So Apple announced a Nano with smaller capacity and lowered the prices on the iPod Shuffle to well under $100. So the entry point to becoming an iPod user is lower than ever before. It’s good to remember that the Shuffle also acts as a USB storage device, and at this price point, anyone thinking about getting a memory stick might as well spring for the Shuffle and get the MP3 capabilities as well.

I used my Shuffle daily for several months and have to say my favorite “feature” is that I could have it in a pocket and navigate from song to song by touch only, as the dial is slightly raised. Second, I didn’t really worry about it getting banged up or scratched, partly because it doesn’t have a screen, and also because it was on the cheaper side. Now that I have a standard-issue iPod, there’s a lot more fiddling about as every time I want to change a song I have to take it out of the protective case.

That is not to say I’m using my Shuffle more than the iPod by any means. The iPod screen and storage give you the freedom of choice, where if you’re listening to a podcast and suddenly are in the mood to hear T. Monk, you can, whereas on the Shuffle it’s a matter of blindly hitting buttons until the song you want comes up or you surrender to the random life.

In other news, a new Japanese grocery store opened up nearby. In addition to Battlestar Galactica and Gilmore Girls, I’ve been watching some episodes of this ridiculous British comedy The IT Crowd. Not enough geeky references as I’d like, but if you look closely around the office there’s some Chris Ware comic books, an old Commodore PET computer, and even a Flying Spaghetti Monster which indicates that at least the set designers have been spending a good amount of time immersed in hipster geek land … or at least visiting Boing Boing.

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