Apple's most hated product ... and I've just bought one!

Regular readers will know that I'm not a fanboy for any particular multi-billion dollar company. I have better things to do. I pick and choose technology based on what that bit of kit can do for me, rather than what the logo is. The other day I pulled the trigger on a new bit of Apple kit, and as it turns out it seems to be the company's most hated product to date.

So what is this hated Apple product?

Well, before I tell you, I'll give you a clue. It's Apple's smallest product.

Give up?

It's the iPod shuffle ...

Now, the reason I'm buying one is that I've started swimming and I find pounding the pool without music boring. I'm not going to take my iPod touch into the pool with me and I'm not going to buy a waterproof case for my old shuffle because I'm pretty sure the battery will bite the dirt sandwich way before the case done, so it seems like a poor investment.

Hence my purchase of an iPod shuffle (not a pink one!) and an H2O Audio Interval 3G "headphones system" to put in into while I swim.

But what struck me when ordering my iPod shuffle was the huge number of negative reviews that this diminutive music player has attracted.

Here's just a few excerpts from the reviews:

"This is quite seriously the worst technological product I have ever purchased. It's an absolute debacle rivaling Toyota's!"

"By the time you shell out for a Belkin headphone adapter and a decent pair of aftermarket headphones, you will have spent more on headphones than you did not the product."

"After two uses, my volume controls and play back/forward buttons wouldn't work."

"But the clicker control >>> IS NOT WATERPROOF <<< -- I've bought and returned 2 shuffles and can conclusively say that the smallest dew-drop of sweat will short-circuit this controller."

"If are looking to add this product to your arsenal for the gym or outdoor exercise, you will quickly find that this product must have been designed and engineered by a sadist."

Apple's own support forum is no less dismal. Here are two threads relating to headphones issues. There are plenty more ...

Let's also remind ourselves of the cost of a replacement set of headphones for the the iPod shuffle ... $29. And these earphones get a hammering on Apple's own store page.

So it seems that I've bought what is generally regarded as Apple's worst product, a product hated by what seems to be at least half of the folks that come into contact with it, and a products which has a component that has a shorter life expectancy than Kenny from South Park.

I'm already wondering how many pairs of earphones I'll go through before the warranty expires ... any bets?