MP3 Manufacturers Everywhere are Shaking Their Heads and Moaning, or, Why it’s inevitable that I will eventually buy an iPod nano
I’ve owned three iPods so far — the first generation model (with the mechanical wheel and buttons), the 3rd gen model (with the touch-sensitive buttons) and the shuffle.
I loved the first,
but the original 4gig drive started to cramp my style. Plus the wheel kept falling off.
So: Upgrade.
15gig drive, non-mechanical wheel. But the buttons were also non-mechanical and were a bit too twitchy. Plus the battery life sucked — I got one of the problem cases.
Anyhow, I realized that even though I was carrying the vast majority of my collection with me, I still listened to the same stuff over and over. The solution? 
Take away the ability to choose and switch to the shuffle. Half a gig of random songs was just what the doctor ordered.
But, now, I am out-growing the shuffle. I have broken my habit of listening to the same stuff all the time, and have learned to branch out. While I absolutely love the form factor, the lack of a screen (while liberating in some ways) is starting to chafe.
Enter the nano. I have not ordered one yet, but it is only a matter of time. The smallness of the form is amazing, the 2 (or 4) gig flash drive is a goodly amount of music without providing all the music all the time (meaning I can rotate the library and hear more music). Plus, the screen, oh the screen. I have coveted the iPod photo since it came out, but couldn’t justify the expense. But now all screened iPods have color, and I can have my cake and eat it too.
(I think there are some who don’t see the point in the photo capabilities, but, for me, it would be nice to be able to whip out some fun photos to share on a whim.)
Anyway, the point of the title of this post is, yes, I will buy one eventually, and the job of every manufacturer with an “iPod killer” just got that much harder.
The only question left is: White or black?
I just don’t know.
September 8th, 2005 at 8:36 pm
Tim, you bring up a good point. I have a 20gb 3rd generation (no battery problems yet, knock on wood) which I have attempted to store most of the music I think I’ll listen to out of my ~30gb collection. Yet I continue to listen to the same albums over and over with so much more I could be listening to. I keep thinking I must need a 60gb so I can have my entire collection with me wherever I go, though I’m sure I’d end up listening to the same songs yet again. Going to a smaller size is a great idea and one that I had yet to think of. Maybe a Nano would be ideal after my 3g bites the dust.
That black also looks snazzy.
September 12th, 2005 at 5:51 am
Go for the white! Always a cool colour.
I have only had a Mini Ipod (the 4gb version), but I absolutely love it. I will propably let it live its natural life out before purchasing a Nano… Or.. hmm.. give it to my girlfriend..? Hmmm.. Anyway, the 4gb is more than enough, if you just remember to switch around once in a while.
Anyway, get the white Nano, and forget the ipodkillers, they’ll never have the design or the attitude of Apple and their Ipods!