The Ipod is THE MP3 player in fact if Apple lowered the price I doubt there would be any competition left, Apple have taken that simple approach to user interface design pioneered with its Mac OS and taken into MP3 players, it is true that the Mac OS was the forerunner to what we now all know as Windows. In the days when the Mac had drag and drop and wisywig editing windows users were stuck with 3.11 which was at best clunky. Much like the Mac windows tale the Ipod has set the standard to which all others are now measured.

The model on test is a 3G 40gb Ipod, all Ipods get the same features and the large disk capacities also get a docking station which can work via Fire wire (IEE1394) or USB 2.0 or 1.0 for windows users, so leaving aside the huge 30gb capacity what makes the Ipod such a winner.

The UI allows you to drive the Ipod on its unique wheel system, tracing your finger over the circular indent on the front acts like a jog wheel cycling through options or tracks, the central button is the selection tool, like so many good designs this becomes second nature within minutes of picking the device up.

MP3 replay is of excellent quality with a good bass reproduction without having to go near the EQ settings, the 30gb capacity should see most users ok for their entire collection and the Ipods listings can be accessed via track / artist or Album. User playlists can be created and stored as well as notes and calendar entries, the Ipod has even a few rudimentary games to play on the front panel should boredom overcome you during a long journey.

Apple supplies a copy of Music Match with each purchase of an Ipod, this software is an alternative to I tunes (the Mac software) its a bit of a curates egg in terms of MP3 software, it rips tracks very well but cataloguing has left some users with double entries on track titles, to be fair I haven't had an issue with it and like it as a package, there are many alternatives like "Ephod" if you prefer something else.

Battery life is a claimed 8 hours but you do have to turn off things like the backlight and not fiddle with controls too much, perhaps this should be longer but with a 40gb drive to power its hardly a surprise, the battery is internal which does leave one to wonder what will happen when it dies and can be recharged no more?

A good gadget performs its functions efficiently and without fuss through an intuitive UI, the Apple does this with consummate ease, but its killer feature is style, from the chrome back plate to the neon blue glow of the backlit display this gadget oozes class, sleek in design the Ipod has a mass following and a large after market for accessories, the supplied ear buds and control cable are the only giveaway as to what device someone is using. The Ipod get a big thumbs up from Lordpercy.com it epitomises what a gadget should be.

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