iPod Q&A - Published September 18, 2008
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What are the "pros and cons" of the "Early 2008" iPod models?
Please note that Apple changed this lineup on March 11, 2009 and discontinued it entirely on September 9, 2009. The following Q&A was written when theses models were currently shipping.
The currently shipping iPod models in 2008 were the iPod nano 4th Gen, iPod touch 2nd Gen, iPod classic 2nd Gen, and iPod shuffle 2nd Gen (2008).
In the above photo, the iPod touch 2nd Gen, the iPod classic 2nd Gen, iPod nano 4th Gen, and iPod shuffle 2nd Gen (2008) stand side-by-side from left to right, respectively (Photo Credit: Apple, Inc).
The major differences between the current iPods are summarized below:
| iPod Model: | touch 2nd Gen | classic 2nd Gen | nano 4th Gen | shuffle 2nd Gen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Storage Capacity: | 8, 16, 32 GB | 120 GB | 4, 8 GB | 1, 2 GB |
| Song Capacity: | 1750, 3500, 7000 | 30,000 | 1000, 2000 | 240, 500 |
| Case Colors: | Black | Silver, Black | Colors† | Colors† |
| Display Size: | 320x480 | 320x240 | 240x320 | None |
| Max Battery Life: | 36 Hours | 36 Hours | 24 Hours | 12 Hours |
| Photo Capability: | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Video Capability: | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Multi-touch: | Yes | No | No | No |
| Accelerometer: | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Shake to Shuffle: | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Genius Support: | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Nike Support: | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| External Speaker: | Yes | No | No | No |
| Accessibility: | No | No | Yes | No |
| Wireless Internet: | Yes | No | No | No |
| Retail Price: | US$229 US$299 US$399 | US$249 | US$149 US$199 | US$49 US$69 |
†The iPod nano 4th Gen is available in silver, black, purple, blue, green, yellow, orange, pink, and red. The iPod shuffle (2nd Gen) models introduced in late 2008 are available in silver, blue, green, pink, and red.
The above chart provides most of the "pros and cons" of each model compared to each other, but you may find the below summary to be useful as well.
iPod touch 2nd Gen
Pros:
- Thin, sleek design.
- Clever multi-touch interface introduced with the iPhone.
- Wireless Internet (wi-fi), built-in support for Nike + iPod, the "Genius" feature, "shake to shuffle", and useful applications.
- External speaker handy for casual listening of music and movies.
- Not tied to a monthly service plan like the iPhone.
Cons:
- 8, 16, or even 32 GB of storage and a maximum battery life of six hours for video playback may be inadequate for heavy users.
- Lacks the accessibility features introduced with the iPod nano 4th Gen.
- External microphone not yet supported by applications.
- Cannot charge via Firewire, incompatible with many Firewire-based accessories.
- More expensive than the iPod classic and iPod nano 4G per megabyte of storage.
iPod classic 2nd Gen
Pros:
- Largest capacity available, holds the most songs, photos, and video.
- Supports the new "Genius" playlist functionality.
- Excellent battery life.
- Firewire charging supported, compatible with many older Firewire-based devices.
- Lowest cost per megabyte of storage.
Cons:
- Smaller display than the iPod touch.
- Less storage than that provided by the "original" iPod classic (6th Gen).
- Interface is not as sophisticated as the iPod touch 2nd Gen and iPod nano 4th Gen.
iPod nano 4th Gen
Pros:
- Adequate storage capacity for modest music collections.
- Built-in support for Nike + iPod, the "Genius" feature, "shake to shuffle", and new accessibility options.
- Supports video, video out, photos, and games, as well as music.
- Relatively inexpensive.
Cons:
- Relatively small display, somewhat mitigated by the self-switching between portrait and landscape mode as appropriate.
- Cannot charge via Firewire, incompatible with many Firewire-based accessories.
iPod shuffle 2nd Gen (2008)
Pros:
- Extremely tiny, sleek design.
- Convenient clip to attach the iPod shuffle to a pocket or sleeve.
- Least expensive iPod model.
Cons:
- No display (and consequently, no support for photos, video, or games).
- Limited capacity.
- Most expensive iPod per megabyte.
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