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I have been an avid iPod user for several years now. But that doesn’t mean that I have abandoned the PC world for the other side of the computing world. I just happen to think that the iPod and it’s supporting software is well written, easy to use, and has frequent enough updates to ensure that it always functions with the latest hardware.

So when Apple announced that they were going to start selling television shows and then movies on their website, I had to stop and think , were they abandoning the music scene? I mean, come on, the iPods are great for working out, and listening to music while one is typing (like I am now). But to watch television shows and movies? I don’t think so!

But, like many others, I got caught up in the hype and all of the media reports about the new version of iTunes and the movies. So I thought to myself, maybe I would just get one movie, and keep it on my iPod, JUST IN CASE I was on a flight, and I wanted to watch a movie. My resistance worn down, I caved in and purchased a copy of the Nicholas Cage movie, "National Treasure".

The whole process was quite painless and didn’t take long at all. You have to have an account with iTunes in order to purchase anything. That only  took a minute or so. Credit card was approved with no problems, and then the download started. I have Comcast Cable Internet, so the 1.4gb sized file only took about 15 minutes. After it was downloaded, it placed itself in the iTunes menu, and all I had to do was click on it to watch it on my desktop (yes, I can watch it on the computer as well as the iPod). It was a very good quality full screen on my Samsung SynMaster 213T LCD monitor. I then transferred it to the iPod, where it was just as good of quality, although a bit smaller. The sound was perfect on both devices.

All told, this was not a bad experience. I can see where people who are on the go all of the time would benefit from having the option of watching and listening their choice of programming on the go. The newer iPods have a superior battery life for video compared to the first ones, so that daily commute will not drain a device down all the way. Apple has streamlined the whole process, making it consumer oriented with enough content to satisfy everyone for now. But if they want to maintain the head of steam they have built up, they need increase the content that they have available, a wider variety if you will. Otherwise I see the service withering on the vine. But for now, to coin the phrase from a nostalgic commercial from the 60’s, "Try it, you’ll like it".

Richard Cunningham (82 Posts) - Website | Twitter | Facebook