Everything USB reviewed Apple's first flash memory-based MP3 player - iPod shuffle 512MB.
iPod shuffle uses FAT32 on both PC & Mac. On our PowerBook, the 512MB Hi-Speed USB MP3 player literally crawled, taking 5 minutes to transfer 100 songs totaling 460MB of assorted MP3s and AACs. This translates into a disappointing 1.2MB/s. The slow speed attributes partly to iTunes taking time to update the playlist, and largely to the onboard flash drive controller. If you want to do file exchange with this flash drive, the iPod shuffle is a tad faster 3MB/s read and 2MB/s write in Windows XP/2000.Read more
To Apple's credit, Sandra 2005 reported back iPod shuffle scoring 34.6 for 'Endurance factor' in removable flash benchmark, highest we've seen for a media-grade flash device. This means the shuffle's flash memory will have a higher life expectancy than other flash memory players.
