well as 6 MB of built-in memory for downloading detailed maps. It stores up to 20 routes, 500 way points and 2,000 track-points to help you easily find your way.

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Creative Zen Mozaic 16 GB MP3 Player (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)I purchased this to replace my 4 gb Zen Plus. Still works great, but I really wanted more capacity. I use them mainly at the gym when working out and on airplanes during travel.
The player itself is great. As other said, the buttons get take a little time to get used to, but once you do, it's great. Sound and battery life are excellent.
The only con, as others have said is the HORRIBLE Centrale software. It works terribly on my Vista 64 computer - very slow, seems to freeze up. It is useless - I can't believe Creative released this crappy software. I never had a problem with the software that came with my Zen V Plus but this software was horrible. I uninstalled it and was going to return the player but decided to try and use Windows Media Player for syncing music. What I found was that you can use Windows Media Player to sync music and create playlists. It works beautifully and quickly and transferred my many playlists perfectly.
All in all, I couldn't be happier.
Update: 5/22/09
I reiterate the 5 stars I gave this player after using it daily for the past couple of months. I find I use the speaker much more than I thought I would, and really love it. Sounds great for the size. The 16 gb capacity is amazing - I have still not managed to fill it up. I love the way I can create my playlists on windows media player (I have one for rock, one for running, one for classical etc) and have it easily sync with the Mozaic. Battery life is amazing, and the sound is great. Durabilty is excellent as I have dropped it several times while on the treadmill, and it still looks and works fine.

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SanDisk Sansa Clip 2 GB MP3 Player (Pink) Review

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(More customer reviews)BACKGROUND: I was in the market for a small MP3 player with primary usage at the gym. I was looking for a rechargeable unit as my previous player ate AAA batteries about every week or so. I considered three options of which the Sansa Clip was one of them. I eliminated the iPod Shuffle due to its cost and lack of display. The other primary contender was the Creative Zen Stone Plus (I rejected the non-Plus model due it its lack of display). I will reference how the Sansa Clip won out throughout the rest of the review.
SET UP: The Sansa Clip is about as simple as it gets in this area. It requires no additional software installation. My home system runs XP SP2 with Windows Media Player 11. When I plugged the player in to charge, it was detected and recognized automatically. I told windows to "Take No Action" as the default behavior when the device connects. This allows me to maintain complete control over the syncing process. My unit charged in about an hour.
MUSIC TRANSFER: You have the option of using simple drag and drop of MP3 files to the device as you would a USB flash drive. However, using Windows Media Player allows you the more advanced feature of playlists. Since I primarily use my MP3 player at the gym, I created multiple playlists for warm up, workout, and cool down. The workout lists are about 90 minutes while the others about 20 minutes. I really liked that I was able to create multiples of each for variety. Right now I have three of each with about 1.5 Gb still remaining to use as I please. Using Windows Media Player, you can sync albums, songs, or playlists as you would with any other device. The Sansa Clip fully supports all of these options so it is a nice low effort, highly functional set up.
SOUND QUALITY: This is an area where the Sansa Clip is pretty impressive. I previously had the Sansa M230, and I can tell a significant difference in sound quality. I am able to hear a lot more detail in the higher ranges (such as high hat cymbals). I am using the headphones that came with the unit, but I would image that higher quality headphones would sound even better. The player also has a series of preset equalizer settings for different music styles as well as one that you can customize.
DISPLAY: This is a distinguisher between the Clip and the Zen Stone Plus. The display is larger and easier to read. The mix of blue and yellow against the black background is also pleasant.
NAVIGATION: The Clip has a normal four button dial that is common to most small MP3 players. With the crisp, clear display it is easy to move around and select music by artist, album, song, or playlist. The only thing that I have noticed that doesn't work quite the way I would like is that if you navigate away from the song that is playing there doesn't seem to be a way to get back to it to see the details of what's playing. This is pretty minor, though, because I do not regularly navigate away from the song that is playing.
FM RADIO: This is about what you would expect from a unit with no external antenna. Strong signals come in clearly, but it is not going to match what you can pick up on your car stereo. This is a nice to have feature for me so it is plenty adequate.
OPTIONS: As I mentioned previously, my primary usage comes at the gym. I had used the song timer to measure the time between reps while lifting weights on my M230. However, the Clip has a power saving feature that shuts off the display after 15 seconds by default. However, you can change this to 30, 45, 60, or 90 seconds which should cover your needs. After adjusting mine, I wake up the display after completing a set. When the display shuts off, it's time for the next set.
USE ON THE GO: This is the other area where the Clip separates itself from the Zen Stone Plus. You can clip the player to your clothes or an arm strap (I use the one that came with my M230). The Zen Stone Plus requires purchase of a separate armband accessory for an additional $15.
COST: At base price, the Zen Stone Plus and Sansa Clip are a push. However if you factor in another $15 for an armband you have a clear winner given the other advantages.
CONCLUSION: The Sansa Clip is now the leader in 2 Gb small MP3 players. Give it a spin and you won't be disappointed.

