nano or video? help please!

[wide]

I'm sure this is a problem many prospective ipod owners are having: the decision.

Should I get an iPod nano or a video iPod?


so here are the pros of the ipod video:

-a lot of storage
-plays videos
-brand new
-huge screen
-smaller form factor than my 20GB 4G ipod (not color)
-20 hrs battery

and here are the nano's pros:

-really, really, really, really, really, really tiny
-superlight
-will fit in any pocket, even the smallest ones
-no moving parts

i'd get the nano if i cared only about aesthetics...and the video if practicality is more of an issue.

do you think the ipod video's size will be dissatisfying? has anyone else here tried to make the same decision?

thx

 

[killuminati]

Do you need 30GB of storage? If not get the Nano. In my mind, the HD based iPod is a better buy, unless you would really prefer the smaller size.

 

[Josh]

I'm somewhat in the same boat.

I plan on buying an iPod towards the end of the month, and though I originally planned on the Nano, the video iPod does look tempting.

I'll 99% most likely get the Nano, simply because even though the vpod is cool, I don't have or plan on buying that many videos.

I also don't have a giant music library, so the smaller nano is more ideal.

If a nano is large enough to hold your entire collection, I'd get the nano. Think of the video iPod as a regular iPod: do you really need at least 30gb for your music?

If not, then I think the nano would be the best choice.

Don't you just love these types of decisions? Either way you choose, it's still a sweet decision

 

[iDM]

I do not think the video is going to be big. This depends though compared to the nano yea it's bigger obviously. I had a 3rd gen ipod that was heavier and thicker then the 5th gen and although i have yet to see one i thought the 3rd gen was pretty slim. That being said the shuffle that i have now i literally forget it is in my pocket, a few times i have reached in looking forward felt my keys and cell phone and took my hand out not thinking it was in there, when it really was.

I can't believe that 30 gigs on something like the 5th gen ipod would ever be called big.

 

[Cfg5]

Remember...

Remember the 30 gig iPod only has 14 hours of battery life. The 60 gig has the 20 hrs.

 

[wide]

Remember the 30 gig iPod only has 14 hours of battery life. The 60 gig has the 20 hrs.

That's true. and only 2hrs of video for the 30gb. is that with the backlight off? that would last hardly half an hour w/ the backlight on i would assume.

 

[ZoomZoomZoom]

It's not really a comparison of storage size for you, because I'm assuming that all your music will fit on either player. And I'm assuming that video capabilities aren't really too much on your mind. And the prices for both are comparable.

So it's really a question of physical size vs. battery. Battery will depend on your usage style. Size will depend on what you're comfortable with.

 

[matticus008]

That's true. and only 2hrs of video for the 30gb. is that with the backlight off? that would last hardly half an hour w/ the backlight on i would assume.

It's with the backlight on, but probably not at full brightness. With the backlight off, I don't think that video would work at all. That U2 music video that was demoed would just plain not show up.

Like others have said, if the nano can hold your whole collection, go for it. Also, if a 30gig can't hold your whole library, then maybe a nano is a better bargain, especially if you have good playlists and can cram a lot of variety into 1000 songs. The nano is also better, in my opinion, if you're male (or female) and feel like you're starting to need a purse to carry everything, because an iPod will dominate a pocket all by itself. I usually have my messenger bag with me all the time, but when I don't, I hate having to carry my wallet and cell phone in pockets.

 

[ITASOR]

Don't you just love these types of decisions? Either way you choose, it's still a sweet decision

And what's funnier that no matter which one you pick, you'll wish you picked the other one. This has happened to me EVERY single time I bought a cell phone and had to choose between 2.

So uh...get both!

 

[briangig]

they are pretty different beasts, just ask yourself some questions.

how big is your library, how big do you see it getting?
Do you want video?
Do you need more than 6gb of space?
Do you need it to be as small as possible?
Do you need or desire very much a flash based player?

I think you should wait til the video ipod comes out (yeah yeah..im gonna call it that), and check out the size...seems fairly small, but not nano small.

