iPod for Christmas...But Which One?

carres1973

carres1973

Cathlete
I am hoping one of my very knowledgeable fellow Catheites can help me decide what to put on my Christmas list. I want to get a new iPod. I currently have a 2GB nano from several years ago. I was all set to put a new purple 16GB nano on my Christmas list. However, I was looking around and noticed that the 120GB iPod classic is only about $50 more. 16GB vs. 120GB...

Do I go for size and style and get the nano? 16GB should be more than enough even if I put a Cathe workout or two on there. However, with the classic being only $50 more and almost 10 times the size, should I go for that? But the size of the classic is a drawback...

What to do, what to do??? HELP!!!

Carrie
 
It really depends on how you will use it and what you are comfortable with. I loved using my mini at the gym, so when it came time to upgrade I had to go with the Nano, for me the convenience of the smaller nano out weighed the tough decision to go with the bigger iPod with more space. The big ipod just seemed to uncomfortable and big for the gym.

Don't think of it in terms of the space, obviously, if that's all that mattered, no one would ever buy a nano. So if you don't need all those GB and know the big one will be, well, just too big, go with the Nano, but if you think you will want to load movies and videos too, and the larger physical size doesn't bother you, then go with the big one.

HTH, and have fun picking one!
 
DH has that huge one and wishes he didn't, and he doesn't use it for anything other than listening to music on the plane. It would be horrible for working out. That is more music than any human could possibly need!! I would most definitely go for the smaller size - still holds more than you would probably ever need at one time. I have the 8 and it is plenty but I don't have videos or pics on it and have no idea how much space that would take.
 
I am going to seriously recommend that you visit amazon.com and read the reviews of the new ipod nanos 4th generation. Not so good. There is a new feature which is actually causing more trouble than it is worth because it comes on at will and there is no way to shut it off. A lot of people who have purchased the new generation are unhappy and wishing Apple had not tried to improve upon something which was great to begin with. If it 'aint broke....

Consequently, we just bought the 8gb ipod nano 3rd generation for our daughter. Much better purchase, and now, it's even cheaper! And amazon.com had the best price on the market for this, at $124.

Clare
 
My boyfriend bought me the 80gig Classic last year for Christmas. Very generous! :) I use it for all my cardio machine workouts, with my iTreads, iCycles, etc. And I download a podcast weekly that I listen to daily on my walks to work.

But that's it. I'm not a music person, who just loves to listen to music any ol' time. And although I LOVE this iPod, it IS big and bulky and over-kill for somebody like me (I wouldn't admit that to SO, though). I'm currently looking for a new and different armband to use with this, as the one I have now doesn't really hold the iPod securely on my arm while I'm running (and I like sprints and LOVE hills more, so there's a lot of bouncing). I also really REALLY don't like the fact that iPod doesn't offer a radio tuner. I use my regular mp3 player to listen to the radio while cutting grass or running outdoors. (you can BUY an extra piece that gets attached to it for a radio tuner, but that's another $50 and another bulky piece added onto your arm.)

What I DO like about it.....I won't ever have to worry about upgrading because of the 80gig memory, I like the screen which is huge and easy to read even while running, I like the LOCK feature so that if I touch the dial while listening it won't skip, stop, etc, and I like the ability to make my own playlists, where some mp3 players don't allow that.

HTH

Gayle
 
maddiesmum said:
I am going to seriously recommend that you visit amazon.com and read the reviews of the new ipod nanos 4th generation. Not so good. There is a new feature which is actually causing more trouble than it is worth because it comes on at will and there is no way to shut it off. A lot of people who have purchased the new generation are unhappy and wishing Apple had not tried to improve upon something which was great to begin with. If it 'aint broke....

Consequently, we just bought the 8gb ipod nano 3rd generation for our daughter. Much better purchase, and now, it's even cheaper! And amazon.com had the best price on the market for this, at $124.

Clare
Click to expand...
Isn't it odd that they also went back to the other shape? I love mine so much more. I suppose as Gayle said - if you don't want to carry it with you but rather use cardio machines and set it on those, then the large one would not be an issue. I like to stick mine down my top and let it rest where the built in shelf bra is (on me, there is plennnntttyyy of extra room in there ;))- I don't have an arm thing for this one - if i am on a walk but on the machines, I put it on the console thing.
 
If it's mostly for working out, I would go for the 4th gen nano. It's about $134 on Amazon with 8gb. It's a good deal. Unless you need the 16gb or the 120gb?
 
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Advantage of the iPod classic - good for people who have a large media collection (music, videos, audio books) and dont like to refresh the content of the iPod from their computer. My husband is in this category. He never deletes anything from the ipod. If anything gets on it, it lives there for ever. I on the otehr hand consider my computer the main library and only keep as much as I need "for now" on the iPod. I use the iPod for music, workouts, audiobooks an movies and I still find 8 gb plenty.

Advantage of the iPod Touch (which is not under consideration, but I will talk about it anyway) - S-L-E-E-K. The touch screen is amazingly good. I love the wi-fi which allows you to check email or chat if you are in an internet broadband zone. The screen is crystal clear and large enough for movie watching. A great travel companion. At 32 GB (max size) the space isnt too bad at all. Another advantage of you like to run is the built in support for the Nike+ ipod show sensor. I got it for my niece.

Advantage of the Nano - price and size. IF you want to use it for workouts it is the most convenient of the three.

I have exercised with all three models. As long as you get a secure arm band all three are viable. The ipod classic in theory has a hard disk which makes it more prone to fail from being jostled than the flash based other two models (My personal experience is that the iPod classic's hard disk is OK to run with). The most comfortable and lest intrusive to work out with is the nano. There are wrist bands available for the nano which make wearing it like a wrist watch possible - my personal favorite way to wear the nano while exercising. I can rip my exercise videos to the nano and catch peeks at the screen while working out as long as I can wear it on my wrist.

Clare: I have the 3g nano, but dont think I will mind the accelerometer issue that annoys a lot of reviewers. I never use the nano in my pocket so I wont mind flipping it upright to access volume. From looking at it at the apple store I like the auto-accelerometer!
 
Thanks everyone for your opinions. I knew I could count on you! I am leaning toward the nano. I was considering the classic because I was thinking ahead to Cathe releasing her workouts for iPods. I could then load a ton of workouts on the classic. I have to be realistic with myself and ask if I really need or would do that. I will read the reviews on the new nano and see if that is the way I want to go. I might try them out at Best Buy or an Apple store. Add to this the fact that we set a limit for ourselves this year for Christmas presents and the classic would be my only gift if I went for that!

Vee - I know you have told us before but I can't find it...what software do you use to rip workouts to your iPod?

Carrie
 
Carrie,

If you use a Macintosh computer, you need HAndbrake to do the dvd ripping.

If you use a Windows PC you can use Videora (free software).

I use Slysoft's CloneDVD mobile (faster, more features than Videora, not free).

If the DVD is copy protected (all Cathe's are) you need a software to counter the copy protection.

DVDShrink (free software) will deal with copy protection most of the time.

I use AnyDVD from Slysoft (not free but super convenient)
 
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