I'm an iPOD ignoramus - which one for my techie DH?

[castille]

Thought I'd get him one as a surprise as he's currently playing music on his electronic organiser/filofax thingy which makes him very UNHIP on the train.

Just browsing and am at how many different ones there are. No idea where to start.

Help me? Please?

does he just listen to music? or is he likely to want to listen to podcasts/ watch videos too?

Unlikely that he'll need video. Lots of music though.

OK, so does he want a bona fide iPod, or any old MP3player?

I would ask him . I know that spoils the suprise but they are expensive so its probably worth getting the one he wants. Imagine if he spent that amount on a handbag for you but it wasnt the one you wanted.

Does it have to be an ipod? Between us we have had 4 and only one still works ,the battery totally died on 1 mini and 1 nano ,and the screen went on another nano ,only the classic one seems to be hardy enough IMO

I got an iPod Photo about 3 years ago and it's great. I have hardly made a dent in the memory and I have photos of the kids on there too.
I would say iPod over an ordinary MP3 player as the menu is easy to work. Don't bother with Shuffles or Nanos though, they aren't as good as a more "regular" one... the smaller they are the more they seem to break/run out of battery power.

Before the iPod Touch came out I was going to get a Nano because that's all I needed - ie something to play podcasts and music.

However, I've just treated myself the Touch and it is fab. I've got it so that I can replace my PDA with it as it will do Calendars and sync with my Mac, although it hasn't got a notes facility yet, but I'm sure it will come.

Just waiting for them to make a hard case so I can put it in my handbag and take it with me!

The touch is fab (dh has one) and you can also use it to surf the internet (if your train has a free connection like dh's will after christmas) so could be quite useful.

PigeonPie, get a sock for yours - they rattle round in a hard case and get just about as bashed up as without!

I have a shuffle but it only is really good if you are going to use it to stick a playlist on for while you do the ironing!

I have this one www.amazon.co.uk/New-Apple-iPod-nano-silver/dp/B000UUSAFM/ref=pd_sbs_ce_title_4

I use it in the gym

I think he'd like the genuine article. Photo capacity would be good. A classic then?