A wonderful and effective mp3 player.

I purchased this nano for a little under $200 from a scratch and dent store, and I must say this is by far the best mp3 player I have ever used. I purchased this 8gb model along with a 30gb video ipod for a friend. In comparing the two I would strongly encourage anyone interested in the nano to consider getting the larger model. Think carefully about what you will be using your ipod for, and unless you plan on running or other activities which would benefit from the smaller model I think the 30gb is a better bang for your buck.

I was drawn to the nano because of the flash memory (will never skip) and the ability to have a small 8gb "jump drive" if needed. I have used the nano to transfer huge files back and forth from my families computers, and it certainly makes it easier than using a 1gb jump drive.

Pros:

The battery life is a huge positive for this mp3 player. I have taken many long trips where I plug this into my car and leave it alone for the 9 hour trip up, put it in sleep mode for the next two days, and then drive the 9 hours home without every worrying about the battery! Around my house I tend to just leave it plugged into my laptop whenever I'm not using it just to make sure it's always charged, therefor I'm unable to comment about the exact charge time.

I purchased a docking system which was advertised for the nano, however I was foolish enough not to check the compatibility with the 2nd gen. Instead I just purchased a male to male mini plug which I plug from the nano into my home theater input jack.

The plug on the nano for the usb cable is somewhat sticky when removing the cable, however I don't foresee it becoming a problem because it's only a small clip on the sides that would ever break, and the cable is easily replaceable if that does happen.

I love the casing on the 2nd gen. nano. The aluminum case should be difficult to scratch. It's a beautiful thing to hold something that weighs under 1.5 oz. yet is still made out of solid metal as opposed to plastic.

I have enjoyed the photo capabilities of the nano, and the screen has a really beautiful display. Crisp, detailed pictures earn high marks. The photo capabilities are integrated well, although to me it's nothing more than a novelty.

The earbuds that come with the nano are average in quality, however I have found no reason to replace them as of yet. They are quite loud, and there are ways of increasing the volume levels of your songs using itunes 7. Speaking of itunes, 7.0 is a wonderful package, slickly integrated with all ipods. I believe this is quite possibly the best aspect of the ipods in general, as no other mp3 player has anywhere near the seamless connectivity of the ipod and itunes.

Cons:

I was originally excited about the small size of the nano, however after using it for a few days I found it quite difficult to hold effectively. I have rather large hands and I found myself wrapping my hand all the way around the nano, preventing me from accurately using the click wheel. Fortunately this problem was solved by purchased a thick case for the nano.

I was disappointed in the lack of entertainment found in the nano apart from the music. I had assumed since it came with a few games it would be possible to purchase and load more onto it, however turns out that's only an option on the video models.

Overall:

If you are looking for the best mp3 player without concern for other features then by all means purchase this nano. I am very glad I purchased the 8gb model, and I would strongly encourage you not to skimp out, as you will eventually use more than you think!