Apple iPod Shuffle (second generation 2007, 2GB, green)

Pros: Integration with iTunes for easy syncing & track management; integrated clip; small size; incredible build quality; great battery life

Cons: No display; absence of integrated USB connector makes it less handy for file transfer

Summary: The integrated clip, very well designed & firmly attaching to any part of your clothes, does much to counter the supposed risk of easy misplacement mentioned in the review.

The build quality in amazing, and the metal shell makes it very durable.

Best of all, and not covered by the review, is it's the lowest cost iPod which gives entry to the full use of iTunes' track management features, making it very easy to keep track of what's on the iPod and to remove and add tracks.

I've tried lots of other mp3 jukebox/media player applications on Mac and Windows -- overall, iTunes has them beat, especially in the clarity, flexibility, and ease of management of playlists. An Apple iPod integrates into this system perfectly and extends its advantages to your portable audio environment.

The lack of a display is less bothersome than one might think -- after all consider the personal CD and cassette players we used happily for years, which have no display.

Also if you listen to a lot of podcasts on it, as I do, there's less need for a display. The only time I miss a display is when listening to individual tracks of music and I forget or don't know the details of a song, I can't just look and see them.

As for sound quality, I had the 1st generation iPod shuffle before, and I don't hear any difference in sound quality with this one. Sounds great to me!