Click wheel on the Classic
This has probably been addressed already but what's the deal with the Classic's click wheel?
I was at Best Buy a few days ago and when I tried out the 80 gig Classic, I was disappointed in the click wheel. It's not nearly as responsive as my 4th gen's click wheel is. You have to to put a lot more pressure on it to register and it doesn't feel as precise either. Normally I would have just dismissed this issue as merely a floor-model malfunction due to all the Best Buy customers continually playing with it, but I've heard from numerous sources that the wheel is, in fact, less sensitive this time around (not to mention the fact that the Classic is so new that I doubt it would be been damaged so soon at Best Buy).
Does anyone have any incite into this 'problem'? I'm dying to purchase a Classic to replace my broken monochromatic 20 gig 4G, but a bad click wheel (not to mention the sluggish menu I'm hearing about) could really turn me off.
What's the verdict on the wheel?
[1062 byte] By [
heyyoudvd] at [2007-11-11 21:17:05]
# 1 Re: Click wheel on the Classic
I really don't mind it. It feels worlds better than my 1G Mini. I've never spent a lot of time using a 4G, though, so I can't comment on that. I can say, however, that I got used to the sensitivity fairly quickly.
# 2 Re: Click wheel on the Classic
The clickwheel is a tad different on the newer iPod models. I think Apple did this to stop people from accidentally bumping the clickwheel and adjusting the volume or doing something else. I have a iSkin eVo3 and it covers the clickwheel (it actually covers the entire iPod) with a thin layer of silicon rubber. My 5G iPod was fine with this, the rubber still slowed scrolling down a bit but it was still manageable. It is now damned hard to navigate using my iSkin eVo3 on my iPod classic. I really have to press hard and I often end up pushing the previous or next buttons on the clickwheel instead.
I don't think either company is to blame though as the iSkin eVo3 it technically made for the 5G/5.5G iPod. It just goes to show you that Apple did in fact change something with the clickwheel.
# 3 Re: Click wheel on the Classic
the responses to the Classics are clearly QUITE varied; whether this is just the nature of mass-production or we all just vary in our opinions, it's hard to tell. however, I upgraded from MY monochromatic 4g iPod (only one I'd ever owned) and was also frightened by reviews, but my Classic's clickwheel feels really good to me, just right, not too different (though the tactile feel of the materials used is rather different) from my 4g.
in other words, some people hate it, I'm enjoying it, you might get a good one, you might get a lemon. sorry i can't be more help, lol.
# 4 Re: Click wheel on the Classic
I like that it's a bit less responsive than the 5G. I was always scrolling over what I wanted and the new wheel doesn't feel "slick".
# 5 Re: Click wheel on the Classic
I've always preferred my 4G Photo clickwheel to any of the newer ones that I've ever used. It's less slippery, more precise, and genearlly feels better than anything post 4G
# 6 Re: Click wheel on the Classic
There will be a bigger problem if cases for the Classic have something covering the clickwheel.
# 7 Re: Click wheel on the Classic
The first day I used my Classic, I wasn't sure I liked the click wheel. It was allot difference than my 30GB Photo. It just takes a few days to get used to, now I can't tell the difference between my iPods.
# 8 Re: Click wheel on the Classic
I like the clickwheel a little better than the 5G though, I just wish that the iSkin eVo3 didn't take away from the responsiveness.
# 9 Re: Click wheel on the Classic
now I can't tell the difference between my iPods.
I have no problem with what you prefer, but literally almost don't believe you that you can't tell the difference (The only thing making me believe you is that you'd have no reason to lie.)
Perhaps the 30 gb Color iPods (not technically Photos) have different wheels than actual Photo iPods?
I don't think they do (nearly certain,) but I only say that because the difference between my two is VAST.
By the way, no offense meant to you at all, just saying.
# 10 Re: Click wheel on the Classic
Does the decrease in sensitivity decrease the amount of precision though? ie. is it more difficult to scroll to a specific artist/track on the Classic?
