Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, iPod Family, Rumors
Apple to kill the iPod shuffle?
CNN Money is pointing to a
statement by UBS analyst Ben Reitzes, who believes that the iPod shuffle may be replaced by a competitively priced, 1GB
iPod nano. He's banging the "it doesn't have a screen" drum, but I really don't mind.I love my shuffle, and take it with me on short trips to the grocery store, walking the dog, etc. I know exactly what's on it because I choose to feed it manually (as opposed to auto fill), and it's really nice to not have to worry about scratches, etc. If my shuffle gets scuffed up, who cares? It's the utilitarian member of the iPod family (now that the mini is gone). I drop it into a coat or shirt pocket or hang it from my keys (see image above) without giving it a second thought. For me, that's the main appeal of the thing. If I had a 1GB nano it its place, I'd be treating it with kid gloves. I think the iPod family has to retain at least one rough-and-tumble member.
[Via Macsimum News]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Eric B. said 11:26PM on 2-01-2006
I am with you on this one.. I absolutely love my Shuffle! I use it at the gym and anywhere else I don't feel like "lugging" my nano. I love that I don't have to worry about it scratching or breaking, etc.
I saw the HP branded 512MB Nano on Overstock a month or so before Christmas and picked up a bunch of them for friends and family that hadn't tried the iTunes/iPod combo for whatever reason. Every person I gave it to has raved about the iPod, about iTunes, and has gone and purchased a second iPod! Love live the shuffle!
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Franny said 12:23AM on 2-02-2006
I love my shuffle, its the only ipod I have right now (gave the 1st gen 5 gig to my stepmom), as it holds all the songs I need for a day, I don't have to feel bad about chucking it in my backpack, it fits in girl pockets, and it is so lightweight.
It would be a disappointment for Apple to stop selling something that appeals to those wants and needs.
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Amy said 4:20AM on 2-02-2006
I agree with everyone. The Shuffle is great for what it does. I use mine for the gym and to take places where I'd worry about the Nano. It's not about how much music it will hold or whether it has a screen. The Shuffle is like a trusty pair of sweatpants or jeans. The kind you put on for painting, the gym, or a hike. I don't want to wear a pair of shiny, new designer "yoga pants" just because they're the same size. That misses the point entirely.
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Montecore the Tiger said 6:37AM on 2-02-2006
I don't see the point of owning an iPod AND an iPod shuffle. If given the option of carting all of your music around in an iPod, why would one opt for less control and less music just because the iPod is a bit smaller?
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C said 7:51AM on 2-02-2006
I'm with most everyone else on here; I love my shuffle. It's the only music player I own. I don't need huge amounts of space - even for travelling - and I don't mind it if I drop it. Perfect for driving around town, the gym, &c. I wouldn't mind having a Nano or a "regular" iPod (I used to own a 15gb mp3 player), but I prefer my Shuffle.
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Eric said 8:30AM on 2-02-2006
How did you get your keys onto the Shuffle?
Id buy one immeadiately cause this is the coolest way of keeping keys together.
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chrisjur said 9:31AM on 2-02-2006
Agreed with everyone else on how the shuffle definately has it's place. In regards to the question above as to why one would want to own both and iPod and a shuffle, one simple reason for some people is the durability of the Shuffle. The Shuffle wins the award more "Most Durable iPod"...ever. And probably will hold that title for time to come, particulary if its replacement is a cheap Nano or has any type of screen. I snowboard 40+ days a year and spend another 100 or so days working out at the gym or running. The convenience of the Shuffle's small size, coupled with the fact that you can really smack it around is a significant plus for me. I'd be sad to see it go, although, I've put mine through hell over the last 12 months and it still works like a charm, so I don't plan on having to replace it anytime soon.
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delerious said 9:51AM on 2-02-2006
I washed my shuffle three days ago. It won't turn on at all. It was a moment that made me feel like an idiot. But it works as a nice thumb drive though.
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Andrew Moon said 3:08PM on 2-02-2006
I agree with everyone that the shuffle totally rocks. I love the fact that it is almost anti-tech what with no screen, less control and what not. I also like to take it to stores and put it in my mouth and chew on it a little. Yeah, it's gross, but I have a bad oral fixation and it helps when I can't smoke in the produce aisle. However, I may be in the minority here when I say, I friggin hate my ipod. I got a 3g a couple years back, and there are just too many options, plus I was always paranoid about breaking it so it stayed home alot. Not to mention I go running and it took a couple runs to make me realize I am holding and shaking a small hard drive, which can't be good. So, hurray for flash memory and hurray for the shuffle. Useful, a little on the ugly side, utilitarian, and always overshadowed by its bigger brothers, kinda like me.
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Dave said 3:13PM on 2-02-2006
To put it on my keychain, I first cut the lanyard out. Then I used some super glue to affix an eyelet I bought from the hardware store. Let it sit a while, and it's ready to go.
When it the car, I just plug my cassette adapter into the headphone jack. Easy to manipulate the controls as it hangs from the car's ignition.
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unreal mccoy said 5:56PM on 2-02-2006
WTF is Pet Perks?
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Dave Caolo said 5:58PM on 2-02-2006
"Petperks" is the card that I use at our local pet super store (pet supplies plus or whatever it's called) for store discounts.
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