Anybody Have the "New" iPod Classic?

[terpkristin]

I'm talking about the iPod that looks like the old iPod, and comes in 80 GB and 160 GB models...

I know that when they launched, these iPods had some issues, particularly with the cover flow stuff, but I was wondering if anybody had one now and if it was an alright device. I've currently got a 60 GB 5th gen iPod that's almost full, and I'm thinking about replacing it with a larger "classic" model. One of the 3 major holdbacks I have is that I remember it had a lot of issues in the first 2 months after it launched. The other 2 are:
1. It would require a new dock to hook it into my TV, because they changed the protocol
2. I'm fairly sure that sometine in 2008, Apple is going to release a hard drive version of the iPod Touch.

Since it appears that in 2008 I'll be doing a bit more international travel, I'm even more interested in an improved battery and more storage on an iPod, but I'm still a bit torn on getting a new one now vs. waiting and seeing if something new comes out in the form of a Touch-esque device.

And yes, I know all about smart playlists, but the truth of the matter is, when I'm on international travel, I may be gone for up to a month, without access to my personal laptop, and I like to have all my options for what to listen to and watch. On my 60 GB iPod I have about 50 audiobooks (including the ASOIAF series and the WoT series, and the first 6 books in the Harry Potter series), the first 3 seasons of "The Office" and the first 2 seasons of "Weeds." Some of it, I'm trying to pare down, but some of these things are "old standbys" to watch or listen to when I'm on an airplane or having trouble sleeping, so I don't like the idea of removing things from my iPod when I'm going to be away from my personal computer for a length of time...

/tk

[Passacaglia]

I got an 80GB iPod Classic two days ago. I don't know what cover flow means, but I haven't found any issues with it yet. If there's something you want me to test on it, let me know -- I like playing with it.

[samifan24]

If you can, I would recommend waiting until after Macworld 2008 in mid-January to see if Apple updates the iPod Classic and/or releases the hard drive version of the Touch which you mention above.

[Bearcat729]

I bought a 80GB IPod classic right around the time they were released. Don't know what any problems with the cover flow stuff since I don't use it, but I'm happy with the IPod though.

[Joe]

I have a classic iPod classic.

[jeff061]

I got an 80gb for christmas. No issues. I played with the cover flow a bit, the covers can be a bit slow to load sometimes. But it's a pretty worthless feature anyways, really only good maybe for friends to flick through.

[Draft Dodger]

I'll echo the rest - got my 80gb in November, no issues so far, but I only use it to listen to music.

[stevew]

Depending on price, an 80gig HD Touch could actually prompt me to buy my first Ipod. I don't need the IPhone, but like it's functionality. 80 gigs would be amazing.