 

[QCassidy352]

they are pretty different beasts, just ask yourself some questions.

how big is your library, how big do you see it getting?
Do you want video?
Do you need more than 6gb of space?
Do you need it to be as small as possible?
Do you need or desire very much a flash based player?

I think you should wait til the video ipod comes out (yeah yeah..im gonna call it that), and check out the size...seems fairly small, but not nano small.

good advice from briangig. The answer to this depends entirely on what your uses will be. If I were in the market for an ipod (i'm not), I'd go nano because: I only have 3.5 gigs of music, I would never ever use the video function, I hate carrying any more than I have to, and the nano is cheaper.

But that doesn't make the nano "better," just better for me. Decide if you'll use the video function, if you need to carry more than a few gigs of music, and if extra size/weight really matters (like if you'll use it working out or already have a lot to carry or something).

 

[shane-o-mac]

I am with you guys on the nano band wagon, hey I actually got one. What I have discovered though as I have come into the Apple fold is the true meaning of user-based inovation. Before my first Ipod (512 shuffle) I never really listend to my music much....what a frigin shame. Now I have purchased over a 100 songs from itunes and have 5gb of music. I love my podcast and with a new dog and digital photography, having photos handy is a great conversation piece. Hell my library is drastically growing. I downloaded a couples season of Lost from itunes and that took up about 512mb on my hard drive....I have a feeling if I get a new ipod I am going to be loosening some precous study time watching my ipod between class.

The truth is Apple has made listening to music, enjoying photos, keeping up to date with radio broadcast, and now catching up on tv shows so easy....I def can fore see 30gb plus of necessary space in the next few years. However, that is my situation...as always buy what you need, not what you want...though my caveat is think of features you may one day want in the near future.

 

[Chip NoVaMac]

Man this smacks of the question should I get a Toyota Matrix or a Hummer.

They are tools for different purposes. As said do you need the 30 or 60gb drive storage? Battery life on the 60gb is awesome. But do you NEED the video capabilities of the new iPod?

Using the Matrix vs. the Hummer analogy, if I were commuting day to day - I would want the Nano/Matrix. If I wanted a do everything then teh Hummer/New iPod would be the way to go.

Only if I could afford t go one or the other. Unlike cars/Suv's; the iPods are relatively "cheap". I bought a iPod Nano a week after they came out. Only because I wanted/needed a small music player for when I went out on mass transit. No bags or what have you. Just away to carry my tunes with me when I went out for a night on the town. The new iPod may give me the ability to take my tunes and more with me. when I gas up my car and head out for a longer trip.

What I can say is that for me at least the Nano seems to hold a charge better than my 3G iPod or even my iPod mini's.

 

[macbaseball]

One aspect that hasn't been mentioned is are you going to exercise with it?

I think the Video iPod will be too big for running or lifting, whereas the Nano is much bettter. I don't think the Video iPod will be too big for everyday use though.

 

[Lacero]

Quite frankly, with the release of the iPod, I think the nanos have less value now, even if they are indeed much smaller. I used to work out and run with an old 2G iPod and it was okay. Get yourself one of those armbands or belt clips and you should be okay.

The nano is great for pure exercise where the small size is a plus, but I think if you can spring for it, the iPod is still great for the gym.

I would buy the iPod over the nano if I had the choice. You can always spring for a $99 shuffle for working out, and really that's all it's good for, if you do indeed work out.

 

[Jovian9]

For those of us who have had iPods since the beginning, the iPods out now are ALL small. The 60GB Color I have now is small compared to the original 1G 5GB and 2G 20GB iPods I used to have. I almost think the Nano is too small. My friend bought a black 4GB Nano and though it looks great, I felt it was too small to hold and seemed fragile (and I am average size person). I'd be scared to carry it around actually.
But if size is the most important thing, go for the Nano. If space is more important, get the video iPod......remember that even if you do not fill it up with music and pics, you can still use it as a backup drive for your data.