How old the model is depends on what it looks like--if it has the same design as the 15 GB iPods, it's probably almost brand-new. Apple just replaced the 10 GB iPod with the 15 GB a month or so ago. Your iPod's probably new.

If you went for the 15 GB, it would be the same price as the old 10 GB, and probably would be almost exactly the same--save for the bigger drive. I wouldn't go with the mini unless you need portability. Personally, I think the 15 GB is a better deal.

The iPod mini appeals to a different market than the regular iPod. If you don't need to hold more than one-thousand songs, why go with a 15GB that holds 3700? The iPod mini is also for someone who wants something ultra-portable. Not only that, it also comes in different colors. So if you don't need more than one-thousand songs in your pocket, you want something ultra-portable, and like different colors, go with the mini. If not, stick with your 10GB iPod or go with the 15GB. Oh, and did I mention the iPod mini is $50 cheaper?

iPod or iPod-mini ?

The answer is in the question. Anyone asking this question would not be part the targeted audience of the iPod-Mini. You can afford an iPod : you will find that the mini has few, if any, advantages over the regular iPod.

The target audience for iPof-Mini is people asking themselves "200$ second rate MP3 player" or 250$ iPod-Mini.

I think you would be disapointed by the mini if an iPod was within your reach (or in your hands).

Still, if you can wait a bit to have a chance to compare in person, there's nothing like the live experience.

I plan to purchase a mini, because i want the portability, and the new finish. 1,000 songs is still an extremely long time, much more than the 8 hour battery life. Especially when you consider that you dont lose much if you import audiobooks and such as low quality. Any long trips will see me bringing my 'book along anyway. So i can call that my 40 gig ipod.