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Review: iPod StandsReviewed By: Kirk Hiner Review Date: April 30, 2003
Wouldn't you just know it? Here I am, about to finalize my review of a few iPod stands, and Apple announces a new model that comes with a friggin' stand. Didn't they already make my life difficult by including a case with their iPods when they knew...they knew I was going to write an iPod case review nearly a year after their announcement? Apple is so spiteful! Still, that new stand is for that new iPod. What about all of us with our old iPods? The iPods that only put 1,000 or 2,000 songs in our pockets? Well, dig no further, my fellow anthropologists. I've got three here that are bound to appeal to your sense of function and desire, although not necessarily at the same time. PodHolder
Here's why; simplicity. Simplicity and function. The PodHolder is nothing more than a curved line. It reminds me of that curvey-wavey-liney-arty desktop image to which new Macs default. The clear plastic sits inconspicuously behind your iPod, holding it firmly in place with six rubber pads. You also have the option of placing four more pads at the base, but this may not be the best idea. You'll see why in a moment. What really nudged this stand into the top spot, however, is that its simple design not only accommodates all iPods, but iPods in cases as well. Whether your iPod's in an iSkin, iSee (nice match), iPod Armor or what have you, it'll sit there just as well as if it's on its own. I tend to keep my iPod in the iPod Armor constantly, so being able to just plop it down into the PodHolder when I get to work is quite handy. Now, the warning about putting the pads on the bottom. I did this, but it screwed up the center of gravity so that the PodHolder would flip over when I had the iPod Armor resting open. So, I yanked the pads back off, and all was well. In fact, the adhesive residue actually did a good job of holding the PodHolder in place on the desk. It's since worn off, though, so I guess I'll have to look at other options there. Habitat
When testing the Habitat, I was thrilled at how it cleared up the clutter around my iPod as it gave it a safe place to rest. I don't use the ear bud headphones, but perfect! The Habitat gave me a place to store them! Then, however, I wanted to take the iPod with me to see Anger Management because I knew it was going to be a horrible movie. So, out of the Habitat, into the iPod Armor. Back from the movie, out of the iPod Armor, back into the Habitat. Fair enough, but why the extra steps? If you don't have a case for your iPod and don't one, this makes sense. If you do have a case, the Habitat's not a good fit. There are small, rubber pads on the bottom of the Habitat to prevent sliding, and I wish the PodHolder came with the same (the pads they provide are much too large). Its round base has a larger footprint, but it's not as tall as the PodHolder and is therefore somewhat sturdier. Ultimately, this is the kind of stand that would be better served showing off the iPod in a store display than it would providing a home for a heavily used iPod. DVBase
The DVBase is made to perfectly match the heft and color of the polished nickel stainless steel of the iPod's rear cover. I looked up "heft," by the way, and it means, "Weight; heaviness; bulk." [The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition, © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.] I'll stop the description now, because they use even more words and procedures that are foreign this English major. You can check it all out here, including a detailed description of "lost wax investment casting." After reading it, I'm still not sure I understand it, but I know I can polish it because the DVBase comes with a "specially crafted DVForge metal polishing cloth" and a starter bottle of Green-Stuff metal polish. This stand looks fantastic, making the others seem cheap by comparison. Know what? The others are cheap by comparison. At 60 bucks a pop ($100 for the limited edition), the DVBase is searching for a different clientele than are its competition. DVForge makes no bones about this fact, however. They know they're expensive, and they don't care anymore than Apple cares that their computers are expensive. You get what you pay for, after all. Unfortunately, the DVBase runs into the same problem as the Habitat in that it can only be used with the iPod itself. No case. Also, I can't be sure of this, but judging by the photos, I don't think it could work with the new iPods at all; curves aren't sharp enough. Someone correct me on this if I'm wrong. Even with the older models, the lip that holds them in place is fairly small. It doesn't take a very large bump to knock the iPod out of the stand, so you wouldn't want to use it if you're near a railroad track or in a place that suffers frequent earthquakes or volcanic activity. Withstanding geographic phenomenon is not the point here, however. The point of the DVBase is to provide your sharp, expensive iPod with a sharp, expensive stand that's actually dressed for the occasion. If you're the kind of person who shops at Sharper Image and Crutchfield, then this is your stand. Me? Well, let's put it this way; when I bought my wife's engagement ring, it cost me 75 cents because the first two times I got football helmets. So, there you have it. The PodHolder wins for me simply because it's the most functional (and cheapest). However, I can't deny the organization capabilities of the Habitat or the guilty appeal of the excessive DVBase, which, being the heaviest, would also make the best weapon against burglers. I can see the headline now; "Local man saves family with iPod stand." I bet Apple's new stand couldn't do that.
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Cool Mac Gear• iPod 1G-2G • iPod 3G • iPod 4G • iPod Mini • PowerBook-iBook • Keyboard Skins • Garageband
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Know what I like best about PodHolder? It's name reminds me of Invasion of the Body Snatchers. I don't know why, it just does. Know what else? It's my favorite of the bunch. I probably shouldn't just throw that out there this early in the review, but there it is. My pick of the three cases presented here is PodHolder.
Speaking of other options, the Habitat is pretty much an about-face from the PodHolder. This one is anything but simple, offering not only a place to rest your iPod, but the ear bud headphones, its chord, and the firewire plug as well.
This, quite honestly, is the iPod holder for owners of the 20th Anniversary Mac. It shouldn't be bought at a store, it should be given away by corporations as a thank you gift to employees who have been with them for 30 years. It's excessive and expensive, but that's its charm.