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Product Description
Sansa® Clip MP3 Player

Clip it on and roll For the movers and the shakers who want to shed the baggage of a bigger MP3 player—it';s time to get the skinny on the Sansa® Clip player. Offering five colors to choose from, this lightweight MP3 player delivers major sound for its matchbox size, and storage capacity of up to 2GB*. And with its smart design, you can clip your Sansa® Clip player to your bag, pants or sleeves, allowing you to enjoy all the perks of an MP3—hands-free.

Listen Keep up to 500*** songs at the ready wherever you go. Or tune into FM radio for news and fresh music anytime.

Record With the built-in microphone, you can record memos, lectures or all those unexpected, mic-worthy moments throughout your day. When you're ready, transfer your files to your PC for listening and sharing.

Get together The Sansa® Clip player plays MP3, WMA, secure WMA and Audible file formats. Connect via USB cable to your computer for charging or synchronizing.

Sort it out A compact MP3 player with a screen, the Sansa® Clip player makes navigation simple, so you can sort your music, FM stations and audio books ease.

So what's in the box? Sansa® Clip MP3 player, Clip accessory, USB 2.0 transfer cable, earphones, promotional inserts, and quick start guide.

* 1 gigabyte (GB) =1 billion bytes. Some capacity not available for data storage. ** Based on continuous playback at 128kbps; actual life and performance may vary depending upon usage and settings; battery not replaceable. *** Approximation based on 4-minute songs at 128kbps.

Choose Sansa®, a smarter way to play Sansa® products are brought to you by SanDisk, the minds behind flash memory. Around the world, wherever people take pictures, listen to music, use cell phones—or do much of anything at all with digital devices—you';ll probably find SanDisk products. Maybe that';s why, after more than 20 years in the business, SanDisk has never stopped innovating.
END

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Kenwood KDC-MP528 - Radio / CD / MP3 player - Full-DIN - in-dash - 50 Watts x 4 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I've had this stereo for almost a year now and I like everything about it except that I have it in a convertible and the display is totally unreadable when I put the top down. With the top up, it's fine no matter how bright it is outside.

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Kenwood is a leading developer and manufacturer of audio and video products for home, car, and personal use. It is recognized by consumers and the consumer electronics industry for providing superior quality, reliability and value.PRODUCT FEATURES:Auto-slide detachable faceplate;Rotary encoder and jog control knob for easy operation;14-segment FL display (8-Digit, Scroll On/Off selectable);Maximum output power: 50W x 4 (MOSFET Power IC);AAC/WMA/MP3 playback;System Q/System E's;Installer/backup memory of audio setup;SIRIUS satellite radio ready;HD radio ready;External media control - iPod ready;Dual zone source and volume control;AUX Input;2 preouts (rear/subwoofer out switchable) with 2.5v preoutput level.

