iPod Nano vs. Shuffle

[GroundLoop]

Haha, I just went back and read this. You would really rather have a thicker, non-color, hd based, heavier mini over a nano?!? Hmm, buyer's remorse?

Actually, I tend to agree with tomflix52. I just bought a 6GB iPod Mini (to replace my 4GB). The Mini is much more durable than the Nano and it offers all the features that Ineed. I prefer not to look at my photos on an "impossibly small" screen. Plus, if you are exercising, the Mini's armband is much better than the Nano's. I have already heard of Nano arbands ripping and poor Nanos falling the the blacktop. What a shame.

For $200, you get a very sturdy, very scratch resistant, 18 hour battery life 6GB iPod. It was the right decision for me. But you need to assess your own priorities (do you need to have the latest and greatest, or do you just want a proven and strong music player).

Hickman

 

[devilot]

But you need to assess your own priorities (do you need to have the latest and greatest, or do you just want a proven and strong music player).

Your choice of words doesn't jive well w/ me... I have a Nano but I don't believe that I need to have the latest and greatest at all. The Nano simply suited my needs/wants the best-- I don't need/want more storage, prefer tiny sizes, and well. Okay.

I was going to get a shuffle; I had argued w/myself and decided for the sake of a smaller form factor, I could do just as well without a screen, different playlists, etc.

And then the Nanos came out! Seemed perfect-- small form factor, easy to bring on jogs/walks/workouts, am able to input different playlists. They even have a stopwatch and a lap timer.

So while the Nano may not be 'a proven and strong music player,' my choice to get a Nano was NOT based on a 'need to have the latest and greatest.'

 

[JDOG_]

Get the shuffle if you like convienience & rugged, beat-em-up style. Get the nano if you want coolfactor.

Done.

 

[Loge]

The Mini is much more durable than the Nano and it offers all the features that Ineed.

Much as I like the mini, I can't accept that a hard drive based iPod is more durable than a flash based iPod. The nano seems extremely durable to me.

 

[TEG]

I use my Shuffle (HP Branded) 1GB all the time. I used to use my full size 3G all the time as well. It has now been delegated to recording classes, and as a jukebox in my car, as well as a rudimentary PDA. However, the nano and 5G don't have remote ports, so to me their useless.

The Shuffle I actually keep on the lanyard, and wear it everywhere I go. It has broken the ice in several social situations, and it helped me acquire some rare foodstuffs from a fast food store.

The nano is much more versatile though over the Shuffle. You can upload photos, from your camera or computer, plus the PDA abilities, however it is not as easy to use as a portable drive, especially between systems.

I would like to see black Shuffles available, as well as a 2GB Shuffle, with 4GB and 6GB nanos.

Think about what you will need, then your money, then make a decision.

TEG

 

[conradzoo]

Love me 1 gig shuffle. It sits comfy in me trousers when cycling or doing the dishes (its even fun now!). When i bought me shuffle in jan friends asked me, ' why not the real pod?', me answer, got it out of me pocket, threw it on the floor. No worries, just music.

 

[JW008]

Look on Apples's refurb site for the best deals. I had a 40GB iPod Photo (which is now a 60GB iPod with video thanks to Best Buy losing the Photo on its way to getting repaired) and bought a 512MB shuffle for exercising and stuff like that. The biggest advantage for me is that at only $80 off Apple's refurb site I use it no matter what I'm doing. I snow ski in it, I'm taking it to Mexico with me when I'm in the jungles studying Mayan ruins. If something happens to the shuffle, it's not that big of an investment.

 

[balamw]

However, the nano and 5G don't have remote ports, so to me their useless.

I'm surprised that no one has come up with a dock connector -> remote port adapter for the nanos and 5Gs to let people use their old accessories. AFAIK all the pins that were on the remote connector are still on the dock connector.

Of course since the 5G supports 44kHz stereo voice memos, I wonder why anyone would want to use the old ones on the 5G.

