One of the best things to come out of Apple

Author's Rating:

Pros: Small, lightweight, perfect for working out

Cons: Connection dock can't be used for stereos

The Bottom Line: 
Best buddy you could ever take to the gym with you!

Author's Review
One of the best Apple gadgets for a reasonable price! I did get mine cheaper because I bought it refurbished (I think the new models are $79 and I got a refurbished one for $45). One of my friends also has a shuffle and he bought his new and I see no differences between ours. I have to confess that this came from a moment of angry shopping. Sure, it's not a normal impulse buy, but it felt appropriate at the time and I haven't regretted it yet. The refurbishd ipod was bought through apple so it came with the pretty box and information "booklet" (it was really just a plastic card with the most basic instructions for the most basic of ipods) as well as the earbuds that come with every ipod. If I hadn't bought it refurbished, I wouldn't have realized it.

I have another ipod so it was an adjustment to learn to live without the screen but since this is strictly a music device with a limited (comparatively but more than adequate) storage space, a screen is unnecessary dead weight. Sure, fancy doohickeys are nice in an mp3 player, but sometimes the bare necessities is all I'm really looking for.

Updating/uploading is easy. I don't think I've ever had to update software for the shuffle. Since there's no screen, there's no need to spend hours updating and organizing playlists; it's simply plug and drag music in. I suppose you could spend a while uploading music if you are one of those who prefer a specific order in songplay. For those who aren't, just drag them in there and use the shuffle & straight loop switch to change the order. One issue I have with the product is that the docking ability is very limited. It uses a slow USB connection and connects through a headphone jack, meaning I can't connect it to any speaker system. Not a major problem for me but it could be for someone using this as their sole mp3 player.

I ocassionally use it as a backup ipod in the likely event that my big ipod runs low on batteries. I haven't used it continuously so I'm not really sure how long the battery life is but I think I charge it once...maybe twice...a month. Also, that's not an accurate guess since I periodically hook it up to my computer to refresh my workout music. I don't leave it on long enough to fully recharge but it doesn't take long to add battery life so I suppose ten minutes hooked up to iTunes can go a long way. Rarely have I gotten down to the low battery indicator. It's small enough that I can bring it almost anywhere but make sure to store it in a pocket or clip it as it is intended to be used as it is tiny enough to lose track of in a bag. This ipod is not for the easily forgetful. I, however, like that it's tiny. There are a few places where I live that are known for ipod muggings and the shuffle is discreet enough that I can change music or volume without making a big to-do.

I use it mostly when working out and it is perfect for the gym or for a run. It's so much nicer not having to deal with searching through playlists or having some bulky sweat collector wrapped around your arm. If it weren't for the headphone cord hitting me when I move, I'd probably forget I was even wearing an ipod. The lack of screen and scroll dial is beneficial in this circumstance because having only five buttons (replay, skip, volume up and volume down and the play/pause) is best for working out. After I started using the shuffle and had to use the other ipod on the days I forgot the shuffle, I realized that I would actually slow to an almost stop when adjusting the volume or changing the playlist on my other ipod (I guess I'm not as coordinated as I thought). The shuffle comes with a built-in clip with a firm grip and it has the anodized aluminum exterior that's resistant to scratches and wear and tear of a moderately active lifestyle. You could buy a protective cover if you really wanted but it's not necessary to accessorize your shuffle. It's an extremely low-key gadget.