Nowadays it’s common to find people with white headphone cords trailing from a pocket or bag to the bobbing heads of music lovers enjoying their tunes on the go. If you want to be part on the fun is easy by deciding exactly which iPod player to buy. Although the basic selection of the many iPod options are the same, the details make each player as uniquel as the person who owns it. If you are looking for the best iPod player, the main key is knowing what you want by figuring out exactly which features you would like in your iPod player.
For Music Lovers : 
The smallest member of Apple's family still packs a mighty punch. Almost impossibly small--it measures just 1.07 x 1.62 x 0.41 inches and weighs about half an ounce--the iPod shuffle puts rapid access to music at your fingertips.
Available in a range of colors, the shuffle keeps things simple. Choose from one of two storage capacities: the
iPod shuffle 1 GB Silver
promises up to 240 songs, or you can more than double that number on the
iPod shuffle 2 GB Silver
. All models have a Click Wheel that puts control front and center, allowing you to fast-forward, rewind, pause, and play songs in an instant. It's also where you'll pump the volume up (or down, of course).
A single switch on the top lets you decide if you want to play all of your music in a random order or if you want to hear playlists and albums in the order you saved them using iTunes. All of this atop a sturdy clip that lets you take your music anywhere--without any hassle. And it's the perfect workout partner--clip it to your shirt and go, without the worry of dropping your high-capacity video MP3 player.
Not only is the package appealing, but so is the price. Checking in at well below $100--considerably less than its screen-bearing cousins--the shuffle is easy on your pocketbook. Many find it so affordable that they use it as a second device, either for a specific purpose--maybe it's loaded with motivating music for workouts, or it could be your audiobooks-only player--or for times when you just want to clip it on and go.
For Music and Video Geeks :
Although the 3rd-generation iPod nano now boasts video, this sleek little player is the perfect marriage of lots of music capacity and total control. Apple's patented Click Wheel allows you to cruise through menus in the 2-inch display, selecting songs individually or by playlist, album, or artist.
One of the most popular players on the planet, the nano gives you two options. Its
iPod nano 4 GB Silver 
packs up to 1,000 songs; 3,500 photos; or 4 hours of video (or some of each) into less than 2 ounces of hardware. Looking for a bit more bang for your buck? The
iPod nano 8 GB Version 
is available in five vibrant colors--silver, black, blue, green, and pink--and it has room for 2,000 songs; 7,000 photos; or 8 hours of video. Both are identical in physical size (measuring a sleek 2.75 x 2.06 x 0.26 inches).
Focusing on the music isn't meant to sell the video functionality short. The nano's larger 320 x 240-resolution display is 65% brighter than previous versions and boasts the most pixels per inch of any Apple display ever. Plus, you can play up to 5 hours of video or up to 24 hours of audio on a single charge. All that staying power in a wafer-thin 6.5-millimeter profile makes the iPod nano one small big sensation.
For Internet Addicts : 
The latest addition to the iPod line, the
iPod Touch raises the bar for what is possible in portable entertainment and information devices. Weighing a bit more than 4 ounces, the touch connects you to the World Wide Web no matter where in the world you roam. Surf the Net, send an e-mail, get directions, check the weather, or follow your stocks--it's all possible thanks to Wi-Fi functionality.
Want more than online access? You've got it. How much music you can load on the touch depends on which version you take home. The
8 GB model holds 1,750 songs; 10,000 photos; or 10 hours of video. The
iPod Touch 16 GB Model
gives you up to 3,500 songs; 20,000 photos; or 20 hours of video. And with the
iPod Touch 32 GB Model
, you can tote as many as 7,000 songs; 25,000 photos; or 40 hours of video along with you.
Even navigation on this device is entertaining. As its name implies, the touch relies on physical contact to move through its many features. A unique interface allows you to "fly" through menus displayed on its generous 3.5-inch display while using a "pinch" motion to zoom in on what you want to see most.
For Capacity Craver : 
Need space for all of your music, movies, and photos? The
iPod Classic
is your right choice. And when the smaller of the two options is 80 GB, you know you're in the right place.
Maybe you don't like updating your iPod every time your mood changes. Or perhaps you don't want to have to choose between your favorite pictures and a video that you can't stop watching. A slender 4.1 x 2.4 x 0.41 inches will carry up to 20,000 songs; 25,000 photos; or 100 hours of video. A slightly larger version (4.1 x 2.4 x 0.53 inches) gives you twice as much room. The 160 GB powerhouse will hold about 40,000 songs; 25,000 photos; or 200 hours of video--or a mix of all three. And both models are available in two striking colors: black and silver.
Does the thought of scrolling through every song you've ever downloaded make you cringe? No need to worry. In addition to traditional iPod navigation, the classic includes Cover Flow, which makes it possible to search for songs by album art. Use the Click Wheel to flip through album covers, then select one to automatically see its track list. Also, the classic is encased in an all-metal enclosure.