Help! iPod Touch, Nano, Shuffle

[Small Town Princess]

Overload! I am so technology challenged. My 11 year old is asking for some sort of "i" thingy for Christmas. Can someone give me the basic run down of these products (or others I don't know about). How are they different?

Then if I get her one, do I need to buy her itunes to go with it?

Is iPad more of a computer and the others music devices? I am guessing iphone is the only one that you can actually talk on.

Don't laugh, I am seriously in the dark ages. Still learning facebook and LOL.

 

[mjkacmom]

Ds12 LOVES his ipod touch. I think she's definitely too old for the shuffle. I got my ds itunes gc's with it, so he could download stuff.

 

[ragtopday]

First, iTunes is a free download. No need to pay for the software itself. She can load (rip) her own CD's into it and/or buy music through iTunes, but there is no charge to use it.

Of course, just this week Apple announced new products, so this gets a bit more confusing!

I would recommend the iPod Touch if your budget allows, since it has built in wireless ability. She can also download games and other apps through iTunes (many are free, though some have a small charge associated with them).

The new iPod Nano (just announced this week) has some Touch capability and looks super cute! I don't know much about it yet, but I want one!

I would not recommend the Shuffle (can't see what's playing, or coming up) for a teen (I own one that I use for running, but that's my preference).

You definitely DO NOT need the iPad - it's way more expensive than any of the iPods and is not small enough to be truly portable in the same way. And yes, the iPhone is for talking! The iPod Touch is actually pretty much the iPhone without the phone!

I highly suggest either visiting an Apple store to play with these in person if you live near one, and/or consider purchasing a refurbished device online through Apple. I have had great experience with this - the prices are much less and they come with the same one year warranty as new. The models are not always current generation, but it usually doesn't matter.

http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/specialdeals/ipod?mco=OTY2ODY2NQ

Hope that helps and that I didn't confuse you more!

 

[kjpotter]

iPhone - cell phone plus texting and websurfing. Requires a monthly service plan.

iPod/iShuffle - plays music and games. Shuffle is the smallest version of the iPod. There are many different prices based on the storage capacity of the device. No monthly plans required. You must download iTunes to your computer (it is a free download). You can then put all of your own music on the ipod. However, you can also buy music/games/videos from itunes and download it to your ipod.

iPad - I dont' have one, but from what I understand it is like a small laptop with a touchscreen instead of a keyboard. It comes with either a wi-fi connection or a 3G connection. Don't trust me completely on this since I do not have one.

iMac - desktop computer.

iBook - laptop computer.

 

[mjkacmom]

First, iTunes is a free download. No need to pay for the software itself. She can load (rip) her own CD's into it and/or buy music through iTunes, but there is no charge to use it.

Of course, just this week Apple announced new products, so this gets a bit more confusing!

I would recommend the iPod Touch if your budget allows, since it has built in wireless ability. She can also download games and other apps through iTunes (many are free, though some have a small charge associated with them).

The new iPod Nano (just announced this week) has some Touch capability and looks super cute! I don't know much about it yet, but I want one!

I would not recommend the Shuffle (can't see what's playing, or coming up) for a teen (I own one that I use for running, but that's my preference).

You definitely DO NOT need the iPad - it's way more expensive than any of the iPods and is not small enough to be truly portable in the same way. And yes, the iPhone is for talking! The iPod Touch is actually pretty much the iPhone without the phone!

I highly suggest either visiting an Apple store to play with these in person if you live near one, and/or consider purchasing a refurbished device online through Apple. I have had great experience with this - the prices are much less and they come with the same one year warranty as new. The models are not always current generation, but it usually doesn't matter.

http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/specialdeals/ipod?mco=OTY2ODY2NQ

Hope that helps and that I didn't confuse you more!

I always get refurbished ones - they come packaged and look brand new. We've never had any problems.

 

[Lori2202]

If you go to www.apple.com and click on 'watch the keynote', It is a video of the news conference Steve Jobs gave earlier this week. It takes awhile to watch it, but he does a really good job explaining what each device does and the improvements that they just came out with. It includes visuals, prices, etc - all in very easy to understand and follow language. Not too much techno jargon for us non-techie types!

 

[tlbwriter]

iPad - I dont' have one, but from what I understand it is like a small laptop with a touchscreen instead of a keyboard. It comes with either a wi-fi connection or a 3G connection. Don't trust me completely on this since I do not have one.

Actually, the iPad is more like a big iPhone than a small laptop.

 

[Princess Nancy]

.

Don't laugh, I am seriously in the dark ages. Still learning facebook and LOL.[/QUOTE]

Just wanted to share...my Mom who is on facebook to interact with her Grandkids and emails regularly but does not text just recently learned that LOL does not mean Lots of Love!!!!! She thought the kids were being so sweet all the time!!! now that's LOL!!!

 

[gray2402]

My kids (6 and almost 3) share an ipod touch (long story short, I dropped it in water and thought it was not going to work again so I bought a new one and then the old one started working after drying out!)

They both love it and can easily use it! (Even the almost 3 year old!) They play games mostly and do listen to their music on it too (through speakers not headphones).

I do monitor it though and only let them use it limited amounts of times. I also turn off the wifi capabilities to it so they cannot access the internet or buy apps.

But it is a great tool as well as fun! (My daughter does her math facts on it and my son has several toddler apps that have taught him shapes/colors/letters etc ...

 

[StephMK]

How technology based are your kids? We are not a must have the "latest tech tool" family so I would vote for the nano. DD10 got her sister's hand me down nano & loves it for just listening to music. I got a touch for my bday and while the kids love it, I have no plans to get them any time soon. They do have dsi handheld games & love those.

On the other hand, if this is going to be her main "i" something, the price difference between the nano & touch might not be that much. It really depends on what you want her to be able to do on it.

