USB based iPod owners cannot rely on their computers as the only source for charging their iPods. The process is too long and a spare USB port is needed. Also, if you take your music with you while traveling, a means of charging your iPod battery via a wall plug device lets you skip computer based charging.As a recent iPod Shuffle owner, I find this little charger ideal. Just plug it into a standard wall plug, connect the iPod to the charger's USB terminal, and CHARGE!