All Apple employees getting an iPod shuffle morale booster from Uncle Steve

Laurie, could you possibly sound more cynical ? Doesn't make you smart, or relevent.

I work for Apple as well and I have to say, many of my co-workers were planning on buying one anyways and it wasn't on the EPP. So this is a very nice gesture, thanks morale boost, christmas present, whatever you want to call it. Apple does treat us well, among other things they have done recently which I wont get into but all employees know 84 more reasons why Apple is good to their employees.
Besides the shuffle itself, its always cool to get an email from steve directly to your inbox when you show up to work. This is also smart of him to do because now all the employees will wear the shuffles at work and advertise them.

Thank you.

Yes, but they are using them as demo units since Apple will not have any out onthe sales floor for display.

I love the new shuffle.

It's the best tie clip ever.

Haha LittleJoe totally misread/misundstood #1's comment.

MERE $79?!!

Miss Duncan, if you could please merely send me a mere $79 ipod shuffle for free i'd be merely happy.

thank you.

Sorry, Laurie, but I have to chime in with a knock against the cynicism. Maybe it's because I come from the education field where, lately, all I've had to look forward to as "bonuses" are pay freezes and higher insurance premiums, but I see this as a pretty nice gesture.

Kudos to Apple for this little morale booster right before the holiday season – when we all know it's needed most (at least those of us who've worked retail)!

"I would imagine that most people that work for apple and get their discount already all have the iPods of their dreams... right?"

Nope. Even though I get a *really* steep discount on iPods (for the sake of my continued employment I'll neglect to mention HOW steep), I never got into the iPod thing until I got one for free... There were simply better things to do with my money (like buying $3K MacBook Pros for *way* cheap... :D)

that index finger is looking really strange!

It's a nice gesture, but don't forget it's good marketing too. The employees (at least in the retail division) who are given these will probably be required to wear them while on the sales floor so that they can show them off to people. Apple did something similar last year when they gave out free copies of iLife '06 and iWork '06, or when they give employees .Mac. Neat bonus for the employees, and then they get to know the product so they can sell more of it. Smart move if you ask me. Unless of course you already have an ipod (I wonder what percentage of Apple employees fit that category...), in which case it's just another accessory.