I don't like the strap and yes everyone is wearing them on their wrists.
Our ETLs haven't rolled them out to the team yet either, even thought we've had them almost a month. DTL said the ones we have are defective (something about not scanning fast enough?) but they seem fine except the ones...
Any laptop will work, even if used on guest wifi. Just need iTunes and the latest iPod iOS to restore them. I made a post a couple pages ago explaining the process I go through when fixing them if that helps.
I asked Client Services about the new devices and they said release to more stores was possibly delayed to second quarter. Could be accurate but hard to say since he was pretty tight lipped about it all and was surprised I knew.
How-to fix MyDevice from Apple logo of death.
1) Install iTunes on display laptop and download latest iPod update (around 1.5GB)
2) Hold power and home button down on iPod until apple logo appears then let go of power button but keep holding home button so iPod will request iTunes connection...