The Ipod Mini: Why It's Not that Hot

I got my eyes set on a iPod mini, as it looked good forin line or on a bus, it could be a great way to pass the
quite some reasons: it's small enough to put inside atime; but even the breakout rip-off is only entertaining
pant's pocket, it has a lot of accessories to choosefor about 5 minutes.I even thought that maybe I could
from and it obviously has enough hype you begin toupload some text files to read some e-book, but the
wonder what all the fuss is about.But you really havescreen is not big enough for that, and reading is so
to see the cons of it and cut all the hype. It lookedcramped it's just not worth it.The biggest gripe is that
good from the start; it's small and simple, easy to useyou cannot change the volume, unless you are on the
and has that nice Apple logo. But quickly the'Now Playing' menu! Any other player has dedicated
downsides surfaced, and they sure are annoying.Firstly,buttons for this basic function, but in its decidedly
the headphones are horrible: they are sominimalist point of view, it's a pain to go search for that
uncomfortable they are totally unusable, and also theyspecific menu just to adjust for a small change in a
do not sound good at all. Well, any other $5 headphonesong. It supposedly was thought out carefully, but I see
will do, so that's not that bad. (It's also not advisable toa lot of problems in the interface.Also, there seems to
use them, as the white color alerts any potentialbe a big problem with the duration of its internal,
muggers you have an easy sellable item.)The interfacenon-replaceable battery. After 2 months of use, I did
seems a good idea, with the scroll being able to benotice, it does not hold a charge for long now. After
controlled with a circular motion. For scrolling fast it'stwo house of continuous play, it just shuts down. Other
great, but for selecting carefully one item, it's difficult.reports on the web also say the battery fails, and has
Also, for 'marking' a song for how many stars, itto be replaced.I have also read on the web that the
sometimes works, sometimes you spend a full minuteheadphone connector is badly soldered and you
twiddling it to get it right. Any other player with aeventually have to open it up and resolder it again.I
sensible scroller works much better.I was excited towouldn't buy it again. The iriver or the Creative seem
know it had games to play, so when I'm bored waitingto be a lot better options.