I was wondering whats the best and most logical way to determine what Ipod is right for me. Whether it be size, or what gen to buy, what are the attractions and flaws to each?

I personally think a 3rd or 4th gen, 10-15gig music only Ipod would be great for me, but if I hear some good arguements, I might possibly change my mind

So lets hear your reasoning on why, or why not to buy a certain Ipod, or just why you bought yours.

Honestly that is a really tough thing to do. I have a 3G 40gig that i love and IMHO was the best design. The front was completely sealed because of the way they made it so no worry of dirt and such getting under the wheel. I have NEVER had any trouble with it. I also have 2 nanos that I use regularly and love them just as much. I guess the question is, What are you going to use it for and where?

well, mainly for working out, running, poker events. use it when i cant access my computer music when the family is sleeping or what not so i dont wake them.

i know i dont need the video models, and would consider a photo model, but i am also on a budget.

i have been looking at the 3g's mainly, and i really like them. and i believe they have a backlit display. the displays dont have color, but i guess you cant really be picky in this case. plus, if i want color, i could always buy a 1 or 2 gig nano, and have best of both worlds.

but i am looking for around 4-15 maybe even 20 gigs of storage. i like to have a good quality bit rate, and have quite a few songs, so i am leaning towards at least a 10 gig model.

If you want it for working out then I would suggest you stay away from the HDD based models. Those don't handle the shock of working out. I would suggest getting a flash based model (one of the Nano's) if that will be your primary use.

yeah i had kind of already planned on a 1gig black nano for running due to that fact.

i would need another ipod, because nanos dont come in a bigger storage size than 4gig. so i guess would a 3g or 4g be a better choice? price range is 100-130ish maybe a little more.

Quote: (Originally Posted by bdub_02)
i would need another ipod, because nanos dont come in a bigger storage size than 4gig.

Nanos come in 8 gigs if you get the new one.

really? ive only been able to find the 2 and 4gig. but ive only looked at walmart

where is the 8gig model available?

if you only use it for short periods, listening only to the new stuff you put on it (ie: you download alot, or buy / import new CD's) then 10gb or thereabouts is ok. if you only buy or download new once-in-a-blue-moon & like to dig into your older collection alot, something bigger is needed. memory is getting cheaper though, so you might end up getting more anyway. i'm halfway between loving the 'novelty effect' of ONLY having new stuff i bought, & feeling nostalgic for stuff i got years ago, so my 20gb fits me right. but i do have the sneaking feeling that if i put more music on a device where it is so immediately available to me, the novelty wears off a bit. but that's just me.

Have u actually gone into a store and look at them live? hold them in your hands? May make a diff.

If buying a used Pod, assume u will need a replacement battery, factor that in your budget.

Quote: where is the 8gig model available?

The Apple store has the Nano 8GB in black and red. You can just go to www.apple.com to see the iPod models available.

If you don't mind me asking, why are you so sure that it's an iPod that's right for you?
You haven't mentioned iTunes, so I have to presume that your music is in a format such as mp3, so it could be played by any number of DAPs on the market just now.

All I'm saying is it's best to make these sorts of decisions fully informed, so it's worth your while at least seeing what other DAPs are available, even if you don't end up considering them seriously.

I'm sorry but the Video iPod can handle workouts, the only thing you might have trouble with is running or anything with EXTREME motion. Lifting Weights, Squats, Lunges, hell even biking should be no problem for a video iPod. The only annoyance is obviously the iPod's size.

I only have a nano now because my beloved 60GB video fell out of the car at some point and got lost. I was working out with it, working with it, doing everything I do with my nano. I had it for 9 months dropped it 3 times and it worked fine.

I'm sick of this BS about the HD players can't take a beating, they sure can otherwise Apple wouldn't market them as PORTABLE. What good is portable if you can't move with it?

Quote: (Originally Posted by paranoidxe)
I'm sorry but the Video iPod can handle workouts, the only thing you might have trouble with is running or anything with EXTREME motion. Lifting Weights, Squats, Lunges, hell even biking should be no problem for a video iPod. The only annoyance is obviously the iPod's size.

I only have a nano now because my beloved 60GB video fell out of the car at some point and got lost. I was working out with it, working with it, doing everything I do with my nano. I had it for 9 months dropped it 3 times and it worked fine.

I'm sick of this BS about the HD players can't take a beating, they sure can otherwise Apple wouldn't market them as PORTABLE. What good is portable if you can't move with it?

Laptops are marketed as portable as well but they aren't made to take a beating.

You might be lucky and find some HD based iPods that you can exercise in fine, but they aren't made to be rough with and it's likely that you'll regret it. You might not - but what take the chance?

Quote: (Originally Posted by paranoidxe)
I'm sorry but the Video iPod can handle workouts, the only thing you might have trouble with is running or anything with EXTREME motion. Lifting Weights, Squats, Lunges, hell even biking should be no problem for a video iPod. The only annoyance is obviously the iPod's size.

I only have a nano now because my beloved 60GB video fell out of the car at some point and got lost. I was working out with it, working with it, doing everything I do with my nano. I had it for 9 months dropped it 3 times and it worked fine.

I'm sick of this BS about the HD players can't take a beating, they sure can otherwise Apple wouldn't market them as PORTABLE. What good is portable if you can't move with it?

My brother has broken two HD based players. He was running (on the street not on a treadmill), jump roping, punching the punching bag, and some other things. I think the jump roping was what led to its ultimate demise. He eventually got a nano and it's perfect for him now. I would recommend you get a nano if you want to run. Although if you want to run on a treadmill or biking I think you should be fine, me, my sister and he boyfriend have been doing that for a while and our iPods are fire.

Quote: (Originally Posted by paranoidxe)
I'm sick of this BS about the HD players can't take a beating, they sure can otherwise Apple wouldn't market them as PORTABLE. What good is portable if you can't move with it?

Sorry to flog a dead horse, but HDD players are not as well suited to being knocked around as they they are more susceptible to knocks or movement due to having moving parts.
Of course that doesn't mean that every HDD-based DAP will give out as soon as you go running with it but, the more you shake it around the greater the chance you rip lumps out the disk platter(s) with the read/write head, then (as has been stated already) you're gonna feel pretty stupid.

It's like everything in life, just because it only happens to some of the players and not all doesn't mean that Apple can market the HDD-based iPods as being as tough as the flash-based ones because then they're left wide-open to being sued.
In business, you can't make guarantees based on probability, you have to make them based on certainties because it's too expensive otherwise.