WTF Apple? Okay, I get it. Apple fanboys/girls are used to paying a bit more for your product, but at least it met The Scot’s minimum QPR (Quality:Price Ratio). It’s a non-scientific/gut feel measurement, and yes it’s metric. The new iPod Shuffle (released March 11/2009) loses the controls found previously on earlier models, and moves them to the wire on the ear buds. I have a few problems with this approach:
- The controls are no longer intuitive. This post over at Engadget sums it up best.
stick it in yer ear Apple!
- The Scot’s ears are too damn big/genetically fucked up for your stupid ear buds! They fall out constantly.
- If an adapter for 3rd party headphones becomes available, the $99 (CAD) Shuffle will undoubtedly approach the $149 4th generation iPod Nano — WHICH HAS A SCREEN AND PROPER BUTTONS! Which brings me to my next point…
- Apple is attempting to make green it’s product line. If I have to go out and buy another set of headphones and an adapter I’ve just significantly increased the carbon footprint of the diminutive little Shuffle.
The Scot’s Recommendation? Buy the $149 (CAD) 8GB Nano! The Nano sits in The Scot’s QPR quite nicely. It has twice the storage capacity as the new Shuffle. It has a screen, and you can watch video on it! It has proper controls.
What’s next Apple? The iPod iMplant? Reminds me of a Saturday Night Live sketch.
Oh, and the Scot’s wife has a Nano (iPod, ahem) and she loves it!
<UPDATE!> The 3rd party accessories for the $99 iPod Shuffle are starting to appear. $49 extra for “better dynamic range”? Sigh…
