Apple iPod Shuffle user reviews (second generation 2008, 1GB, blue)

3.0 stars

"Just okay." on January 25, 2009 by JC_91

Pros: Easy to use; built-in clip; affordable; can act as flash drive.

Cons: No screen; no extra features of any kind; audio quality is seriously lacking in bass; light hissing sound can be heard at times; may be too simple for some; tiny size makes it easy to lose; LED indicator lights can be hard to decipher.

Summary: I bought two 4G iPod shuffles for my brother (blue) and my mother (pink) for Christmas, and given that they're new to the world of digital music, they're both fairly satisfied. I borrow my brother's shuffle sometimes when my own iPod (a 2G nano) is dead or charging. On the plus side, the built-in clip is a nice touch, and it is extremely easy to use. On the down side, the audio quality severely lacks bass, something both I and my brother have complained about. Modifying the songs' EQ settings with iTunes sorta helps, though. And since it has no screen, it has no extra features other than that it can be used as a flash drive, and navigating through songs isn't easy. I understand Apple's whole philosophy of listening to it as if it were your own personal radio station, but sometimes you want the ability to be your own DJ too. The keypad is easy to use, although the play button is unresponsive at times; sometimes when I turn it on I have to press it maybe three or four times before music starts playing. Finally, the shuffle is extremely easy to lose since it's so tiny. Then again, when it's clipped on to my shirt or jacket that's kind of a moot issue. In the end, though, it's my brother's shuffle and he's happy with it.

Updated on Feb 4, 2009

Okay, I read in various articles across the Internet that songs' EQ settings in iTunes aren't carried over to the shuffle, so that didn't help on the audio quality issue after all.