Umm... this 'real' iPod business is complete nonsense. Calling a full-size more robust is not only ridiculous, but totally wrong.

The Nano is a perfectly good product designed to fill a certain market segment -- it's as small and durable as you'll find in a flash based player, and can store 2GB, 4GB, or 8GB depending on the model. It's the flash memory that makes it more sturdy-- no moving parts means it's less sensitive to damage from rigorous use (it's targeted especially towards use during exercise, though it's perfectly useful in any situation). The Nano cannot play video, but it can display photos. Nanos go for $149, $199, $249 in the USA.

The "regular" iPod is significantly larger (physically) and can hold 30GB or 80GB. Since it has a hard drive, I wouldn't take it jogging every day. And by the way they are $249 and $349, respectively. This model can display photos and playback video.

They are both outstanding products targeted to different purposes. Calling the big one the "real" iPod and the Nano some sort of impostor, combined with several direct factual errors... I dunno... it makes me want to break flyertalk's rules against personal attacks. Just a completely ignorant thing to say.

Anyway, good luck with your decision, OP. There's no real savings buying them in BKK.

Disclosure: I have an older (4th gen) 40GB iPod used to store my entire library, and a 1GB shuffle (another flash model) for exercise use.