Shuffle or iPod 20gb

[SkateOrDie]

I get paid in a couple days and I really want an iPod or an iPod shuffle but am not sure what to get. I was wondering if anyone could give me pros and cons to each, any help would be greatly appreciated.
-SkateOrDie


edit: which is better for someone with around 3 gb of music, I do not want the mini because for a little more I could get the 20 gb.

[danielomg]

I say just get a mini for 200. A 20GB is going to be too much, an iPod shuffle will be to little, and with no screen, so there's not alot to work with.

[jamontoast]

well....

ipod-good:color screen, big HD,bigger screen than mini
bad:bigger than mini and shuffle in physical size, more expensive.

mini-good:smaller size, cheaper, has a screen
bad:smaller HD, b and w screen which is smaller than regular ipods.

shuffle-good:smaller than other ipods, cheaper
bad:no screen, no real wheel like other ipods, a little steep price for what you get.

[podder54w]

I was a doubting thomas. I have a 20gb too and dont use it as much as it feels too heavy but I still love it to death.

Shuffle: you can go to applestore.com and get the $79 refurbished shuffle. Its a great deal

Go to the applestore.com usa and click the deals link on the right down a little.

A 1gb is only $99 too! Warranty is for one year too.

ok, so why do I like the shuffle? well, I can use it for podcasts which I play on my ride to work and back, and for walking and jogging I can use it as its tiny and light as a feather!

I have 4 playlists set up with 80 songs each. This leaves room for my favorite podcasts.

I highly recommend the shuffle to both those with other iPods and those looking for an inexpensive mp3 player. The controls are so easy to use you just have to smile. I never use most of the other crap on mp3 players anyway and for the rare times I wish I had a screen, well... I can live with that and I have a 20gb gen4 too anyhow.... but I will tell you i had my doubts before I fell in love with my 512 shuffle... so I understand where everyone is coming from.

[XxLiPsTiCkGaLxX]

I'd say any of them. The shuffle is a great little iPod. So is the mini. But really it depends how big your music collection is.

[colbypaperboy]

I love my shuffle, and I also love the 40GB 3G I got a week ago. Each has their purpose: the shuffle works great in situations where I don't want to expose it's big brother to the elements, and the 3G works great in the car and on my desk at work. Until I got the 3G, the shuffle did just fine both in the car and at work, but having my entire music library at my fingertips is definitely nice now. Most of the time the big player is on "shuffle songs", but every once in a while I'll get an itch to hear an entire album start to finish (like yesterday when I queued up disc one of the Concert For George and got my Indian music fix for the week).

As you have 3gb of music, my recommendation would be either of the two minis, though that's not one of the choices you initially mentioned. And with either a mini or a full-sized iPod, the choices of accessories are mind boggling...the shuffle is just starting to catch up in that regard, however.

[Rod Smith]

Shuffle is more better. Better price, better sound, better size and weight. Better drive.

[S-MAR]

I dont like the Shuffle. In my opinion its a waste of money unless you simply want one to use if you have a larger Ipod and dont want to break it.

[Anborn]

fwiw... i just recently had been having the same debate (or close, mine was between a shuffle+20gb or a mini).

I got the $99 1gb refurb off apple store (comes with everything but a box, and who needs a box?!). I have a little over 10GB of songs... and the shuffle is very nice. the lack of display is doable, cause with only 230ish songs, you probably know them all anyway (at least i do). I needed something I could use when rockclimbing, hitting tennis, skiing, running, etc. I wouldn't feel comfortable in doing those with a full ipod (or maybe even a mini)... but with the shuffle, no problem. Its rediculously lightweight (so much so that if you dropped it, or if it fell out of a pocket you probably wouldn't notice... i find myself checking my pocket to make sure its still there).

Its also useful at work to transfer files between computers. the integrated usb is sweet. no extra cord fuss to carry around. just plug it in and go.

the only drawback to the shuffle is the lack of internal clock, meaning it can't update the last played date field in itunes, which cripples a very useful feature in smart playlists... but i've gotten over it.

I'll probably get a refurb b&w 20gb ($219 applestore) eventually (backup my whole collection and harddrive and for longer trips/vacations)... but i'm very happy with the shuffle.

[DoNotEatShuffle]

shuffle pros: small, lightweight

shuffle cons: no screen, only one playlist, can't recharge without plugging into pc (or buy usb power adapter for $30 lol), no equalizer, old-school tech, and WAY over-rated!