Ars Technica's Clint Ecker has posted an in-depth look at the 30GB video iPod, complete with the Web site's usual dissection to see what makes the device tick. In this case, however, he calls it a vivisection because his "patient" lived.

Mr. Ecker addressed all of the major questions that were posed immediately after Apple CEO Steve Jobs' introduction of the new iPod last week: Is it wider than previous iPods? (No.) How thin is it? (Really thin.) Why no FireWire support? (Probably to save room inside the case and lighten the iPod's load.) How well does it play video? (No better or worse than other portable video players, such as the PSP.) How well does said video play on a TV? (Just fine.)

Ars Technica is well-known for its device dissections. Rather than abuse his iPod to the point it died before opening it, as Ars Technica's iPod nano reviewers did, Mr. Ecker was able to take it apart and reassemble it without destroying the device. Observations of note include a much smaller battery than the ones found in previous iPods, the fact that Broadcom supplied the chip that handles video output and the assessment that the iPod's interior "is a work of art when it comes to the spatial organization of such a complex device."

Overall, Mr. Ecker is happy with the new video iPod, although he points out that the included soft case "looks like a bad summer camp project." In fact, the poor assortment of included extras compared with previous iPods and the lack of compatibility with some older accessories were both cited as negatives.