iPodDock
Review

iPodDock
Company: BookEndz
Price: $44.95 US
http://www.bookendzdocks.com

The first time I plugged my iPod into the G4 to transfer songs from iTunes to the iPod, I thought “This is not an elegant solution” as the FireWire cable ran from the back of the Mac to the iPod. Plugging in and pulling out the smaller FireWire cable every time seemed cumbersome, at least as far as keeping a clutter-free desk top is concerned. I like things to have their place, and a dangling FireWire cable laying about is not something I enjoy.

So when I saw the iPodDock at for the first time, I knew I wanted to give it a try. The idea of a cradle for the iPod is very attractive to me, one that would act as both a cradle for the iPod on the desktop and as a recharging FireWire station.

The iPodDock simply plugs into your Mac via the FireWire port. Your iPod plugs into the top of the iPodDock. What could be simpler? Well, for starters, it is no easy task to fit the iPod into the top of the iPodDock. You have to first position the iPod over the Dock so that the FireWire plastic cover / door on the iPod slips into a side slot. I have spend way too much time with this unit trying to get it to do just that. It is a tricky maneuver.

The iPodDock also acts as a stand, which will hold your iPod upright when not charging the unit. The stand portion works well if you do not use any sort of case with your iPod. I found that the three leather cases I have for the iPod precludes my using the iPodDock stand. I could take the iPod out of the leather case, but why go through the hassle?

All in all, I like the concept of a third-party dock for the iPod a lot more than I do the actual shipping product.

MacMice Rating: 3 out of 5

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Tim Robertson