I’d read a lot about the iPod Shuffle, and I’d seen pictures of it – but I wasn’t quite prepared for how small the thing was going to be… how do you get so much music into such a little container?! My neighbour bought one, and came by to show me because he guessed (rightly) that I’d be interested and (also rightly) that I’d be jealous.

Knowing that I’m involved in a research project that looks at (among other things) the uses of this kind of technology, he knew I’d also be keen to hear his reflections on life with the device. Here are his observations:

OK, my first week as an iPod shuffle owner and on broadband; these are the pluses and minuses:

What’s good about the iPod shuffle:

It re-shuffles everything when it loops round and starts again; that’s clever – I didn’t know it was going to do that.

I stopped running because it’s so boring but it’s fun with a soundtrack in your head. I still think cycling is safer unaccompanied though.

I assume the battery will need recharging eventually but there’s no sign of it yet.

What’s not so good:

You can’t turn it on or off if your hands are cold. Seriously – did they only test it in California?

The earbuds tickle; I need to get some proper headphones.

If you download a load of new stuff and then shuffle you have no idea what you’re listening to.

I haven’t found a good way to play it through my hi-fi system yet; if I plug it straight into the back of the amp it’s very quiet and the pre-amp I bought today makes it sound like a 1970s school disco.

The lanyard/necklace thing: practical? Up to a point. Fashion statement? Noooo.

What’s good about getting music via broadband:

MP3 weblogs! Aurgasm.blogspot.com is essential listening and www.webjay.org is a goldmine if you’ve got the patience to search through the rubbish.

I’m getting a crash course in jazz courtesy of some obscure New Zealand weekly jazz show. Jazz is the only form of music I have never managed to get my head round – I mean, it’s got no tune, no rhythm and no lyrics so what is it FOR? – but I’m getting there via “It’s A Jazz Thing”.

I can download singles when the radio starts playing them which is usually about 6 weeks before they’re in the shops. Have you heard The Futureheads “The Hounds Of Love”? It’s great, and it’s on my iPod!

What’s not so good:

iTunes is WAY too expensive. I thought I might download some of my favourite artists’ back catalogues if I could get their albums for around £5 or £6 per album but I checked Little Feat, Jackson Browne and John Martyn and they’re no cheaper than Amazon so what’s the point?

Andrew (C).

You’ll be pleased to hear that we solved the iPod Shuffle through the stereo issue. My only other observation would be that the lanyard is an odd addition to the fashion palette – but it’s just everywhere.

My students carry their cellphones, their mp3 players, their house keys and in some cases, their pencilcases around their necks.

One of these days some smartalec is going to track down an albatross.

Personally, I can’t get past the whole ‘soap-on-a-roap’ connection.

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116. Angela McCluskey – The Things We Do Manhattan (2004)

117. Scribe – The Crusader FMR 2004