Please choose the appropriate forum for this topic. Thank you. OK Kids:

Here's a first look at the Universal Dock ... as I said in the Subject, I HAVE NOT used it. Reason: the 5G I ordered (as well as the Dock itself) are gifts for my fiance). I opened both JUST to make sure that everything was jake.

1. The dock itself it quite heavy (weighs 1/2 pound). Over 90% of the base is covered with a gray rubber mat (it REALLY won't slide!)

2. Just like the 5G box, the Dock box opens like a book. On the left is the dock itself. On the right are FIVE dock adapters: one for the mini, the 20GB U2, the iPod 40GB, the 20/30 GB U2 w/ color, and the 40/60 GB color. On the box it claims that the dock will also work with five other iPod models.

The manual (yes it's printed) is in the left half box behind the Dock.

3.Fitting the 5G dock adapter included w/ the 5G required SOME force; meaning the dock adapter stays put. However, it's easy to remove by pulling on the groove in the back of the 5G dock adapter.

4. The 5G itself fits snugly ... however, I found myself jiggling the 5G just to make sure it was properly seated.

Here's something interesting ... in another post at iLounge, someone asked "WHY didn't they include a dock adapter for the Nano?" I wondered about that myself -- heck, they included an adapter for a whole lot of other iPods!

Here are two things I noticed:

a. The box for the Universal dock has an Apple copyright of 2005. HOWEVER -- the manual make NO mention of the iPod with video! EVEN when describing the s-video connector, they make NO mention of video. They talk about the s-video connector ONLY for displaying PHOTOS via the dock IF you have a photo iPod.

b. They also mention -- in fact, they have INSTRUCTIONS on how to use -- the NEW Apple Remote. As specific as HOW to change the battery (and the SPECIFIC battery to use).

[SIDE NOTE: for those interested in the UDock AND Remote: the instructions specify that you can DEDICATE a SINGLE remote to a SINGLE UDock -- meaning you can have five UDocks and five remotes and using one remote WON'T affect the other four UDocked iPods]

What did this tell me? From this, I've INFERRED that the UDock was AT LEAST a "concept" (MAYBE even produced) before there was a Nano -- certainly before there was a 5G!

More later ... once fiance fires up her 5G, will post more observations!