Well I didn't know there was a difference between MP3 players and IPods beside the brand name...
lol
No, they are apolitical like most consumer items.
Next time be sure to include WORTHLESS VANITY in your title.
sure iPods are nifty, I grabbed a 20GB Samsung/Napster model w/FM tuner (and voice recorder and case) for $199 -about the price of the 4GB iPod mini (w/o tuner).
Sounds the same to me.. ;)
My first digital camera changed my life.
For that matter, so did my first Atari 2600.
What the hell is political about a technology?
Honestly, I think there are droves of Leftists out there with plotting their revolution on Macs - I don't know, I think its because a lot of universities use them and they also supposed to have some nifty software for artists, etc. Of course, there is also the whole corporate evil schtick with Bill Gates, etc. For those people, they see using the Mac as somehow being part of the counter-culture. Of course, these idiots are too dumb to use Linix (which is the way to go if you really want to stick it to the corporate America.)
You must work for Microsoft.
Nah, just a status symbol. Plenty of conservatives have them.
I load music on my more versatile iPaq when I need portable music. It also serves as my GPS navigation, I have WiFi and 2 different browsers to choose from, it does the traditional calender and contacts and my latest addition - I upgraded to a 1Gb memory card and can load 2 - 3 full length movies on it.
This is where you went wrong. You took a MSM news article and accepted it as gospel, when in reality the reporter simply ginned up the story to look cool.
It's very, very simple. When you investigate MP3 players you will find nothing even come's close to an IPOD in terms of quality, ease of use, and capacity for it's size. It's called the marketplace. Make an excellent product and people will buy it. I use it at my desk to tune out the world while I work, I use it when traveling, and any other time I feel like listening to music without bothering other people. My entire collection of 400 CDs resides on my IPOD. Plus, it integrates perfectly with my MAC. Yeah, I love my ipod, but only because of what it gives me in return on investment.
iPods are a toy and a tool, period.
Now there are people here who will tell you that because they are made by Apple, only Libs buy them and use them.
SNORT.
LOTS of conservatives use Apple products.
Many of them post right here on FR.
( I know, I am a Mac user)
Besides, like Bill Gates isn't a Limosine Liberal.
Ya know, there's nothing more pitiful than a plain girl looking for excuses to belittle the pretty girl.
Note: Your question is silly.
You're buggered no matter what you do - Apple is loaded with Democrats, but IBM was an old Democrat bastion from the days of FDR. Microsoft gives some money to Republicans, but also subsidises that awful Patty Murray.
You may as well use what you find appropriate and forget about politics - it's not like French wine, which is easy to boycott.
Regards, Ivan
Apple's iTunes Music Store has lots of good content to download and put on an iPod. For instance, here is an audiobook:
James Earl Jones Reads the Bible: The New Testament, King James Version (Unabridged)
Narrator: James Earl Jones
Audio Length: 18 hours 33 min
Year Published: 2002
Category: Religion & Spirituality
Provider: Topics Entertainment
Presented by Audible.com$18.95
Audiobook Description:
In a voice as rich as it is recognized, James Earl Jones lends his narrative talents to the King James Version of the New Testament. In over 19 hours enhanced with a complete musical score, James Earl Jones interprets the most enduring book of our time utilizing the acclaimed actor's superb storytelling and skilled characterizations. Hailed as the greatest spoken-word Bible version ever, and with almost a half a million copies sold, this exquisite audio treasury is certain to enthuse and inspire.
What Others Say:
"[James Earl Jones'] performance is beautiful; he reads the entire work in a gentle tone that is so compelling that the listener will find it hard to switch off... A truly inspiring production." (AudioFile)
"Somehow that voice of his, calm, deep, powerful...makes the words seem more thrilling than ever" (Washington Post)
There is a large category of "Inspirational" music that you can browse through and purchase.
You can download iTunes for free from Apple - without buying an iPod. Then you can listen to the audio samples, compare it against the competition and decide for yourself. Maybe an iPod could change your life.
(Of course, there is a lot of bad music at the iTunes Music Store too.)
no, I don't think you need to be 'liberal' to enjoy the ipod. I do think you need to be something of a masochist though. The ipod and apple in general are extraordinarily proprietary. They are well designed, but they are ruined by compatibility issues. There are hundreds of other mp3 players to choose from that aren't so fussy. I think people that go weak at the knees for ipods like the idea that they don't have a choice. They have to buy their music from apple. Once you're locked into apple computers you are a slave to the company. Some people like that. No stressfull thinking if you don't have any choices.
I'm constantly creating, modifying and fine-tuning my playlists and collections. Once a song falls out of favor, I just uncheck it on iTunes and it disappears off the iPod. Yet it stays on my computer hard drive in case I ever change my mind later.
But I think it's a stretch to say that the iPod is a "substitute" for religion or that it defines whether you are from the left or the right. And for me, it didn't have to be an iPod. It just so happened that the iPod was the best product out there. Shame on Sony and the rest for missing the boat on this. I could just as easily have bought a Sony had they come out with something first.