Customer Reviews

Apple iPod shuffle 1 GB Pink (2nd Generation) OLD MODEL

5 star:		(475)
4 star:		(107)
3 star:		(32)
2 star:		(22)
1 star:		(35)

 

 

My new shuffle gives me the ultimate coolness factor! The functionality is awesome too.
The shuffle arrived in it's beautiful transparent hard plastic box. It is really small, 1.5 inches long and 1 inch wide and the depth without the clip is hardly a few mm. The packaging is great too, even better than the last green cardboard box, and if you buy it from apple you can engrave it with your special message and also include a gift note which arrives in a tiny white envelope with a silver apple logo. My shuffle has my name and cell phone number engraved at the back from Apple in case it goes missing...though I don't think the finder would ever want to return it.

The "goodness" of a shuffle: I had always liked the Gen 1 shuffle too as it was small, and could slip into my tight jeans easily. Every time I wanted to change a song while at the airport in a queue, shopping for groceries or jogging I could just press the raised ring as I knew where each symbol was. I never needed to look at it or to take my attention away from what I was doing. It was light too, so much so that the weight of the headphones would sometimes nudge it out of my pocket and it would clatter to the floor. When I wanted to change the songs I just slipped it into my laptop. I had planned to buy a bigger iPod or even the Zune or Zenvision for my car so I could load my complete song collection (and get rid of XM) or for long plane trips where I might look at the screen. But for the everyday activities - jogs, work in the kitchen/garage/garden, or shopping trips I was happy with the low maintenance easy-breezy shuffle. So, the early pictures of the new shuffle blew me away ...I realized it was time to give away my old one...to my dad in this case, who loves listening to his books on shuffle, and doesn't want a screen.

The 2G shuffle: The new shuffle sounds just as good as the last one and the headphones tangle up less with a rubber slider. Did I tell you that the white and gray headphones co-ordinate perfectly with the gray and white look of the new shuffle? I love these little touches from Apple...(Can't believe Microsoft thinks the dull brown color of Zune is cool...) The port to connect the headphones is the same one you connect the docking station to load songs or charge it. The docking station is small too, white on top and barely 2 inches long and 1/2 inch wide with gray rubber base with an apple logo that prevents it from sliding around. You'll need to download the 35MB iTunes software to your computer (in case you don't have it already) and then load up your songs on the shuffle and you're ready to go. When it updates software the light indicator is red, orange when it uploads songs and green when you eject it and it's ready to play. The genius is that there is no need for a separate battery indicator as the same light glows orange for low charge or red if your battery is very low. In fact the same light will tell you with a blink sequence if there are no songs loaded. Press the forward button once and it will go back to the beginning of the same song, press it twice it goes to the next song. Similar function for the reverse button. If you press the play/pause button 3 times it goes to the beginning of the playlist...If you have your songs organized you can load the list you want according to your mood and these controls are enough to take you where you may want to go.

I was able to load 180 songs on to my shuffle, which is more than enough for a whole week for me. You have to use iTunes but all my songs are from CDs or downloads from other sites and I did not have a problem getting them on to the shuffle with the iTunes software.

The only downside I see is that I'll have to carry the docking station to charge it or upload songs if I travel, and while the docking station is really small, it makes the shuffle less self-contained. However, given the look of the new shuffle I don't mind too much. Especially now that I have a clip on the new shuffle, a feature I did not anticipate would make carrying the shuffle so much easier.

In fact, now I am in love with the convenience of the shuffle's clip that makes it easy to access and does not keep falling out with the weight of the headphones. The possibilities of where to clip it are endless. I've had it clipped to my T shirt neck, my office shirt front, on my leather coat lapel, or the jeans top pocket, or even my purse strap. Doesn't fall out and it's easier to reach the buttons.

By the way, all the people with negative reviews for 2G don't seem to be users. If I just want to make toast I don't want to buy an oven, even if it's available for the same price. If I wanted a screen on the shuffle I would get a Nano or something else. But the shuffle gives me what I want -not only does it play great music, it's cute enough to sit on my blouse. And does get some ooohs and aaaahs!

Now how about blue, red and pink metal shuffles...I need to color coordinate them with all my outfits! ;-)
Update Feb 28, 2007: So Apple listened to me (!) and they do have these in nice colors now...love that orange..

