ipod query

pro_bono

Can anyone help me to make a decision re ipods.
I want one to:
1. Play my favourite cd tracks from my own collection.
2.Play my favourite tracks from albums not in my collection.
3.Play my choice of audio books.

At the moment I am looking at the 20 gig ipod

comments anyone??

Regards

sjh_3

It sounds like you want the minimum functionality from an Ipod - just playing audio. In that case, I'd recommend buying the cheapest Ipod or Ipod Mini with sufficient capacity for your audio files.

The Ipod Nano is nice and small but it has extra features you won't use (such as photo viewing, a calendar, a few games and a colour screen) so it wouldn't represent value for money.

The Ipod Shuffle is again, very small (even lacking a screen), but you might find it difficult to navigate between audio books and music without a screen and the Shuffle. It's the cheapest of the bunch but it has nothing like the capacity you want (it goes up to 1GB).

The Ipod Photo and Ipod Video are both of no value to you - their primary function isn't really audio playback so you'd be wasting your money if that's all you're looking for in an Ipod.

If I were you I'd go for the cheapest Ipod or Ipod Mini you can find with the space you need - assume about 100MB use (at good quality) per full album you want to copy to your Ipod.

sjh

mr_fishbulb

Are you sure you need an iPod? You could get a cheaper non-apple mp3 player

pro_bono

Thanks, sjh,
I have no problem with the cost, just that all the normal retailers seem to stock only the video/photo generation of ipods. And as you point out not much use for me at the moment. Can anybody out there tell me the difference between the generations in laymans terms?
Regards

tigermatt

Apple have stopped selling the iPod Mini and the Nano has replaced it. (Searches on eBuyer and Amazon for iPod Mini returned only accessories for the Mini, whereas searches for iPod Nano returned various different models of the Nano)

The Nano is mainly designed for playing music and the calendar and games are probably there as an extra to make people go for the apple instead of non-Apple MP3 Players.

eBuyer have a 2GB iPod Nano White for £134.99 inc. VAT (see http://www.ebuyer.co.uk/customer/products/index.html?rb=14872894842&action=c2hvd19wcm9kdWN0X292ZXJ2aWV3&product_uid=96915). Amazon have the same model for £144.99. (see http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000A322QW/qid=1136569738/sr=8-5/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i5_xgl/026-8168067-6795654)

There is also a 2GB iPod Nano Black at eBuyer for £137.39 inc. VAT (see http://www.ebuyer.co.uk/customer/products/index.html?rb=14872900915&action=c2hvd19wcm9kdWN0X292ZXJ2aWV3&product_uid=96904). Amazon have the same model for £144.99. (see http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000A322Q2/qid=1136569738/sr=8-2/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i2_xgl/026-8168067-6795654)



All prices correct at time of posting.