iPod (2001)
The original iPod combined a 5 GB hard disk, rotating scroll wheel and FireWire synchronization with a Mac: the start of the family, not a flash-based nano.
Specs
| Platform | 5 GB hard disk; iTunes 2 and Mac |
| Audio and display | 160 × 128 display; mechanical wheel |
| Connectivity | FireWire data and charging; headphones |
| Battery life and launch compatibility | Up to 10 hours per Apple; no launch Windows support |
| Release | 2001-11-10 |
| Price | 399 USD |
Launch and context
Apple introduced it on October 23, 2001 for $399 in the US. The release announced sales from November 10; a second notice on November 9 confirmed shipping and store availability the next day. It required iTunes 2 and a Mac; the sale notice specified Mac OS X 10.1 or Mac OS 9.2. The 5 GB configuration belongs to the original before later family expansions. [ipod-launch, ipod-sale]
How Apple presented it
The message was 1000 songs in your pocket. FireWire transferred music, charged the battery and allowed the hard disk to carry other computer files. Apple advertised up to 10 hours of music and up to 20 minutes of skip protection through buffering. The display had 160 × 128 pixels and white backlighting; the physical wheel browsed artists, songs and playlists with one hand. Earbuds, a FireWire cable and FireWire power adapter were included. Song capacity and endurance were estimates for the new product. [ipod-launch, ipod-sale]
Documented issues
Macworld praised transfer speed and capacity relative to size, while placing the $399 price at the high end of the market. Its test explained how cache memory let the disk spin down and prevented short interruptions; this did not make a hard-disk mechanism shockproof. The original was tied to iTunes and Mac, without the Windows compatibility of later periods. Storing video files on the disk did not mean the iPod could play them: its main role was audio. Historical sources do not establish current endurance, repair availability or compatibility for a collectible unit. [ipod-review, ipod-launch, ipod-sale]
Sources
- ipod-launch · , Apple Presents iPod (2001-10-23) · https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2001/10/23Apple-Presents-iPod/
- ipod-review · , First look of the very first Apple iPod · https://www.macworld.com/article/151855/29ipod.html
- ipod-sale · , Apple iPod Available in Stores Tomorrow (2001-11-09) · https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2001/11/09Apple-s-iPod-Available-in-Stores-Tomorrow/
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Updated: October 26, 2026 · Compare this product