iPod Shuffle Review

I’ve been using the newest iPod from Apple – the second generation Shuffle for the past 2 months and figured it was time for a review. This is not my first iPod nor my last, I’ve been using iPods since January 2003, when I bought my first, a 10GB second generation iPod, since then I’ve also owned a 20GB fourth generation iPod, 4GB Nano and the 512MB first generation Shuffle.When you get the Shuffle the first thing you notice is the packaging it comes in. They used to sell the Shuffle previously in a small card board box now it’s in the same plastic case that the Nano’s comes in. The plastic case not only looks great, but also can be used for storage when not using the Shuffle.

Next you’ll end up manhandleing the Shuffle for a good 15 minutes while you marvel at the design and the fit and finish. That’s the moment you realize why other MP3 makers are all crying about marketshare and fail against the iPod, the other guys just don’t have the design and simplicity that the folks at 1 Infinite Loop have brought to the table.

The Shuffle also comes with the newest headphones that have a rubberized ring around the edge of the earpiece as opposed to those ugly black earpiece covers. I hated those earpiece covers because mine would always come off and it was a pain to put them back on.

The only downside is that the Shuffle no longer has a USB connector, so you have to use a dock that comes with it. The dock looks ugly and has to be carried around if you want to interface your computer. There are some companies selling alternatives, let’s just hope Apple uses one of them for the next revision.

In summary, the Shuffle is great and cheap. I got mine in Austrailia for around USD 89, whereas in the States it goes for USD 79. In India, you can expect to pay around USD 133 for it. The Shuffle is perfect for people working out or just want a no-nonsense music player.