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Garmin eTrex Vista Handheld GPS Navigator Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought the Meridian Platinum and the Garmin Vista to do a technical comparison. They are both great units with similar price and features. I also tested the next level down: Meridian Gold and the Garmin Legend with similar results. Here's my take:
If small size and high resolution are important to you, buy the Garmin.
If you prefer a larger screen, larger buttons, a floating unit, or something that can be viewed beyond an armslength away, get the Magellan. If you require reading glasses, avoid the Garmin.
Here is a list of specific comments:
- Size: Garmin fits easily in a shirt pocket. Magellan is 114% larger by volume and is better suited for a fanny pack or large coat pocket.
- Weight: Magellan is 51% heavier.
- Display: Magellan display is 66% larger, viewable beyond an arm's length. Garmin not viewable beyond an arm's length.
- Pixels: Garmin has over twice as many pixels.
- Resolution: With the smaller display and higher pixel count, the Garmin screen resolution is about four times greater.
- Both are waterproof. Magellan floats...Garmin doesn't.
- Reception: Magellan had slightly better reception, probably due to larger internal antenna.
- Screen protection: Magellan has a raised frame around display to help prevent scratches, but it also collects lots of dust on the screen as a result.
- Maps/waypoints: Low resolution for the Magellan made small map features difficult to discern. Garmin much easier to read with a large variety of highly detailed map symbols/icons.
- Features: Similar for both, but the Magellan had a few extras I liked: audible alerts for turns, a "windshield" navigation view with waypoints drawn in the "distance", a "speedometer" view with dial, sun and moon location displayed on the compass dial.
- Buttons/knobs: Garmin's buttons are all on the sides and are very small. You won't be able to operate them with gloves. I like the little joystick for the left thumb very much, but folks with clumsy hands will not. Magellan's buttons are large, easy, and labelled.
- Magnetic compass: Garmin must be held flat for this feature. Magellan's compass works in any position. (With motion, separate heading indicator works at any orientation on both units.)
- Battery life and accuracy: About the same for both.
- PC cable/DC car adapter: Garmin slides onto the back. Magellan has an awkward screw-in device.
- Mapping Memory: Garmin has 24 MB ready for upload from mapping software (sold separately). Magellan requires additional memory card...
- Owner's Manual: Garmin provides complete owner's manual. Magellan only provides a quick-start manual. Complete manual is electronic and divided into two files.
- User interface: I found the Garmin software and menus to be slightly more intuitive.
Result: I wanted a small unit for outdoor activities and occasional automobile travel. I like small, high-precision devices with lots of detail. I kept the Garmin.
I also ordered the car dash mount, DC auto adapter, belt carry case, and MapSource MetroGuide USA CD. I have been very pleased with each of them.

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Go wherever life takes you and never get lost!The Garmin eTrex Vista handheld mapping GPS provides all the navigation tools you will need when you depart on your next adventure.This GPS comes packed with important traveling features including a barometric altimeter, an electronic compass, a detailed basemap of the Americas, and more!

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Apple Ipod Nano / Mini / Photo / 5G Video (30GB 60GB) / 3G / 4G / Shuffle Fold up Amplified Portable Speakers , White Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I was worried that for $9 I would be getting something incredibly cheap and flimsy. Not so. These speakers are pretty well constructed, plenty loud, and fold up into compact little cube for storage/transportation.
I was also impressed that the product comes with a USB-power cable, so you can power it off a USB port (or through batteries of course).
I should point out that cradle shown in the picture is really just a "shelf" that the ipod can sit in. It is adjustable (and removable) so that it will accommodate an iPod of any depth. However, the audio connects to the iPod's headphone jack -- not through the dock. So, it's not quite as elegant a solution as some of the other (more expensive) iPod speakers out there (i.e., it won't charge the iPod and the iPod is really just sitting there), but the advantage is the speakers can be connected to just about anything with a line out (for example my Powerbook, whose speakers are rather soft).
Overall, a great deal for the money.

