Think of it like the mp3 market now, we have tons of different players all with different screens/sizes/capacities/capabilities ect. What Apple is doing is the same but within its iPod line. Its already the #1 player on the market, so by having a variety of choices they are making it more or less the one mp3 player (brand) you’ll ever need. I think in Job’s mind, he wants a world where theres all kinds of mp3 players ranging in different sizes and capabilities, and all those players are iPods.

I also have a 5G with just over 50GB of music. I found there was some music I had never actually played on iTunes or my iPod (check Play Count). I made new Smart Playlists (from about 20 big lists I already had) that only have 100 songs in each selected by least recently played. Total size for those Playlists is just over 12GB. Each one will play 5-8 hours. When I next sync the iPod it finds the next group of songs I have least recently played.

This allows me to not get repeats but I could also sync most of these lists (or cut down to 75 songs/list) and get the same music onto an 8GB Nano.

I may end up with a touch, but I have an iPod 5G at the moment with 60 GB of space. It isn’t full, but at 40GB’s how do I condense that down to just 8? I watch and listen to tons of podcasts, and I just don’t know what to do!

I would like to opt for the 16GB Touch but I just can’t afford it at this point. Maybe I should wait 60 days and buy it for $200 less. he he!

I bought my first iPod this January. It took me that long to finally get an iPod that I really wanted. I wanted something I could fit ALL of my music on. I have almost 40 GB (all legal btw). So the 60 GB iPod video was the first that could potentially hold everything and leave room for growth. But with video, that meant needing more space for even bigger video files. So I waited and got the 80 GB.

As I look at the product lines, I am tempted by the touch, but we are back to wanting to bring at least most of my music with me, but of course, if I buy the touch, part of the reason will be video. So just how much video can I bring with me on my little 16 GB ipod?

What I want (need?) is a 160 GB touch. And while apple may never release it, that is what I will hold out for. And maybe I’ll be holding forever, but apple won’t be getting my upgrade dollars because they have given me a glimpse of what I want and I’ll be holding my breath.

On the other hand, if I wasn’t so broke, I would buy a touch and a 160 GB Classic (and probably a shuffle and a nano for my wife as well). So… for the upperclass customer, Apple planned it perfectly. Instead of providing one product that meets all their needs, they have given people the ability to buy 3 or 4 iPods tripling their profit margins.

Take for example Garmin’s choices for automotive GPS units:

https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?cID=134

By last count, there are 20 different models of Nuvi currently available, alone.

I think Apple has done a good job of diversifying it’s product line without making it too complex. Besides, unless you’re in the market for a new cell phone, I think you can pretty easily eliminate that from your choices.

I want the touch so bad, for the gui and the ability to surf the internet while in a hot spot. I keep getting hung up on the 16G though. I have had a 30G video since the day it was released and I have been spoiled by the fact that I can fit all my music on the iPod without having to pick and choose.. I was actually considering moving up to the 80G version so I could fit videos and pictures. Right now, my iPod is all music, and it’s full. So going with the Touch means that I am going to have to cherry pick my music collection in order to fit some videos/pictures too. That stinks.

Not to mention that the 160G iPod classic is cheaper than the Touch. So cool UI, or crazy storage? I just can’t decide. If it were a 32G flash based version, then I wouldn’t be leaving this post, but I just can wait until the next rev comes out.