New Video iPod vs Nano or Cowan iAudio U2

[Memnoch]

G'day all, I'm thinking of getting an iPod since I gave away my Creative MuVo 256Mb to my dad (it was a great MP3 player as well). I'm tossing up between:

Nano 2GB for $199



30GB Video iPod for $299



Or a Cowan iAudio U2 1GB for $140



I don't generally listen to portable music as if I'm not home I'm usually in class or in my car where I listen to CDs. The only time I listen to portable music is when I'm at the gym or when I'm flying on a plane. This is why I'd been happy with my Creative MuVo - it suited my needs, and 256Mb was plenty for what I used it for. Plus you can use normal batteries, which meant I could just buy heaps of batteries and replace them if I needed to on long-haul flights.

So based on those needs I was thinking of getting a Cowan iAudio which has gotten great reviews on CNET. Or maybe the iPod Nano, because it looks really cool and supposedly isn't that much taller (and a lot thinner). 2GB will be more than enough for what I need based on my current requirements.

BUT!!!!

I do listen to MP3s exclusively at home (I don't even have a stereo at the moment, I use my laptop with some Logitech speakers). I'm considering getting a surround sound system which has a USB port so I can plug an MP3 player of some kind to it without having to buy a CD player. At the moment I have 11GB of music taking up space on my harddrive and only about 6GB free (I do have a 100GB external USB drive but I like having my music on my laptop in case I travel around). I'm also starting to more and more utilise digital format for my movies (I have a dual layer DVD burner and am getting a TV tuner).

So when I saw Apple come out with the newest video iPod I started to think about getting that and using that as my central music/movies/entertainment repository. I saw a number of benefits to it:

1. Move all 11GB of music and about 5GB of video to it thus freeing up 16GB of hard drive space on my laptop. I can then use it as my stereo (plug it into my computer when I'm at home and play via Windows Media or iTunes). If I travel then it travels with me.

2. have all my stuff in one place

3. plug it into my surround sound system if required

4. bring it with me when i'm on the plane or in the gym

The downsides to this plan:

1. it seems a bit big for the gym??? how big is it (for anyone who has it). Can it be put in a pocket while I train?

2. battery life when on the plane. I understand it has a rechargeable battery only and up to 14 hours of battery life (which we all know manufacturer suggested battery life is bollocks). I'm concerned that it may die out on those long haul flights from Boston to Sydney. Unless I buy two batteries.

Can anyone provide any feedback here?

[T-D-C]

Well I can not vouch for either model I do have an Ipod Shuffle and it lasted me pretty much from Sydney to San Fran and then halfway to Florida.

One great thing was that I could charge it from my laptop battery (via USB)if needed while on flight (and since I could plug my laptop into the plane power it worked great)

Not sure if the Nano or the Ipod video could do that (they probably can but i havn't tested it)

[Link]

Or you could get yourself a Sony Ericsson w800i which is both a phone and a portable music player. The memory card you get with it has 512MB, but you can get up to 1GB, and the cards are useable by digital camera's as well.

[Memnoch]

My Sony Ericsson K750i does the same thing, but the problem is that I don't think you can turn on your phone while on flights. Plus it hasnt got the most user-friendly interface [img]graemlins/awcrap.gif[/img]

[Link]

Check the specs of the w800i online and you'll see the difference. The w800i asks you at start up whether or not you want the phone to be turned on or that you just want to listen to music.

Combining the above with the fact that the w800i has walkman qualities (and a nice interface to boot) and you've got your portable MP3-player. It's easily comparable to the k750i, but expanded with the music part.

[Larry_OHF]

I'd wait for the lawsuit with Nano to end before considering, especially if it causes the Nano to either drop in price or if it causes the manufacturers to fix the screen problem.

[RoSs_bg2_rox]

The w800i is nice yes Link, but no, you can't listen to it on the plane.

I would, out of that bunch, go for the Ipod Video definately, although I'd pick up the 60gb model. For your needs and an ever expanding music / DVD collection, I don't think there is any point in a Nano. While they are tiny, and look smart, they're not the most practical of things, I much prefer my 60gb BIG Creative Zen Xtra.

[Memnoch]

Originally posted by Larry_OHF: I'd wait for the lawsuit with Nano to end before considering, especially if it causes the Nano to either drop in price or if it causes the manufacturers to fix the screen problem.

What lawsuit?

[shamrock_uk]

Unfortunately, all planes that I've travelled on recently also ban phones even when they're in "flight mode" - the w800i may therefore not be the best choice in this situation.

[Sir Goulum]

The screen is very susceptible to scratches, I know I'm being VERY careful with mine right now.

I'm busy kicking myself, though, for not waiting to see what else Apple would come out with. Only a 50 dollor difference between the 4GB Nano and the 30GB iPod? Geez...