PS - If you like the review, check out my new Shuffle pics in the customer images. Please rate my review too and let me know if it was helpful for you.

NEW:
-Thinner
-Square
-Aluminum
-Clip instead of lanyard
-Docked USB instead of strait plug
-Slightly lighter

GOOD:
-Very compact
-Great looking design and button layout
-Excellent sound quality
-Much more durable (and less flimsy, I always felt like I'd break my old shuffle in half if I sat on it)
-No external cap to loose
-Clip is very useful
-iTunes Sync

BAD:
-No battery life improvement (still 12 hours)
-Still no screen
-Clip is a little stiffer than I'd like
-Cheap headphones
-Still no FM tuner, mic, voice record, or line-in
-No accessories for it that aid in your workouts, yet (like the Nano)
-1GB is the largest capacity

BOTTOM LINE: At a price point impossible to ignore, this excellent sounding MP3 player continues Apple's great line of electronics. The perfect starter player or for workout enthusiasts. For those looking for a great compact MP3 player, look no further.

I received my Shuffle straight from the manufacturer today (took 3 days to arrive to DC from China, according to FedEx tracking). I had to update my iTunes to 7.0.2, but other than that, the device was ready to sync right out of the box. The packaging is exactly the same as the Nano, very efficiently packed, and no install CD.

I'd love to give it 5 stars like I gave the Nano, but my one complaint is big enough to deduct a star: The Shuffle does NOT come with the new, updated earbuds that come with the Nano, but instead ships with the old, round ones with the foam covers. I mean, really Steve Jobs, how bougie is that? Hopefully, this will change with later orders.

Personally, I much prefer the updated earbuds and never got a good fit with the old earbuds. I remain mystified by the functionality of those foam covers. Also, I feel it's a bit dodgy for Apple to sell the new ones for $29 separately and include them as a pack-in for every other new iPod model except the Shuffle. Granted, the Shuffle is the cheapest, but previously, all the iPod models came with the same janky earbuds standard, so to unload the leftovers on the Shuffles now hardly seems fair.

All that said, the Shuffle itself is fantastic. Sound quality is great. The USB-integrated docking system is genius, no more USB nubbin coming out of the player, though you CAN still drag and drop files onto the iPod on your desktop -- just like a thumb drive or regular iPod.

Finally, the design is super! It looks a lot like the radio remote, a little wider and thicker, the major difference being that the Shuffle is cased in alumninum vs plastic. Its clip is also made of aluminum and non-removable. The Shuffle has a little light on the top that flashes either green, yellow or red and in various patterns, depending on whatever Morse code thing it's trying to tell you. Like everything Mac, it's very intuitive, and you'll figure it out quick.

I was never into the old Shuffle, but I really like the look and feel of this one. It's tiny enough to take anywhere, but solid enough to throw in your purse (or for guys, pocket/European carry-all) without being afraid it will break. The clip is a big design improvement as well. As much as I love Mac, iPod necklaces don't really go with everything.

The Shuffle returns with a brand new invention....

I had the first generation 512MB Shuffle, which was small enough for me to carry and use everywhere. The second generation IPod shuffle is 1/3 the size with twice the memory of the 512MB, and at a lower initial price point. This is the first IPod product that has come out which was an immediate buy for me. My need for musical portability is limited. I use it in the gym or the library. I don't need a 2GB or larger Nano, and only have a 80GB IPod for video use and music storage. The Shuffle fits the perfect niche for me. I preload multiple playlists, thrown in some utterly random goodness, and I'm walking out the door. Some don't like not having a screen or having to move forward through the track order or the randomness of the music when it plays on shuffle, but for me that's the appeal. This 2nd generation Shuffle is as simple and inexpensive as it gets, and does its job incredible well (which is to play music). The only major drawback are the hideously bad earbuds, which you may want to consider upgrading.

One note, check the pricing before you buy on here. Some days Amazon is fulfilling the order at list price, and other days third party vendors are ripping people off charging between $99 and $115. If you don't see it at the list price of $79, Apple has it on their own website for $79, so pick it up there or in big box chain stores. This 2nd Gen Shuffle will dominate the low cost, low memory end of the portable music spectrum, and continue Apple's dominance in the market. At this price point, there are few who can't afford it, and plenty who are going to add it to their existing IPod collection. Highly recommended, and the perfect holiday gift.

