<font color=8fbc8f>I'm getting off easy this year! [img]smile.gif[/img] The spousal unit has a mere two items on her list:
1) Martha Stewart subscription renewed. (Complete-Card ready for stocking)
2) iPod Shuffle. The Post Exchange (PX) is sold out, with a three month waiting list. So, I ventured over to that dreadful wanna be Linux but named themselves after a fruit web site, and snooped around. For a mere $79.00 + free shipping, + free personalized laser inscription, with shipping in 3-5 business days I can have it here before Christmas. That means I can be sipping scotch whilst others are howling choatically at one another while rummaging through last minute store sales. [img]graemlins/biggrin.gif[/img]

Anybody have any idea about this tiny as a matchbook, new ultra aluminium case, 240 song holding, clip it on your outter garment and go product?
It sounds like a solid item, looks can be decieving on the web, but it's surely got cool emitting from it. Comes with a minimal warranty, one battery, USB docking station, and headphones.

It's so small, can it take anything harder than the wind blowing her jacket around? What about if it falls to the floor? (Crunch-Ouch). </font>

Don't know much about iPods save that they're supposed to be tough. They're designed to withstand small impacts (dropping etc) but not forever. Shouldn't cause any troubles in your wife's hands though. Unless she really gets down and boogies. :D

You've earned my envy at your preemptive approach to christmas shopping. I for one, am not looking forward to it.

[ 11-29-2006, 09:51 PM: Message edited by: Sever ]

The shuffle is a decent product, it is cheap and still pumps out teh quality of the other systems, but you haev to realise that you cant select songs on it ;) you can only go next, forwards and so on.

Other than that,they have improved significantly over the last year and a bit and its probably a great christmas present for the missus ;)

Oh and as for durability, im not sure about the new ones, but if its anything like the other ipod range, then its probably able to take a whooping.

Flash memory ftw [img]smile.gif[/img]

Ive had a shuffle (old 1GB version) for close to 2 years now and it has never skipped a beat. Been on many a long flight and road trip.