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25 Reviews
Ipod Mini - Its a Sure Winner!
But it's not just about looks - the iPod Mini sounds fantastic. After comparing it with my third-generation iPod, tracks definitely sounded clearer on the iPod Mini, as if it were capable of better frequency response. By comparison the 3G iPod sounded positively muffled. A sign of PortalPlayer's enhanced audio chip, perhaps.
The Mini's packaging is as lovely as ever. The box lid slides off to reveal the mini wrapped in plastic. The box underneath is split in two halves - one for the install discs and one for the headphones, USB cable and a belt holster. As with all the new iPods there's no Firewire cable, no dock, no remote - but they are available as optional extras. There's no AC adaptor either, so you can only charge when connected to the PC.
There are other missing features that might give pause for thought, such as a radio, recording function and microphone. But if it's just a player you want these absences won't be noticed. For me the only reason I wouldn't want one is that I do want to carry my entire music collection around with me. Or at least more of it than I could fit on a 6GB drive.
The good news is that Apple is still offering a 4GB version, with all the benefits of extended battery life, at an affordable £139/$199. So if your main aim in owning a Mini is to look trendy, the cheaper 4GB version could be the way to go.
One day of course, a 20GB iPod will be this size, but for now six gigs is your limit. At this capacity it no longer loses out to the Zen Micro and H10, but while Creative and iRiver have both worked hard on improving the look and usability of their players, the Mini is still miles ahead. With its rounded sides and neat click-wheel interface, it feels right in you hand and is easy to control and use too.
Verdict
With the new iPod Mini, Apple has increased its capacity by a 50 per cent, battery-life by one-and-a-quarter times and improved sound quality. It's a pretty impressive triple whammy and as long as its capacity is large enough for you, the iPod Mini would be our recommended digital audio player.
jamieday83Read full review...
Apple raises the bar again with the new iPod mini
I was lucky enough to get one of these literally 5 minutes before the store sold out. I also have a 40gb 4th generation iPod, an iPod shuffle, and I have owned and used MP3 players by Creative and iRiver.
The new "2nd generation" iPod mini builds on the strengths that made the original mini a blockbuster best-seller: easy to learn, easy to use, elegant user interface, immensely usable "click-wheel," and outstanding sound quality. Since the original mini was introduced a year ago, some competitors appeared that offered higher capacity, better battery life, and lower price. This new iPod mini answers the competition with some important improvements which make it a compelling choice over the competition:
1) Battery life is now 18 hours instead of 8 hours for the first generation mini.
2) The 2nd generation mini is cheaper: the original mini was $250 for 4 gigabytes of storage, which holds up to 1000 songs. The new mini is $200 for 4 gigabytes, or you can pay $250 for 6 gigabytes (up to 1500 songs). To achieve this price drop, though, Apple no longer includes a dock or charger - these are available separately, but you can live without them just fine. For example, the battery charges whenever the mini is plugged into your computer's USB port.
In addition to these improvements, there is a minor cosmetic difference, concerning the color choices: gold is no longer an option (it was the worst seller in the original mini), and the other colors are now a bit brighter.
The iPod mini comes with iTunes software to help you organize the music on your iPod, and to transfer music from your CD collection to your player. If you wish, you can use the iTunes software to purchase music from Apple's online store and download them directly to your iPod, but the software absolutely does not push you to do so.
The mini also comes with the same earbuds that accompany every other iPod. They are better than the headphones that come with most MP3 players, but you'll probably want to consider replacing them with something a bit nicer.
Like its predecessor, the build quality of the new iPod mini is excellent, very sturdy, just like all iPods. My 40gb iPod has taken a lot of abuse and has held up extremely well. Plus, I did a fair amount of research on the original mini and it has held up well since it was introduced. So I fully expect that my new iPod mini will last a long time.
I also considered the Creative Zen Micro, the Dell Pocket DJ and the Rio Carbon, which seem to be the closest competitors to the mini. They have more features than the iPod mini, but are not as elegantly designed and their build quality feels a little cheaper than the mini. Plus, as a previous owner of other iPods, I already have a lot of music in Apple's AAC format, which these other players cannot deal with.Read full review...
Apple iPod Mini Pink Second Generation USED
I am very happy with this item. It was delivered as described, works perfectly! It is a very easy player to hook up to any computer, downloads are also easy to add to player! Very user friendly. I do not have an Apple computer and I still was able to use this player with my PC! I would recommend Apple iPod to anyone looking for a user friendly PC or Apple compatible MP3 player. It holds alot of music and the sound quality is wonderful. Adding to my pleasure is the fact that I can take it anywhere and put it anywhere because the size is so small! My cell phone is bigger than this and it's a razor!Read full review...
Ipod Mini Rocks!!
I have an ipod mini and I've had it since 2005. I LOVE IT!! It's my favorite ipod. I bought the 2nd one for my sister who had a 2 GB nano (1st generation). Its black and white screen is simple and leaves no room for "fancy" stuff. The album art stuff on the new ipods bugs me.. I just want to listen to the music, who cares about the strange (in most cases) album art. Its simple to plug it to your computer, or whatever computer you like (no 5 computer "limit") and its pretty darn durable. I've dropped mine numerous times (concrete.. asphault.. the works) and it still works just fine.
