Why do I still love the 2nd gen iPod more than the new offerings?

Question

Hello fellow forum users.
I've been reading these forums for over a year now, but only recently did I register in order to post on this forum. I'm a real music nut and I've owned virtually every iPod since I bought my first one three years (a 1st gen iPod mini). At the moment I own the iPod classic (both 80gb and 160gb versions), an iPod touch 8gb, iPod nano 2nd gen 8gb, iPod nano 3rd gen 4gb, iPod shuffle 2nd gen and since last night I've been the proud owner of an iPhone!
Anyway, I've always wanted to own either a 1st or second gen iPod (the firewire version). I was a poor student when the 1st gen was released way back in 2001, so I'd never seen one apart from photos on the web and watching Steve Jobs' original iPod keynote speech on YouTube. I'd been scouring eBay for the last 6 months for one, but mint examples were going for several hundred pounds, or the other versions I could find were either faulty or completely wrecked. I managed to pick a 2nd gen 10gb iPod up a week ago (just the iPod and the slipcase it originally came with.) After buying a firewire cable and charger from eBay for a couple of pounds, I synced the iPod with my Windows XP laptop and I was away to go!
The thing is (and the reason I've posted this discussion) is how the build quality on the new ipods seems to be lacking compared to a device released 6 years ago. Although the 2nd gen has the same stare-at-me-and-I'll-scratch chrome backplate as my 6th gens, the front hardly has a mark and feels like a rhino could stand on it before it is damaged. The hold switch is big (and less fiddly for my bigger fingers), the headphone jack is secure and the plastic covering on the firewire port is still on sits nicely to protect the firewire port.
Regarding firewire, I think it's a big shame Apple have abandoned this format. As someone who syncs many gbs of music every week, I synced over 1300 songs to it in under 10 minutes (would take my 6 gens over 20 minutes). Even charging via firewire is slightly faster.
I also feel that the sound quality is superior on my 2nd gen and when comparing it to my 6th gen there is a clear difference in sound quality, clarity and the presence of a noticeable background hiss on both the 6th gens and the iPod Touch.
I know you're going to say that the new gen iPods have better battery life, supports videos and pictures, but as a music player I still think my 2nd gen still has lots to offer. I don't know, perhaps I'm becoming nostalgic in my old age! What do you think?

Answer 1

you're absolutely right. i have a selection of newer iPods, an iPhone, etc. and in my desk drawer i also have the very first 5GB iPodl, purchased the week they were released, and a 2nd generation 20GB, which i happened to charge up tonight (i was thinking about ditching it because i never use it anymore). well, then i listened to it. i was blown away. i'd forgotten how good the old iPods sound. so rich, so dynamic, with a kind of -- i don't know how to describe it -- velvety warmth to the sound. the iPhone, by comparison, has a flat electronic quality to it, as does the new shuffle. it seems like in the effort to make things smaller they've cut corners on the sound processing. i don't know. needless to say, i won't be ditching my old 20GB anytime soon. what a gem.