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Apple iPod Folding SpeakersThese amplified portable speakers combine sleek style with quality sound. Elegant and smart, they will fill your space with the sound of music. Supports all Apple iPod models including iPod Photo, iPod Mini, and iPod Shuffle. Also supports audio devices with a 3.5mm plug(MP3/CD/DVD players, Laptops, PDA, and more!) Delivers high quality audio from aluminum speakers Unique fold-up design offers protection and portability. Specifications: liDC adaptor: 6V, 350 mA liBattery Type: uses 4 AAA batteries (not included) liOutput power: 1W+1W liFrequency response: 200Hz-12kHz liSpeaker: 50mm, 4ohms liSignal cable: 22cm STR.liCord Plug: 3.5 mm stereo liDimensions: approx. 4H x 2.5W x 2.5W inches (Folded) liWeight: 0.4 lbs Our seamless online ordering and inventory management system enables us to ship orders the same day. SKU: 0166MPAP10. Compatible with - Apple Ipod Nano / Mini / Photo / 5G Video 30GB 60GB / 3G / 4G / Shuffle / iPod Touch 2nd Generation / Apple iPhone 3Gs 16GB / 32GB / iPod Touch 3rd Gen. 32GB / 64GB

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Texas Instruments BA35 Solar Calculator Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Anyone who purchases a BA-35, uses it and then tries out the TI BA II Plus for about 12 bucks more is going to suffer a bad case of buyer's remorse. The 35 is woefully underpowered in financial calculation capability compared to the next higher level of financial calculators. The reason I have one is that is is one of the required calculators for the actuarial exams (for reasons I have yet to figure out).
My overall recommendation is -- if you want a financial calculator that has actual capability, spring for either the HP12c or the TI BA II Plus.

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Basic business calculator Time - Value of moneyCompound interestPre-Programmed financial functionCapability for recalling Time - Value of money values as well as annunity due operationsAnnual Percentage Rate (APR) to Effective Rate (EFF) interest conversionsOne-variable statistics with frequenciesCalculates mean, sample standard deviation, and population standard deviationCost-sell-margin & mark-up calculationsSquare root, X2, percent, percent change, universal powers, reciprocals, natural logarihms, & exponentials

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Sony DE441 Discman Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I bought this Discman from Amazon a couple weeks ago as a birthday gift for my mother. I liked the price and it seemed to be of good quality. Once the Discman arrived, I presented it to my mother during a trip to the beach and I ended up listening to it for several hours throughout the trip.
First off, I really liked the headphones. They were very comfortable and gave off good sound. Next, I found that the Discman had many useful features. The ESP was wonderful--it would not skip even when I tried to make it skip. I listened to it for about two hours of driving in a car, with it sitting on the seat, and it did not skip once. I even knocked on the top of it a couple times, gave it a few good jolts, to see if it would skip and it didn't even stutter.
I also really liked the resume feature. If you turn the CD off in the middle of a song and leave that same CD in, then when you turn it back on, it will start up exactly where you left off. Not mindblowing, but nifty and somewhat handy.
All in all, I found the Discman to be a great buy. (And my mom has come to love it as well, as soon as I actually let her use it.) The ESP is top quality, the sound is good, there are plenty of features, the headphones are comfortable, and the price is definitely right. Highly recommended.

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Sony Discman with ESP2 Shock Protection, megabass sound system, metallic finish, and rechargeable circuitry(battery not included)

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Magellan eXplorist 210 Waterproof Hiking GPS Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I have not had this device long, but we did spend a day geocaching with it. It performs very well.
I chose this model because I wanted a GPS unit that I could access with my PC through USB and this seems to work very well. Included is a small application that will convert .loc waypoint location files to the .gs files that this unit uses.
When I plug the USB cable into the unit and then into my USB hub and power up the GPS unit, it appears as drive H:/ and I can move/rename/copy/etc. the files in the GPS unit without having to use the GPS interface, which is a time saver.
It has a nice readable map that can be zoomed out to see the whole planet, or zoomed in to a 100ft scale. It recognizes primary roads and highways in my town and knows the name of the lake I live near. Apparently I can also purchase and download custom maps from mapsend, but I haven't tried that yet.
Without even reading the manual, just by fiddling with the gizmo, we were able to figure out how to find our geocache destinations, set a route, add waypoints, and choose custom icons for the waypoints from a selection of maybe 20 or 30.
I can't comment on battery life because I haven't worn out a set of batteries yet, but I think other people have commented on that.
This unit is accurate enough that it can tell when I *turn around in place and face a different direction* which is pretty amazing to me. I am very pleased with the performance.
I did take one star off because already the clear plastic over the display has gotten scratched. BE WARNED: the display is VERY EASY to scratch. I'm going to have to find a little leather case or cloth bag or something for it. As a comparison, I have carried my nokia cellphone around in my pocket with my car keys for about three years and there is no significant scratching on the display, but with this GPS unit, whatever plastic they chose, it got scratched up quite a bit with just a few hours in my pocket (with carkeys). I realize that wasn't too bright of me, but I know there are more durable plastics out there because of my experience with my nokia, so... just be careful! Now the screen looks like its got dust on it that can't be wiped off... :-(
Other than that, I am very pleased and feel that this unit is a good value.

