Quick Tracks: Pros/Cons & Conclusion - iPod Socks Photos - Discussions

Packaging & First Impressions

They were the hit of 2004 holiday season. A buying spree on all things iPod and Apple was right there to cash in on the new accessory market with the iPod Socks. Apple's iPod Socks come in a small plastic box in green, purple, grey, blue, orange, and pink colors. Yes, you get one of every color and no you cannot get just a set of grey and white ones for the gym. It is all or nothing for these, although we have heard there is an underground iPod Sock trading society so keep your ears to the ground.

Sock it to me!

To put these socks to the test we tried them on every iPod in the lab from small little iPod shuffles (too small) to big 60GB iPod Photos (just right). The hardest part of dealing with the socks is trying to trade your pink sock for another grey one and wondering why Apple doesn't understand that nobody in New York City wears color so where is my black iPod sock?

Once you get over the cute factor, which is almost the same feeling as seeing a set of Nike sneakers on an infant, there is not much left to say. While the iPod socks are adorable they don't offer much protection, you can't see the iPod screen or use the controls and they don't come in black. All of these facts make the iPod Socks more of a fun gift than a real case replacement. Did we mention that black would be a nice color?

Pros, Cons & Rating

Pros Offer basic protection Cute colors Cons Not much of a case Where is the black one?

Conclusion

While Apple usually does a good job of mixing form and function in the perfect product cocktail, the iPod Socks don't do either very well. While they are cute and offer some basic scratch protection they are no replacement for a good iPod case.

Specs

• $29.00
• Six colors (green, purple, grey, blue, orange, and pink)
• Fits any iPod except iPod Shuffle

Available at Amazon and Apple.com