Ah, the 3G iPod.<p>It marked the time I finally stopped using a bunch of perl scripts to manage my music and started using iTunes; my first MP3 player; my first Apple product since the mid 80s, and it quickly led to my first iBook, and so, so much more.<p>Only the iPod touch, another killer device, could get me to eventually give it up.<p>I still sync that old iPod with iTunes, still use it in my car for long trips; in a number of ways the click wheel is still the superior interface for an MP3 player. What an epic little machine.<p>Edit: Yes, I meant 4G iPod. If I'm going to wax poetic about a device I should at least get its name right.
I <i>loved</i> this design. Easy to hold in your hand. Rounded, cute and cuddly. And, the wheel was such a clever interface choice. By comparison, today's iPod feels like a waify supermodel to me.
3 years later (2007) and we get the first iPhone, which still looks relatively OK to modern eyes.<p>I'm thinking older iPods will age about the same as 1970's mall designs, with the extravagant plastic and overblown wall art.
I never thought about it at the time, but the 3rd gen iPod was one of the last vestiges of the Classic Mac OS interface.<p>It's the last device Apple shipped with Monaco as it's default system font.<p>If I remember correctly, the later iPods used Myriad and then Helvetica.
For what it's worth, older iPods with Firewire have a particular value to motorcycle tourers. Firewire has a very wide voltage spec, so you can hardwire your iPod straight to the bike.
Does anyone know of a reason why the headphone jack moved from the center to the left side ?<p>EDIT: On second thought, the new iPods (iPhones) have the ear piece for the phone in the middle.