PRODUCT REVIEW
An iPod Buyer's Guide

Let's get one thing straight: You can't go wrong by buying an iPod. Any iPod. But that's not to say the decisions between which iPod to buy aren't hard. In fact, it can be downright tough. The tiny iPod shuffle is awesome for working out, but it lacks a screen. The iPod nano has a screen but lacks applications. The iPod touch has applications but might be too bulky for working out and may lack storage space. The iPod classic has mega storage but no touchscreen joy.

For the casual buyer, the choices are enough to drive a person batty. What if the iPod in question is a gift? The four models are different enough that making the wrong choice could easily result in a forced smile, and let's face it: These little bundles of media joy aren't exactly cheap. This quick and easy guide should help you get it right.

The iPod Shuffle

At US$49, the 1 GB iPod shuffle is Apple's (Nasdaq: AAPL) least expensive media player -- and by media, it means songs and podcasts, up to about 240 of them. With its handy built-in clip, Apple positions it as "the world's most wearable music player." It comes in five vibrant colors, and it's so small and light it can clip anywhere -- even in an owner's hair. The 2 GB model holds up to about 500 songs in Apple's 128-Kbps AAC format, though it also plays MP3, Audible, WAV, and AIFF files. Playtime is up to 12 hours. Users can create a playlist in a particular order via iTunes running on a connected PC or Mac, and a shuffle mode will play songs randomly.

• Pros: Super small, super light, cheap yet rugged.
• Cons: No screen, no video, no sleep mode for late-night listening.
• Bottom Line: The iPod shuffle is great for exercising, and it's durable enough that you don't have to worry about dropping it and breaking it. It's a great entry player for kids, but think twice before giving it to a spoiled teenager.

The iPod Nano

The newly redesigned iPod nano has returned to its rectangular roots. The previous generation was a fat-looking, (yet quite thin, in fact) square, and some of these older iPod nanos are still available at retail . Avoid them and go for the upgraded, newer versions, which include an accelerometer that recognizes landscape and vertical positions. The accelerometer is also the magic that lets you give the nano a little shake to shuffle your playlist.

The small screen is surprisingly sharp, so much so that it's possible to watch TV shows and movies to good effect. It comes in nine bright colors, in two sizes: the 8 GB model holds about 2,000 songs and costs $149, while the 16 GB model holds up to about 4,000 songs and costs $199. Navigation is done through an intuitive touch-sensitive scroll wheel that's easy to use in one hand. Most importantly, while the nano is surprisingly small and light, it's big on functionality. You can create playlists on the go or even let it create playlists for you with Apple's new built-in Genius feature, which is also part of iTunes. Genius lets you select a song and then generates a playlist of similar, complimentary songs. Oh, and photos -- it'll hold pics, too.

• Pros: Thin and light, tiny screen is sharp and usable, navigation is easy with a single hand, includes Apple's Genius, comes with some games, can play video, can be used to record audio with an add-on mic.
• Cons: Few games, few applications, no WiFi, no Web browsing, no e-mail , no SMS, no Google (Nasdaq: GOOG) maps, etc.
• Bottom Line: Packed with features, the nano is a good compromise for active users who want something great for working out, small enough to slide into a pocket, and yet still capable of playing video now and then. It's primarily a music and video player in a tight package.

The iPod Touch

The new iPod touch is much like the previous generation, except it feels thinner, comes with more storage, newer software, Genius, a speaker, built-in Nike (NYSE: NKE) + iPod support for runners, and integrated volume controls.

The iPod touch is like an iPhone without the phone part -- its gorgeous, big screen boasts Apple's innovative multi-touch navigation. It plays music, displays videos, and shows off photos to glorious effect; it runs thousands of third-party applications and games; it has a built-in browser, e-mail access, WiFi, Google Maps, YouTube access, an accelerometer, and more. With direct online access to Apple's App Store, adding games and applications is just a matter of tapping the screen. An 8 GB version retails for $229, a 16 GB for $299, and a 32 GB for $399.

• Pros: Wonderful screen, lots of built-in applications, thousands of third-party applications available, its operating system is upgradable, future may bring WiFi-based VoIP (voice over Internet protocol) calls, touchscreen makes it easy to use with home audio and speaker docking systems, it can be used as a remote for an Apple TV, and basically it's an all-around joy to use.
• Cons: No built-in camera, no GPS, storage seems paltry for such a great form factor and interface.
• Bottom Line: Because the iPod touch does so many things so well -- easy music navigation, videos are a joy to watch, and games are ready for it -- Apple calls it "the funnest iPod ever." While most won't want to risk taking it to the gym, the touch is surprisingly thin and light. With the right case, it's a viable workout companion. For traveling, the big screen is amazing, and the thousands of applications and games will give this iPod a life extension for many years to come. Can't go wrong. Seriously. Tell your friends: iPod touch.

The iPod Classic

On the surface, the iPod classic is the least compelling of all the iPods. It's bigger, has a mid-size screen, and the touch-sensitive scroll wheel that seems perfect on the nano seems old-school on the classic. Still, the iPod classic comes with 120 GB of storage -- that's about 30,000 songs or 150 hours of video. And it'll play those songs for 36 hours. Few iPod owners have enough media to fill this thing up.

• Pros: Capacity.
• Cons: Lacks much of application functionality of the iPod touch.
• Bottom Line: This big puppy is perfect for those who are avid music listeners and who must have their entire music library with them at all times. Same goes for TV, movies, and video. If having the media available at a moment's touch is key, the classic is a win. Not surprisingly, the iPod classic has been the go-to tool for DJs for years.

Overall, the nano and the touch are the most versatile models. The nano gets the edge for super-active, on-the-go users while the touch will wow most everyone else.