3rd Generation iPod, Apple's greatest product design?

[3N16MA]

Personally I think the 3rd generation iPod is the greatest product design Apple has ever come up with. From the packaging that was highly detailed/intricate and included more accessories than any iPod to the 4 touch sensitive buttons that lit up, it is unique and the first iPod to really break into popular culture. I remember opening mine for the first time and was just blown away by the retail packaging and all the accessories included. I have unboxed a 13" MBP, 2G iphone, 2009 Mac mini, and an iPhone 3G. None of those compare to the feeling of getting that iPod, I still have it in amazing condition since I baby all my tech and still think it's packaging/design is unmatched to this day.

 

[savoirfaire]

I still have my 3g iPod as well! I always liked the fact that it has no moving parts.

 

[steveca]

even though i love the design of this ipod, i also have one in fact, the click wheel is easier to use... however great aesthetic design

 

[Hrududu]

The lower price of iPods today is directly related to them cutting out most of the packaging and leaving out the wall charger & other accessories. The smaller the packaging, the more they can fit on pallets = cheaper shipping and less cost for materials. Apple's packaging just isn't near as interesting as it used to be. I've still got all the packaging that came with my 3rd gen (which is still the newest iPod I have) and the design has got to be my favorite. I kinda miss the days when having an iPod was still something special.

 

[instaxgirl]

I'm not trying to shoot down the thread or anything, but I never really liked the 3G. I just don't like the red of the glowing buttons.

I do miss the days when iPods were exciting though.

I'll leave now

 

[mustangsally82]

I have to agree, but I'm just a little bit dumb when it comes to newer models.

The only iPod I have ever owned is a 3rd Gen model. I bought it in November 2003, and it hasn't failed me since. I use it every day. I had to buy an adapter for my Firewire 400 cable when I got my new MacBook Pro last October.

I always see people on here with tons of different iPods in their sigs. I had thought I just got lucky and happened to get a good iPod. Or maybe there is something special about the 3rd Gens.

 

[huntnboy04]

, my favorite iPod, I still have mine, though it doesn't work, HD. I so miss the buttons, don't like the click wheel all that much. The good ole days. I looked at parts like a year ago, new battery, new HD, like $100, I should look into it again, before they are gone, might already be.

 

[jaw04005]

There wasn’t anything really special about that box design. It was around since the original iPod. In fact, my first iPod had Miles Davis on the box. Now that was a classy box design. There were also boxes with Jimmie Hendrix, Billie Holiday and Bob Marley.

http://www.ilounge.com/assets/images/productshots/ipods/source/ipods_04.html

Personally, I didn’t like the 3G iPod. The touch buttons were more difficult to use than the click wheel, and the choice of a red backlight on the buttons was odd.

The 3G was also the first iPod with USB 2.0. It started the downfall of Firewire 400 in the iPod line.

 

[Chimpy]

It's beautiful, I agree. I like the current gen Nanos though, very sweet design.

 

[dukebound85]

i miss the boxes ipods used to ship in

 

[Trinity]

I have one that I still use but I don't think it's a good design. I constantly touch the sensible buttons unintentionally and, to the contrary, when I press them intentionally, the lag of feedback and the delay between touch and get response makes me think that I have not pressed enough so I touch again then the ipod starts playing and stops and I have to touch play again etc.

 

[Chundles]

My 15GB 3G iPod was my first ever Apple product and they've been sucking the cash out of my wallet ever since.

Mine still works though, reasonable battery life though the screen is a bit iffy - the contrast is all over the shop most of the time.

 

[bov]

absolutely LOVED my 3rd Gen iPod, the design (very symmetric looking, headphone jack in the middle), non-movable parts (besides hold switch) the red lights, touch buttons, etc.

it revolutionized the way i listened to music.