B

 

[matticus008]

Much as I like the mini, I can't accept that a hard drive based iPod is more durable than a flash based iPod. The nano seems extremely durable to me.

It is by far the most durable iPod Apple's ever put out. It's incredibly strong and resilient and extremely difficult to dent, as evidenced by a horrible incident earlier today. The dock cable somehow got caught up in my shoelace while sitting at my desk and when I stood up and turned, my nano was launched across the room into a solid wood door.

I feared the worse, but aside from a scuff on the back of the iPod (and no additional scratches on the front!), it was perfectly fine and free of dents. The door is nicked from the impact, so there was a fair amount of force behind it (it's a small room).

 

[eXan]

Nano is so much better/cooler that shuffle! I hate the fact that Suff has no screen

Nanos have color screen, a click wheel, more space and are VERY thin!

 

[BornAgainMac]

Best of Both Worlds

Get the 60 GB iPod and the 512 MB Shuffle. I have seen the 512 MB shuffle for $68 bucks.

 

[Ringu]

I've got a 60gb ipod, a 1 gig Shuffle and a 4 gig Nano. The ipod pretty soon got moved to 'home jukebox' duties. I find if I'm going out for a short trip I'll instinctively use the shuffle. I love the 'no worries about scratching' about the shuffle and the way I can easily feel the controls when the shuffle is still in my pocket.

For longer distances, I like the nano. It's my airplane 'pod. However, I invariably pop the Shuffle in my carry-on luggage too.

 

[asherman13]

I've got a 60gb ipod, a 1 gig Shuffle and a 4 gig Nano. The ipod pretty soon got moved to 'home jukebox' duties. I find if I'm going out for a short trip I'll instinctively use the shuffle. I love the 'no worries about scratching' about the shuffle and the way I can easily feel the controls when the shuffle is still in my pocket.

For longer distances, I like the nano. It's my airplane 'pod. However, I invariably pop the Shuffle in my carry-on luggage too.

personally, i have a 30GB 5G ipod. i'm considering getting the shuffle for use as a usb drive and for some tunes when i feel like it. also, people make cheaper, sturdier cases for the shuffle that let you use it underwater, to a certain depth (great for swimming!). the shuffle will probably be my "take it with me everywhere" and my ipod will be relegated to home, car (maybe, probably bus/roadtrips) and most certainly airplane usage. that video feature is awesome!

ergo, if you can afford it, go with a "refreshed" shuffle from the apple store and a 5G ipod. that's my 2¢.

 

[Lord Sandwich]

I needed something to replace my 40GB 4G at the gym, as the hard drive is simply too delicate to be used while I plod on a treadmill.

I chose the shuffle over the nano because it's a great complementary device, rather than a full-fledged player that competes for attention. Plus, it's much more rugged and comes with everything you need right out of the box (hooray for the lanyard!).

Perhaps when a flash-based iPod hits 20-30GB I'll consider upgrading my 4G, but till then this combo works best for me.

 

[lucas]

also, people make cheaper, sturdier cases for the shuffle that let you use it underwater, to a certain depth (great for swimming!).

is that an attempt at humour or are you really ***** stupid?

 

[ftaok]

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!

iDM,

I haven't yet read through all of the posts yet, so if someone else suggested this, sorry.

If you sort the songs on the iPod shuffle playlist according to Genre, it'll load them that way in the shuffle. So if you're in the gym listening to the shuffle (on random) and you hit a song that fits your mood, then just switch over to straight play and songs in that Genre will play through.

It's not as elegant as having separate playlists, but it is a decent work around.

Personally, I load the songs onto my shuffle in alphabetical order. So when I hear a song from a certain performer, I can switch over to straight-play and hear other songs from that performer as well. It works pretty good.

ft

 

[kwajo.com]

I have a 4th gen 20GB and a 512 Shuffle, and the shuffle almost gets more use. I love the thing, it's incredibly durable and problem free, and as someone else said, it's sound quality is astounding. I hook it up to some high end headphones and lay in bed listening and it blows me away, and for the price that's a priceless sale right there