My friend was wanting a 32g 4th gen iPod for her music UNTIL she saw an iPad. Now she’s pondering paying the extra $300 but is not sure if she’d be making a mistake in losing portability. She wants it primarily for music but also videos, movies, and using it as an e-reader. But she still wants the convenience of having a handy portable music device. What advice do you all have?
I dunno about watching movies on an iPod. Never owned one. I have an iPad and I love watching movies, reading books, listening to music and playing games on the bus ride to work, or in the cafeteria on my lunch hour (wifi + Xfinity app = watching tv shows and movies I don’t have to buy) But I certainly would never carry it around to listen to music while going for walks in the park or along the river front. It’s too big for that.
Maybe someday I’ll buy an iPod (non-touch model probably) just to listen to music with.
Your friend is asking too much from one device. iPod definitely can do most everything but the small screen makes it not optimal for watching vids or reading books. The iPad can do all of the tasks well but lacks portability. I would vote for both. 
The iPad won’t function well at all as a portable music player. Your friend will grow tired pretty quickly of trying to keep up with it while she’s out and about whereas an iPod only needs to be handled when selecting different music. Other than that it can be used hands-free all day long. IMO she would be better off getting a 2nd Gen iPad and use the $100 savings toward a fairly nice non “touch” iPod. Either that or a 3rd Gen iPad with one of the lower-end iPods. That way she can have the convenience and portability of the iPod for music with the option of taking along or using the iPad instead on those occasions when she wants to watch movies, videos and so forth. I think she’d find pretty quickly that the relatively small additional expense is well worth it.
If she’s willing to spend the money on an iPad, I’d guess that spending an extra $100 on an iPod would be reasonable as well. Do that.
I have an iPod and an iPad. Love them both. If either died tomorrow I would replace it.
I wouldn’t part with my iPad for all the tea in China but it is a little big for use as a iPod. You can use it that way if you carry it in a backpack but it’s not very accessible. She should get the iPad and then a used iPod off eBay.
Impossible to say. If your friend wants to watch videos and can deal with the size of the iPad, that’s the only logical choice between the two. Watching video on an iPod Touch can be done but it’s not great.
A 7" Android tablet would be a good compromise if Apple isn’t a requirement.
I have an iPad and its great for watching videos and reading and games etc. It is not good for a mobile music devise. I have a 4 gig mp3 player for my mobile music. 50 bucks and I’m good to go.
I wouldn’t use my iPad as a portable music player. I need something that can fit in a pocket.
It’s worth noting that an iPod Touch can also function as a video player and e-reader.
A Kindle Fire might be a good compromise for both purposes. Failing that, an iPad and any cheep mp3 player would do the trick.
Get an iPod Touch and a Kindle.
Or…
Get an iPad and an iPod Nano.
Do not try to use your iPad as a music device. It’s huge!
iPods are fine as e-readers - you just have to turn the page more often. If portability is important and you can only afford one, I would get the ipod.
Your friend needs two devices. Determine which is most important and spend the money on that thing. Movies/books/web surfing = iPad. Music = iPod. For running, I’d recommend a Nano. For walking around, a Touch.
Sounds like an iPod and maybe a Kindle Fire would be a good combo.
Tell your friend to wait, they may be announcing a smaller iPad next week. Check Cnet next week for announcements.
This is what I think, too.
How does music sound on an iPad, anyway?
From the speakers in the iPad? Not great. From headphones? Depends on the headphones and the bitrate. From external speakers connected via bluetooth or headphone cord? Depends on the speaker and the bitrate of the mp3 file.
I solve the problem by using my iPad for everything but music, and listening to music on my iPhone.