Win a shuffle (or 5 Reasons a shuffle is Better than a nano)

The usual person in charge of administering Apple Matters is on vacation. So, site owner Hadley Stern tapped me to post the stories and such. It’s something I’m likely to screw up. To preempt any ill will from the higher ups I’m Apple Matters is giving away a brand new 512MB shuffle. Why not a nano? Because the shuffle is simply better than a nano! Here’s why:

5) shuffle owners don’t care about scratches

While nano buyers may whine about scratches on the screen of their device that might hurt the viewing of album covers and personal photos, shuffle owners don’t care. iPod meets ten grit sandpaper? An event of epically bad luck if you’re a nano owner but no big deal if you’re using a shuffle. The thing is a brick, as long as the buttons still work the player is functional. Keep your eye candy to yourself, the shuffle does exactly what it is supposed to.

5b) This shuffle holds 512 MB

The nano holds at least 1GB, having half the storage forces you to choose your playlist carefully assuring every song will be of the highest quality. No “We Built This City” by Starship on the shuffle!

4) The shuffle plays music, not album covers and pictures

With the nano you get a small screen to view pictures and album covers. Great for those who love the stuff but, in the beginning, the iPod was all about music. The color display is a tacked on battery sapping feature, those that look at photos on their on their iPod are violating the spirit of the device. If you love the iPod, you love the shuffle

3) The shuffle has no scroll wheel

It seems like 90% of the D.A.P. you see today have scroll wheels. Where’s the innovation? Everyone else is just copying the scroll wheel, everyone except Apple. Heck no, Apple looks at the played out scroll wheel and says: not on our low-end player, you’ll get buttons and like it!

2) USB only

Most PCs don’t have FireWire, the super spiffy transfer protocol. Instead, they’re stuck with USB 2.0. Apple knows that most computer owners are PC users so, unlike the iPods that came before, the shuffle only has USB support. Sure, if you have an older Mac with USB 1.0 the shuffle isn’t your speediest option. But, for those with PCs and newer Macs, the shuffle blazes. For you long time Mac owners with FireWire, well, to get the most out of the shuffle Apple would like you to upgrade to a brand new Mac.

1) This shuffle is free

Think of all the things you can do with a shuffle you didn’t pay for. How long will the shuffle keep working in the dishwasher? This is your big chance to find out. Can the solid-state memory of a shuffle survive a trip on model rocket? Taste gravity’s rainbow and learn! Might you ruin your new shuffle trying these experiments? Yes, you might. But what will you care? Of course not, it’s free!.

How do you win? Just leave your reason in the comment section below. No need to be clever, the reason could be as simple as “just ‘cause.” The winner will be randomnly chosen out of all the entries. Good luck and remember, one entry per person!

Oh wait, the legal stuff….
Official Rules

• No purchase necessary to enter.
• Contest begins 8AM EST March 27, 2006.
• Deadline for entries 12 PM March 30, 2006.
• This giveaway is open to U.S. and international residents.
• Must be 18 years or older to enter.
• Void where prohibited.
• Apple Matters is not responsible for computer malfunctions, bugs or viruses and causes beyond our control.
• Apple Matters has the right to terminate this giveaway at any given time without notice.
• By submitting, you agree that all private information you submit automatically becomes the property of Apple Matters. Apple Matters will not release any personally identifiable information to any third party other than necessary to deliver the prize to winners, and the name of the winners will be used to identify the winners on AppleMatters.com.
• Winners will be announced on applematters.com on March 31, 2006.
• Associates, employees, principles, or relatives thereof of Apple Matters are not eligible.
• All taxes are the responsibility of the winners.
• The prize selected does not imply or express any endorsement from the manufacturer or any other relationship with Apple Matters.
• Apple Matters reserves the right to modify these terms and/or rules at any time to comply with the laws of the State of Massachusetts, to correct errors and omissions, or to ensure fairness as determined by Apple Matters. Such modifications, if any, will be posted at Apple Matters.
• Any attempt to manipulate, interfere with, or otherwise alter any entries, other systems or services of Apple Matters will disqualify all those implicated and subject them to prosecution in the State of Massachusetts, United States and/or other jurisdictions. Your entry implies and expresses your agreement to these terms and your waiver of any other rights, related to such giveaways, you may have in any jurisdiction.