Not only does this tool allow you to communicate to your iPod with USB 2.0 (which is a bit faster than FireWire), but it is also the only way to sync your iPod while you simultaneously charge it from a wall socket.

That's right, the supplies included with the iPod allow you to sync over FireWire, or charge it from the AC adapter. However, you cannot do both!

Therefore, this cable is a fully functional and completely essential accessories for your new iPod!

Works as Advertised (Rating: 5.00)
Review : I use this to hook my new iPod up to my USB 2.0 PCI card. This can only be used with the new iPod, as it uses the Dock Connector. My thoughts:

USB 2.0 worked relatively well. A few things that users should know: USB 2.0 shares bandwidth with all devices that are using the master hub. Therefore, the more you have hooked up, the slower the speed for each device is. I happen to just be using the iPod with my USB 2.0 PCI card. Another note: the iPod cannot take full advantage of USB 2.0. The iPod can only handle the 400 Mbps data transfer rate that FireWire supplies. The extra 80 Mbps does not make a difference in this situation.

Using this cable initially for my iPod (my computer's OS is Windows XP), I found the installation painless, and it works as advertised.

This connects an I-POD to a PC's USB Port 1.0 or 2.0 (Rating: 5.00)
Review : I get an IPod from someone. It's cable doesn't fit my USB port on my PC. I found out it came with a fire-wire cable. I searched for fire-wire to USB cable changer, but I found they don't exist. I saw this (Apple iPod Dock Connector-to-FireWire-and-USB 2.0 Cable), but I thought you had to have an I-Pod Dock and I didn't know what it was. Well, the Dock Connector refers to the port on the bottom of all I-Pods. You plug the "dock" connector to the bottom of your I-Pod (it's dock), and now you can plug the USB cable to your PC's USB port, whether you have 1.0 or 2.0 (2.0 is just faster). Also, now you take the extra fire-wire cable and plug it to your charger, so you can keep charging while your using your I-Pod on your PC. The alternative is buying a fire wire card and installing it in your PC, a little more expensive, a litte more work.