The iPod is the most popular of all the players. The Nano with a 2GB drive is the smallest of the iPod series, costs $149.00 (cheaper in some places), and holds hundreds of songs. All iPods come with iTunes installed, and you can set it to automatically transfer songs from your computer into the iPod, or you can do that manually. You can also upload songs from your CD's into the computer, and download them to the iPod. Or you can set iTunes in your computer to automatically connect to the Apple Store, when you can buy and automatically download/install songs into the iPod. iTunes works with both PC and Macintosh computers. When you connect the iPod to your computer for the first time, iTunes automatically launches and makes some changes to match itself to your computer (PC version, or Mac version). There are smaller units that cost under $100.00. For example the iPod Shuffle. However, the you can do a lot more with an iPod Nano, either in 2GB or 4GB. You can also have photos to look at in your iPod, and even movies in the larger iPod's. (Movies are sold at the Apple Store), but you can download a movie from your computer into your iPod. Also, if you are into radio transmissions, you can have a session of songs and voice, and the little iPod can take care of the rest (play the songs from your playlist on the air.-------- Something else about the iPod: Most receiver, radio, etc. manufacturers are incorporating iPod docking stations. Even car audio units are being produced to be fully compatible with the iPod. So if you connect your iPod to your car's stereo, you can control the iPod with your radio's controls, and the songs names (or bands, etc.) are displayed on the radio's screen. If you don't have an iPod compatible radio, you still can listen to whatever songs you have in your iPod via one of the numerous low-cost FM transmitters sold at Wall-Mart and electronic stores. You can do the same at home on your stereo system, or on a radio. Finally, no other MP3 player on the market has as numerous after-market items available to the public than the iPod.

The nano has what is called a "flash" drive (no moving parts) while the regular iPod has a "microdrive" which actually is a very small hard drive (with moving parts). "Best" kind of depends on what your kids are going to do with them. If they're just playing music, then the only real differences are that the "regular" iPod will hold four times as much music/podcasts/whatever than the nano. However, according to Apple, the 8 GB nano will hold up to 2,000 songs. That's a lot of music -- the equivalent of about 200-250 albums. If your kids plan to watch videos (Apple sells episodes of TV shows and music videos), then the nano is out of the question since it does not support video. As for skipping, the nano is somewhat more resistant to skipping because it really doesn't have any moving parts. But I have had a 40 GB iPod for about a year now (I'm putting all my LPs and cassettes on it) and I have never heard it skip. So I think that's a non-issue. A nano, being so much smaller, will be a bit easier to lose and easier to stuff in a jeans pocket and sit on or send through the laundry. :-( What you're paying for there is the "cool" factor and the fact that 8 GB of flash memory costs more, relatively, than a 30 GB microdrive. Personally, I think the regular iPod is pretty tough and offers a lot more capability than the nano. It would be my choice. But you know your kids best. :-)

it was busy time but I am back to this challenge :) first of all : thank you for your replies - I read them and decided I did not have time to bother by Xmas. Now the Time Has Come. Wharfedale setup is a pretty old one and connected to the Panasonic HiFi system. It sound good and balanced to me. It is old tape-cd player-FM tuner-amplifier setup. I have aux input and digital coax input on the back of the panasonic amplifier . I am not quite sure what is meant with "a receiver" but I presume this is my amplifier, more or less. I have ipod 4G. We also have 2.1 2300 Logitech speakers in the kitchen and tiny Sony hifi set with 2x40W speakers in the bedroom. Sony set has digital input, too. Logitech set is analog and at the moment we connect only to the headphone out of the shuffle. Now I am looking for some link that will send music to all 3 speaker sets, wirelessly if possible. I read sometimes you need to "set IP" with these wireless devices - this is not something I have ever done. I found a few products, but they differ a lot: (1) Nuvo Wirless - $599 + additional receivers http://www.talkaboutcedia.com/article/10246/;jsessionid=FC91D3C81D3B8B6F4195F6C86F3103FC pros: sound quality cons: price, setup (IP) (2) Creative Xdock Wireless - $300 + one additional receiver http://www.macnn.com/articles/07/01/09/creative.dock.for.ipod/ pros: sound quality, setup (no IP), digital connection for wired cons: could not find it in any shop (3) FM transmitters/receivers - about $100 http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B000E79AMI/sr=1-6/qid=1168602228/ref=sr_1_olp_6/102-5231555-5058523?ie=UTF8&s=electronics pros: very good price cons: poor sound quality If you can see more benefits or problems with these or other products that would do the job please let me know. Thanks

Deb, You'll undoubtedly get lots of answers to your questions... :-) Is the player an iPOD? If not, you definitely won't need iTunes. Oh - you said it's a Memorex, so, no, you won't need iTunes. I have a Dell DJ 30GB MP3 player. I "rip" the music from CDs to my computer, using Windows Media Player. Then I can click and drag music to the player (connected to my pc) just as I can click and drag any file from one folder to another. Or, I can use the DJ Explorer utility that came with the player.