A.G. Corwin
St.Louis, MO

At a time when most portable electronic devices seem to be engaging in feature wars, it's truly refreshing to see Apple go back to the basics. With this redesigned Shuffle, they've remembered what's important: it's portable, and it plays music.

The design of the new iPod Shuffle is elegant in its simplicity. The player itself is tiny and sleek, with a simple 5-button arrangement to start and stop playback, skip backwards and forwards, and adjust volume. The buttons are so intuitive that they can be manipulated without even having to look at them, a feat most portable music players can't seem to manage. Toggle switches for power on and off, and selecting sequential playback or "shuffle" mode (random playback order) complete this tiny package. A small docking station is included as well, which allows you to hook up the Shuffle to a computer via a USB connection, to transfer music files and to recharge the player itself.

As to function, the new iPod Shuffle plays music, and lots of it. With about 1 GB of storage capacity, you can usually get around 200 songs on it easily. There is no visual display to show song information, no capacity for video playback, and no options to plug in the various toys and accessories that other iPods can do. But here's the thing: none of that is needed. The new iPod Shuffle is a portable music player, and it accomplishes that goal handily. The earbud headphones that come with it aren't the greatest, but you can use whatever headphones you want instead. Playback of classical, rock, or electronic music all sound good, and that's all I really care about in a portable music player.

The new iPod Shuffle looks great and sounds great. It merges simple, elegant design with a good dose of technical wizardry to create the perfect blend of form and function. If you're looking for a portable music player that just plays music and gives you a compact package, this may well be your best bet.

I have a 20g "brick" ipod that I use 99% for audiobooks. I rip the books from CDs that I borrow from the library. For some reason I decided it was no longer convenient to haul the brick with me on my daily walks so this new shuffle caught my eye.

With no screen, I was worried I'd forever lose my place and have to click blindly forward and backward to find my spot. I knew my 14-year old would be happy to take it off my hands so I took a chance and bought the tiny new shuffle.

I am happy to report: NO WORRIES. This shuffle is fantastic for audiobooks, even those in mp3 format. I set it on "repeat" instead of shuffle, and each time I turn it on, it picks up exactly where it left off. It goes walking with me, to the gym, and probably even on vacation. It holds plenty--I currently have it loaded with just over half of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. It will take me weeks to get through that. My son's friends think it is the coolest thing and so do I!

I probably wouldn't clip it to the bottom of a shirt hem -- I usually clip it to my collar or a pants pocket where gravity won't tug it loose. Even if it does dangle loose, it is so light that the earbuds hold it in your ear. I have seen reviews where some people have dropped their shuffle from a balcony, dunked it in beer, etc to see how much abuse it would take. It finally died when they ran over it with a car. So if you do happen to drop it, it will likely be fine. Just don't lose it!

My beloved 20g has taken a backseat to this petite beauty. As one reviewer mentioned, it is a nice feature of the flash drive that the shuffle simply begins when you push the play button. There is no waiting for the hard drive to rev up as you sometimes do with the bigger ipods. I don't claim to be an audiophile and I rip my mp3s at the lowest quality setting. But I have never heard the hiss that others complain of and my audiobooks sound just right to me.

I will never give up an ipod with a screen because I use the sleep timer to drift off at night. I often wake up at 2:00 am with my earbuds still in my ears! But now my 20gig never leaves my night table while my shuffle goes with me everywhere.

I highly recommend it.

The shuffle lives up to the Apple ads. Extremely easy to use, while very light.

I replaced an MP3 player that I use for running that died, so I was extremely interested in the clip feature. At first I was skeptical that it would actually stay in place -- thought I would have to purchase the armband. I was pleasantly suprised. In fact, ran ~13 miles while it was hooked to my waistband and it didn't budge. There are a few arm straps that you can buy from aftermarket vendors (e.g. DLO), but it's not necessary.

If you are going to use primarily for running/exercising, I would opt for the shuffle over the nano. It's very rugged, inexpensive and simple to use.

