iPod nano, iPod touch, iPod shuffle, iPod classic, iPhone - argggghhhh

OK folks I need some help. As I have mentioned I am 'meant' to be running a half marathon in April and I really, really want to do it, although my training is well behind schedule which is not good news.

In the past I use to run with my iPod touch and I loved it. I didn't have a smart phone at the time so my iPod touch was a substitute as it did everything but the phone bit -t'hubby broke it though so I am now without my music to run.

I currently have a HTC Desire phone which I hate with a passion, it is the biggest pile of poo I have ever owned. I charge it nightly and it is dead by 2pm the next day and I hardly use it a few phone calls and checking my facebook mainly.Vodafone have been great, they have replaced the battery, had it back looked at it, told me they had found fault and done stuff but to no avail, they have sent free stuff, put things on my account to apologise but it is still rubbish. I am due for an upgrade in April and am literally counting my days down. But that brings me to my dilemma

Do I get an iPhone and will it double as an iPod for me, is it capable of letting me play music on it and if so how much? I am interested in hearing about other people's experiences as I do not want the same to happen for the next 2 years and be lumber with a phone I hate.  Its the music bit though that I am unsure about.

I really want something I can listen to my music on and run with but am riled to go and buy an iPod of any description if my new phone can do the job,

On the other side of the coin if I get a music device do I get an iPod nano, iPod classic or iPod shuffle which one best. It is a mine field, I read reviews and am still not sure - can anyone help with their advice please!

Vacuuming quandry!

I am sure we have all heard several excuses why our other halves can't possibly do the hoovering but this one my husband came out with a few days ago is one of his better ones.

I have had a DC04 Dyson upright hoover for the last 6 or 7 years and I love it. Over the last 2 years we have needed to replace various parts through wear and tear which has been easy to do and not at all expensive - a spring I needed cost £1.99 for instance. My mum hates my Dyson as she finds it too heavy but I love it, it picks up well even after 7 years of constant use and abuse over the last year after walls being knocked down and continued building work in the house. I also find it does the dog hair well.

Image from Google

However, I was caught looking at the Dyson Animal out of curiosity really to see if there was a marked difference with dog hair - the showroom had one of those displays where you could check the suction power.

      

Image from google and Dyson

Less than 2 weeks later, I go away and when driving home form the airport I ring t'husband who informs me he has tried to make the house tidy for my return but can't hoover as the Dyson has all shattered and cracked at the front when he tried to use it. He is not kidding either, I have no idea how he did it but I am gutted to say the least.

Thing is it is now unavoidable - I need a new hoover. I want to stick with Dyson and I know and like them but now I have to make the decision on which one I want - and they are so bloody expensive as well so it has to be right.

Can anyone advise me - does an animal make any difference or are they all as good as picking up the bits as each other? I am also wondering if I should, try a pull along one rather than an upright as it might make the stairs easier to vacuum. Decisions, decisions. We have mainly wooden floors downstairs and then carpet up the stairs and landings/bedrooms.

So do I go for a basic multifloor Dyson again or the animal - is it all a marketing con or is is true and does it make a difference.

I can't even make a simple decision on a vacuum here!