Hey everyone. I'm thinking of getting an ipod but i dont want one of the 30GB ones. I was waonderring whats better the nano or shufffle? I now most will saythe nano but is it really that good? I like to go jogging so I'd bneed a good case for it and I dont want it to break. Also I've heard abut it scractching and the screens breaking. So whats the 411 guys?
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iPod Nano vs. Shuffle
- Thread starter Jimmieboy
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I bought a Shuffle because it was cheaper, I needed a flash drive without having to carry another cord around, and I just wanted some simple music playing while walking around campus, driving, or riding my bike. I just toss it in my pocket and go wherever. Not too worried about scratches or anything, so I don't have to baby it all the time. It's all about the functionality for me with it.
Just ask what your needs and expectations are.
Just ask what your needs and expectations are.
I have a 512 MB shuffle and never have had another iPod. I have to agree that Shuffle is really convenient. You can have it with you all the time. It weights almost nothing and fits in any pocket. You can drop it on the floor and smash it around without being scared of broken screens or anything. Also it is quite easy to push skip and volume buttons while it's in your pocket (probably more difficult with other iPods).
512 MB version's 6-8 hours of music is usually enough for one day and the battery has never ran out. But I'd recommend the 1-gig version because it's almost as cheap now.
The downside of Shuffle is naturally the fact that you have to pretty much decide what music you want to listen before leaving your computer. If you like to listen random music this is not a problem.
I think that I would use a larger iPod less than the Shuffle because of the extra care it would require.
512 MB version's 6-8 hours of music is usually enough for one day and the battery has never ran out. But I'd recommend the 1-gig version because it's almost as cheap now.
The downside of Shuffle is naturally the fact that you have to pretty much decide what music you want to listen before leaving your computer. If you like to listen random music this is not a problem.
I think that I would use a larger iPod less than the Shuffle because of the extra care it would require.
The shuffle and nano both use flash drives, and so you can excerise both of them without worrying about damage to that and music skipping.
The shuffle however has less to go wrong with it, you won't find yourself pulling it out of your pocket to find a cracked screen, and it also has more scratch resistance.
The end all is that the shuffle is stronger than the nano, and so you dont have to worry as much about looking after it, you really can forget it's there. That said, the nano holds more songs which can be accessed with a screen. Plus the nano has more features therefore.
If you would like to be able to choose your music wherever you are, you need the nano, but if you just want a device you can fill with music in the morning and then throw it into your bag without worrying too much to damage, get the shuffle.
The shuffle however has less to go wrong with it, you won't find yourself pulling it out of your pocket to find a cracked screen, and it also has more scratch resistance.
The end all is that the shuffle is stronger than the nano, and so you dont have to worry as much about looking after it, you really can forget it's there. That said, the nano holds more songs which can be accessed with a screen. Plus the nano has more features therefore.
If you would like to be able to choose your music wherever you are, you need the nano, but if you just want a device you can fill with music in the morning and then throw it into your bag without worrying too much to damage, get the shuffle.
Wow! I'd take the nano over the mini in a heartbeat. It is not way to small. The main selling point is that a spinning hard drive cannot not compare to flash based storage. Flash is better in pretty much every possible area.tomflix52 said:
I can't believe these posts. The NANO is unbelievable. I took mine back to get the 60gb video but I was in love with it. That said, get the 30gb video, it beats them all to hell.
I don't have a shuffle or nano, but with some of the "Smart Playlist" features it's quite easy to load up either with more than enough music to keep you busy. I think what it comes down to is... do you want to be able to load up several playlists or do you just listen to a mix of all of your music? Just a mix = shuffle, control = nano.
The feature that I was mentioning is being able to take your playlists and make "small" versions of them by making a smart playlist with the main playlist as the first condtion and the posibly slap a "My Rating" on top of that and limit to say 950mb of songs sorted by last played.
Cheers
The feature that I was mentioning is being able to take your playlists and make "small" versions of them by making a smart playlist with the main playlist as the first condtion and the posibly slap a "My Rating" on top of that and limit to say 950mb of songs sorted by last played.
Cheers
the nano is wonderfull, function just like the full size hard drive ipods. You might want to take care when handling it but thats the price you pay for something lovelyful like the nano.
nano hands down although the shuffle is nice.
bless
nano hands down although the shuffle is nice.
bless
I am pretty disappointed with my shuffle. It does not randomize well, and the responsiveness of the buttons is not very good. Size wise it's amazing, but not having the ability to select your music will really effect you if you have wide music tastes. I have Marvin Gaye, Aphex Twin, Rage Against the Machine, Fiona Apple and Led Zeppelin on my ipod in addition to many more, therefore when i go to the gym any of those artists may come on, which really kills the mood. It would be one thing if i only listened to rock or electronic but when Bulls on the Parade follows, "i heard it to the Grapevine," no matter how much Apple tells you the shuffle always manages to pick the exact song you wanna hear, that is dead wrong. I just bought another ipod so i will fill my shuffle with rock, rap, and hip-hop and it will only make the journey out while im at the gym or going biking/snowboarding but besides that i wanna be able to select my music for the day. So if you have varying tastes and think you will be listening to a wide variety of music then you may want the nano. Pick depending on your usuage but do not think that having a varying mix of music will lead to you being happy with the song the shuffle picks, if you don't mind clicking next song often then go for it, but i kinda like knowing the next song in a playlist or at leat knowing the music is going to be from the same century, decade, era, or genre. Good Luck!
