Yes it is inexpensive, and yes I thought it would be great, but it is only so-so and all because it is missing a display. The iPod Shuffle has been a great addition to my music device collection - a old-turned-new 17" PowerBook is the center of my media hub, but I constantly find myself looking for a display to see what is happening - i.e. is it in Play mode, stop mode, sleep mode, etc. The problem with the Shuffle's simplicity is that it is actually complicated. The green/orange LED blinks in different manners and to be quite honest, I don't want to learn what each type of blinking means. (I have the same gripe about the old HP LaserJet 2000/2100/2200's - what would it have cost to put a 2-line LCD display on a $900 printer? It certainly would have allowed me to diagnose problems more easily.) I would be happy with a display that says nothing but what the Shuffle is doing - i.e. play, stop, ff, rw, pause (maybe even on and off). It is difficult to gather whether the Shuffle is playing if the ambient noise is like that of a loud car or fitness center and you are currently playing a song that has a very soft beginning or soft points during music play (the best example being classical music).
Most little items I have bought over the years similar to the Shuffle have ended up in a drawer somewhere to be used only a few times until I realize they are more of a pain than a convenience. Thus far, it is not the case. It is light and easy to configure using the iTunes interface that I have grown to appreciate over the years. (My first experience with a Memory Stick Walkman was a dismal failure - due to Sony's lack of creativity or ability to create a transfer program that was easy to use. I spent $250 on the device and used it three times. I finally threw it out last week - after four years of sitting in my laptop bag.) I still cannot get over the lack of display, however. As an initial criticism of the device, I shrugged and said, "what the hell do the critics know about ease of use?" I can think of many occasions where they missed the boat - how many times has been said that Apple was on the brink of disappearing? This is one time they were right.
(Oh, by the way, why don't I just get a Mini? Because it is not a solid-state device. I can't imagine the Mini having stood up to the abuse I have already put the Shuffle through.)