Enjoy.

PROS: It's size and weight make it almost nonexistant. For running, working out, etc., I haven't found a better choice, and just taking it along with you is effortless. The clip is also very strong. I don't see it ever slipping off a piece of clothing. The new aluminum design makes this a seemingly durable product and very pleasing to look at. It really does go with anything. The storage and battery life are also just right. I listened to my shuffle for a week straight before it needed a charge (obviously it wasn't non-stop). 12 hours is plenty. Plus, you can shuffle the songs or play them in order. As long as you make playlists you like and/or only keep good music in your library the absense of a screen is no big deal. I gladly give it up for the better weight and size. Docking and charging are easy, and iTunes is elementary to use. I recommend this to anyone. A good first player, an absolute perfect second player.

CONS: There are a couple minor ones. The only way to charge the player right out of the box is through your USB port. There isn't an AC adapter included. Apple sells them for $30-$40 bucks, yeah right, but I bought an off brand from Amazon for $0.75 plus shipping. I know it's hard to trust an expensive iPod to an off brand, but the reviews of the charger sound good so far. The included headphones aren't stellar. You have to get used to them or they make your ears a little soar once in a while, and the sound quality is alright. The cord length is perfect tho and they do look sweet, so maybe just get a different pair sometime in the future. For those of you who don't like iTunes I don't think you can use anything else. Sorry. Can't say I've really tried, but Apple is usually pretty tight about it. I got used to it. Overall, these minor flaws shouldn't discourage you from the player. It really is as cool as it looks, and it works perfectly.

SIDE THOUGHTS: Make sure you have USB 2.0. It's not a big deal, but I went from 20 minute transfers to 3 minute transfers. You can get adapters for your laptop, and PCs are even easier. You don't have to worry about charging it at off times. The make of the battery makes it possible to charge whenever, whether fully dead or not, without losing capacity. Just plug it in every day or so and you'll never run out of juice. The Apple site has more info on the batteries if you're curious. The batteries can even be replaced and are covered for the first year. Because it's a flash memory player, you needn't worry about skipping or breaking hard drive disks. Although real music junkies say flash memory doesn't have the same sound quality (you won't tell a difference).

Basically, I LOVE IT. Just think of it as your own personal radio station. You never know what's coming up next (unless it's out of shuffle mode), but you know it'll be a song you like. If not, just skip it. Buy it. It's a good buy.

For years I suffered the slings and arrows of iPod snobbery as I carried around my white Shuffle everywhere. Shamed and disgraced, I ended up buying an iPod video model recently and discovered something surprising. The Shuffle is a great deal and easy to use. I play it more than my top of the line iPod. I'm a Shuffle fan, and the new one is great! They are selling out everywhere the minute they come out so grab one now.

The big change here is size and color. Old Shuffles were the size of a lighter or stick of gum and white plastic : this new aluminum one is tiny and grey metallic. Will be much more discreet in a pocket or stashed away somewhere on the go. 12 hour battery life isn't so bad, and musical clarity is right up there with the higher end iPods. A Flash memory drive also means no moving parts and less chance to break down.

The biggest misconception - you CAN PLAY SONGS in order to follow a playlist you designed. Or you put it in shuffle mode and let it deejay for you. Controls are easier than the click wheel - just press and play with no turning. There is no screen, but why would you need it? This is an iPod for a gym routine, a car commute, or music and podcasts on the fly while you are doing something else. It is meant to be forgotten about and not futzed with constantly.

I am a proud Shuffle owner, and this great deal just got greater. More compact, still the same great sound and clarity, and absolutely jog proof. Awesome way to deejay your entire day.

I love my shuffle! I like how you don't have to listen to the songs shuffled if you don't want and I love the clip feature. 250 songs is just right for me. This little baby is perfect for exercising or when you're on the go and you don't want to worry where you'll put it like the full sized iPods. I'm PO'd I bought mine before Apple decided to come out with colored shuffles. Not cool Apple. Not cool. :) The only drawback I've noticed is it doesn't have the option where you push a button and it makes it so if the dial is pressed on accident the song or volume can't be changed.

EDIT: I found out it does have the hold mode, you hold down the play button for 3 seconds. Awesome!