The only downsides to the mini is that its hard to find accessories for it sometimes. I replaced the battery myself (ebay battery purchase) and found a video online of how to replace it myself so i wouldn't have to send it in and pay apple to replace it. Its quite easy to do, so you should give it a try. I think it might be about time to replace the battery again.. but I wear it out. And batteries are pretty much under 10 bucks on ebay.. so not a big deal. :-DRead full review...
Used Apple iPod mini 2nd Generation Pink 6GB
I bought this for my 11 yr old daughter. I didn't want to buy a new one because she may loose it. I bought this used and am truly suprised that it is in new condition. This MP3 player is small but not as thin as the newer models. It holds over a thousand songs and has wonderful clarity. It came with a booklet for use but it isn't difficult to figure out how to use it. It came with a belt clip, ear buds, and a USB charger. I would like to buy more accessories for it. I'm not sure how long the battery lasts since I haven't let it run down. It came with a new battery. I haven't compared it to other MP3 players. Overall I am very happy with this purchase.Read full review...
Apple iPod Mini: Perfect Balance of Memory. Portability
Well good thing you are on eBay - because thats now the best and really the only place to buy iPod Minis. Now that Apple has forgone the iPod Mini series for the iPod Nano. Now that the Nano is getting all of the press attention for being the sexiest gadget ever - its hard to remember that just 12 - 18 months ago, the iPod Mini was in the same boat. And, for iPod Mini fans, thats good news because it means that the value of the Mini has decreased - effectively making them cheaper to buy on eBay as everyone else oogles at the Nano.
And I'm not 100% convinced that the Nano is better than the Mini. I believe it depends on what you are using it - the Mini is sturdier than the Nano - in fact, there are already blogs and reviews citing the Nano's lack of durability - something the Mini is great at. Of course, the give in that situation is that the Nano is lighter than the Mini... but remember - we are only talking ounces!
For the dollar, you get more music storage with the Mini than just about anything on the market - and all in a very light-wight MP3 player body. But again - it depends what you are looking for:
* If you want to a large music library - either for the office, the road or your home - the regular iPod is a better value and better idea
* If you are a gym-rat looking for the lightest MP3 player - perhaps you want a tiny flash player like the Rios, the Shuffle, or the Nano
But if you are looking for the perfect hybrid MP3 player - small enough to take a run with but spacious enough to play hours of unique music at the office - the iPod Mini really is the perfect solution. And of course it has the Apple interface and sexiness.
The minor points: with the second generation of the iPod Mini, Apple has improved the color scheme and really made them shinier and brighter. My preference is the Silver color - but beware that it will show scratches and nicks more so than the other colors. The Blue is bright, the pink quite girly, and the green look a little much like split pea soup for me =)Read full review...
Apple iPod mini 6GB
I think that the iPod mini is the best mp3 player ever made, point blank! It is better than the nano AND shuffle in my opinion! Plus, it comes in pretty colors and the 6GB is even BETTER than the 4GB allowing it to hold 1500 songs from the 4GB which allows only 1000 songs. It is compact yet stylish. I love taking it to the gym and on long road trips. Now that the attention has shifted to the nano, the iPod mini's value has decreased, which is a good thing because it is cheaper on eBay. I would try to but a *sealed in the box* if you can find one, although it is very hard to find! I don't recomend purchasing a used or refurbished one but that is up to you and how much you are willing to spend. A good average price would be between $165-$190 (INCLUDING S&H.) Good luck searching everyone! I hope the iPod mini is right for you as it is for me! You won't regret it!Read full review...
Perfect!
I'm late getting an ipod - everyone has ipods now! I don't care about video capability yet - but was happy to get an ipod with some expanded memory for carrying music. But I didn't want a nano because they seem too flimsy and I think I'd break it - I'm also not ready to fuss with taking care of a video screen - so my pink 6 Gig mini ipod was perfect for me. Remember if you get one that they're still basically a computer peripheral - if you don't have a computer with an internet connection, please don't get one! They're designed to work with your hard drive and the iTunes music site. They're fairly easy to run - I had a learning curve problem with the click-it wheel - but caught on quick. I need to get the charger accessory so I can recharge it at work - it has a nice long memory but it's like a cell phone, eventually you have to feed it - I keep extra chargers everywhere for various handhelds. Most Recommended Accessory: my Shure E4c ear phones! Improves the sound 100%.Read full review...
LOVE IT!
My 1st generation mini finally died and I didn't want to pay the money for a new ipod so I decided to get this. I love the ipod mini 2nd generation even more than the first because of the extended battery life and the added memory. I also like the fact that it has games on it and added spaces for contacts and a calendar. WAY better than the first generation, hope it lasts as long as my first!Read full review...
great, durable iPod design with fantastic battery life
This 2nd generation iPod mini has up to 16 hours of continuous playtime and the batteries don't need to be replaced as often. The design is ultra-compact, and a bit more durable than the newer cousin, the iPod 'nano'. The 6GB holds 1500 songs, which is 50% more than the nano and you can get the mini for a lot less cash.
The only downside, they don't have color screens for photos and such, but that's not too important for me anyway.Read full review...