instantiation

[AlinDavid]

I'n not an expert but i would like to know if there wasn't better to type the init method like this:

class Shape:
def init(self, color=None):
if color == None:
self.color = ""
else:
self.color = color

since the input for color is expected to be a string type

[joeyajames]

Isn't this simpler, and does the same thing?
class Shape:
def init(self, color=''):
self.color = color

[AlinDavid]

It is simpler but instantiating objects like that will maybe became troublesome because every instance will receive the same reference to the "" string.