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The Magellan eXplorist 210 proves that powerful and reliable GPS navigation can be affordable. With a compact, shockproof and water resistant design, this baby is built to withstand whatever the back country can throw at it. At a mere 6.1 ounces, and with the ability to download and store up to 22 megabytes of maps while providing precise three-meter positioning, this pocket-sized 14-channel WAAS GPS receiver is an outdoors enthusiast's dream. If you have a passion for the outdoors, there's no reason you need to be a GPS expert to be able to take advantage of GPS tracking capabilities. The eXplorist 210 features Magellan's easy-to-use operating system, so you can concentrate on your activities without compromising your safety. When you connect the unit to your PC, the folders on the eXplorist 210 can be accessed just like any drive on your computer, and from there you access the information as you would a folder on your own computer. In other words, if you know how to navigate your PC, you'll feel right at home with the eXplorist 210. The unit offers 32 MB of memory, which includes 10 MB taken up by the basemap of major highways, airports, interstates, parks, rivers and lakes across North America. The remaining 22 MB is reserved for you to download and store Magellan MapSend programs and maps, or specific waypoints, routes and tracks for your next excursion. A USB PC cable is included, which will allow you to perform software updates, as well as download additional maps. This convenient feature allows you to download exactly the maps and data that you need for your excursion. If you're hiking a section of the Grand Tetons, you'll want to have the area's hiking trails, ranger stations, and elevation contours at your disposal. The eXplorist 210 lets you fine tune the data that you'll need for your trip. And don't let its compact size fool you. This handheld -- at a mere 2.2 x 4.75 x 1.3-inches (W x H x D) -- will let you create and store up to 190,000 personal points of interest and waypoints, 150 files with 20 routes each, and 150 track logs with 2,000 points each. The included Magellan MapSend Software DVD will help to optimize and manage your data and keep track of updates to new versions of MapSend maps. In other words, Magellan couldn't have made it much easier than this. The eXplorist runs on two AA batteries that last up to 17 hours. A large, 2.3-inch grayscale, backlit display features an amber glow that makes it easy to read at night. Other features include a vertical profile, a celestial table, and a best-fish and hunt-time calculator. The eXplorist 210 comes with a one-year manufacturer's warranty.
What's in the Box Magellan eXplorist 210, user's manual, quick start guide, and PC interface cable.

