This was the iPod that hit critical mass. The one where Windows users came on board. Firewire was no longer a hurdle, and the once too-high sticker price shock had become accepted. When I think of an iPod in an iconographic sense, I think of this device.

This wasn’t my first ever Apple music player, that distinction going to the iPod mini, but this does share the same UI/UX of that device. I appreciate the monochromatic screen which is easily visible in daylight. The clickwheel has been tuned to perfection, letting you perform all navigational tasks without lifting your thumb. The hold switch is satisfying and the headphone jack at the top makes sense for the way I slide devices into my pockets.

My current 4th gen iPod has been modified. The clicky-clacky hard drive was past its expiration date, and I replaced it with the common flash solution. The result is an incredibly light device (almost too light?), which is also entirely silent and zippier when shuffling. The hand-feel is sublime; the device entices you to pick it up and play with it. Shuffle by album is here. Its easy-to-modify nature makes it a prime choice for anyone looking to jump into the hobby (or sickness).

There are a few caveats. Using sensitive IEMs, I do get quite a bit of hiss and noise. This may be due to the condition of the device. This may be a byproduct of my particular pair of IEMS paired with this device. For me, it’s just not an everyday, any-situation choice. There is no gapless playback, which is essentially a dealbreaker for me, unless I’m shuffling my entire library.

For me, the 4th generation iPod is not an everyday carry. It’s just big enough to be inconvenient. I don’t need my entire library with me at all times. However, it is my preferred mass-storage iPod. I think it’s especially at home in an iPod hi-fi or my new Be@rbick speaker dock. And that’s where it’ll likely remain.