Apples Aren't The Only.... (Apple iPod shuffle 512 MB)

Member Name: friendsnut

Product:	Apple iPod shuffle 512 MB
Date:	31/08/05 (169 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Small, Lightweight

Disadvantages: Very limited features, Pricey, Feels Flimsey

One of my family has had one of these MP3 players for a few months now. I haven’t got into the whole MP3 revolution; I’m quite content with a portable cd player at the moment!

I really don’t see the point with Apple’s ipod shuffle. When you consider how much you pay for it, the product really isn’t that great in comparison to other things on the market. The 512mb version retails for just under £70 at most online stores. What you get is a player just slightly large than a pack of chewing gum, the Itunes software and some headphones as well as a bit of string to put it around your neck. All of this comes wrapped up in an icky coloured green box.

The shuffle is incredibly light so it will come in handy if you using it while doing fitness on a treadmill or running/jogging. You won’t even know it’s there but that’s also one of its faults. The unit feels incredibly flimsy and is I’ve no doubt it would break easily.

If you’re after an MP3 player with a lot of features then it’s best to look elsewhere. This player has a small click wheel for volume and track selection but that’s it apart from the shuffle feature. With the potential to store over 100 tracks you’ll be left with your finger on the wheel quite a lot. There is no visual display on the device to tell you what’s playing. There’s nothing to navigate through the listing apart from forwards and backwards. With this in mind it would be a lot better to just spend that little bit extra and get a player with better track navigation and more storage space.

On the plus side the sound quality is pretty decent. A well-encoded MP3 comes over the headphones close to CD quality. The headphones themselves feel a little flimsy but the sound quality defies the looks. The jack is standard so you could always replace them is you wished.

Charging the player is simple; you unclip the bottom of the device and plug it into a USB connection. It then draws charge from your pc and lights up when it’s done. Of course if you’re travelling then you may prefer a player with the backup of an AC adaptor when a computer isn’t nearby.

I also found the Itunes software pretty reliable and easy to use. I’ve had experience of the Sony software used on their MP3 and minidisk products and it doesn’t even compare. A novice can easily transfer tunes from their pc to the shuffle without spending ages pouring over the instructions.

Doing a search on Amazon for 512mb MP3 players brings up a number of options and some cheaper. For £66.47 I would say that the Ipod shuffle is very overpriced when you consider what you get. I’d hate to think how much these produce but I’d bet there’s a fair mark-up. Essentially you’re paying for a name and if you want to do that then personally I’d go for the Ipod 4gb mini.

Summary: The entry level MP3 player from Apple isn't all that

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