Troubleshooting new iPods

We have received numerous reports detailing user experience with Apple's new "slim 10 GB" and 20 GB iPods, which began entering the retail channel late last week.

Cheap Switch Paul Gentry reports that the remote connection on Apple's new iPods is less than solid.

"A friend and I both bought new Apple 20 gig iPods and have discovered that the remote has to be plugged in firmly or it doesn't seem to work. Even after working it can be shakey and the remote functions sometimes still don't work and you have to play around with it a little."

Steven Tyler writes

"You need to push the plug all the way in to the hole. There's an extra little push that needs to happen before it connects. Also, there's a "hold" button that slides on the side of the remote. All that being said, the remote seems poorly designed. It clips on to you but you mash the control buttons down when you press on it to open the clip. So you always need to have it on 'hold' before you do that. Also, I was using it today and the remote was on hold but songs still changed when I used the main functions on the body of the unit."

Another reader adds

"I like the remote control (it is like a piece jewelry) but you have to make sure that it is pushed in all the way. If you don't - it won't work. Also it has a lock switch on the side."

Touch-Wheel comments Craig Reynolds writes

"The new touch sensitive scroll wheel feels very different from the old rotating one. Seems like the best option for long term usage. But it does seem like you give up a little fine tuning control."