Generation 5 or 5.5?

You can distinguish the Fifth Generation iPod (Late 2006) from the original Fifth Generation iPod by the last three digits of the serial number. The original version cannot be updated to the specification of the later version such as longer battery life, search function or brighter screen. The Fifth Generation iPod (Late 2006) serial number's last three digits will be one of the following: WU9, WUA, WUB, or WUC: Identifying different iPod models

On the new iPod box is Johnny Depp - Pirates of the Caribbean.
On the old iPod box is The Gorillaz - Feel Good Inc.

So just to see if I understand this correctly: Fifth Generation (early-mid 2006) cannot upgrade to the search function because why???????
It seems unlikely to me that this is a hardware incompatibility issue, so is this must just be another instance of "apple wants more money so we're not going to give long-time ipod owners a simple search function but instead force those users with perfectly good ipods to spend $300+ to buy a brand new one to get a simple software upgrade."
Unless there's some hardware-based reason for this that I'm missing, it seems just plain cheap and greedy to me.

I fail to see the difference between what Apple has done and what most other companies do when it comes to their product updates. The iPod is without a doubt the most versatile MP3 player on the market and kills everything else in regards to features. So, Apple isn't giving you a significant update for free. If there is another MP3 player out there that allows you to plug it into a computer and get significant feature upgrade for free vs. having to buy a new device, I would sure like to know which one it is.

If you are buying online from Apple you'll be getting the latest version unless you are buying a refurbished model in which case Apple will say which version it is. If it's from a third party you are presuming it's the latest version unless the vendor says specifically that it's old stock and states which version is being sold. If you are buying from a walk-in store you can get the serial number from the box.

I just bought a 5 generation ipod and it has the "search" function ( came with the update). My question is : does the 5 and 5.5 generation ipod have the same hardware?
i will appreciate a lot your help. thanks

It's safe to say that since the newer units have brighter screens and longer video playback, that the hardware is somewhat different internally.

I love how people think they are getting "ripped off" because what they bought still does exactly what it did when they bought it but someone else is buying something and getting more. If you were happy with the feature-to-price ratio before, you should be happy with it now.

i just got confused because on my box it says that has up to 14 hourd of battery life ( same as the new one) but what this guy is saying is completely truth: if I bought it, it was because I liked it, and everything has to improve.

I fail to see the difference between what Apple has
done and what most other companies do when it comes
to their product updates. The iPod is without a
doubt the most versatile MP3 player on the market and
kills everything else in regards to features. So,
Apple isn't giving you a significant update for free.
If there is another MP3 player out there that allows
you to plug it into a computer and get significant
feature upgrade for free vs. having to buy a new
device, I would sure like to know which one it is.

Well the Samsung YP-Z5 added user customizable EQ, gapless playback, better battery management and usage, and toning down the super sensitive touchpad to where it was quite usable, via firmware updates (current ver is 2.48).

what are all the differences between the 2 versions of the 5th gen ipods?

i only know of the search, better backlight (screens like these are useless in the sun! oldschool LCD pwns in this area), and longer video playback time.

is there anything else the newer version brings to the table?

so to revive it. it saves me the hassle of having to make a new thread and having people tell me that its already been discussed elsewhere and not answer my queries. when i can just post in the presumed to be original thread.

anyhow, i actually have a question pertaining to this thread which i dont think has been answered here, i could be misinterpreting the posts in the thread...

is it possible to update the firmware to the latest version to get new software based features and/or improvements (IE: power management/consumption) (like the samsung player i posted about earlier in my first reply on this thread) if you own one of the original 30gb Gen 5's?

I am bidding on 2 of them on Ebay Canada.

You will not get the search function or the power management/battery consumption like the late 5G models. You do get the scan function where the letter of the alphabet superimposes of the songs you are quickly scolling through. You also won't get a brighter screen.

Both the original 5th gen and the newer version have 14 hours of audio playlife from a full charge on the 30 gig model, but the newer version has longer video playback.

Why are you commenting on a thread that is 3 months old?