



A life saver for parents of young children
I'm writing this review from the standpoint of a parent of young children. The iPod Touch is probably the best child distraction device every invented. There are an infinite number of games designed specifically for kids. Drawing games, animal games, ABC games, connect the dots, infant games, games in foreign languages, music games... it's truly mindboggling. I've seen kids as young as 1 play the games on the iPod Touch. We have a Leapster, and by comparison, the iPod Touch games are more educational, more creative, and look better on the higher resolution iPod Touch screen. It really keeps the kid's attention when you're in a restaurant, on the plane, or in the car. If you've been lugging that "portable" DVD player with DVD library everywhere, you'll really appreciate the ability to download children's programming form the iTunes store to your iPod Touch to view. They have many of the programs your children watch already: Sesame Street, Dora, Super Why, etc. There is a charge for downloading video, and it works out to about $1.00 per episode, which compares favorably to the price of a DVD. Plus, how much is it worth to you to reduce your baby load by about 5 lbs? You can also output the video using an optional cable (great for when you are on the road). I was initially concerned about watching videos on the iPod's smaller screen, but my experience is that it isn't as big of a deal as it might seem. The smaller screen does keep the kids' attention, and eye strain is eye strain regardless of screen size. There are parental controls built in which work similarly to the v-chip on your TV. Some users have commented that the feeling of the glass on the iPod is different from the iPhone 3GS, and I agree. The glass on the iPod Touch does not feel as silky smooth as the glass on my iPhone 3GS. It's not a deal breaker by any means, but existing iPhone 3GS owners will notice the difference. But, the kids won't notice the difference. The only real complaints I have is that (1) there is no way to "lock" the apps to keep the kids from deleting them, so make sure you backup regularly. And, (2) the price is pretty steep, especially if you're buying it as a toy for the kids. But, keep in mind the iPod Touch has wifi and a very capable web browser. As a result, the adults in the house will probably end up using it more than you expect. In our case, the iPod Touch is now the device we goto in our home when we want to look up something quickly without having to lug out the computers. So, if you amortize the cost across you, your wife, and your children, the cost per child is reasonable (lol). Lastly, get a case for this thing. We've had good experiences with the iFrogz line of cases, they come in colors the kids seem to like. With a good case in place, the iPod will be sufficiently hardened and child proofed in case your children decide to convert it into a hockey puck.
2010-03-20




My first Apple product...
This is the first Apple product I've ever owned and I am quite happy with it so far. The main reason I bought it is because it is, in fact, basically a pocket computer. My cell phone has a 3G web browser but, it's very slow, watered-down, and very limited in function. My cell also has mobile e-mail but it is rather awkward to use. I can also play music and movies on my cell but it drains the battery very quickly. In case you're wondering, I have an LG Env2 (Verizon). Rather than draw this out any further, I'll simply list the pros and cons I have encountered so far:
PROS:
1. Very sleek design, fits well in your hand(s).
2. Simple to set up and easy to customize.
3. Large screen with beautiful color and resolution.
4. Easy to sync with itunes (I just dragged and dropped music and movies from my existing files).
5. There are TONS of FREE apps available, many of which are VERY good. Did I mention FREE?
6. So far it seems to have excellent battery life and also charges quite quickly.
CONS:
1. No camera, however, at least I don't have to worry about scratching a lens.
2. With the glass screen and polished chrome back, don't even THINK about keeping it clean. But what do you expect...it IS a touch device.
3. I really wish you could add an SD card for extra memory but, whatever...
4. The speaker is rather weak and sounds tinny but it's OK. I guess that's why they throw in the ear-buds.
5. Again, with the glass screen, you'd better make sure you don't drop it hard or...well, you know.
6. These things are a little pricey but it is an apple... ;)
Overall, I really do like it and would recommend it to anyone looking for a "pocket pc" with great multi-media functions.
2010-03-20