The Apple iPod Shuffle: The Best Apple Can Do?
Written: Jan 14 '05
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Small and light, good sound, easy to use, iTunes, playlists, enough memory, easy downloads
Cons: Mediocre battery, earbuds, and the shuffle is overrated
The Bottom Line: A very good MP3 player that should meet all your needs while providing a number of upgrades over the competition.
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| hwz1's Full Review: Nokia N73 Smartphone |
I just spent a few days with the Apple iPod Shuffle and this came within a few weeks of receiving the Creative Labs MuVo N200. As I mentioned in another epinion, the N200 is a very good MP3 player. I am a big fan and think that very few people will be disappointed in the performance that they get from the N200. The thing is, Apple may have gone and one upped them once again.
The one huge advantage that the N200 had over the iPod was the size. The N200 is much smaller. Alas, along comes Apple with the Shuffle and suddenly that one advantage is gone. Suddenly the Shuffle is about the same size as the N200. At any rate, the two MP3 players are a little different for reasons other than the size, as I will get into in a moment.
THE SPECIFICS:
* $99.00
* Size 3.3" x .98 x .33
* .78 ounces weight
* 1GB storage
* Up to 12 hours battery life
* Four hours to charge
* USB Connection 1.1 and 2.0
* Package includes: iTunes software, earbuds, lanyards,
USB cap
WHAT I LIKE:
1. As I mentioned with the N200, I like the small size. The Shuffle is about the same size as the N200 and that is a good thing. Anything smaller and you will find it difficult to find the thing when you put it down. Both are about the size of a stick of gum. I find this is the perfect size to use when working out or wandering around. It is small enough that it will not get in the way, yet large enough that you can operate it.
2. The performance is quite good. The sound is crystal clear and has a skip free playback mechanism that assures you will hear your tunes the way you want to. I think the Shuffle has a little better sound than the N200, but the difference is so little that I would not really even mention it.
3. I find the Shuffle to be easy to use, but also a little different to use. The controls are thoughtfully placed and easy to use as there are not many to concern yourself with. They are big enough that you can use them without a struggle and that is always a plus. Virtually everything that you do is done via a small circular button or wheel. From it, you can control pause, play, skip, repeat, or hold. It could not be any easier.
The one thing that is different and a little of a negative is that the Shuffle does not have a screen. Not a huge negative, as I usually know who sings what if I downloaded the tune, but at the same time. The N200 does have a small LCD screen.
4. The autofill function is the real deal. The autofill function allows you to tailor playlists to your activity. For instance, if you are jogging you may want something that is upbeat in order to keep up with your pace. You can simply autofill a playlist that you have previously set up and you will hear nothing but upbeat tunes. If you are trying to fall asleep, you can do the same with elevator tunes. You can also set up the autofill to be random or have the tunes played in a prearranged order. I like this function a lot and the N200 does not offer it.
5. The iPod, in general, is a fashion statement. I am not sure how or why it happened, but there is a certain style that is associated with the iPod that does not come with the competition. I do not know if it is the cool colors, the earbuds, or the lanyard (The thing you wear around your neck like a lifeguard whistle.), but the iPod is very cool right now.
6. The memory is more than enough than I will ever need. Like I mentioned with the N200, I do not need enough memory to store a lifetime of tunes. I simply need enough to have my favorite 50 or so tunes available. The Shuffle provides you with enough memory for 240 tunes. More than enough for most people.
7. Downloading all those songs could not be any easier. You simply plug the Shuffle into one of your USB ports and you are on your way. You can drop and drag your favorite songs. You can also autofill your playlists. I find this to be very easy to use and when you consider the songs on the iTunes web site, you have an even bigger psositive. The web site is very easy to use and navigate and contains virtually every song you could ever want to hear. A big plus for any iPod fan.
8. The cost is palatable. I know that many people saw the price of the initial iPod and were not real big fans. They did not see the need to pay somewhere north of $200 for a glorified Sony Walkman. Well, we found out that the iPod's are much more than glorified Walkman's and they also now have a price that is about the same as some of the competition. The N200 runs just under $100. So does the Shuffle. Apple has managed to remove one of the main objections to purchasing an iPod.
WHAT I DO NOT LIKE:
1. The battery provides just 12 hours of usage. Actually, that is the maximum you will get. The N200 provides three more hours. Hmmm, I am not sure why the Shuffle got the short end of the battery stick, but it did and by a pretty significant margin. The Shuffle can be 80% charged in two hours, but if you want the full charge you will need four hours. I am amazed that some electronics manufacturer has not managed to come up with a small, lightweight battery that can last for much longer time periods.
2. I am not a fan of the earbuds. The "buds" may be the cool thing and provide better sound, but I am just not a fan. I do not like things sticking in my ears. I prefer the earphones that I grew up a decade ago. Fortunately, Apple does provide them as an alternative option.
3. The Shuffle idea is very overrated. The thought is that everytime you "boot up" your Shuffle, the tunes that are on your playlist can be "shuffled" to appear in a different play order. Ok, who cares? If I have 50 songs on a playlist, there are probably 25 that I very much favor. Those are also likely to be the ones that I want to hear and know where they are. Hence, for my needs, the "shuffle" has little use.
4. There is no screen. While not a big negative, I am accustomed to having something to view. I mean ever since I was born there was at least a bandwidth indicator on a Walkman or an LCD screen over the past few years. This is more odd than anything else.
THE BOTTOM LINE:
I am a big fan of the Shuffle and feel that it I am fortunate to be able to compare two MP3 players that I have gotten in such close proximity to one another. I would place the two in the same space as far as I my rankings. In other words, I like them both. They each have their plusses and minuses, but they both come out looking good.
I like the style of the Shuffle more and the Shuffle is probably a little easier to use. The Shuffle provides the iTunes software and this is a big deal. The web site is a great site. The N200 has a little more flexibility and that is a big plus. You can record memos with the N200, for instance. They both have more than adequate memory for my needs, great sound, and are small in size.
Yes, they are both very good, but I would probably go with the Shuffle for the simple reason that the iTunes site is so good. I also like how easy it is to get your playlists together and the ability to match the list up with your activity.
The bottom line is that they are both very good MP3 players, but the Apple has "it" right now.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
hwz1
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Location: Philadelphia, PA
Reviews written: 845
Trusted by: 927 members
About Me:
Just got a big promotion that will move my new wife and I to Atlanta.
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