If this is going to be your main iPod (ie your only iPod) then go with the nano. Think about it, you're going to want to, at one time or another, find a certain song to play.
On the other hand, I already have a 30gig iPod for my main music collection and I think the shuffle would be a better secondary iPod for walking the dog, listening to podcasts, skiing, etc. But for longer trips (vacations, plane, car, etc) im going to want access to my entire collection.
What I'm really waiting for is a bluetooth shuffle with bluetooth ear buds. Just put it somewhere next to you're computer and it auto syncs, then throw it in the bottom of your bag and put in wireless buds! Sweeet.
BTW, you can fix the problem above by just autofilling from a certain playlist or putting your workout songs on top (in a random order if you want) and playing as a loop.
On the other hand, I already have a 30gig iPod for my main music collection and I think the shuffle would be a better secondary iPod for walking the dog, listening to podcasts, skiing, etc. But for longer trips (vacations, plane, car, etc) im going to want access to my entire collection.
What I'm really waiting for is a bluetooth shuffle with bluetooth ear buds. Just put it somewhere next to you're computer and it auto syncs, then throw it in the bottom of your bag and put in wireless buds! Sweeet.
BTW, you can fix the problem above by just autofilling from a certain playlist or putting your workout songs on top (in a random order if you want) and playing as a loop.
FrankieTDouglas said:
DITTO. It really depends what you need it for vs. cash available.
I already have a 2 year old 60Gb Zen Xtra for the car, for 45Gb of music we have. I felt that choosing 512Mb of music for a day or two's listening, would be just as tricky as 4Gb's worth. I'm bound to miss out on a tune or two. The 1Gb just allows for a greater range of music or some extra room for data files.
im serious! the nano is just to small i got the chance to try my friends out, and i was walking around every once in a while i had to check if it was still in my pocket (the mini is just big enough to tell) plus the mini is cheaper and holds moreJay42 said:
The Shuffle absolutely rocks. You don't have to treat it like a (flawed) museum piece everywhere you go. I highly recommend the 1gb, either refurb from Apple, or on e-Bay.
I have a 1GB Shuffle and I like it a lot.
Personally I would have gotten an iPod Mini (I bought my Shuffle when they first came out), but for the money the Shuffle is great.
The Nano is "better", but the Shuffle is more rugged and cheaper.
If you can afford one go for the full-blown 60GB iPod video - it's the best.
Personally I would have gotten an iPod Mini (I bought my Shuffle when they first came out), but for the money the Shuffle is great.
The Nano is "better", but the Shuffle is more rugged and cheaper.
If you can afford one go for the full-blown 60GB iPod video - it's the best.
Has there ever been a poll, may be interesting to see how many users there own which different iPods.
I don't know about you... but most of the runners/joggers/walkers I know don't wear clothing w/ pockets. I wear my nano in its armband so the size doesn't impact me.tomflix52 said:
As others have mentioned, I like the ability to choose a song or in my case, a play list. Sometimes I feel like a higher intensity workout-- harder music playlist, other days I feel like a chill leisurely walk-- enter more mellow playlist.
I'm glad to see a lot of people mentioning shuffles here. Everyone bashes the no-screen thing, but for exercising, it's perfect. Nothing to worry about breaking, small, and cheap. I like it.
Jay42 said:
I second this. I have a shuffle and a mini. Even though I use my shuffle a lot more (running and at the gym), the mini (and the nano even more so) *could* fulfill the same role, albeit less conveniently. On the other hand, at all times except when working out, I really like to be able to pick songs, and the shuffle would drive me crazy.
I also agree with the poster who said that you really don't have to worry about the shuffle. Mine is scratched and scuffed to hell, and I couldn't care less; it's just functional. But I try to keep my mini immaculate.
As for the poster who was worried about hearing the wrong kind of music while working out with a shuffle - sure, that's why you just fill it with your favorite workout music, or rotate your workout music. And if you're going to use it at another time, just autofill another playlist. It's intended to be constantly refilled because of its small capacity anyway...
There's no such thing as a "best" ipod. Even at the same price, I'd rather have a nano than a video ipod because I would never *ever* watch videos, and my itunes library is 3.5 gigs, so the nano is perfect while the video ipod would be heavier and bulkier with absolutely no advantage - but that's just because of my particular uses.
I also agree despite owning both a 3G 30Gig iPod and a new iPod nano. I have the 1GB shuffle whose battery life is 12+ hours and still has the very best sound quality of all the iPods with the possible exception of the new 5G iPod (video) simply because I have not heard it and Jobs' touted its audio performance.MmmPancakes said:
In any event, for sheer musical listening pleasure, my iPod shuffle is tops. It's just that much better to my ears than any other iPod I have.
(Incidentally, my 4GB nano has an audio distortion problem. I'll have to get it checked and possibly replaced.)
