You can't find a better handheld device than the iPod touch 4th generation

Apple really has blown away the handheld device market with the introduction of the new iPod touch 4th generation. It's full of new features that can do just about everything but walk your dog and wash your dishes. I'm sure that Apple is working on that, too. I want to be completely honest when I say how impressed I have been with the new iPod touch.

The screen is stunning, the processor speed is sufficient for all my needs, the video chat capability is wonderful, the motion sensitivity is flawless, and  the built in mic is convenient. Whether you are a gamer, business person, or just love keeping in touch with friends and family around the world, this is the best device to meet your needs. I once had a netbook that I carried around with me everywhere for banking, social networking, pictures, videos, and games. It has been quickly replaced by Apple's iPod touch 4th generation. It has close to all the capabilities of my netbook, but in a much smaller package.

I found the cheapest ipod touch 4th generation here. There are some great user reviews as well from many other people who have discovered the wonders of this amazing device.

The iPod Touch 4th Generation is truly remarkable

In my original review, I focused on whether a person can get by using the apple 8gb ipod touch 4^th generation device in lieu of a more expensive version with a larger memory. My conclusion was, and still is, a resounding YES, however there is one aspect, that applies to ALL the iPod Touch 4th generation editions (8GB, 32GB, and 64GB), that I think is MUCH more important than storage space alone:

The quality of the screen display.

Basically, the new apple ipod touch4th generation has near iPad screen quality, but in a 3.5" device. (960x640 resolution at 326 pixels per inch, vs. 1024x768 resolution at 132 pixels per inch).

That means you can get almost iPad quality video in a 3.6 ounce device vs. a 24 ounce device. For a device that fits in a shirt pocket vs. a device you need a carry bag for; in a device you can hold in the palm of your hand vs. a device that tires your arms.

This apple ipod touch 4th gen is VERY practical for reading popular newspaper articles such as USA Today or the New York Times in their reader applications, optimized for this size display (crisp, large type). It is VERY practical for browsing the standard on-line editions of most newspapers (tap once to fit a column to the screen with readable type). It is GREAT for YouTube since the YouTube app included with the device is optimized to deliver high definition content. Also, it’s GREAT with Netflix and Hulu Plus and it works GREAT with gmail and for Facebook as well.

Great, for me, for online banking and stock research/trading.

Great for running tech websites in their "mobile" formats.

Works decent with Yahoo; I don't like Yahoo Mobile right now or their regular online version; using the already installed Safari browser, it just doesn't scale up and down quite as nicely as the online NYTimes does.

One more thing, the device can store an adequate amount of your own music collection (or stream Slacker or Pandora, customized for you, in free or paid versions) and download iTunes video content for later consumption, or you can move your own DVD content to the device using simple free conversion programs.

Just last year I went on vacation with my iPod Touch 3 ^rd generation, as a backup to my netbook. I found myself easily reading email, but I preferred my netbook for replies. I didn't read any books with the iPod touch until earlier this year, and was surprised by how well book reading worked. I was also able to Skype home with no problems what so ever..

When the iPod Touch 4th generation came out, I got it as a matter of reflex, justifying the purchase based on the built in camera and microphone (which means I no longer have to use "inline mics" with ear buds any more). But in reality, the sharpness of the screen is MUCH more impressive than I could have ever imagined. I have now switched from reading print to 100% e-reading simply based on the performance of this device. On the road, my iPod has largely replaced my netbook.

But, now at home I find myself ALSO using this new iPod touch 4^th generation a LOT. I use it in the morning to check emails and to check NYTimes headlines before even rolling out of bed. I use it whenever I want to check my email or Facebook throughout the remainder of the day, without having to fire up my computer or laptop. I really love using it in bed to read at night.

In short, this iPod Touch 4^th Generation is a working computer.

Can you get by with an iPod Touch 4th Generation 8gb?

Based on my experience with a iPod 3rd generation 32 GB, and my recent purchase of the iPod touch 4th gen 8 GB you can get by with only 8GB if you don’t need to have all of your media with you.

When using my old iPod 3^rd generation 32GB, I found out that I rarely used its full storage capacity. (I don't usually haul around a lot of music or videos – instead, I just transfer what I want to listen to or watch for the day using iTunes). Apps, I discovered, don't take up a lot of space, even games and books don't take up too much space, unless you want to carry substantially more of your entire collection with you. Amazon's Kindle app is especially device friendly, since you can archive books you've finished instead of keeping them on your iPod. iTunes is a great way to manage the content you want to store on your home computer and what you to store... this becomes a sort of "docking station" for managing what you want to take with you.

When using the iPod touch 4th generation as a netbook substitute, storage isn't very important. I can check my bank account balance, transfer funds and pay bills online, listen to the radio on Pandora or Slacker, watch music videos (and a lot more) on YouTube, Skype, stream Netflix, and do a whole lot of other stuff on the iPod 8GB no problem.

Looking back, the only real reason I decided to get the iPod touch 32GB version with the 3^rd generation was for the faster processor. But with the iPod 4th generation, ALL THE IPOD TOUCH 4th GENERATION HARDWARE IS THE SAME, except for memory.

Please keep in mind that with the iPod 8GB edition you give up about a gig to system operations, leaving about 7GB or so for your media. You need to leave sufficient room for your apps. I probably wouldn't put more than 6GB of music or video on the Apple iPod touch 4th generation 8gb version. The other editions also give up the same amount of space, but proportionately the 32GB and 64GB versions take a smaller "hit" to your overall storage space.

The iPod touch 8GB meets my “cheap” and “simplistic” needs nicely. The price doesn't get into nose-bleed territory where I start to wonder whether a netbook would make more sense, and it's inexpensive enough to fall subject to daily wear and tear - making it very handy for outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, or jogging.