iTouch review

My follow up review following the first review previously. I've now owned the Ipod touch for 3 weeks already. ;)

Is it worth to spend hundreds of dollars on a piece of small electronic gadget that serves as an MP3 player? Well, it is up to the individual to judge.

iPod is NOT a necessity, it is something that you spend money on just because you want to, or coz your hand got itchy because you have some extra cash in hand. For me, it is something that I've always wanted since ages ago but I never made it to owning one. Spending RM700 to RM1000 just to be able to listen to music is ridiculous (back then it was iPod Nano).

While I'm in US, I got exposed to more iPod. Add to it was the newly released iPod Touch. The sleek and shiny iPod Touch is so irresistible, it keeps on calling my name. :P After about one month in the US, 2 of the conditions I mentioned above were satisfied. (1) sth I want (2) hand itchy when got extra cash in hand add with a third extra condition (3) the price here is much cheaper compare to Malaysia

8Gb
USD299 + 8.25% tax = USD323.67 = RM1,068.11 (conv rate 3.3)
In Malaysia, the price is RM1,339

16Gb
USD399 + 8.25% tax = USD431.92 = RM1,425.34 (conv rate 3.3)
In Malaysia, the price is RM1,739

Here are some of my opinions on the pros and cons:

The pros

1. Easy navigation even though with hundreds or even thousands of songs (with the condition you have properly arranged music library)
2. Cover flow flipping makes finding album interesting
3. Can make instant on-the-go playlist, which will be automatically saved into iTunes when sync
4. Easy access to Play, Pause and volume when screen is lock, without the need to unlocking the screen
   
5. Wifi capability and easy surfing using Safari web browser. This is very useful especially when traveling without a notebook. During my Las Vegas trip, I was able to check my email and look for some information online about the location I was about to visit the next day. Although I was only staying in some cheap motel beside the freeway, they provide free wireless connection. Isn't that cool? 2 out of 3 hotels I stayed in during that trip provide wireless connection.
6. Sleep timer enables me to listen to songs while I'm on my way to dozing off...
7. Flexibility to change and resize photos to make wallpaper
   
   
   I've changed my wallpaper since then, but lazy to take picture of it
   
8. Although the Calendar and Contacts info can be sync using either programs in MacBook or Outlook, it wasn't useful to me. I don't have either the MacBook or the Outlook. :P I'm sure it would be useful if I utilize it.
9. There's the calculator application, useful to make conversion from USD to RM and to calculate price before and after discount during shopping ;)
   
10. A world clock application where I include Malaysia time and US pacific time to enable easy time zone calculation. Useful especially for people who travel a lot to different time zone
11. Automatic brightness adjustment; at dim places, the screen brightness will be dimmer than usual to save battery power
    

I'm sure there are more pros to dig-up and write it down here, but I think I should stop here for the pros. I'm running out of time...very busy ar~

The cons

1. The back of the iTouch is shiny and is easily scratched
2. Can only charge iTouch using USB (other charging device needs to purchase separately)
3. Original Apple earphones doesn't give great sound
4. There is some problem with the iTunes. Everytime I plug-in the iTouch to the computer through the USB, iTunes will ask me to register, and I really mean EVERYTIME. How many times do you want me to register? Register means fill in name, log-in to iTunes account, set age and all. It really gets annoying after doing it a few times. I tried to Google to find a solution to this and it seems like this problem is not only happening to me, up till now there are no solution yet.
5. Got one tiny stuck pixel on my iTouch. The Apple people said warranty takes effect only when there are 5 or more stuck pixel
6. Never free of finger-prints, when you polish the back, you hold the front screen, when you polish the front screen you hold the back mirror-like surface...and it goes on forever
7. Expensive accessories, a normal protective casing cost US$30 to US$35, a front and back screen protector cost around US$30
   

As usual, a review ends with summary

The price of an Apple product never drop, this could be a good thing for people who had already purchased an Apple product but could be a bad thing for people like me who are waiting for the price to drop before buying. Price control are done very well, whether online, electronic store, Nike shop or Apple store, all of them are selling with the same price, the most I see were 2 or 3 dollars cheaper at some giant electronic store (I mean within one country).
What I would say is that Apple is an arrogant brand. Very very few discounts, even on holiday shopping season, discount is very limited. Everything also need to purchase (extra warranty, protective casing, screen protector, power socket charger, songs, whatever you can think of also need to purchase and it's never cheap). But what can you say right? Being the arrogant brand, their iPods and Mac book is still selling like hot cakes.

Are you tempted to own one?