Why do they still make ipod shuffles?

[Nerdius Maximus]

You can get an 8gb sansa clip mp3 player that's got a nice display screen, radio, digital voice recorder, etc etc etc for just a little more than what they charge for a 1 gig shuffle. And their 1 gig player is cheaper than the shuffle and is far superior. Why do people still buy them? Is it just so that they can say they have an ipod? There's other similar players that are better than the shuffle, too.

 

[Hermiod]

^Because they're tiny, they do exactly what the user wants them to do and they can play all of the user's old, still DRM'ed music from the iTunes Music Store.

 

[Nerdius Maximus]

^Because they're tiny, they do exactly what the user wants them to do and they can play all of the user's old, still DRM'ed music from the iTunes Music Store.

Ugh, DRM. I will NEVER pay for an mp3 with DRM. If everything eventually had DRM on it, I would just stop buying new music entirely.

 

[Hermiod]

^Because they're tiny, they do exactly what the user wants them to do and they can play all of the user's old, still DRM'ed music from the iTunes Music Store.

Ugh, DRM. I will NEVER pay for an mp3 with DRM. If everything eventually had DRM on it, I would just stop buying new music entirely.

Which is why it's a good thing Apple just dumped it. However, people still have music that they can't be bothered to upgrade that they want to play on the move.

The Shuffle is a ridiculously simple and elegant device. It doesn't need a screen, not for what it does. You stick the music you like on there and it plays it, that's it.

 

[JoeZhang]

I had a 60gb creative zen and I purchased a shuffle for the gym. Then over a period of six months I noticed I was never taking out the creative zen - I was just picking up my shuffle and going - I gave the zen to my niece.

It's the simplicity - I don't want a screen, I don't even want to be able to select track - I pick it up, click it to my overcoat and away I go - it just works.

As for itunes - never used it - I sync it with wm11 and my non-drm'd collection...

When we say "better" we assume that some feature *we* like is a feature that others require - in my type of usage - it's all junk, I just don't need or desire those functions. The shuffle just does it - that's the beauty of it.

 

[DBR]

I much prefer my shuffle, it is easier to use, clips on my shirt when I take it out, and 1 or 2 GB (whatever it is) is more that I will ever need. The only reason I bought the bigger ipod was so I could dock it in my car. I can't imagine ever watching anything on that tiny screen. Using the ipod for movies and TV shows is of no interest to me.

 

[Stone_Cold_Sisko]

For a pure workout device, the shuffle sounds much more appealing to me than a device with all those buttons that you actually have to navigate.

If I worked out, that is. Since I don't, it's not really applicable.

 

[Chess Piece Face]

If you can't understand why the shuffle is appealing, you are just not "getting it." It's a superbly designed, TINY, simple device that does what it is supposed to do extremely well. Perfect.

 

[Turbo]

Also, it's (fairly) cheap for Apple to make, and they sell like mad.

 

[Nick Ryder]

Although I THINK the OP was trying to say, that there are cheaper options to the shuffle. Like the Sansa clip or other players that are just like the shuffle or at least slightly larger, do the same things and are maybe only slightly larger. Honestly for a fairly featureless small storage capacity player, its really a bit overrated.

 

[Nerdius Maximus]

I have to be able to navigate the songs. I can't just let them play, that would drive me nuts.

 

[Vulcan]

Go running with your iPod. You'll soon find out why it's nice to have a itty bitty little music player you can clip on and it'll stay.

 

[JoeZhang]

Although I THINK the OP was trying to say, that there are cheaper options to the shuffle. Like the Sansa clip or other players that are just like the shuffle or at least slightly larger, do the same things and are maybe only slightly larger. Honestly for a fairly featureless small storage capacity player, its really a bit overrated.

it's massive looking compared to the shuffle - and cheap and plastic looking. The other thing about the shuffle I clip it inside my suit and it doesn't ruin the line - that would make me look like a 90s drugdealer with a pager.

 

[JoeZhang]

Go running with your iPod. You'll soon find out why it's nice to have a itty bitty little music player you can clip on and it'll stay.

Yep clips to the bottom of my waterproof and I'm away...

 

[Hermiod]

I have to be able to navigate the songs. I can't just let them play, that would drive me nuts.

Then don't buy one. Nobody is forcing you, just don't expect Apple to suddenly drop a successful product.

 

[Deimos Anomaly]

I always thought the shuffle was the dumbest thing ever made.

You can't even pick what track you want to hear, should you want to do it that way! The only supposed "advantage" is that it's a pure blind shuffler. Which there is no point to since all normal iPods have a shuffle feature.

 

[Flying Spaghetti Monster]

I'm unemployed, I don't have a lot of music, and I like my shuffle. I just wish I could clip it onto my keychain. Any suggestions?

 

[Chess Piece Face]

I'm unemployed, I don't have a lot of music, and I like my shuffle. I just wish I could clip it onto my keychain. Any suggestions?

Get a job.

 

[Chess Piece Face]

Seriously, get a larger ring for your keychain, that would be cheap and you could then clip your shuffle to it, possibly.

 

[Chess Piece Face]

I always thought the shuffle was the dumbest thing ever made.

You can't even pick what track you want to hear, should you want to do it that way! The only supposed "advantage" is that it's a pure blind shuffler. Which there is no point to since all normal iPods have a shuffle feature.

Again, this person is just not getting it. That's ok, I'll explain it again. The shuffle is superbly designed, TINY and does exactly what it claims to do, well.

I have my music on an iPhone. I have an older classic iPod and also an older nano...all of this and I'm still considering a shuffle. Once you hold one and understand how small and convenient they are, you may get why people buy them. (also, in case you are unaware, you do not have to shuffle the music, you can play it straight through).