August 31, 2012 Filed in:
iPod | UnboxingI’ve never been a fan of U2. I don’t have a single one of their albums. I’ll tell you what I’m a big fan of. I’m a big fan of discontinued Special Edition iPods in the box, in working order, with their accessories.
Say Hello to the 2004 U2 Special Edition 4th gen 20GB iPod.
![4thgenU2iPod_0002](4thgenu2ipod_0002-2.jpg)
![4thgenU2iPod_0003](4thgenu2ipod_0003.jpg)
I guess if you’re a U2 fan, this was a pretty big deal. Even if I was a fan, I don’t know if I would have spent the extra $50 bucks for it. It was $349 when it came out in 2004. Back then, I opted for the standard-issue
white iPod which was $299. Not that I’m cheap, it’s just that, the U2 iPod came with a $50 coupon for the iTunes Music Store. It gave you all their music in one convenient download. I’m sure anyone willing to spend $350 on a U2 iPod, already had all their music. So it kind of does’t make any sense. You’re really paying and extra $50 just for the design and not the music. That’s cool and all, but I still wouldn’t have gone for it. I’d rather have an iPod that remains timeless versus and iPod from a band that I might hate 5 years down the road. I mean, what if it was a Hootie and the Blowfish iPod. How cool would you look now?
Then again. I’m probably a hypocrite, because I’d rock a Nine Inch Nails iPod any day.
So what’s included? Let’s have a look.
![4thgenU2iPod_0007](4thgenu2ipod_0007.jpg)
All the documentation is still included. Including the U2 poster, $50 iTunes coupon, and Apple stickers. I tried the coupon code just for kicks, but iTunes said it was invalid. (Hey you never know.)
![4thgenU2iPod_0012](4thgenu2ipod_0012.jpg)
The booklet on the top of the stack is actually a poster. It folds out to reveal a hand-written message from Bono, barely legible and full of spelling mistakes and cross-outs. I would have been a little neater about it, but that’s me.
![4thgenU2iPod_0013](4thgenu2ipod_0013.jpg)
![4thgenU2iPod_0014](4thgenu2ipod_0014.jpg)
Besides the documentation, there’s also a pair of headphones, FireWire charger, and FireWire and USB cables. They all look pretty new.
![4thgenU2iPod_0011](4thgenu2ipod_0011.jpg)
Now for the iPod. It works, although it has some rough spots. It’s definitely been kicked around.
![4thgenU2iPod_0004 (1)](4thgenu2ipod_0004-002810029.jpg)
The finish is OK. It has some small surface scuffs and a little ding on the back case.
![4thgenU2iPod_0003 (1)](4thgenu2ipod_0003-002810029.jpg)
The previous owner must have cracked it open at some point to do a battery swap. The side of the case has that “used a metal screwdriver instead of a plastic spludger” look.
![4thgenU2iPod_0018](4thgenu2ipod_0018.jpg)
In any case, it works. I powered it on and it had just enough power to start up. There’s no music on it. The previous owner wiped it clean.
![4thgenU2iPod_0005](4thgenu2ipod_0005.jpg)
I plugged it into my Mac and iTunes picked it up right away. Just like all iPods, iTunes knows exactly what kind it is and displays it with the appropriate icon.
![4thgenU2iPod_0020](4thgenu2ipod_0020.jpg)
As does the Finder. Looks like this iPod is in perfect working order.
![4thgenU2iPod_0019](4thgenu2ipod_0019.png)
I’ll keep my eye on eBay for a replacement front and back cover. Then it’ll look as good as new.
Nice, a little more color for the iPod shelf.
![4thgenU2iPod_0021](4thgenu2ipod_0021.jpg)