Apple iPod Shuffle 2G - Articles / Reviews

Reviews: Multimedia

Apple iPod Shuffle 2G

Author:
Editor:
Sponsor:
Published:

Mark Korff
Kurtis
N/A
May. 6, 2007

<< Previous

Home >>

Conclusion

Due to the simplicity of the shuffle's design, the most impressive features it can boast include its extremely small size, unmatched durability, and better than rated battery life. If you're the kind of person that constantly breaks or scratches the screens of your gadgets beyond any functional state anyway, then the shuffle might be exactly the kind of device you're in need of. In terms of quality audio playback, the shuffle can easily hold its own with any other device I've ever heard, so you're definitely not compromising anything there.

On the other hand, while the portability, durability, and battery life of the new shuffle is commendable, is it really enough to justify a higher price tag over other portable media devices with the same storage capacity, and many more features? The most obvious omission is of course the lack of a display, which truly limits the device in so many ways. Competing devices are able to include radio tuners, voice recorders, and equalizer settings all because of their incorporated displays and many of them still sell for less than half of what Apple is charging for the shuffle. As we've seen, things as simple as checking the remaining battery power or discovering the name of the song that is currently playing just can't happen easily on the shuffle because of this missing feature.

Apple certainly had to make some compromises in order to craft the smallest and cheapest iPod ever available to consumers and while the old saying "sometimes less is more" rings true in some ways, sometimes "less" really is just less; at least in terms of overall features, as is the case with the shuffle.

Pros

Most durable portable media player ever
Cheapest iPod you can buy (new)
Extremely portable, you can clip it anywhere
Impressive battery life

Cons

No display, and ALL that entails
Price isn't as competitive as it should be considering all the missing features

<< Previous

Page 3 of 3

Home >>

Page 1: Introduction & First Impressions
Page 2: Testing
Page 3: Conclusion

Subscribe to Portable Media Players [more info]

Add Comment

0 User Comments

Add Comment

To add a comment without being a member, you may omit the password field, but you must enter your name (or nickname) along with your comment. * Denotes required fields.