A couple of teardown pages so far. This Japanese page offers the best photos.
I was expecting a higher level of integration. This reminds me of a mini ... (not that it matters, apparently people feel the unit works very well)
It is no secret that Apple has a great deal with Samsung on flash memory based on huge volumes. Now some Korean companies are complaining. (earlier in the year some of these companies claimed that buying Korean mp3 players was patriotic) Unless you have access to great deals like Apple's, it is going to be very difficult to compete on price. Unless you are Apple it is going to be very difficult to compete on image. If Apple can deliver in the volume the Nano will inspire it seems likely they will own the middle market. Several people I know who already have iPods are thinking of a Nano as a second.
PS - I should note that I as able to play with one at the local Apple store.
The size is striking - they seem much smaller than the photos imply. They are also very solid feeling and the scroll wheel works very well even though it is tiny - I found navigation better than on the 4G or mini iPods with my fingers. (ymmv). The screen is very readable - I would rate it better than the mini.
Sound quality seemed similar to other iPods, but spending 5 minutes in a store isn't a real test.
Posted by: steve | September 10, 2005 at 16:49
Yesterday I stopped by the SOHO Apple store to see if they had a nano that I could try. I worried that it would be too small to read the screen and that it might be hard to operate with that tiny click wheel. After three minutes I knew I had to get one.
I went with the 4 GB black model and am giving my shuffle to my cousin.
I run 7 or 8 miles a day and need something that is going to hold up. This one feels very solid to me. So far so good.,
This is a big Apple year for me. I've never bought anything from them and the iMac G5 was the first computer I ever bought. Then came the suffle and now the nano.
Posted by: jheri | September 10, 2005 at 21:01
Gad I want one of these. I don't need one. I already have a 30 GB iPod that is only a year old, but I want one.
Posted by: Thom | September 11, 2005 at 08:14
i want one of these in the worst way. i can't justify or afford it, but i really want it.
i'm asking for one for my birthday
Posted by: sara | September 11, 2005 at 16:02
Same with me over here. If only I can find enough money to scout around for those cool gadgets to experiment with ipod. I've seen many but never get the chance to try that myself.
Posted by: JJ Music | February 22, 2008 at 10:25