Brad Blog

I don't have one.  I probably will never get one.  I'm too old school.  I know, I'm a great candidate for commenting on this particular blog ;)

My biggest concern is the quality of the new iPods. While I have not heard them yet, I have compared my good ole iPod Mini to my wifes newer first generation Nano. The older Mini sounds way better! Much fuller, better bass. After doing some research, I have discovered that ultimately the original Shuffle had the best sound quality of the entire iPod lineup. Strange....

Don't like the new Nano shape. Seems very awkward, like you would have to use two hands to control it. I think they should do away with the video on it as well. Leave that up to the larger iPod. There is a missing section now where the Mini once stood. A music device with a simple screen to change your music. The Shuffle has no screen so that doesn't help.

The iPod touch is definitely cool but I would never take it running that's for sure. And it seems a bit complicated, good for an airplane or road trip I guess.

Design wise, they are all beautiful.

I think though, that I will be getting a new battery and sticking with my Mini until it falls apart.

You are right, the iPod line does have a hole in it.  I have friends who are into running and biking.  They/I use the older nano with the Nike+iPod sensor (the accelerometer that measures how far you run... it is really cool and only $30, I just tape it to the top of my shoes and it is very accurate).  We think a sport edition that would allow the iPod to be shaped ideally for sports and have split timing for laps and intervals when used with the distance sensor.  I think it would be very good for training and exercise.

They probably left that "hole" to be "different."  There's a ton of competition already out there with the "really small + screen".  So they tried to go "smaller" and make the Shuffle too small to have a screen.

If you are looking for a small one with a screen, I'd recommend the Samsung YP-U2 line.  512/1G/2G, size of the "old" Shuffle, FM radio, and a good screen.  It's worked out pretty well for me, but I don't use iTunes so I don't know if you might have problems in that arena.

If I could by ONE song at a time UNCOMPRESSED, I would buy and iPod.

Right now most songs are ripped at 128K, sorry, but the sound quality at 128K stinks and I won't spend my money on it.

MusicGaints has lossless compression, and I would use them if I could buy ONE song, but you have to buy the whole album for $15.

Sorry, but I'd rather buy the CD... and chances are if I don't already have the CD I'm not willing to pay $15 for two songs.  I'll just wait until they come on the radio.