Portable mp3 Players: iPod Shuffle

by Emily Price | More from this Blogger

16 Aug 2006 07:27 AM

For those of you who may be shopping for a back to school mp3 player for your child I would highly recommend getting them an iPod shuffle. I have had a shuffle for around two years now and it has been a fantastic mp3 player for me and is not nearly as expensive as the other iPods in the iPod line. If your child is insisting on getting an iPod then this is a great alternative.

The entire mp3 player is the size of a pack of gum. The actual mp3 player only comes in white, however you can purchase colored protective sleeves for the shuffle that your child (or you) can wear to coordinate with your outfit.

I think that this mp3 player is particularly kid friendly because it comes with a lanyard attachment. The lanyard makes it so the shuffle can be worn around your child's neck when they go to school and placed inside a shirt while it's not in use. Having the mp3 player physically attached to your child will make it somewhat less likely to be lost or misplaced.

The iPod shuffle is available in two different sizes 521mb and 1g. A 512mb sized shuffle will hold around 120 songs, where as the larger 1g version will hold twice that amount at 240.

One drawback to the shuffle is that it does not have an LCD screen or a way to select a particular song to play. The way I generally use the player is to upload a specific play list to the shuffle and allow it to shuffle through those songs. You can also upload a specific play list and have the player play through the songs in order.

If you're shopping for an mp3 player for you the shuffle can be great for working out. The lanyard is excellent when on a stationary bike or machine at the gym. I personally have had trouble running with it around my neck, but there are several wrist and arm band accessories you can purchase to make it easier to use if you're a runner.

The 512mb shuffle typically sells for around $69, and the 1g version for $99.

Learn more about Emily Price

Emily is a freelance writer and video editor in Raleigh NC.

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