I'm trying to weigh all the pros and cons of the Classic to decide if it's worth getting. I've desperately wanted a new iPod for a year now so I don't know what to do. I decided to forgo the 5.5 gen, hoping that the 6th gen would see great improvements but by the sounds of it, it seems to be a disappointment.
What should I do? Will it be a full year before Apple unveils the next model? Because I can't wait that long. Is it worth picking up an 80 gig Classic now or should I continue to hold off?
# 11 Re: Click wheel on the Classic
I don't think its the click wheel thats unresponsive at times but more so the software bugs that are causing interface lag.
# 12 Re: Click wheel on the Classic
I don't think its the click wheel thats unresponsive at times but more so the software bugs that are causing interface lag.
I agree. The sluggish software makes the scrolling slow down which in turn makes the user think they need to apply more pressure to scroll faster.
# 13 Re: Click wheel on the Classic
I agree. The sluggish software makes the scrolling slow down which in turn makes the user think they need to apply more pressure to scroll faster.
Ehhhh... MAYBE...
On my 4g, ANY input at all causes perfect scrolling, exactly dependant on how much I moved on the wheel.
On the Classic/all 5Gs I've used, it's a crapshoot on how much I move in the menu. I'm getting better at it, but still, 4g feels WAY better.
# 14 Re: Click wheel on the Classic
Ehhhh... MAYBE...
On my 4g, ANY input at all causes perfect scrolling, exactly dependant on how much I moved on the wheel.
On the Classic/all 5Gs I've used, it's a crapshoot on how much I move in the menu. I'm getting better at it, but still, 4g feels WAY better.
You may be right. The only iPod I've had before the classic is the 2nd Gen Nano and I can tell that the 2nd gen Nano responds faster than the classic, but I guess we can't tell for sure wheather it's a software or hardware problem.
# 15 Re: Click wheel on the Classic
Personally I thought the click wheel wasn't much different from my 5th gen..in fact in some instances it responded better than the 5th gen...especially on the quick scroll function..was much easier to be precise on which letter I wanted where as I'd always go over on the 5G..but of course this again could be SOFTWARE rather than the click wheel itself.
# 16 Re: Click wheel on the Classic
I like the click wheel. It felt cheaper at first, but after a couple of weeks, it now feels very similar to the old 5G click wheel.
Also, the fact that it is slightly less responsive is a big plus in my book. So many times with the 5G I'd have trouble highlighting the song I wanted. This is much less of a problem. You have to be more deliberate, which I don't mind at all. With the 5G, even the pockets on my coat would cause volume problems. Not anymore.
# 17 Re: Click wheel on the Classic
I thought the same thing when I first started using my 80-gig Classic. Turns out I just wasn't applying enough pressure, because I was so used to my 4G click wheel. I started applying slightly more pressure on the Classic and it now works perfectly. There is slight lag in the Cover Flow, but that's to be expected, and I rarely use that anyway.
I'm loving the new iPod, though. Having movies and TV shows to keep me entertained has really made my job a lot less boring!
R2thaC at 2007-11-15 12:27:01 >
# 18 Re: Click wheel on the Classic
Sometimes it takes a few seconds for the ipod to respond when waking it out of the clock screensaver. I can barely get the quickscroll function to work, either. Besides that I like it i guess...
# 19 Re: Click wheel on the Classic
The new click wheel sucks. I've had maybe 6 different models and the difference has been evident from the first day. It could be a software issue. I've disabled all of my album artwork (which sucks, btw), to improve the lag.
I bought one of the new iskin cases for the ipod and now the clickwheel doesn't work AT ALL. I've taken the case off and the wheel still works (begrudgingly). i"m really not sure if it's the case of the ipod. I think we're dealing with two inferior products here.
I couldn't be more disappointed.
Take Care,
Mike
