the new apple ipod shuffle thing

My first thought on the iPod Shuffle was that it was the kind of thing Apple don't need to be doing; extending a brand outwards because it could, not because it should. Memory stick style MP3 players have been around ages and I've never wanted one - apart from anything else, I don't consider the storage space they offer very appealing. Why would someone want to store 128mb of music on an expensive device when they could put 700mb worth on a CD? So instead of buying an MP3 player (or an iPod, which is miles out of my price range) I bought a CD discman which could read MP3 files on CD last year, and it's kept me more than happy. I don't that often burn MP3 CDs to use on it but this just reflects the fact that I don't want to be busily plugging things in and out of my computer every five minutes - more evidence that the likes of the iPod Shuffle are not for me.

That said.... I've just been reading the website.... It does look pretty good. I hadn't factored in that random element which they suggest, the idea of just ending up with a whole lot of songs to listen to by letting iTunes fill it up for you. And 512mb is almost a useful amount. And I, um, like the way that the Apple website warns 'Do not eat iPod Shuffle'.

That said, I don't think it's particularly attractive; too small. And what's with this '12 hours battery time'?? Can't Apple fix this idiotic problem (they have it with the iPod too)? My CD discman (made by Sony) can run on two AA batteries for well over 60 hours before I have to replace them; yet everything by Apple runs out in no time. Odd.