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Joost · Dec 10, 2001, 09:14 AM

After what seemed an eternity on the pre-order list, picked up my little white wonder on Saturday -- the day of the iPod's debut in Hong Kong. Not sure why they've taken so long to get here (other than US demand), but I'm glad they've arrived... They're retailing here for HK$3,100, which works out to US$397.

This thing is sweet. I won't bore you with the whole opening-the-box Apple user experience thing, but I've barely turned the thing off since getting it. No problems so far, and I've no complaints at all with the headphones.

Anyway, I'd already downloaded the firmware update in advance, so I was surprised to see my machine came with 1.02 already installed. Guess that's what they mean by fresh off the boat!

Comments at work today:

"Shame about the fingerprint smudging"
"Does it work on PCs?"
"It's beautiful"
"How do you get so many songs on it -- mine only holds 12"

The best one: "It's too heavy". After I'd explained that I had no problems adjusting to the crippling 185 grams extra weight, I was met with: "Ah, but it'll get heavier the more songs you add"...

[ 12-10-2001: Message edited by: Joost ]

SirCastor · Dec 10, 2001, 10:00 AM

Originally posted by Joost:
"Ah, but it'll get heavier the more songs you add"...

[ 12-10-2001: Message edited by: Joost ]

Oh My Gosh... That's kinda hard to laugh at... Oh wow...
I hope you set the record straight...

tonton · Dec 10, 2001, 10:04 AM

Hey, joost, I picked mine up down at Times Square on Saturday, too (maybe you saw me, I was the guy with white hair and black glasses). I'm a bit pissed that we have to plug the "brick" into an external cord. Apparently Apple was too cheap to ship a "direct in the socket" British 3-prong plug that fits like the US one.

Does your iPod have severe "striping" in the LCD display, especially when backlighting is on? That makes the display look really cheap. Maybe I have a defective unit.

All in all, though, I love the little guy. Now I'm working on making a clear PVC slipcase like those ones for mobile phones. I know some suppliers. What do you think?

Joost · Dec 10, 2001, 10:20 AM

SirCastor: Yeah, put my co-worker straight on the whole songs equals weight thing. Maybe the additional grams come from the extra leprechauns needed to help flip the discs...

tonton: Picked mine up at the Apple Store/Ultimate PC & Mac Gallery in Central. For some reason, despite repeated registrations, Apple HK never emails me about events like the Time Square thing, so I always find out about them after the fact. Too bad.

You're right on the power brick, though the solution struck me as acceptable. It's not a deal breaker, put it that way.

No striping at all on the LCD, though I did lower the contrast straight out of the box -- the backlight looked better as a result.

On the PVC slipcase, pencil me in for one, provided there's provision to to access the wheel. I went down to HMV on Sunday and grabbed a CaseLogic Minidisc player sleeve for HK$70. Though it's too big, it's well padded and has a double zip on the top, so there's room for the headphone socket -- it'll do in the interim.

tonton · Dec 10, 2001, 10:46 PM

Originally posted by Joost:
tonton: Picked mine up at the Apple Store/Ultimate PC & Mac Gallery in Central.

Where is that by the way? I find the best selection of peripherals to be among the three shops in Windsor House, but I'd like to check out Ultimate.

You're right on the power brick, though the solution struck me as acceptable. It's not a deal breaker, put it that way.

Yeah, maybe I should stop complaining. Do you know if the new iBook and PowerBook ship the same way?

No striping at all on the LCD, though I did lower the contrast straight out of the box -- the backlight looked better as a result.

Yeah, I just lowered the contrast to about 50% and it looks better. Anything above 50% you start to see striping.

On the PVC slipcase, pencil me in for one, provided there's provision to to access the wheel. I went down to HMV on Sunday and grabbed a CaseLogic Minidisc player sleeve for HK$70. Though it's too big, it's well padded and has a double zip on the top, so there's room for the headphone socket -- it'll do in the interim.

The best leather case I've seen so far is the Canon case for the Digital Ixus. It even has a hole in the top that fits the headphone jack perfectly. $150 in Windsor house, but I saw it for $80 or so in Sham Shui Po.

Meanwhile I'll work on the PVC slipcase. I think the iPod'll look better in that than in a leather case, and there's more profit potential. I'm going to look into making an initial run of about 1000 pcs. and selling them for US$9 each but I'll send you a hand sample when I get them (might take a couple of weeks).

I'm also looking into making similar slipcases for the iBook and PowerBook G4. Unfortunately, I don't have an iBook to use for measurement & design, so that'll come last. The best thing, though, is even if I back out of my plan to make these, I'll still get hand samples for my own use!

Joost · Dec 11, 2001, 12:28 AM

Can't remember the exact address of the Apple Store in Central -- Stanley Street, at a guess. It's on the road behind Lane Crawford anyway, just before the Central-to-Mid-levels escalator. I wouldn't go out of your way to visit -- it's very small, though the staff are pretty helpful. The Windsor House Apple Store/Designer Group has a far bigger selection of software and peripherals, and it's been around a lot longer. And you get a 10% discount there...

Not sure on the power brick for the latest 'books. Should soon find out as I'm planning to buy an iBook as a Christmas gift.

I really appreciate your offer of a slip case. Be sure and ask for more than one sample, just in case you decide against a full run! And good luck.

Apple Pro Underwear · Dec 12, 2001, 02:38 PM

Originally posted by Joost:
SirCastor: Yeah, put my co-worker straight on the whole songs equals weight thing. Maybe the additional grams come from the extra leprechauns needed to help flip the discs...

Bill gates is not a leprechaun

unfaded · Dec 12, 2001, 02:51 PM

Originally posted by Apple Pro Underwear:


Bill gates is not a leprechaun

Oh come on, don't cover for the man.

FXWizard · Dec 13, 2001, 06:25 PM

tonton:

Do you know if the new iBook and PowerBook ship the same way?

I can verify that the iBook does; You remove the plug and connect the power cord to give yourself an extra 6 feet or so of range.

tonton · Dec 15, 2001, 01:48 AM

In Hong Kong, the iPod doesn't come with a "plug" at all. The only way to plug it in is with the long cord. This is what I'm pissed about.

[ 12-15-2001: Message edited by: tonton ]

seanyepez · Dec 15, 2001, 03:29 AM

Though I would never buy one, I think the weight of the iPod is ideal. First off, it gives the unit a "sturdy" feel. Some users might prefer a lighter unit, but myself, should I ever want to buy one, I think the materials are ideal.

Cipher13 · Dec 15, 2001, 09:18 AM

"It's too heavy? You're just too weak..."

G4 Mac User · Dec 15, 2001, 01:06 PM

Tonton

Adjust your contrast and the stripping will go away.

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G4 Mac User