There’s nothing else like it. The Apple iPod? blazed a trail through the world of MP3 players, setting the standard for ease of use and elegant styling. The player’s continued popularity has fostered an entire line of iPods, varying in capacity, size, color, and function. Which just makes your job — picking one — that much more fun. So, how do you decide which iPod is right for you?

Don’t worry — we’re here to help. First, check out the table below to get a quick look at the major features of each type of iPod.

	iPod touch	iPod classic	iPod nano	iPod shuffle
Music Storage (at 128 kbps)	8GB — 1,750 songs16GB — 3,000 songs32GB — 6,000 songs	120GB —30,000 songs	8GB — 2,000 songs16GB — 4,000 songs	4GB — 560 songs
Photo Storage	8GB — 10,000 iPod viewable photos16GB — 20,000 iPod viewable photos32GB — 25,000 iPod viewable photos	25,000 iPod viewable photos	8GB — 3,500 iPod nano viewable photos16GB — 7,000 iPod viewable photos	N/A
Video Storage	8GB — 10 hours video16GB — 20 hours video32GB — 30 hours video	120GB —150 hours video	8GB — 8 hours video16GB — 16 hours video	N/A
Type of Memory	Embedded flash memory	Hard drive	Embedded flash memory	Embedded flash memory
Battery Life	Up to 22 hours audio, 5 hours video	Up to 36 hours audio, 6 hours video	Up to 24 hours audio, 5 hours video	Up to 10 hours audio
Colors	Black	Silver, Black	8GB — Silver, Black, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Pink, Purple16GB — Silver, Black, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Pink, Purple	4 GB — Silver, Black
WiFi? Capability	Yes	N/A	N/A	N/A
Dock Connector	Yes. Connects with included adapter.	Yes. Connects with included adapter.	Yes. Connects with included adapter.	Yes. Dock Included.
Weight	4.2 oz	4.9 oz	1.3 oz	.38 oz

Now, consider how you plan to listen. Will you be taking your iPod jogging, or mostly listening around the house? Want a distinctive style your friends will notice? Which features will you need in order to listen the way you want to? We’ve picked out the features people most commonly look for and listed them below, with iPod recommendations. Which statement best describes you?

I want to carry as much music and video as possible.

If you like having a large selection in your media library, then the iPod classic would best suit your needs. This player comes with either a 120GB hard drive that can store can store up to 150 hours of video, or 2,000 hours of average sound quality MP3s (128 kbps; for more on audio bitrates, see our MP3 bitrate chart). That’s over six days of video, or over 11 weeks of music.

I want an iPod that looks cool and distinctive.

When you hear the word “iPod,” do you still picture the “classic” white player — rectangular with gently curved edges, a large round Click Wheel, and big, bright LCD? If so, you’re not alone; its easily recognizable design has become the iPod’s signature.

But what if that’s just not your style? iPod classic also comes in black; the iPod nano is available in a variety of colors and the iPod shuffle is an even smaller, lower-capacity version that eschews an LCD screen in favor of compactness. Both the iPod nano and the shuffle use flash memory instead of a hard drive to store songs and, in the case of the nano, photos and videos as well.

The newest addition to the line, the iPod touch, is closely modeled on the popular iPhone?, and features the same touch-sensitive widescreen display. And it’s built-in accelerometer can make things move on its screen just by tipping the player. If you’re going for the “wow” factor, the iPod touch may be the best choice for you.

I need the smallest iPod available, so it doesn’t get in my way.

No iPod could really be considered bulky or awkward — the “heaviest” model weighs just 4.9 ounces — but if you’re going to be moving around a lot while you listen, you may want a player that’s compact and lightweight, even by iPod standards. The iPod nano certainly fits the bill, weighing in at a mere 1.3 ounces, and sized small enough to fit into the coin pocket on a pair of jeans. But if you really want the smallest iPod out there, get an iPod shuffle. It weighs less than an ounce (.38 oz) and iis about the size of two “AAA” batteries.

I’m tough on an MP3 player — I need the most rugged iPod I can find.

If you’ll be walking or hiking with your iPod — or if you have a tendency to drop things — worries about scuffing the player’s case could be well-founded. Consider getting a separate case for maximum protection. (See our article on choosing iPod accessories for more information.)

To take your iPod jogging or to the gym, you may want to consider an iPod nano or shuffle. They both have flash memory, which is totally skip-free. While the other iPods have 25-minute skip protection that make them nearly immune to skipping, the iPod nano and shuffle will never skip. Even an hour-long run is no problem for these little guys.

I want to view photos on my iPod.

With the exception of the iPod shuffle (which doesn’t have a screen), all current iPod models come equipped with a color LCD and can hold anywhere from 3,500 to 25,000 photos. iTunes? software lets you manage and transfer photos to the player, and even organize slideshows. Let friends see your photos on the player’s LCD, or use its supplied cable to connect it to a TV for viewing.

I want to watch videos on my iPod.

Any of the iPod models with a screen will play videos — which give you all kinds of options. The iPod nanos can hold up to 8 hours of video, so you could have a selection of your favorite TV show episodes, a movie or two and some music videos always on hand. The 120GB iPod classic can hold over six weeks worth of video, and has a slightly larger screen than the iPod nano. Although its storage capacity is more modest than those of the iPod classic, the iPod touch offer the best viewing experience with a 3.5″ widescreen LCD display.

I want to surf the Internet with my iPod.

For wireless web surfing, there’s currently just one choice: the iPod touch. The iPod touch features wireless connectivity that lets you go online through almost any open Wi-Fi? hotspot. The player includes a built-in Safari web browser and a virtual keypad, so you can do Internet searches and surf online pretty much as you would with a PC or a laptop. Apple also includes some dedicated widgets to make navigation easier — one takes you directly to YouTube, for example. Another gives you access to the iTunes Wireless Store where you can purchase and download music directly to your iPod touch.

I don’t have much money to spend on an iPod.

The most budget-friendly option is the iPod shuffle at just $79. If you want an iPod that give you both audio and video playback, the 8GB iPod nano runs about $149.