Look for a full review of how my iPod worked out when I get back from Boston... after all, I wouldn't write a review for flip-flops if I hadn't broken them in first, right? Same thing here 
So,
I'm back from Boston, and my iPod performed marvelously.
Music Uploading:
I bought it on Friday before I left, and I had a chance to load 49 CDs onto my PC before I left last Sunday, amounting to 619 songs (2.2 GB). It took about 2-4 minutes per CDs to upload to my PC. The older the CD the longer it took, which I am assuming is due to changes/advances in music encoding on earlier CDs from the way they are processed now.
It may seem like a long time, (50CDs x 4 mintues - 200 minutes), but I'd drop in a CD, clicky the upload button and walk away, so it really didn't seem all that long to me. I let the PC do all the work and checked in occasionally to start a new one. I'll get around to adding the other ~150 CDs this week and next to get all my CDs on there.
So, in summary, I've got 49 CDs (619 songs) on my iPod and am only using 2.2 GB. I figure if I put the rest of my CDs on it this week, that's another 150 CDs (or so), which might get my iPod to about 40% full. Yep, 200 CDs and my 20GB iPod is only 40% full.
Music Performance:
I have listened to my little iPod while sitting, walking, and jogging and have never experienced a musical interruption. No jumps/skips/scratches/etc in my favorite songs. The quality is VERY good for a portable MP3 system, much better than any I've heard before. The earphones they include with the iPod also work very well, sounding nearly as good as my "fancy" headphones.
Overall, I am extremely satisfied with the music quality.
iPod Performance:
It took about 3 hours to charge the iPod upon initial purchase. Off that initial charge, I got nearly 10 hours of constant playing with my iPod before I decided to recharge. Upon the second charge of the iPod, within 2 hours, it was back up to 80% charge (just like they said it would be). It took another 2 hours to charge it to max capacity. After using it again, my little iPod made it to 12 hours of use before I had to recharge again. I noticed that if you select "shuffle songs" to shuffle
all of your CDs at once and play a random song, it seems to use more battery life than just simply playing album after album in order.
Overall, I am extremely satisfied with the battery life. It was much closer to the 12 hours than I thought it might be and most impressively, as the batter gets lower and lower, there is no noticable decline in music quality (like when your batteries are dying in your old walkman radio).
Other Impressions:
I love my iPod. As I wandered the streets of Boston, it boggled my mind that I was carrying nearly FIFTY of my CDs in my pocket. To be able to carry around ALL of my CDs will be even more remarkable. Technology kicks ass. PLUS, it was like I had a little soundtrack for my life, walking the streets with music playing, especially with the "shuffle songs" turned on. Each song is a surprise when it starts playing, yet somehow each song felt "right".
Overall Grade = AIf you love music and technology and have money to burn, buy one and you won't be disappointed. As a fan of music it is SOOOOOO nice to be able to carry around 40 lbs. of CDs in your pocket. Have you ever gone on a road trip and wished you had a certain CD with you, yet you didn't have room in your 25 CD case to bring the CD along? Then the iPod is for you...
Jeff
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