IPod Nano Combines Beauty, Function

By Walter S. Mossberg ^ | September 8, 2005

[Swordmaker]

Grab a standard American business card. Now, get a pair of scissors and trim the long side of the card by 20%. That's all the space you need to hold over 1,000 songs, plus audio books, podcasts and photos if you buy Apple Computer's newest iPod model, the gorgeous and sleek iPod nano.

This latest iPod was publicly revealed yesterday at a razzle-dazzle marketing event orchestrated by Apple CEO Steve Jobs. But I have been testing a nano for the past few days, and I am smitten. It's not only beautiful and incredibly thin, but I found it exceeds Apple's performance claims.

Apple's iPod nano

In fact, the nano has the best combination of beauty and functionality of any music player I've tested -- including the iconic original white iPod.

[Swordmaker]

iPod Nano review by Mossberg... PING!

If you want on or off the Mac Ping List, Freepmail me.

[Leonard210]

Overpriced piece of technological overkill for a bunch of latte swilling, goatee wearing girlie boys. I'll stick with my Victrola. (I just like to be first. :-)

[BunnySlippers]

I like it.

Too bad the Motorola phone was UGLY. I'm surprised that Apple couldn't have advised them to get a better industrial designer.

[martin_fierro]

I like the looks of the Nano, but it's got too little storage (& looks too delicate) for my purposes.

[tubebender]

My granddaughter came over this evening and repaired my iPod Mini. I guess I used to big of a hammer and got the scroll wheel stuck. It's working good now...

[martin_fierro]

My granddaughter came over this evening and repaired my iPod Mini.

LOL

When I start getting tech tips from my 7-year old niece is when I'll feel OLD. < |:)~

[papertyger]

I'll stick with my Victrola.

Fashion victim ;o>

[Leonard210]

Hey, saw the first Nano commercial. It's the first to break the iPod traditional silhouette style. It's just a couple of hands rolling the Nano around. I think I may need an iPod!

[SunkenCiv]

[crank crank crank, crackle]
"I tore up your picture when you said goodbye, but I put it together again..."

[Huber]

You obviously do not have an iPod. These things are better than sliced bread!

[Rubber_Duckie_27]

I told my husband that I need one. :-D Never mind that my 2003-vintage iPod is still going strong (albeit with a short-ish battery charge capacity)...I probably won't buy one for myself for at least 4-6 months. I wanted to get him a mini, and will probably get him a nano, for Christmas.

I use my iPod in the car and at the gym and 4 GB seems just right. In fact, my 10 GB iPod has only about 4 GB of tunes on it, and I listen to maybe 30% on a regular basis.

[Leonard210]

Tee Hee Hee... Ya know, when I left here I went and watched the Nano event and the guy from Motorola mentioned that thing in a brief history of his company. I was being facetious but I guess that was the iPod of its day. "It's too expensive." "Only plays a few songs. Why I can turn on my radio and listen to songs all day." "Coffee with sugar drinkin', 'lectric razor usin', Victrola listenin' girlie men." :-D

[Leonard210]

Alas, it is true. Sold many, but have owned none. I've been trying to figure out when I could use it and where to put it. Pockets are full already. I like the idea of broadcasting to an FM channel. (We do that with iTunes at home and love it.) But this Nano. It's a beauty. I know, I'll roll it in my shirt sleeve like they used to do with cigarettes! :-D

[Mr. Blonde]

I already have a 20G iPod and a Mini to run with, but that black Nano is awesome looking. Too bad they couldn't make it with 6G like the new Mini's.

[boris]

...and a tiny memory.

[SunkenCiv]

;')

[SamAdams76]

I have had my iPod (40gig) for a year now. It is without a doubt the most revolutionary consumer product I have ever owned. My 1100-CD record library is in the attic, awaiting a future E-Bay sale while 8821 tracks from those CDs (along with a few hundred tracks I bought on iTunes and a bunch of podcasts and audiobooks) resides on a device about the size of a deck of cards that I carry everywhere I go.

My entire music library goes with me on my morning walks where I listen through earphones. In my car, where I listen with a $29 FM transponder. And it plugs into my home stereo where the sound quality is just incredible.

I have about 140 custom playlists that I am always refining and when I'm in the mood, I just hit SHUFFLE ALL and any of some 8800+ tracks start playing in any conceivable order. From Bach to Bessie Smith to Hank Williams to Led Zeppelin. My playlist is easily over ten times the size of a typical radio station playlist. And growing every day. No commericals and only the music I like.

Overpriced? I don't think so. I spent $400 for my iPod a year ago and I have listened to it for over 2000 hours since. That comes out to about 20 cents an hour. Not a bad deal.

[Leonard210]

Yes, OK, I'm jealous. (I hope you know I was pokin' fun at the troglodytes who generally show up at the mention of anything Apple related.) I'm building a library on my home system and the most elegant way to listen away from home looks like a Nano. (Now I just gotta convince me woife.)

[SamAdams76]

If you have an extensive music library (at least several thousand songs) than I highly recommend you get the full, hard-drive version of the iPod. It's only about another $50 to $100 and you will get at least 10x the storage.

I might get the Nano to take on walks or short trips but otherwise, I would much rather have my full music library at my disposal.

The ultra-thin Nano looks too delicate for heavy use. I've dropped my full-size iPod several times, one time even in a puddle of water, and it continues to function flawlessly. Of course, I do keep it in a protective leather case at all times.