My kids are probably on the bottom of the tech curve among what their friends own but I just don't want them walking around w/expensive tech stuff & getting on the internet remotely. They are addicted to technology enough as it is.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

Well, I just have to add that I am 37 and technilogically challenged, however I love my iPod Touch, just got it a few weeks ago and it is so easy to work with. DH and I had gotten Zunes in 2006 and I was never able to dela with downloading my music on it, but I can with iTunes. All I had to do was plug it into the port and it actually set itself up, easy peasy.

I also buy iTunes gift cards, because I would prefer to buy a song here or there then buy the whole CD of some artists and I have that option with iTunes. You can also download movies and pictures (I just downloaded 1600 of my Disney pictures). You can also rent movies.

Suzanne

 

[Belle5]

Just purchased a refurbished iPod Nano for my soon to be 13 year old today for his upcoming birthday. His Shuffle did not meet his needs for very long and is now broken (after almost two years of owning it). We are not people who need the latest and greatest--so we are fine with the slightly older model you get with refurbished products.

 

[Thumper_Man]

iPod Shuffle - Used to listen to music only.

iPod Nano - The new one seems it's more geared to listening to music as well. New nano are coming with a touch screen to help make selecting certain songs easier. Don't know if you can still watch movies on it. New screen is smaller. If you want to watch movies, I would go with the Touch.

iPod Classic - Bigger than the Nanos. Usually have more memory to hold more songs and movies.

iPod Touch - Can be used to play games, listen to music, browse the internet, watch movies, read books, etc. To access the internet, need to be an area that has/offers wi-fi (wireless internet). This is the better device if you want to watch movies (IMO).

iPhone - Basically the iTouch with added phone capabilities. Monthly service plan required.

iPad - In my opinion is an oversized Touch. You can get a version that runs off of wi-fi only. Can also get them to run off of a 3g signal. You have to pay for the to use the 3g. If I remember correctly, you don't need a monthly plan.

iTunes has been explained. The software needed to upload music, movies, etc to all the above mentioned devices.

For an 11yr. old, I would go with a Nano or Touch.

 

[SuzanneSLO]

Overload! I am so technology challenged. My 11 year old is asking for some sort of "i" thingy for Christmas. Can someone give me the basic run down of these products (or others I don't know about). How are they different?

Then if I get her one, do I need to buy her itunes to go with it?

Is iPad more of a computer and the others music devices? I am guessing iphone is the only one that you can actually talk on.

Don't laugh, I am seriously in the dark ages. Still learning facebook and LOL.

Don't feel bad, I don't consider myself to be in the dark ages, but I am still afraid of facebook. I hated it when I had to tell my Dad I didn't want to "friend" him!

If its in your price range, the new iPod Touch has the most feature without a cellular contract. Steve Jobs calls it the iPhone without a contract, because you can use it to make phone calls, even video calls, if you have a WiFi signal. It currently outsells both the Sony and Nintendo portable gaming systems, combined, and is the now the best selling iPod.

The iPod Touch has both a basic still and video camera and also can be used to display photos form other sources. It plays music and movies and can be used to read e-books. It can be used to read e-mail and surf the web. Prices start at $229.

As another poster said, the iPod Shuffle is great for listening to music while running. You turn it on and listen to the music you loaded in random order. You can skip a song once its started playing or listen to the same one again, but otherwise there is not much control. Again perfect for running or other exercise. Its tiny, tiny tiny, which might not be so good for smaller kids!

The new iPod nano is smaller than prior generations, but less functional as the camera is now gone. It gives you more control than the iPod Shuffle, as there is a screen so you can choose the song you want to hear and see the artist info.

The iPad is a larger (and more expensive) version of the iPod Touch. The larger screen means that it is a laptop or netbook replacement at times when the iPad Touch would not be. Some versions have connections to the cellular network and can access the internet even when WiFi is not available. Thos versions also inlcude a GPS.

Best of luck -- Suzanne

 

[Swimalie]

Actually, the iPad is more like a big iPhone than a small laptop.

The iPad is considered a "tablet" computer. Just a smaller version of a lap top. I'm probably going to get my husband one for Christmas if they come out with one that has a camera before then. Rumors say they will. If so, that will make 5 Apple computers and 2 Nanos in the house for 3 of us.

 

[Debbie-TN]

I love my ipod nano. Easy to download music. And comes in great colors. I have the purple. You can load pictures and videos on it, but pretty small screen to view. I would think at 11 years old, that would fine. Not a lot of money gone is something happens to it. Also family members can give him itunes cards to buy songs.

 

[Sunbeamblue2002]

I just wanted to add that if you wait closer to the holidays you can almost always find a deal with a Itunes card to use. At least in my area. Also at Best Buy. I would also say that I ignored advice and bought the insurance and have used it 3x because of various things including the battery dieing. It was a life saver one time as my teen would have had to wait a while before I could have replaced it.

 

[stacie_d]

As I post this from my iPad,I ask where is the interest? If it is music and video, go with the touch or nano. If it is more Internet and computer based then consider the iPad.

 

[Swimalie]

If you are looking to get an iTunes gift card, Costco usually has a coupon for $8 off their 4 pack of $15 gift cards the week after Thanksgiving. It's not huge but $2 off isn't bad since Apple never puts their stuff on sale.

Also, if you are an educator or government employee, you can usually get a discount on items. Not all. The newer ones like the iPad won't give you any discount until they have been out a while but the Nano is a few dollars off. I know we got $70 off our desk top iMac.

 

[NJDisney]

This is a good thread. My 8 year old wants an ITouch but i am resisting since it may open a flood gate and my 12 and 10 yr olds will want one.

My 8 yr old has been saving some money for it so it is a tough call.