Edward Champion's Return of the Reluctant

I think what you "are missing' may be itunes. The ipod is the glamorous front man, but i think it is the simplicity and clarity of the software behind it that really makes people enthusiastic.

Actually, there aren't too many slinky blonds at Unitarian churches -- just a precaution for you, in case you decide to go forth and try your little experiment.

Whoa there, son. I share your Apple antipathy. But there's no need to throw the Billy out with the bathwater. Crank up a little "Everybody Wants You", play a little air guitar, and thank God you're an American.

Don't hate the iPod, hate the iPodder. Seriously, while the whole trendiness of it is nauseating, the thing itself is not deserving of hatred. I don't own one, because I really have no use for any kind of portable music gadget, but my roomie does, and I have to say that it's pretty impressive, for the following reasons:

1. 20-40 gigs on a device that can fit easily in a shirt pocket is a good thing. Maybe it's just because the last portable music player I owned was a Sony Walkman, but the idea of being able to carry, I don't know, 100? albums around with me is just cool. And not just music, but audiobooks, which is probably what I'd use it for if I had one.

2. The integration with iTunes is also a good thing. ITunes itself is pretty cool for a number of reasons. It's not like a "lightning bolt of godliness" kind of thing, but a dozen subtle elements of ease-of-use and elegance that make for a satisfying experience.

3. The iPod does support voice recording, it just doesn't have a built-in mic. If you get the accessory, it's also pretty cool. It's all about the accessories.

4. You can also use it as a portable hard drive.

I don't know of any feature of the iPod that you can't get elsewhere, but again, it's the ease-of-use and elegance of design. If you like intuitive interfaces and minimalist design, the iPod can be extremely alluring.

To my way of thinking, if there's anything inherently wrong with the iPod, it's the fact that it's yet another consumer toy designed to lure people into the illusion that buying something will make you happy and bolster your shaky self-esteem. But it's far from the worst offender in that regard. I think we need to stay focused on the real enemy, which is of course monster SUVs.

because they are soooo cute!

(ok, i really like mine because it is easy to use, sound quality is good, can be a portable hard drive in a pinch, and oh yeah, is cute.)

And I get twitchy if I have to listen to people yammer on their cell phones, so it helps me filter them out.

Re:
"MP3s, the latter being a format that isn't particularly bad for something coming through your headphones."

95 percent of tracks on iPods are, in fact, MP3 files. The iPod and iTunes completely support MP3. You're not locked down to DRM'ed songs from the iTunes Music Store, and you don't have to convert existing music to another format (as with Sony's ATRAC players).

If you buy something from the iTMS with DRM, you can copy it to four other computers, and an unlimited number of iPods hooked to those computers.

If you're fitting thousands of songs on a CD-R, I can't imagine the sound quality's all that great.... :-)

THEY ARE SO THE MIDDLE-CLASS PACIFIERS OF THE EARS!!!!!!! WHY NOT JUST DRAG AROUND A GODDAMN BLANKIE AND GUM CRACKERS ALL DAY????????????????

I hate iPods for the same reason I hate Wegmans. They are probably glorious, but no one deserves to choose between seven kinds of salmon and forty imported block chocolates every day.

I've pretty much given up on new expensive toys.

But I do agree that iTunes is way cool

Wow. Um, ok, so you haven't worked out all your issues in therapy yet. Maybe your anger is just displaced. It is just a little box after all. Turn off the TV, ignore the guy with 14 earrings and tatoos on his eyebrows and talk to somebody who intrests you. The benefits of the technology will filter down to useful things, the i-pod and similar devices find their place, and Bono's silouette on TV will go away. Like disco, bellbottoms, cigarettes and hip huggers, this too shall pass (two or three times). In the meantime have a cup of coffee, laugh at the guy who spent a weeks pay on a piece of plastic (with Apple inside), and if you run into that slinky blonde, give her my e-mail address.

Thank you. Finally, someone is talking some damn sense about this ipod nonsense.

Isn't it just an mp3 player? I picked one up (not apple, clearly) for 80 bucks and it works like a charm. Fits more songs than I could possible listen to at one time, anyway.

So WTF?

Thanks again.

So WTF! More postings for this dumbfuck ipod than the suicide of HST? What kind of world are we living in?

Materialistic bullshit must stop. how can you people not post anything about the lovable crank-addicted mind bender who wrote some cool shit? Okay, I know you all love your ipods, but it's fucking senseless piece of electornic shit. let's talk about HST and less about IPOD.

Lets talk about Cabrera Infante.

The Ipod will only last as long as there is something that can be added to it hense the seperate mic and iPod tatoos.

If thats true does that mean thet there will be an Ipod condom dispenser? If so that would be awsome I'd always have music and protection.

You need an iPod because chicks dig it!

Bravo! I certainly believe Newsday's quote that you are "bitterly funny"; that's the best kind. I would love to hear you rant about those crazy iPod apologists, or even all the banner ads and spam which seem to solely be offering iPods now.

I have an ipod mini and i love it . And about the price if you ever checked it latley its droped(if you been spending your weeks pay one and ipod which is $299 and a mini which is $199 you need a better job.