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iPod iPod shuffle vs iPod nano for skiing

samk8000

samk8000

macrumors regular
Original poster
Jun 22, 2010
135
0
toronto, ontario
Chances are, you've probably seen the new iPod lineup. I would like to purchase either the shuffle or the nano. I have the 2nd gen iPod touch, and I have the 2nd gen 4gb iPod nano. But I like the new iPod nano and shuffle especially because I like to ski. They are both pretty small, they both have voiceover for when I have gloves on, and they both hold my massive 60 song library. I like the Shuffle because it is unibody and durable because I won't crack the screen, but I don't know much other than that. Which one would you guys (and girls) recommend for me?
 
I have a Retro Shuffle™ ( :p :D ) and use it when skiing/snowboarding.

I like having a big button that I can press while wearing my gloves. I wear my Shuffle on the outside clipped to my jacket.

Other friends like carrying their iPods inside and a nano might work better for them.
 
I'd recommend the Shuffle simply for cost reasons and its simplicity.

Is a screen really worth $100 extra dollars? Also, size isn't an issue as you point out.

I think the Shuffle is more disposable, you can take it out and if you drop on the lift or in the snow, you're only out $50 bucks. If you fall down and manage to dent/ crack the Shuffle, chances are it won't affect play back
 
Also, will a screen crack in the cold? I'm not that professional (at all) and am guaranteed to fall at least every third visit to the ski hill, and I am not going to go down the bunny hill for my iPod, so do you think that the shuffle would be more durable because the screen is glass?
 
NathanMuir said:
I'd recommend the Shuffle simply for cost reasons and its simplicity.

Is a screen really worth $100 extra dollars? Also, size isn't an issue as you point out.

I think the Shuffle is more disposable, you can take it out and if you drop on the lift or in the snow, you're only out $50 bucks. If you fall down and manage to dent/ crack the Shuffle, chances are it won't affect play back
Click to expand...

Hrm... I'd take the Nano.

Because, well, um, 2gb vs. 8 or 16 gb. Yeah.. .sorry, I'll take the one that can have my full music collection. Not one I have to keep deciding what I want to listen to at that day.

Then again, Apple probably would have sold me on an ipod shuffle long before I even caved and gotten a Nano if they ever put a reasonable amount of space on the shuffle.

At this point though between the two, I'd go for hte space and having the screen (so you can easily pick a song if you want).

Cause form wise, I think they'd both be fine for skiing. Then again, after reading some replies, I do think some one does have a point about if you fall and smack the player you'll be less upset over breaking a 50 dollar player than a 120-180 dollar player.
 
Alright, lets take a look at the pros and cons.

Nano-pros: screen, longer battery life (24 hours audio), more memory
-cons: weaker design, high cost, no physical buttons, bigger size

Shuffle-pros: smaller, stronger, cheaper, physical buttons,
-cons: shorter battery life(15 hours audio), no screen, less memory

Now, the nano has more memory but the OP said she/he has a 60 song library which would easily fit on a shuffle. The nano has longer battery life but I doubt you will be skiing more than 8 hours (shuffle has 15 hours battery). The nano has a screen but you won't be looking at it anyways while you are skiing, so once again the shuffle wins. The shuffle is stronger, cheaper, has physical buttons, has more than enough memory to store your song library with lots of room for expansion, and it is 3x cheaper so if it breaks it won't be as costly of a replacement. If I was in your shoes, I would get the shuffle.
Hope this helps you decide.
 
Just to add.

When I go skiing/snowboarding I listen to my iPhone 3GS on the way and on the return. I only use my Shuffle when on the slopes. So I take and use two devices.

With the Nano you only need one for listening to music on the way and on the slopes. So that would be an advantage of the Nano if you didn't have an iPhone or another iPod to listen to tunes on the way and for the return.
 
willbro said:
Alright, lets take a look at the pros and cons.

Nano-pros: screen, longer battery life (24 hours audio), more memory
-cons: weaker design, high cost, no physical buttons, bigger size
Click to expand...

Small correction. The Nano would have physical buttons if you either have or buy headphones that have a remote that support ipod usage. Which are easier to use anyways for when you don't want to look at your ipod to change songs.

Now, the nano has more memory but the OP said she/he has a 60 song library which would easily fit on a shuffle.
Click to expand...

Point, I missed that. So, I change my suggestion entirely. With that small of a music collection, the shuffle should do awesome for what OP wants.

sushi said:
Just to add.

When I go skiing/snowboarding I listen to my iPhone 3GS on the way and on the return. I only use my Shuffle when on the slopes. So I take and use two devices.

With the Nano you only need one for listening to music on the way and on the slopes. So that would be an advantage of the Nano if you didn't have an iPhone or another iPod to listen to tunes on the way and for the return.
Click to expand...

I honestly don't see why you'd buy both, they overlap too much in functions. I mean, I can see why I have an iphone/ipod (cause there are a few things the ipod is still much nicer about than the iphone, mainly size and being able to fit in small places easily). But there is way more overlap between the shuffle/nano. If OP really wanted a more luxury music player for not on the slopes as well as the shuffle, I'd be spending a little extra and getting a Touch (That's just my opinion anyways).
 
I'd go for shuffle. Cheaper, easier to use, and for sixty songs, i doubt a screen is necessary.
 
tigress666 said:
I honestly don't see why you'd buy both, they overlap too much in functions. I mean, I can see why I have an iphone/ipod (cause there are a few things the ipod is still much nicer about than the iphone, mainly size and being able to fit in small places easily). But there is way more overlap between the shuffle/nano. If OP really wanted a more luxury music player for not on the slopes as well as the shuffle, I'd be spending a little extra and getting a Touch (That's just my opinion anyways).
Click to expand...
Please re-read what I said.

In my case I use an iPhone to and from the slopes and a Shuffle while on the slopes.

If I didn't have an iPhone, I might use a Nano for to and from the slopes as well as while I was on the slopes. I wouldn't purchase a second device in this case.

Now as for comparing which is better on the slopes, I think it depends on how you want to listen to your music. In my case I listen going down but usually don't on the way up. Being able to press the play/pause button with my gloves on is very handy especially when it's cold and windy. YMMV.

For now, I'll continue to use my 2nd Gen Shuffle while on the slopes. Still works great. :)
 
Unless you plan to grow your music collection aggressively to say over 1000 songs and/or FM radio is important to you, the Shuffle will be more than sufficient for your use and save you $100.
 
I wonder how accurate the battery life info for the nano is.
If it really lasts 9 hours longer than the shuffle, the so be it the nano. My guess is that it's only true if brightness is completely down.

I will wait for some good reviews.
 
Use your 2nd generation iPod Nano 4GB for another season and use the $49/$149 to buy yourself some more music. Then upgrade next year. :D
 
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