The Apple iPod Touch comes in 8GB, 16GB, and 32GB capacities. It is a flash-based player, so much more resitant to shocks than hard disk platers.

In Januray '08, Apple released a major software upgradeto the iPod Touch, adding the Stocks, Weather, Notes (stickies), Maos (finds your position using wi-fi hotspots), and Mail (snycs with Apple's Mail, GMail, AOL, other) It also added the ability to update your calendar on the Touch itself and the ability to create multiple customizable home screens.

This upgrade to me improves the usefulness of the Touch enormously and got me to buy one. With email, maps, and web access, I can often get away with carrying it instead of a laptop.  You will see many of the older models on eBay. The older models can be upgraded to the current software for $20 through Apple's web site.

It works well as an audio/video player. The screen is large and clear, and the user interface is touch based, eliminating the need for many buttons and leaving lots of roon for the screen. Turnign the Touch sideways brings up Apple's CoverFlow interface, giving you anoither way to browse music.

Pluses:

Most capbilities of any similar device
Web browser and emali work very well
Multitouch interface feels natural very quickly - even ryping on the tiny onscreen keyboard is not awful

Minuses

User cn't replace battery
Can't use it as a USB hard drive, iTunes or similar software must manage files
No hardware volume control, must reach into your pocket to skip a song or adjust volume
Expensive