Apple iPod Nano 8 GB 4th Generation > Reviews (100)

I purchased this model in yellow after my older ipod broke. The price was a bit painful, but it was new at the time and it looked nice.

Basic Package
I already had experience using the itunes software with it, but even so, it's a pretty simple process to get it set up and playing music. You can turn CDs into tracks that your ipod will store, or you can purchase music from the itunes store. It included a cord to plug into the computer for charging and editing music, as well as a set of basic ear buds. I was a little dissappointed Apple didn't include a charger for the wall, especially for what I paid.It doesn't include any music, but three simple games are thrown in with the device. Solitaire is included, though rather difficult to see on the small screen, especially if you have vision problems. Another game uses the motion detecting technology. You tilt the device in order to move several marbles to their destinations before time runs out. This is fun, but the only real use of the motion sensing other than shaking the device to shuffle your music into random order. The itunes software is free off Apple's website should you lose your CD.

Design
The device is about the length of your palm. It's very slim and easily stored in a pocket or bag. The screen is slightly less than half of the device (rather small), while the other half is a round touchpad that is used to navigate the device. To move about you just slide your finger along the touchpad, as well as using the 4 buttons to make selections. If you read your instructions the learning curve is actually quite small. On the bottom is a headphone jack to plug your headphones in, and on the top is a switch you can flip to lock the device, meaning that buttons and movement will not effect the device until the switch is flipped again. With this you can put the device in your bag or pocket without fear of buttons being pressed or the volume being turned deafening on you.

After Regular Use...
After having the product for several months you generally go in one direction or another. On one hand you have casual listeners like myself. I only use the device for long road trips or to wind down in the evening. On the other hand are those who listen constantly, bringing the device everywhere. After about a year and a half of casual use it was seeing some wear. The touchpad was no longer reliable, and the buttons didn't always respond. The shake shuffle feature didn't function at all, and the device had a few scratches. It still played music just as well, but the inner workings were wearing out. My battery lasts 3 to 4 hours straight (depending on how much you mess with it and light the screen), so for longer road trips I had to buy a vehicle charger. The storage space is very large, but music aficionados beware, at about 1,700 songs I met the capacity on my device.

Overall, a nice device. Cool colors and look, and easy portability make it useful and stylish, while limited battery, high price, lack of free music, and long-term durability limit its potential.