The cheap iPod mini provides everything that you need in order to get all of the benefits of a standard iPod without the costs.
The iPod mini, while having a much lower cost, is not a lower quality mp3 player. However, there are a few differences between the iPod and the iPod mini, which set the two devices apart.
The mini iPod is a small special version of the iPod. While there isn't a vast difference in the size of the physical device or computer connectivity, the hard drive in the unit only stores a small amount of space. This is the primary difference between the two devices. Much of the functionality is the same as the iPod.
The amount of space is significantly different, with the iPod mini storing anywhere between 1gb to 6gb of data, while the iPod can store up to 60gb of data. This difference is what causes the most variations between price in the full iPod and the iPod mini.
On account of the hard drive space, the mini only falters if you want to store more songs than the base hard drive space provides. Both systems include the apple click wheel, which let you surf easily through menus and songs in order to play exactly what you want when you want. As the mini has less hard drive space, it is easier to find the songs that you want, as you won't have millions to work with.
The cheap iPod mini does not suffer when it comes to accessories, either. Sporting just about as many accessories as the iPod, you can get the most out of the device.
Accessories available for the mini iPod include docking stations, skins, cases, cables, adapters and headsets. More types are also available, and are being released frequently, which makes the mini an adaptable mp3 player.