15 out of 15 people found this review helpful.
iPod Nano Rocks
Date of Review: Jan 24, 2006
The Bottom Line: Nano is a set of compromises of size, capacity and features but it's a great second or even primary MP3 device which is easy to use.
The iPod Nano is a departure for Apple. Having owned a 4GB model since the week the Nano was introduced I have had plenty of time to put it through its paces, travel with it and enjoy the latest marvel from Apple's research facility.
The Nano is tiny. It's possible to hide it in one's hand. It can hold either 2GM or 4GM of data which can be a mix of songs, photos, text, etc. Sound is excellent - it's as good as what you load onto it and the USB interface is fast - not as fast as the Firewire interface but you won't be tapping your foot for long as it fills up.
When first installed, the software scans your iTunes folders if you are already using iTunes. If you are, it will pick a selection to get you started which it will put into a playlist called "Nano Selection". These will be the songs to which you listen the most but it selects with some sense. If you listen to five songs from a given CD a lot and the rest on that same CD a little, it will move over the whole CD for you. THis is a good way to get started in setting up a subset of music from iTunes. If you are not already running iTunes, don't worry. It will set itself up for you and let you scan your computer for existing music which can be loaded onto the Nano.
Controls could not be simpler. Like all new iPods, there is a clickwheel and a screen. It's easy to use. The screen is beautiful! It's just a bit on the small side for viewing photos although you certainly can load photos from iPhoto (Mac) or from Adobe Photoshop. You can also place photos into a specific folder on your computer and then go into the Nano settings to tell it where to find the photos you want loaded. Using ANY photos on the Nano seems to take up about 50MB of space, so keep this in mind. As I decided that music was more important on my Nano than photos, I deleted my photos from my Nano and used that space for music instead.
Playlists, podcasts, photos, data - however you want to use it - can coexist on the Nano nicely.
Buy a case! The Nano now comes with a small carrying case to protect it but get something else. Look over the selection of third party cases and select one which fits your needs and lifestyle. Do it! The Nano scratches VERY easily and needs to be protected. Don't leave this for later. Do it up front and protect your investment. You will thank yourself later.
Battery life is as advertised. It will play for 14+ hours without a problem and recharge in 3. It will charge off an iPod power supply or off of a USB port. It is so efficient that it can be recharged off a laptop on an airplane while using both the laptop and the iPod. All you need for the road is a sync cable and you can keep it charged without having to carry around a charger.
The Nano really rocks. It's a tiny cousin to the full-size iPod but it's fast, energy efficient and perfect for commuting or travel.
