[blueerica]

Here's the way I see it:

The $499 Mac is a great way to upgrade a PC. As it seems to be saying on it's literature, it's an upgrade kind of thing. Someone with a perfectly functioning PC likely isn't going to be purchasing this. Someone with a PC clunking around, and who's heard things about Macs is probably who will purchase this. I think that for my general needs, it would need a serous memory upgrade, but otherwise it's a dandy little machine. It comes with a G4 Processor, which works pretty fast. My old laptop, though I have it laden with all sorts of things, and it's processor isn't as powerful, is a G4 with that much memory, and it rocks a lot of computers, particularly those that have become sluggish. It targets the market that maybe got hit by virus after virus. It also targets a Monorail Man market who just wants to have one because he's a techie, however, if MM gets one, I suggest a memory upgrade, because he really knows his computers!!

The iPod Shuffle, I would never use in a million years, but again, that's because I'm used to a certain "standard" of things, and I've been into MP3s for a long long loooong time. I need to carry a LOT around. However, someone who's new to this, who just might want to carry that "Book on MP3" or a few songs, and wants the iPod name will carry this around. The neck thing, in a word: stupid, if you're running, but maybe not so bad if you're on a bike.