Posted on 02/09/2005 12:56:45 AM PST by davidtalker
Pardon the vanity but I believe this will make for an intriguing thread.
I have been following rather closely this I-Pod phenomenon with interest. There was a piece in USA Today last week where they compare the I-Pod users with cult members. One 20 something was quoted as saying "my I-Pod changed my life." IMHO, that means this individual was in serious need of a life.
Now follow me here. Libs complain about those of us in the "radical religious Right." However, it is my observation that the Left is just as religious as any Evangelical,Conservative Catholic or devout Jew. They just worship God's creations not God himself.
They have their own Churches. PETA,NOW,ACLU, Greenpeace,AIM, et al. They have clergy-Shrinks. They have condoms for Rosary beads... Follow. I think I-Pods are now part of their religion. Apple?
Notice I didn't say MP3 player. It has to be an I-Pod. Otherwise, it's like water and Holy Water. Won't work.
Now, I happen to believe MP3 players are definitely nifty gadgets. I am researching the purchase of one for myself. However, they are gadgets not lifechanging experiences. I have no doubt many freepers own I-Pods. I also have little doubt you are more than what is on you I-Pod.
There was a commercial a few years ago with the Taco Bell dog wearing a revolutionary beret like Che's. It was pretty funny. Che as Smiley Face, that's a good way to put it.
In ten years the 802.16 standard will result in a wirelesss grid over the planet and you will have one wearable device that will be indispensable to everybody, not just to cool kids.
BUMP
Nobody believes that. The iPod is beating the competition because it is the best-designed product, with superior software and and the best, easiest-to-use music store.
President Bush uses an iPod and so do his daughters, and Vice President Cheney. They chose the best portable music device available anywhere.
"I'll stick with iriver, creative or rio."
Those companies are so desperate for sales, they've resorted to hiring skanky whores to promote their junk. They're just cheap, sleazy trash.
iProducts are gay.
Please. You spend to much time watching television or listening to the echos in your mind. Lets see, if I had to find a box other than Leftist Mac Counterculture Revolutionary to fit you into, or Corporate Zombie Windows User, I would say Linux Snob. You need to get a life. By the way, why do you really want to "stick it to the corporate America"?
I have two cartoons that lampoon people like you...you might enjoy these cartoons by Scott Adams...
People who think iProducts are gay are gay.
Hmm. A disposable player? For all the talk on this thread about how Apple users are too dumb or sophisticated enough to figure out a command line, that is a telling statement about you.
I have an original iPod, and I have replaced the battery, and the hard drive just died, so I will replace that.
In your sophisticate words, "Whatever."
You should have just stuck with your first assertion about not playing WMP format. At least it had some merit in the real world. The "hard dirve in hot pants" comment is cute, but no substance. That's like saying a computer is a box with a mother board in it. The strong point of the iPod is its interface and integration with a music system. It sells well because it works well. The fact that it is designed well is icing on the cake.
Hah. Beat me to that one.
Well now THATS a rather broad generalization! ;-)
My I-Pod plays all my C&W and old rock&roll just fine. So far it hasn't cut me off, but I haven't told it I'm a Republican and an NRA member yet!
No desire to "stick it to corporate America." I was just having fun. Here are the primary reasons I find Macs annoying:
1) I don't know how to use them all that well.
2) I like to know exactly what is going on in my system. I see windows and macs as designed for people who don't know much about computers.
3) My university and department push Macs on everyone. The sys admin is a Mac Nazi and constantly spams the entire department with the latest Mac news when in reality less than 3 people really care.
4) Most Mac users I know (admittedly a small sample) are fanatics.
"Lets see, if I had to find a box other than Leftist Mac Counterculture Revolutionary to fit you into, or Corporate Zombie Windows User, I would say Linux Snob."
Well, I don't currently have a machine running Linux but whatever...
Funny cartoons! Thanks! :-)
That seems to be a common and mistaken impression. I'm not sure why it keeps coming up. Let me explain.
I can buy music from a traditional music store (i.e., a "CD") and put it on the iPod. No compatibility problems there. I have a lot of CDs that I play on the computer and on an iPod. There never have been "proprietary" or "compatibility" issues with either the Macintosh iTunes program (that plays music on your computer) and/or with iPod -- in that regard.
I can get mp3s from friends (if I want) and play them on a Macintosh (the iTunes program) and on iPod. My friends could send me all the mp3s they wanted to and they all can play on the Macintosh iTunes program and in iPod.
I can get mp4s (or mp3s) from "allofmp3.com". That's a "music store" where one can buy music online -- and iPod can play all of those.
If the "old Napster" was still alive, where everyone was downloading all those free songs (those mp3s) -- the iPod could play all of those. If you have any of those left over from a few years ago, the iPod can still play them all.
So, the iPod can play the mp3s (one of the most popular formats around) with no problem. It can play the mp4s, again with no problem. It can play the CD that you or anyone else has -- with no problems. You just tell the iTunes program to convert it to mp3s or mp4s -- that's all.
If you want to go through the "DRM" process (i.e., Digital Rights Management) -- where the record companies insist that only you -- and no one else -- can play the song, you can also get that. It will be limited -- just as the record companies insist that it be (or they won't allow selling online in the U.S.) -- and it will play fine on the iPod, too. That is an mp4 file with the Digital Rights Management on it, that the record companies want to insist that everyone has.
With all that compatibility, I don't see the problem. And actually 80% of the "player market" doesn't see the problem with having an iPod either -- since that's what percentage is iPod. That number -- 80% of the market -- is a pretty good confirmation that the consumer "has chosen" the kind he likes.
The bottom line is that you can have an iPod and never buy anything from the Apple iTunes Music Store and have loads of music to play and listen to. But, most people will have a "mix" of it all (some mp3s, some mp4s, some Apple iTunes Music Store).
Anyone who says that there are proprietary limitations with iPod just doesn't know what they are talking about. There are lots of "Windows people" using the iPod.
Regards,
Star Traveler
That was funny!
Where do you get this drivel?
Do you think it would be nearly as popular if we couldn't put our existing CDs on it?
Do you think it would be nearly as popular if we couldn't put our existing MP3s on it?
Do you think?
"No, they are apolitical like most consumer items."
Bump
"Next time be sure to include WORTHLESS VANITY in your title"
Bump
"My first digital camera changed my life. "
Bump
"What the hell is political about a technology?"
Bump
"Ya know, there's nothing more pitiful than a plain girl looking for excuses to belittle the pretty girl."
Bump
She shouldn't kick him in the first place, then.
Dear God, it's a piece of equipment!
Liberal messages are hidden deep in the iPod's O/S with Unix file protection level set to 666! If you punch small holes in a tin-foil hat you can plug in the buds and hear them!
Amen sister
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