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.
That's not correct. The iPod will play standard MP3s from any source. You can also copy your existing CD collection to an iPod, which is where iPod users get most of their music.
However, you cannot play files encoded in Microsoft's proprietary WMP format locked with their Digital Rights Management. And you cannot play music purchased from the iTunes Music Store on non-iPod portable players.
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
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 you don't. You do have to use the iTunes software to load music on your iPod, however. Most of the music on my iPod is from CD's I already owned. I've also purchased audio books from Audible.com and downloaded them to the iPod. I don't use a Mac, I use a PC with XP.
Nonsense. You can buy an iPod, and completely fill it to capacity with mp3's, without buying a _single one_ of them "from Apple". Where did you get this crazy notion?
The reason the iPod has become so successful is that it can play music from all kinds of sources. Including the iTunes music store, if that's what you wish to buy from.
By the way, I don't own an iPod, or any other hard-drive or flash-based music player. I prefer minidiscs.
Cheers!
- John
Sounds like something that the DUmmies would say about the Republicans and the U.S. Government -- now that they are the minority in everything.
"We need to split up the different branches of government between the Republicans and Democrats to make it more efficient, fair and representative of the American people. Only by 'obstructing government' can we truly be efficient and truly represent the will of the American people."
Yeah sure, splitting it up really makes it more efficient.
Some people will argue for inefficiencies in computers, too -- in order to carry the foolish argument that it makes them better computers. Ha!! At least Apple didn't listen to such foolish arguments. Only Microsoft is the true obstructionist of the computer world.
Regards,
Star Traveler