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Apple iPod 40 GB White M9268LL/A (4th Generation) OLD MODEL Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Given that the amount of press that this device has received, what is there to say about it that hasn't been said a thousand times already? Well, here are some things that are worth knowing but that you might not already know:
(1) When you untangle the headphones (and you will spend a lot of time untangling the headphones), untangle from the jack end first (pull that end through the knots). The buds act like little hooks on the cable and don't pull through well. What's more, there are two of them and it is easy to confuse the cables of one with the other. It will save you time and aggravation to untangle the jack first. Try it and see for yourself.
(2) To put the little foam cushions on the earbuds, put the cushion against the bud with the hole facing you and roll it back onto the bud on so that it turns inside out as you put it on. You will want to use the cushions - the earbuds aren't very comfortable even with the cushions and can be downright painful without them.
(3) Memorize how to reset the iPod (plug it into power, push the hold button on and off, then hold down the "menu" and "play/pause" buttons at the same time for 6 to 10 seconds - repeat as needed). iPods are real nice, but every model still locks up every once in a while (less than once a month in my experience). When I first had an iPod, I took it on a trip, and it locked up so I couldn't use it and I didn't know how to reset it. Very frustrating - don't let it happen to you.
(4) Since you're looking at a 40 gig iPod, I assume you have LOTS of music (if you don't - save your money; you don't need this). Anyway, a great playlist for people with big collections is a "smart" playlist (a smart playlist is one constructed from rules rather than by hand) that consists of the songs you haven't played yet (or haven't played in a while) and which you then shuffle as needed. Once you play a song, it automatically drops off the list (neat, huh?) leaving you with just the music you haven't heard yet (or lately).
(5) If you have a big collection, you may have more than will fit on a 40 gig iPod. If so, you should know that you can choose to have your iPod sync only particular playlists (like, say, your automatic list of unplayed songs mentioned above), and the size of an automatic playlist can itself be capped to a particular size limit. This method gives you a way to sync your iPod with only very slightly more effort than a fully automatic sync (which doesn't work if you have more music than will fit on the iPod) because once you set a playlist to be included, it stays that way until you change it.
(6) If you're looking to save some dough, the ability to sync only some playlists makes the smaller iPods perfectly usable even if you have a large music collection . It's just a trade-off of management effort vs. space. Even the smallest iPods can hold enough music for any but the longest trips away from your computer.
(7) For your CD's, you can change the bit rate at which they're compressed. The higher the bit rate, the better the sound, but the bigger the file (and the shorter the battery life - those big files take more juice to load off the hard disk). If you're getting an iPod this big, live a little - change from the default bit rate to something higher when loading your CD's.
(8) Use the dock with your stereo. It has a line-out on the back and you can plug it right into your stereo (extra stereo cable required) and use the stereo remote to control the volume. You can also get a third-party IR remote from Ten Technology right here on Amazon to control pause, play, forward and back - and even program your universal remote. If you'd rather use the dock with your computer, think about getting Apple's stereo connection kit, which you can also get right here on Amazon: you get another dock, another power supply and cable, and a stereo cable.
(9) Get a car adapter and use it with your car. There are dedicated ones that can also recharge it, but any generic cassette adapter will do - assuming of course your car has a cassette player. For those living high, Alpine is coming out with a really neat looking adapter in September that lets you control the iPod through your car stereo; for those living higher yet, get a BMW and get the special adaptor BMW makes available for controlling your iPod through your CD changer buttons.
(10) To extend battery life, don't let it go completely dead. Your battery can last for years and years if you keep it topped off as much as possible.
(11) Check your free hard disk space. If you want 40 gig of music on your iPod, you'll need 40 gig of free hard disk space on your computer. Also, think about whether you want another hard disk to back it up - forget about CD-R's or even DVD-R's for this much data.
(12) Check the websites of your favorite artists - lots of them have free tracks you can download perfectly legally and then load onto your iPod.

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Apple iPod Digital Music MP3 Player M9268LL/A - Includes: Rechargeable Battery, Dock, Earbud headphones, AC adapter, FireWire cable, USB 2.0 cable, iTunes software, Electronic documentation, getting started guide, 1-Year Apple Warranty The iPod is becoming a reigning icon around the world. It's no wonder. This 4th generation model is thinner, easier to use, more energy efficient, and a greater value than ever. It can simply work with Apple and Windows computers. iPod now incorporates the same touch-sensitive Apple Click Wheel that debuted on iPod mini. Without lifting that trusty thumb of yours from the wheel, you can easily select playlists, scroll through thousands of songs, and start the music playing. Save multiple On-The-Go Playlists Adjust speed for Audiobooks Enjoy seamless integration with iTunes Use as a portable hard drive ? take your files with you Remind yourself with Text Notes Play games Keep appointments using the Alarm clock/Sleep Timer Stay organized with contacts/calendars/to-do lists Sync and charge with FireWire or USB 2.0 cables As for all of those CDs you already own, iTunes makes speedily transfers your favorite songs and albums. Just pop a CD into your Mac or PC, and click the Import button Voice Recorder (when used with optional microphone) - perfect for seminars and lectures About 4 hours (2-hour fast charge to 80% capacity) yields up to 12 hours use Unit Dimensions - 4.1 by 2.4 by 0.69 inches / 6.2 ounces Audio support AAC (16 to 320 Kbps), MP3 (32 to 320 Kbps), MP3 VBR, Audible, AIFF, Apple Lossless and WAV

