It seems that Apple introduces new iPods every few months. In reality, iPods are released about once a year. But it is still difficult to keep up with the changes. So, buying an iPod is more difficult than it should be. 

There are four types of iPods, not including the iPhone. The iPhone is not included in this buying guide. But it is a full-fledged iPod, in addition to being a phone. So, if you need both, the iPhone is your ticket. 

Of the pure iPods, the most capacious is the classic. (All iPod names are lower case.) Originally, all iPods had hard drives. The classic is the only one left.

Hard drives offer much more storage than flash-based players. But they break easily and have a relatively short lifespan.

The classic will hold 160 gigabytes. That’s about 40,000 songs, according to Apple. And it is a relative bargain at $250. You can choose from a silver- or black-brushed metal case.

The classic is good for people who are primarily interested in music. It plays videos, too. However, many people find the screen uncomfortably small. It isn’t too bad for viewing pictures, though.

Just don’t slam it around.

The rest of Apple’s iPod lineup uses flash memory for storage. The capacities are much smaller. However, Apple has boosted them over the years. Flash memory is much more durable than hard drives. It can survive bumps and falls that would kill a hard drive.