Apple i-Pod mini.(gear Box)(Brief Article)

Portable music player Price: US$249 www.apple.com/ipodmini

* The Good

The i-Pod mini's size is convenient--cell phones can't get this compact. The click-wheel selector key eliminates the need for buttons, which makes the product sleek. It also comes in five colors.

* The Bad

The battery will eventually give out, and only Apple has the replacements, which can get costly. The i-Pod mini does not have a radio, so gone are the chances of a forgotten old favorite popping up on the airways.

* Who Should Buy

Anyone who wants to download 1,000 songs to a unit that is about the size of a calling-card holder will love this product. Plus, it's very rugged and the product's light weight and seamless surface is great for those on the go.

* Who Should Not

The price-sensitive. For $55, you can get an MP3 player that essentially does the same thing as the i Pod mini does. For about the same money, too, other i-Pod models hold five times as many songs as the mini can.

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