And now, the iPod Shuffle, presumably named so because iPod Mini was already taken. The Shuffle is minier than the Mini, "smaller than a pack of gum and weighs less than 4 quarters," to paraphrase the marketing metaphors. I never liked the Mini, because $250 for 4gig is preposterous compared to $300 for 20gig. Don't try to explain to me how the Mini and the Regular Size are placed in different market segments. That's nonsense. If you like a Mini, it's because you like the style and size of the hardware, not because you think you're getting a great deal compared to other (IE, non-Apple) music players. Regular iPod is a much better buy than the Mini, unless you're deadset for having one in light blue. Or you absolutely don't have that extra $50, which is stupid crazy.

The Shuffle comes out to $150 for 1gig, or $100 for 512MB. The cost-to-gig ratio keeps getting worse, but at least the price is where it needs to be. When things get that cheap, you stop caring about how they measure up to the luxury editions. $250 is not an impulse purchase, $100 is. And it's definitely in the "nice gift" range. Smart move getting these guys in the Stores before Valentine's Day.

Now how did the Shuffle get so cheap? No screen, for one. Therefore, one playlist, which must be chosen beforehand in iTunes... and can be changed every time you sync. Your Shuffle playlist can be pulled from your Library, or whatever sub-list you like. iTunes will even create a random playlist on every sync, and it can be told to favor songs you've rated highly. Although I personally have never rated songs, because I can't stand to make judgments like that. I also don't think I could handle not knowing what songs are on my iPod. So I believe I'd be unchecking the "randomize" boxes.

Apple estimates 240 songs inside 1gig. My TMBG playlist holds 389 songs, and it is just under a gig... lots of short songs from those lads, I guess. Fingertips'll do that.

So I'm thinking: How do I use my current iPod? I have a dozen playlists - but some of those are just favorite albums/compilations that I keep as playlists for easier access. I usually have the playlists set to shuffle. The playlists get the most attention; I browse for a non-playlisted album maybe 1 time in 10 uses. Several of the playlists are long enough to drain out the battery if I'd let it. Having already lived in the comparatively gigantic 10gig world, I don't think I could dumb down to a single playlist. Besides, it still rankles that my edition no longer receives updates and doesn't have Solitaire... and the Shuffle definitely is not going to be playing Solitaire. Unless you paint up 52 of them, I suppose. Given our upcoming expansion, I'd spring for one of the iPod Photo models, given the chance.

Apart from having a dedicated Giants iPod, the Shuffle isn't the model for me and won't be replacing my 10gig iPod anytime soon. (Now Rhonda, on the other hand, would love it...) I like knowing that every song worth a damn in the known universe is on my hip, although I concede that it is a pain to rotate through that massive library to find exactly what I want.

The Mac mini. mini is lowercase for no good reason, except to emphasize the smallness of it all. Had I been invited to the brainstorming sessions, I might have suggested calling it the mMac, which would be awesome on paper but stupid in actual pronunciation. $500 for a Mac no bigger than the last Harry Potter hardcover. A lot of Windows goofs are going to take their first dip into Lake Computer That Works with this one. Maybe you're one of them? Sick of popups, viruses, spyware, critical patches and security updates yet?

You have to bring your own monitor, USB keyboard and mouse... which really isn't asking much. Everyone has those. There's a ton of people out there with ancient Windows boxes - still on 2000, 98, maybe even 95 - and they probably have older keyboards that aren't USB... but the monitor is likely fine and a new USB keyboard/mouse combo can be had at Target for next to nothing. Although, if you are on one of those "legacy" systems, Microsoft's position is that you're part of the security problem and ought to send them some more money. Maybe your money would be better spent elsewhere.

Of course, Apple sells plenty of varieties of homegrown monitors and such - ideal for matching the Mac mini's form - but if you're just testing out how a Mac works, how OSX feels, what works better than Windows and what doesn't... $500 is perfectly acceptable. There's even an adapter (sold separately) to use your television instead.

iSight is still too expensive, though. I was hoping for a price drop announcement on that. It's been a year and a half, for crying out loud.