Saturday, September 23, 2006

The new iPod nano is similar in size and shape to the previous nano, and it retains the odd, off-centered iPod Dock Connector on its bottom, next to the headphone jack. Confusingly, the new nano is available in three "trim" levels, each of which comes in a few different colors. For $149, you can grab a 2 GB version in a silver case. In the middle of the lineup is a 4 GB version, which costs $199 and is available in silver, green, blue, and pink. At the top of the heap is the new 8 GB nano. This unit is available only in black and costs $249.

The second generation iPod nano is the best small-sized portable media player on the market today, and it builds on the excellence of its predecessor by fixing the scratching problem that marred previous versions while improving the battery life, providing a rainbow selection of colors from which to choose, and offering a lower price. Is the iPod nano perfect? Nothing ever is, but the nano comes as close as is imaginable given its small form factor. If you're looking for a companion at the gym, while running, during a commute, or on a plane, you could do a heck of a lot worse than the iPod nano. It's unlikely, however, that you could do any better. Highly recommended.