Apple iPod Nano (fifth generation, 8GB, green)

Pros: 1. Nice visual design.
2. Nice screen.
3. Few fun gadgets.

Cons: 1. Itunes ball and chain.
2. No bitrate conversion support.
3. Only par sound quality (come on! give it some muscle!)
4. Too delicate! I'm afraid to use it except when I'm sitting down.
5. Did I already say Itunes Ball and Chain?

Summary: I've been happily using my Sansa Clip 8GB for about a year now with absolutely no complaints. I received my 5th Gen Ipod Nano as a gift and was exstatic (I LOVE consumer electronics). Here I now have this silver treasure that looks so Star Wars I could cry. Small and light and, dare I say it, beautiful! I plug this shiny new baby in and see the colorful screen light up and I start to drool. Then the magic ends.

First, I come to realize that although Rhapsody and Ipod say I can use Rhapsody to transfer mp3s that I own, I can't. Only I tunes. Itunes is okay but I like Rhapsody or WMP because I can transcode my MP3s from 320 kps on HDD down to 128kps on my device and save some memory space. So if you like that kind of control, you're screwed.

The headphones that it comes with are nice to give to you're 5 or 6 year old to use with their Leap Frog. My Sony Ear Buds helped the sound quality but nothing compared to my Clip. Don't get me wrong, it sounds okay, I've certainly heard worse but for the tech that is supposedly put into these things, I'd expect more.

Gadgets! Gadgets! Gadgets! This little tool will play games, radio, voice and memo record, take video (don't expect much), has a pedometer, stop watch and a handful of other handy dandies. None of which enhance my music experience. They're all quite novel and fun but grow old quickly (like, on the same day).

One thing I do like that my Clip is not capable of is shake to shuffle. Start your library up and give the Nano a shake. I dare ya! Shaking it will randomly select you a new song. Of course, If I were jogging (who am I kidding, I have to increase my activity to be sedentary) that would be a problem. Every footfall starts a new song.

Summing it up? It's just okay for me (to quote a famous Idol judge). Mine was free, and that sure helped but I'll probably keep right on using my trusty little Clip. It has been washed, beaten, dropped and even slept on a time or two and still works as well as it did when I bought it (for $45. NOT $150). I'll probably Ebay the Nano.