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Apple iPod Video 60 GB White MA003LL/A (5th Generation) OLD MODEL Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Unlike a lot of reviewers who post reviews on a product they've never seen or held (Apple Stores were told they wouldn't get theirs until the end of October--per Charlotte NC store) ----- I actually have one.
I ordered mine on Oct 12, and it arrived Oct 20. I of course ordered the 60GB device.
It was easy to swap out my old 40 GB device with this new one. I'd previously installed the new iTunes and the iPod software version 10-12-05 that I'd downloaded. It was plug in, register, and download. (And I had to swap cables on my dock***.)
Some observations:
The screen is very bright when you turn the backlight on and leave it on, it's very dim if you don't (probably how they get the stated 20 hour battery life).
***No more Firewire connections. I was sad to see that, as the Firewire connection saved me from getting a new USB hub.
The Holy Grail is video here...however, converting it to iPod standards isn't easy. I have a lot of DiVX video, to which the QuickTime Converter isn't up to recognizing, much less converting. Forget about 3rd party converters that you already own, it seems the iPod only wants Apple-converted video. But rest assured, there are software developers frantically scrambling to solve this. I have a couple of beta converters I found, but with very mixed results. I'd give it a couple of weeks then good software will be available for converting video to the iPod.
The sound is as good as ever, no worries there.
It has the same width and height as my 40GB iPod, so your cases should fit nicely, and maybe a similar thickness to the old 10/20 GB iPods. It fits in my auto transmitter/charger, but I have to slightly angle it back as I'm inserting it to hit the dock squarely.
All in all, the video situation was disappointing, but with lots of money at stake, it will get worked out by all these 3rd party developers. I did manage to get a couple very short preexisting QuickTime videos converted successfully to the iPod standard, so I know it DOES play video - the problem is just the conversion process. Not necessarily Apple's fault, except that their video standard is maybe a little too rigid.

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Includes: iTunes for Mac and Windows, earbud headphones, and USB cable. iPod - The iPod is known around the world as a premier digital audio player. Then they added a color screen and photo support. Now they complete the trilogy of multimedia features with a new 4:3 2.5" color widescreen display, and support for video playback. You can create your own movies or purchase music videos, Pixar short films, or select TV episodes via iTunes 6. Connectivity - USB through dock connector, composite video (with A/V cable - sold separately), and audio through headphone jack or line out on the iPod Universal Dock (sold separately) Charge Time - about 4 hrs. (2 hrs. fast charge to 80% capacity) Audio Support - AAC (16 to 320 Kbps), Protected AAC (from iTunes Music Store), MP3 (16 to 320 Kbps), MP3 VBR, Audible (formats 2, 3, and 4), Apple Lossless, WAV, and AIFF Photo Support - syncs iPod-viewable photos in JPEG, BMP, GIF, TIFF, PSD (Mac only), and PNG formats Video Support - H.264 video - up to 768 Kbps, 320 x 240, 30 fps, Baseline Profile up to Level 1.3 with AAC-LC up to 160 Kbps, 48 Khz, stereo audio in. m4v,. mp4 and. mov file formats / MPEG-4 video - up to 2.5 mbps, 480 x 480, 30 fps, Simple Profile with AAC-LC up to 160 Kbps, 48 Khz, stereo audio in. m4v,. mp4 and. mov file formats Backlight Timer Sleep Timer 20 Equalizer Settings Shuffle Songs or Albums Date and Time Unit Dimensions - 4.1 x 2.4 x 0.55 Unit Weight - 5.5 oz. Color - White

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