iPod Buying Guide: Which iPod fits me best?

In the flurry of activity that was the recent release of all-new iPods, you may be wondering how you’ll ever decide which iPod will fit your needs best.  Never fear, timid iPod consumer, as each iPod’s strengths and weaknesses will be highlighted below to answer any questions you might have.

1. iPod Shuffle - here we have the smallest and possibly cutest device for music playback on the streets today.  Boasting a meager gigabyte of storage, be aware that storage is not the Shuffle’s strongpoint; think portability and size.

At $79 dollars, you can take the Shuffle anywhere; it clips onto your clothing wherever you please, and weighs near to nothing.  The Shuffle is great for the casual listener who really only wants a few particular songs with them at all times (the Shuffle holds up to 240).

Drawbacks - I think the size of the Shuffle, personally, is a drawback.  I would be prone to lose the Shuffle, or break it in some way.  The Shuffle has no screen, so navigation is a little more painstaking.  There isn’t a lot of storage capacity, either.

2. iPod Nano - the new Nano really is a sight to behold.  It comes in 4 and 8 Gb models, and now has video capabilities with a cute little screen to watch all the Office your heart desires.  A nice array of colors is available, and pricing starts at a moderate $149.

Drawbacks - capacity is still not particularly high if you want to have a large library with you at all times; you’re also not getting the best iPod video experience with such a small screen.

However, if you want something compact that delivers a wide spectrum of capabilities (ok, really only video and audio), the Nano is a great little companion.

3. iPod Classic - the new old iPod brings the most storage to the table of any of the iPods currently; 80 and 160 Gb models are available, delivering both video and audio with plenty of storage.  If you’re one of those who want to carry your entire library, this would be your solution.  Pricing begins at $249.

Drawbacks - fortunately, there really are no drawbacks to the Classic.  It is the iPod, incarnate.  However, there is more functionality to be had in the Touch, which I’ll discuss later.  If you want a standard iPod for day to day use without additional functionality, this is your ticket.

4.  iPod Touch - the iPod Touch is the new kid on the block, bringing much of the functionality of the iPhone to those who don’t want to sell their souls to AT&T.   You get WiFi for web browsing, iCal, contacts, full screen video, the wonderful touch functionality, and iTunes Store on the go.  Coming in 8 and 16 Gb models, pricing begins at $299.

Drawbacks - none, unless you feel the need to have your complete library with you at all times.  There isn’t a ton of storage, but the functionality compensates for the lack of space.

There’s the breakdown; if you really want to get a hands-on experience before your purchase, hit your local Apple store to play with each and every model, and see which fits you best.